Nancy the not-so-great

The Washington Times ^ | November 24, 2006 | Barry Casselman

[yoe]

Despite continuing reports that Speaker of the House-designate Nancy Pelosi intends to name Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings as chairman of the important House Intelligence Committee, I do not think she will do so.

Mr. Hastings, before winning his congressional seat, was a federal judge accused of bribery. He was acquitted of these charges in a trial, but the House of Representatives, based on these accusations, then impeached him, and the Senate removed him from office by convicting him. Both the House and Senate at that time were controlled by the Democrats.

Mr. Hastings subsequently won a Florida congressional seat, and has been acquiring seniority on the intelligence committee since then. He is not the ranking Democratic member, however. Rep. Jane Harmon of California is. Mrs. Harmon, however, does not get along with Mrs. Pelosi, and it is no secret in the Capitol that the speaker-designate does not plan to make her the committee chairman.

In a move that is still reverberating, Mrs. Pelosi endorsed Rep. Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania over Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland for House majority leader. Mr. Hoyer, like Mrs. Harmon, was an old opponent of Mrs. Pelosi from the days when the Democrats were in the minority. But when the Democratic caucus met last week, it voted by a very wide margin to make Mr. Hoyer the majority leader. Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Hoyer have had to spend most of the last week and this week making nice and trying to gloss over their former antipathy. No doubt the controversy will soon fade when the Democrats take control of the House in January, and have to get down to business.

[yoe]

Mrs. Pelosi's decision is complicated by the fact that Mr. Hastings, who is black, has the support of the liberal Congressional Black Caucus, which apparently wants to make this an issue of political correctness.

Political Correctness my foot..........

[beyond the sea]

Despite continuing reports that Speaker of the House-designate Nancy Pelosi intends to name Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings as chairman of the important House Intelligence Committee, I do not think she will do so.

She won't do it. Pelosi Galore is not one to commit suicide.

[caseinpoint]

But isn't this a lose-lose situation already? If she fails to appoint Harmon she antagonizes the moderates (and maybe Republicans). If she appoints Harmon, she makes the leftists angry. If she fails to appoint Hastings, she loses the CBC. If she appoints Hastings, she risks losing support of the Blue Dog Democrats from shaky districts who don't have a hanker to be one-term wonders. If she appoints anyone else, she has a problem with the seniority system supporters. So it seems no matter what she does, she has a problem.

I suspect her biggest problem is trying to get her way by either going on the record as to her choices or else letting others go on the record on those matters. I don't know if she was floating trial balloons like Clinton was wont to do or if she thought going public could force her own party to support her as their leader. Either way, it seems she has failed a critical leadership test already.

[beyond the sea]

She's in a tough spot. I'd hate to be her ........ now she'll really never be able to close her eyes.

;-)

[goldstategop]

Alcee Hastings shouldn't even be eligible to serve in Congress because the Constitution forbids any one convicted of impeachment suffers a "disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States." And a Congressional position is both an office of honor and trust under the United States. So how could Hastings ever be seated in the House Of Representatives following his conviction by the Senate?

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[SkyPilot]

Bella Pelosi

[sportutegrl]

I have got to say that I am enjoying the new Democratic House majority a heck of a lot more than I thought I would.

[cbkaty]

She won't do it. Pelosi Galore

Now....there is coffee and sputum on my computer screen...damn you for that mental pix!

[mewzilla]

Mrs. Harmon, however, does not get along with Mrs. Pelosi, and it is no secret in the Capitol that the speaker-designate does not plan to make her the committee chairman.

Jane Harmon also has other problems. Among them....

Larry Hanauer works for Rep. Jane Harman

Hastings or Harman? Pelosi has herself a Hobson's choice.

[Dinah Lord]

Pelosi Galore

Hah!!!

[kjo]

Yeah, pass the popcorn.

[NonValueAdded]

That's right, Article I Section 3, last paragraph. Well, it says office of honor and trust so I guess he could argue that being a Congressman is not excluded. However, the profit clause will do him in because few if any of those mutts leave office poorer than when they went it. I wonder if anyone in his district has brought suit challenging his fitness to serve?

[sgtbono2002]

I agreee with your interpretation. Hastings shouldnt be allowed to serve in the first place.

Obviously the CBC has no qualms about his serving.They would endorse OJ if he were a Representative.

Mrs. Pelosi has said this would be an ethical House, well so far it isnt playing out that way. Her own ethics are actually in question. Its going to be a fun two years.

[wodinoneeye]

There should be immediate calls for her resignation for such bad judgement (or simple dangerous cronyism).

[kjo]

Supreme Court ruled in the Adam Clayton Powell case that Congress may not refuse to seat a House member who has been legally elected by his constituents.

Powell had been expelled by the House for spending most of his time aboard his yacht with his twenty-something year old "secretary". More liberal insanity.

[Muzzle_em]

Is that Nancy without her makeup or surgery?

[beyond the sea]

At least you're ancient enough to get it.

;-)

Sorry about the computer. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

[beyond the sea]

Hah!!!

LOL.......... here, have the whole list. Don't say I never gave you anything.

;-)

****

BellaPelosi…..

TaxMistress….

Old What's Her Name….

Hillary Lite.….

Nancy Soprano…..

That Crazy Frisco Broad…..

Pelosi Galore.....

The Bay City Baby Killer…..

The Permanent House Minority Leader…

Harpie Marxist….

The Whine-ority Leader….

The Screecher of the House….

Nancy "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" Pelosi….

Ms. RAT….

Norma Desmond ("I'M READY FOR MY CLOSE UP, MR. DeMILLE!")….

BoTox-osi….

Nancy von Trotsky….

Countess Demo-cratula….

The Belladonna of Berkeley….

Mommy Dearest….

Ivana Taxalot….

Frau Bleucher….

Facelift Barbie….

Peloscialist….

Nancy Bellacosi…..

Nanny State Nancy….

Pelosi-Roni, the San Francisco Threat….

Nancy Tax and Spendloosely…..

and my very favorite, Karla Marx….

****

[Jimmy Valentine]

Pelosi has had a warning shot fired across her bow by Steny Hoyer. Her hand picked Majority Leader Murtha went down by almost three to one.

She needs to toe the line or she will be gone as speaker in a very short time.

[Jimmy Valentine]

"Hastings or Harman? Pelosi has herself a Hobson's choice."

More like a "Procrustean Bed."