Posted on 11/17/2006 8:34:42 AM PST by Dane
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Pinchy Salzberg is having a hissy fit, over nancy's machinations.
It seems he knows that the ruse they propagated is coming asunder.
Nancy Pelosi = Lame Duck
You got to wonder if maybe they'll choose someone else.
Nancy Pelosi = Lame Duck = Turd Duck Hen........
The NYT shows itself to be on the side of...Hillary!
"The well-known shortcomings of Mr. Murtha were broadcast for all to see"
I don't remember seeing this in the MSM before the elections.
The New York Times (aka:The old Gray liar) clearly does not understand the SanFranValues coming to the table from the new Speaker.
If Murtha's past actions raise ethics questions about his fitness to be Majority Leader, why is he even a Congressman in the first place? Too corrupt to be leader, but not corrupt enough to be defeated by Irey.
Yes, un-animous-ly.........
I think that's what the NYT is trying to accomplish here. They know Pelosi would be a disaster and hurt Hillary's chances greatly in '08. Can't have that. This is getting good.
Boy, Pelosi didn't waste any time sowing discontent in her ranks, did she? And she hasn't even taken office yet!
>>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.<<
No surprise. She is a genuinely stupid person.
Nancy will not serve the full two years.
Cronyism trumps most things in "in house" politics. Pelosi
had to back Murtha. Murtha is the one who should have realised he was damaged goods, but Murtha was arrogant enough to try anyway and Pelosi takes most of the damage. It is fine by me!
Evidently the Washington comPost made it quite clear that Murtha was ethically challenged BEFORE the election.
"Mr. Murtha would have been a farcical presence in a leadership promising the cleanest Congress in history."
Were they writing this before the election?
I'm shocked...shocked that there is hypocrisy the the NYT's!
We all know that the recent loss of congress is a major blow for the wellbeing of the nation. The rats new ability to obstruct any judicial appointments (especially Steven’s replacement) is a grim and sad situation for anybody with half a brain. Nevertheless, fellow Freepers gotta admit, the news just got a lot more entertaining for all of us.
Then why is he not unfit to sit as committee chair?
He says......WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
Reading this in the newspaper this morning. Doubtful the media will mention this in any news reports.
Evidently it was some of the newbies who played Murtha and Pelosi.
Hah, she's got some surprises in store that she can't even imagine.
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