Posted on 11/15/2006 2:48:35 PM PST by shrinkermd
With 24 hours to go before House leadership elections, the race is boiling down to two main storylines.
The first involves a 26-year-old story that began to emerge once again yesterday: Rep. John Murtha's past. After being a little too involved in Abscam for his own good (some accounts have former Speaker Tip O'Neill personally bailing Murtha out of trouble) and what Washington Post's Marcus calls a "one-man earmarking factory," Murtha has a number of good gov't types on his case, including Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Gov't. The Hill even reports that, because of his penchant for doling out earmarks, some defense industry lobbyists hope he loses and retains his chairmanship, this time in the majority.
The second continues from 11/12, when Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi injected herself in the race. While her inital letter backing Murtha was initially seen as simple loyalty, but now, she's making phone calls and button-holing members for their support. Baltimore Sun's Hay Brown reports the speaker-in-waiting is playing hardball: She summoned Rep.-elect Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to her office to ask why Gillibrand was supporting current Dem whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and, completely coincidentally, asked for Gillibrand's committee preferences.
Pelosi's efforts have gotten attention throughout the caucus as, according to Hay Brown, Hoyer "fought to hang on to his support" 11/14. Uncommitted Rep.-elect Tim Walz (D-MN): "To be honest, I was waiting for the Speaker. When the Speaker speaks, you listen. I take that into heavy consideration" (Hearn, The Hill, 11/15)...
(Excerpt) Read more at hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com ...
The article is long but it does list all those known pro and con Murtha votes.
Judging by the thread title, pics are probably not necessary.
Pelosi's Culture of Corruption: The Republican COC, with lipstick!
Maybe Waltz is afraid of strong women.
A few days ago, Murtha was the hero of the Democrats and the liberal media. Now that the Dems are in control, though, we're finding out what they really think of him.
Duya mean we get to watch the DEMS act stupid for a while?!?
"Conservative Democrat"
The washington Post knew all about Murtha being corrupt long before the election,but you dont really think they would have spoken up and helped Irey, Hell no.
But Diana Irey couldn't get any of the MSM to look at these questions during the campaign. Lawd knows, she tried..
I saw John Kasich on with John Gibson earlier...and he said it is a slam dunk for Hoyer...
But, I can't stand Kasich...so I hope it is Murtha...LOL
The Republicans have had six years of Liberal obstructionism to watch and learn from. Now, they know how to respond to the corrupt Liberals. Use their tactics back on them.
Riiiiight. Reported with a straight (stretched?) face no doubt...
Of course. It was another liberal conspiracy.
Looks like the dems. drained the swamp and found their own pods.
bttt
Looks like Walz is gonna dance to the tune coming out of the Speaker!
IMO, the American people aren't going to like the Liberals they've elected when the Liberals masks come off. Let's sit back and see if the voters like higher taxes, higher gasoline prices, unemployment, high interest rates, and an overall destruction of a booming economy. Next, we'll see if the American people feel sorry for terrorists especially those that try to attack us again. I doubt that Pelosi, Reid, Murtha, Kerry, or any of the terrorist sympathizers can calm the masses should we suffer another attack due to their inept cowardly policies. I bet not.
Yes, I agree, please...no pics. They give me nightmares.
"Washington Prowler Leading Murtha On DEAR JOHN Potential incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has thus far declined to make phone calls on behalf of Rep. John Murtha's run for Democrat leader, a decision that has some Murtha supporters angry. "She's already publicly supported him, but when it comes to actually twisting some arms for some votes, she's sitting on her hands," says a House Ways and Means Committee staffer, whose boss is supporting Murtha for his anti-Iraqi war position. That position is the only reason Pelosi released the surprise letter on Sunday supporting Murtha, and it was after she has spoken with Democrat advisers who assured her that it appeared current whip Rep. Steny Hoyer had locked in a majority of the caucus for his own candidacy. Hoyer's people informed the advisers that Hoyer had commitments from 20 or 21 of the 41 incoming Democrat members, as well as the majority of the caucus, seemingly locking up the leader job. "They [Hoyer's people] seemed to think it was strong enough majority for it not to shift too much because of the letter either way," says a Democrat leadership aide. "Hoyer's people were taking this in stride, that this was something Pelosi had to do to help herself with the MoveOn and Cindy Sheehan types, not because she really wants Murtha in that chair."
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