Posted on 11/12/2006 9:31:47 AM PST by grayhog
It would be a mistake for incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi to set aside fellow Californian Jane Harmon and give the House Intelligence Committee chairmanship to Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings.
Harmon has been the ranking Democrat on the committee and an effective spokeswoman for her party's interests. But Pelosi believes she has been insufficiently partisan and has made it clear Harmon won't be chairman.
Instead, Pelosi is considering appointing Hastings, who as a federal judge in 1989 was impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate after Congress concluded he conspired to solicit a $150,000 bribe, lied under oath and manufactured evidence during a criminal trial. To give him the chairman's gavel would be untenable
It's true that Hastings was acquitted by a jury, but that doesn't mean he was innocent of the crime. Indeed, members of Congress thought otherwise.
Unfortunately, Hastings has the support of the Congressional Black Caucus, which is pressuring Pelosi to elevate him to the chairmanship.
Pelosi has promised under her leadership the most ethical, honest Congress ever. She would send a signal she means it by appointing Harmon and forgetting Hastings.
She could always give him the chair of the Judiciary Committee...
A voice of reason fromt the mildly conservative Tampa Tribune editorial board. I'm not optimistic that their advice will be followed, but at least a fairly major Florida daily is out their with a plea for some common sense.
Doesn't there still have to be a vote on Pelosi? Can't the pubbies come up with a more moderate Democrats name who actually represents mid-America, not like the TeleTubbies from Aldebaran or something?
Jeez, even SNL was taking shots at her last night. And most hit the mark. Can't we at least make this an uphill battle?
Lawance O'donald said on the McGaughlin Group that if she does this that the Dems will have the majortiy in the house only to 08. So dems are warning her not to do it.
Jane Harmon's office was the source of the intelligence leaks. She should be prosecuted, not made chairman of the committee.
It's going to be a long two years.
You've got that backwards; the moderate Democrats might come to us. Actually, some of the Blue Dog Democrats are threatening to not support Pelosi. They would run Dan Boren as Speaker if Hastings is allowed to chair the House Intelligence Committee.
This is ideal. Just what I want to see from Nancy Pelosi. Put Hastings in. Put Rangel in.
I want to see Big Daddy Bird as head of appropriations in the Senate. I want Kerry and Kennedy in powerful positions in the Senate. And please, Harry Reid, for the love of all that's good and holy, let Senator Clinton have all the power you can give her.
I want the voice of the Democrats to ring loud and clear for the next two years. It's the best thing that could happen for our side.
Here are some theads about the Blue Dogs who are considering running Dan Boren for Speaker of the House.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1736853/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1736475/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?s=Dan+Boren&ok=Search&q=quick&m=all&o=time&SX=45576079acaf7a96c96f2b881b4d014057473e38
So do you value your party more than the saftey and security of your country?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=i8MvSMW9WHc
To even consider him should remove consideration of San Fran Nan as Speaker.
It would seem so. I've seen that same type of sentiment on alot of threads. It's disgusting.
"Since I can't have it my way, I want the other guys to screw up bad so I get to play I-Told-Ya-So"
We have a chance here to try and find some middle ground with the Dems.
Providing we don't act like we're two years old.
I'm sick of politics. Can't we just do what's right for a change?
If Pelosi attempts this, Jane Harman can use her influence to garner sufficient Blue-dog democrats to support an alternative for Speaker. Ms. Harman would have the support of the republicans.
Please note: Ms Harman is the wealthiest Representative, by far! (Harman sound system...)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Harman
"Harman is currently the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and is also a member of the Blue Dog Coalition."
What is your evidence for this? I thought it was Jay Rockefeller's office. Jane Harmon made her mistake in defending the program when she was first interviewed about it. She must have had her chain yanked back to the party line.
You know, there are enough RINOS in the House that even if a group of them did put up someone to oppose Pelosi, the RINOS would vote against that person, thus making the gesture nothing but a joke.
One of Harmen's aides on the house intel committee had his security clearance pulled under investigation that he released info from the NIE just before the election. Rocky's is under suspision of leaking the NSA terrorist surveillance program information, not to mention his outrageous memo that said the dems would release classified info to undermine the WOT. It would be great if these investigations were concluded by the end of this year and some heads rolled over these leaks. Here's hoping.
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