So I shook Steny Hoyer's hand this morning...

[hootinholler]

He was stumping for John Delaney at the Shady Grove Metro station outside of DC. I told him to make sure he puts Delaney in touch with Grayson for some pointers. He said Grayson's a lion, I said Damn straight he is and we need more of them.

We touched on teabaggers, who I called bullies and we know how to deal with bullies, you have to knock them down to get their attention.

I asked him to stand strong on Social Security, no cuts, raise the cap on income to fix it, said Bernie Sanders got it right.

I mentioned the current crop of Rs is the YOYO party: You're On Your Own, and they are always changing position. He said he might steal that, I said I would be proud if he did.

I told Delaney I already cast my vote for him and said you should hire me, I'm highly technical and a wonk. His communications director has my card, but somehow I doubt I get a call.

Oh and if any of either Hoyer's or Delaney's staff are reading this, I'd love to have some time with them to talk.

At least they know there is one progressive out here in Md.

[OLDMDDEM]

1. over the years

I have been unimpressed with Steny. I turned Dem during the Clinton administration, but find Steny to be nothing but a bought and sold congressman. I wish someon could convince me otherwise. I early voted last night and could not vote for him.

[thucythucy]

3. Steny Hoyer is one of the unsung heros

who worked hard to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

For that alone I will always be grateful to him.

[OLDMDDEM]

8. thank you for that

Years ago I called his office as I needed help with my business. I went to my appointment with him and he never showed up. No apology no nothing. I followed him closely and realize that he may have voted for some bills that really helped his constituents, but he really didn't help this constituent. Thank you for your response.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. The first congressman I ever met.

He's been a little wishy-washy at times, but places like Southern Maryland (where I'm originally from) could do a lot worse.

[leveymg]

4. Actually Steny's Southern MD District is safely Dem, and we could do a lot better there.

Steny is okay on social policy, so-so on social programs (he's got a wide neoliberal privatization streak in him), and terrible on a lot of foreign policy stuff because of his deep and long ties to AIPAC.

He gets a C+ in a District that could safely reelect an A-list progressive Congressman.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

6. Perhaps in PG County and northern portions of Charles....

But still a lot of conservatives in the three traditional Southern Maryland counties--Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's.

[leveymg]

7. MD-5 is 2-1 Democratic by party registration. He won by 30 percent in 2010.

According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, 58.5 percent of its registered voters are Democrats, while just 24.9 percent are Republicans. The district covers Southern Maryland, as well as much of southern Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties, with a tendril extending into upper Prince George's County to take in several northeastern suburbs of Washington, D.C., including College Park, Greenbelt and New Carrollton.

"I think it's going to be an uphill battle for Delegate O'Donnell to unseat an incumbent, a long-term incumbent, in this district," said Cain.

Indeed, Hoyer is one of the most firmly entrenched Democrats in the House of Representatives, never being held below 55 percent of the vote in any election to the House.

[OLDMDDEM]

9. thanks

I feel your grade is too high. I don't like the privatization streak you mentioned.

[LiberalEsto]

5. There are more progressives than you think

We count 4 adults in our household, and we know others.
But shhhhhhh..... don't tell anybody

[OLDMDDEM]

10. I'm proud to be a Dem

but I just don't see the love affair my district has with Steny.

[hootinholler]

11. I've never seen the love affair my district has with Roscoe Bartlett

And his demon spawn in the state house.

[OLDMDDEM]

13. I see you have the same problem in your district

Our son lives in Bartlett's district and thinks he is the best. I don't see it.

[hootinholler]

12. Sure in Howard, Montgomery and Balmore counties

I'm in Fredneckistan. (Oh, yeah there are a few here and more transplants all the time, but damn)