Another Shot Across The Bow
As in the previous post, the media is warning, rather pointedly, that they will turn on Nancy Pelosi in a heartbeat if they feel they need to. This time it is the New York Times openly criticizing the choice of Hastings for the chairmanship of the intelligence committee.
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.
The conventional wisdom is that leadership decisions are insider sport and flies under the radar of the general public. The media appears to be sending a pointed warning that they will redirect the radar. They are already using extremely loaded language on Pelosi's leadership. This could spell real trouble for her.
By daveinboca, Friday, 17 November , 2006 @ 12:56 pm
If the airhead of SF values appoints Hastings to Intelligence, the LAT will turn on her too. Harman is an LAT fave and Hastings is an out-and-out security risk!
By Diva, Friday, 17 November , 2006 @ 3:25 pm
I hope that Harman keeps her seat. Pelosi is nuts if she thinks that Alcee Hastings, impeached judge, belongs on the Intelligence Cmt. I like Harman and think she’s a good person for that job. I can’t even imagine Alcee being in a position where he could easily be bribed to betray this country. He’s already proved he’s a crook and can be bought. Pelosi should heed the warning that came with Murtha (her pick) being defeated.