New York Times: Speaker Pelosi Tempts Disaster

[Ironic-Mike]

The New York Times

November 17, 2006
EDITORIAL
Speaker Pelosi Tempts Disaster

Nancy Pelosi has managed to severely scar her leadership even before taking up the gavel as the new speaker of the House. First, she played politics with the leadership of the House Intelligence Committee to settle an old score and a new debt. And then she put herself in a lose-lose position by trying to force a badly tarnished ally, Representative John Murtha, on the incoming Democratic Congress as majority leader. The party caucus put a decisive end to that gambit yesterday, giving the No. 2 job to Steny Hoyer, a longtime Pelosi rival.

But Ms. Pelosi’s damage to herself was already done. The well-known shortcomings of Mr. Murtha were broadcast for all to see — from his quid-pro-quo addiction to moneyed lobbyists to the grainy government tape of his involvement in the Abscam scandal a generation ago. The resurrected tape — feasted upon by Pelosi enemies — shows how Mr. Murtha narrowly survived as an unindicted co-conspirator, admittedly tempted but finally rebuffing a bribe offer: “I’m not interested — at this point.�

Mr. Murtha would have been a farcical presence in a leadership promising the cleanest Congress in history. Ms. Pelosi should have been first to realize this, having made such a fiery campaign sword of her vows to end Capitol corruption. Instead, she acted like some old-time precinct boss and lost the first test before her peers.

As incoming speaker, Ms. Pelosi will be dogged by skepticism — from within the party and without — about her political smarts and her ability to deliver a galvanized agenda.

It was a no-brainer for the caucus to end the misguided fight for Mr. Murtha, who belittled the need for reform. Now the pressure is even greater for Speaker-elect Pelosi to recover by leading the House to something actually worth fighting for — starting with credible anticorruption strictures. For this she needs gaffe-wary advisers, among them Mr. Hoyer, who has his own questionable record of flourishing in big-money politics. The new majority — led by a presumably wiser speaker — must realize by now that intramural vendetta is hardly a substitute for productive government.


Payback can be so sweet!
Can I get a Nelson "Ha! Ha!"?

[Sapper Mike]

I have loathed and despised this woman for years. My aunt in San Francisco knew her and her husband, and I met her when I was a SP4. Was not impressed then, and like her even less now.

She is just a political hack. Unfortunately, she is from one of the safest Dem districts in the nation, so we are stuck with her until she finally fades away.

[Darksaga]

At first I was pissed when she was placed as Speaker of the House and 3rd in line for the Presidency. Then it occured to me that this is a perfect venue for her to display how fucked up she really is. I believe it to be the give the bastard enough rope and they will hang themselves strategy.

[23LRS]

At first I was pissed when she was placed as Speaker of the House and 3rd in line for the Presidency. Then it occured to me that this is a perfect venue for her to display how fucked up she really is. I believe it to be the give the bastard enough rope and they will hang themselves strategy.

No DOUBT! She is going to show her ass on the national level!

[SpongeBob]

No DOUBT! She is going to show her ass on the national level!

And by ass you mean face!!!!


This shit scares me to no end...
The Dems in control....

Anyone else worried how much we will pay in the near future....?