Blue Crab Boulevard

Murtha Fallout

Oh, man. This is already being spun by the media as a major black eye for Pelosi. This article came out so fast, one suspects it was already pre-written and just waiting for the vote.

Hoyer was elected on a vote of 149-86.

The balloting marked a personal triumph for him, but also a snub to Pelosi, moments after the rank and file selected her unanimously to become speaker when the House convenes in January.

"We made history and now we will make progress for the American people," Pelosi told the party caucus moments after her selection.

She vowed that after 12 years in the minority, "we will not be dazzled by money and special interests."

Pelosi also called for unity in the party, but within moments she put her prestige on the line by nominating Murtha for majority leader.

She hasn't even taken the gavel and she's been damaged politically. She is going to have very limited effectiveness at curbing her committee chairs. In fact, they are probably pretty much going to do their own thing as soon as they take their seats.

UPDATE: Arianna Huffington calls this a victory for Pelosi, a "big win". Arianna being the one who gave the expert advice telling Ned Lamont to give his concession speech during the campaign. Right as always. I imagine the folks in DC will be putting her right on the payroll anyday. For the other side.

UPDATE: Confederate Yankee: Priceless.

UPDATE: Tom Bevan over at RCP Blog notes one thing about Arianna's post that, on reflection, should have been obvious. He notes this passage from Arianna:

Because that's what real leaders do, they take stands. They listen to their hearts and follow their gut. If you only jump into the fights you're sure you can win — notches in the W column that will look good on your political resume — you're a hack, not someone who can move the party and the country forward. It's not about trying to have a spotless record; it's about knowing which battles are worth fighting, whatever the outcome.

Then he reaches this conclusion about Arianna's lemonade-flavored koolaid:

Real leaders take stands. They follow their guts. Hmm, where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, it's how people typically describe George W. Bush. Of course, to Arianna, when George W. Bush "takes a stand" and "follows his gut" he's a stubborn moron.

Here's one difference, though. After the votes have been counted, even George Bush can acknowledge when there's been a "thumpin.'" That's more than you can say about Arianna.

Ouch.

Politics | Gaius Thursday, 16 November , 2006

By Arlo, Thursday, 16 November , 2006 @ 11:43 am

She’s going to be elected Speaker by acclamation and Hoyer had to pull a Lieberman, muddling his stance on the disastrous Iraq War. Like Lieberman, it’ll be harder for him to go back to being a super Iraq War cheerleader.
By ron, Thursday, 16 November , 2006 @ 12:06 pm

the msm is clearing the field for hillary. they know that if the far left gets entrenched hillary will get shellacked in 2008. as others are saying the closer to the center the dems are positioned the better her chances for 08. the msm also knows that the repubs will actually help pass centrist legislation which will only burnish bhills credentials. I think a flurry of major legislation will be passed in the next 2 years.
By Gaius, Thursday, 16 November , 2006 @ 12:12 pm

Yeah, it looks like the DLC is getting pretty active here, doesn’t it?
By TC@LeatherPenguin, Thursday, 16 November , 2006 @ 1:34 pm

I know it’ll never happen, but if all the Republicans in the House, and 20 or so of those 149 Dems really wanted to put the screws to Nancy, Steny Hoyer (or Rahm Emanuel) would actually be the next Speaker of the House. Just because the Dem Caucus went 149-0 for her doesn’t technically make her Speaker; the entire House has to be polled.

And since there have been a number of stories in the last couple of days about Pelosi’s team threatening freshman Dems–how many consider themselves “Blue Dogs” anyway?–about whether they’ll get the committee assignments they seek if the Speaker-elect didn’t get her choice for her number Two.

Like I said, it would seem an impossible scenario, but still….
By TC@LeatherPenguin, Thursday, 16 November , 2006 @ 2:48 pm

Oops, my bad: 235-0
By James, Thursday, 16 November , 2006 @ 7:14 pm

No black eye here. MSM gets it wrong again.

Nancy Pelosi wanted someone else for #2. Knew he didn’t have the votes so went public hoping that would change some minds.

It didn’t.

Things will move on now.

It was a good old fashion policitical fight in an arena called Democracy.

Everyone knows it except the MSM.
By Gaius, Thursday, 16 November , 2006 @ 7:18 pm

Wrong. Look at the picture. That is a very, very pissed off speaker to be. More importantly, the MSM is pumping this story out to the general public and it is getting play.
By Arlo, Thursday, 16 November , 2006 @ 9:27 pm

Its not supposed to be fun. Thats how the Republicans got themselves in trouble with their gloating and their bullying.
By Gaius, Thursday, 16 November , 2006 @ 9:37 pm

Gloating? Bullying?

http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/11/15/chuck-for-king/

Frankly, you’re becoming a joke, Arlo.