(Unofficial) -- Top Democratic Heroes of the Year. Please list yours here.

Year End wrap-ups of the Top Movies, Top News Stories, etc.are a tradition at this time of the year. In that spirit, it seems like be a good idea for us to list the Top Democratic Heroes of the Year, to recognize those Democratic leaders and politicians who have performed Outstanding Service or broken important ground in 2005.

Please list yours, and why.

I'll start with a dark horse. John Murtha. He deserves a place or several reasons. A hard-core war supporter who changed his mind and saw the light. And, more important, he had the courage to come out publicly and say that he had made a mistake, and say it in a No-Holds-Barred way that didn't waffle or softpetal or try to spare himself....By doing that, he changed the terms of the whole debate, and cleared the path for others to follow.

Many more on my list, but I'll start with that, and hope that others will add to this list.

(In addition to the obvious choices, please include any Democrats who have been heroes "below the radar.")

I love that man. :loveya:

Conyers, Kerry for DSM inquiry. Lautenberg for his toughness. Feingold on Patriot Act. Kerry, Gore, Landreiu on Hurricane Katrina efforts.

Harry Reid, Howard Dean, Dick Durbin, Wes Clark, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich and many more still sticking their necks out.

for always speaking out truth to power!

:patriot:

The man was pro-war with the best of them, supporting Bush 110% for a pre-emptive invasion.

But Murtha took the time to go to Iraq and Walter Reed hospital and the man realized he made a mistake. And he came out just 2 months ago against the war; demanding that we pull our troops out ASAP!

There were 109 Senators & Representatives that supported the war vote (well it was actually a vote to support what the UN decided but Bush wormed his way around that). Hopefully Murtha will lead the way to get other pro-war democrats to realize they made a mistake and become advocates for getting our troops out of Iraq.

The closed door Senate session was one of the high points of the year.

Reid has been able to keep a traditionally splintered Democratic Senate on the same page for much of his leadership so far. And not by strong-arm, bullying, or fear tactics like the Republicans use to whip their members into the fold.

Durbin helped to engineer that.

Boxer deserves recogniztion for many things this year. But most specifically, for her no-holds-barred criticisms to Condi Rice at Senate hearings for her role in the "case for war" and for Rice's constant disingenuousness.

The ONLY senator with enough patriotism and sense to vote against the so-called "Patriot" Act.

:patriot:

Adding to the list

Dick Durbin
Byron Dorgan
Louise Slaughter
Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame
the AAR crew (for sticking it out against all odds)

... performance in support of ordinary working people. I'll stick with the CBC and John Conyers in particular. These are not spotlight hogs ... they're consistently conscientious.

You miss the point if you think I was only seeking "grandstanding awards." If you will notice, I specifially asked for listings of people who don't get the spotlight

If you think there are people who should be apprecizted for their steadfastness, then by all means mention them.

:eyes:

Sorry if you didn't like the way I originally cast this thread with the word "hero." But no reason to jump on what is intended to be a positive thread. You have the choice of either ignoring it, or adding to the list without the editorial comments.

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: Be sure to inform Skinner so he can update the DU Rules.

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

plus one more :eyes: for good measure.

The first three I think explain themselves, but with Kaine I say that since he had the courage to denounce the death penalty and take on the right-wing smear machine in Virginia and win big.

the right way most of the times.

It is easy for senators or congresspeople from a Blue state or district to do so, a lot more difficult if you come from a red state.

Although he's not flashy or dynamic, Dorgan has also been outspoken and "tells it like it is" about such issues as trade and media consolidation.

For managing to be effectively opposed to the war without sounding like hippies.

...for speaking the truth, AND backing it up.
For working TIRELESSLY against the corporate whores holding our party hostage.
For taking a licking and keeping on ticking.

People Powered Howard. Above AND below the radar. Working for US.

One can tell she ain't a repuke....

Well then..... Bob Graham


Even though he is semi-retired he is still politically involved.

John Conyers
Dennis Kucinich
John Murtha
Barbara Boxer
Nancy Pelosi
Russ Feingold

Kucinich
Boxer
Conyers
McKinney
Feingold

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Isn't irony a wonderful thing.

Conyers for EVERYTHING he has done to save this country and Boxer, because she was the ONLY Senator to stand up and question Ohio's EV! They BOTH deserve medals of honor.

Barbara Boxer
John Conyers
Russ Feingold
Harry Reid
Congressional Black Caucus
Tim Kaine (he was able to run a progressive campaign in a red state/he took on the right wing filth machine and won)
Byron Dorgan
Howard Dean
Wesley Clark
John Murtha