Now that many of the Republicans in Congress are uniting with the Democrats to stop the war and bring the troops back, you'd certainly think that if any party was enjoying the sea change of power, it would be the Dems.

Sadly there's trouble in paradise between several members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, particularly between two Democratic reps from Southern California.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Anaheim / Santa Ana is stepping down from the Caucus because she claims that Rep. Joe Baca of Ontario is disparaging her behind her back to people she knows, including calling her a whore.

"There's a big rift here," Sanchez told The Politico. "You treat the women like shit. I have no use for him."

Baca, who along with Sanchez, belong to the Blue Dog Conservative Dems denies that he called her any such term.

She said she was surprised and insulted when she learned that Baca had made the disparaging personal comment about her to California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and other legislators last year.

Nunez "is a friend of mine. Did he think he wouldn't tell me?" Sanchez asked.

Sanchez voted against Baca in the election for chairman in November. Four other female lawmakers abstained from the vote, raising concerns about whether the election followed proper procedures. - The Politico

The latest dispute comes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, is aiming to give Hispanic Caucus members leadership roles in the new Democratic majority, including naming Solis vice chair of the Democratic Steering Committee that makes committee assignments. - AP