---Updates below---
I said the other day that these next two years might just be fun for us, and it looks like I was right.
I also point out Nancy Pelosi's first set of lies. The first of many and I, for one, am kicking back with my popcorn and laughing my ass off as the Democrats start rumbling.
Anyone else think the next two years might be amusing while we watch the Democratic party become defeatists and cowards, the whole time infighting for the American public to see.... Hello 2008!!!!
Broken promises within a week of the elections. More from Don Surber here.
House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi's endorsement of Rep. John P. Murtha's bid for House majority leader set off a furor yesterday on Capitol Hill, with critics charging that she is undercutting her pledge to clean up corruption by backing a veteran lawmaker who they say has repeatedly skirted ethical boundaries.
Pelosi (D-Calif.) directly intervened in the heated contest between Murtha (D-Pa.) and House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) on Sunday by circulating a letter to Democratic lawmakers. The letter voiced her support for Murtha and put her prestige on the line in a closely fought leadership battle. Some Democratic lawmakers and watchdog groups say they are baffled that Pelosi would go out of her way to back Murtha's candidacy after pledging to make the new 110th Congress the most ethical and corruption-free in history.
(SNIP)
"Pelosi's endorsement suggests to me she was interested in the culture of corruption only as a campaign issue and has no real interest in true reform," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a Democratic-leaning group. "It is shocking to me that someone with [Murtha's] ethics problems could be number two in the House leadership."
For a party than ran on a platform of "cleaning up" congress. They are off to a wonderful start, aren't they?
At issue is Murtha's relationships with two defense lobbyists. Paul Magliocchetti of the PMA Group is a former aide to the lawmaker, and Robert "Kit" Murtha is his brother and was a senior partner at KSA Consulting from 2002 to 2005.
The PMA Group has become the go-to firm to approach Murtha as ranking Democrat on the Appropriations defense subcommittee, CREW charges. In the 2006 defense appropriations bill, PMA clients reaped at least 60 special provisions, or "earmarks," worth more than $95 million.
The PMA Group and its clients have been top campaign contributors for Murtha: $274,649 in the 2006 campaign cycle, $236,799 in the 2004 cycle and $279,074 in the 2002 cycle, according to CREW's tallies.
We of course also have more of those nasty campaign promises about cleaning up, being broken by naming Harry Reid to the top Senate position. Do we remember Reid's antics?
In 2001, Reid sold the land for no profit to a friend, getting a share of the limited liability company that held the property.
The LLC tried to get the land rezoned for commercial use, but was rebuffed by the Clark County Zoning Commission.
The LLC then appealled the decision to the full Clark County Commission and lobbied the commission, going so far as invoking Reid's name to the commission in a public hearing on the matter.
The zoning commission's original decision was then vetoed, and they rezoned the property for commercial use.
In 2004, the property was sold for $1.6 million, netting the LLC $1.2 million profit.
Reid never reported the sale of the property to the LLC, as he is required by law to do.
More about Reid over at Sister Toldjah.
The infighting begins as Pelosi makes her wishes clear about an issue she should have known better than to insinuate herself.
After five days of giddiness, Democrats express dismay that their new House leader has thrown herself into the fight to become her Number 2, creating a potentially lose-lose situation where she could either be defeated in her first public contest since the election, or brand herself as a dove.
But the dour Republicans and worried Democrats have switched places, however momentarily, now that she has unexpectedly injected herself into the bitter race to be her underling, the House Majority Leader. "This is the first time I've ever seen a leader insert themselves like this," said a veteran of many Democratic leadership races. Pelosi's camp says it's like a high-school election and won't be a defining moment for her leadership.
Now, the position Pelosi wants Murtha to hold, is also being sought after by Steny Hoyer.
"Hoyer gains his influence the 'regular' way," said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "He travels, and he raises money for his leadership [political action committee], which doles it out to help Democrats get elected. Murtha doesn't bother with that nicety. For years, he has used his powerful perch as the ranking Democrat on the defense appropriations subcommittee to dole out earmarks to build influence. Hoyer raises campaign cash; Murtha taps the taxpayer for influence."
So.... she has left her party with two options... either she gets her way in her first decision as house speaker and puts a crook in the position, OR she loses her first battle with her own party, which is more than just a possibility. Nice start huh?
"The bottom line is, Nancy has decided what team she wants," Capuano said. "What members have to ask themselves is whether they want a unified leadership team or a fractured leadership team. That will make a difference in the next two years."Remember also, that Pelosi herself is no stranger to earmarking. Basically, we chose to replace one set of dubious congressmen for another set of them.
Hoyer and Pelosi have had a strained relationship since Hoyer competed with her in 2001 for the post of minority whip; Murtha managed her winning campaign. The urge to stay loyal to the presumed new Democratic speaker -- as well as to curry favor to obtain committee assignments -- will bring a substantial number of votes to Murtha, one of his supporters said.
Hoyer supporters continue to say he has more than enough votes to prevail, regardless of Pelosi's wishes. Rep. David E. Price (D-N.C.) said Pelosi timed her endorsement to come out after the votes were solidified, giving a nod to Murtha for the sake of loyalty but doing little to sway the election.
In all of this, the Democrats are SO busy infighting with each other and arguing over strategy in Iraq, the party of no ideas, the party that doesn't mention OUR national security, is also obviously ignoring the fact that Iran is training al-Qaeda terrorists.... more on that over at Right Truth.
al-Qaeda is also trying to obtain a nuclear kit..... sooooooo, maybe ya'll should arm yourselves and be ready, because the Dems do not seem to be mentioning how to protect us as a country, which means, we will have to fend for ourselves.
Grab your popcorn folks, kick back and watch the fighting begin.. Not between the Republcans and the Democrats, but within their own party.
[UPDATE]
More from the Democrats on the Hoyer/Murtha issue.
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, whom Pelosi did not support for the No. 2 post, may have enough votes to win the job of House majority leader himself. Hoyer is the current minority whip.
"Everywhere you go on Capitol Hill today, this is the topic of conversation," said Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Atwater), who supports Hoyer. "It would have been easier for some of us not to have to exercise our independence quite so early."
As I said yesterday, helllllllllllloooooo 2008!!!!
Woman Honor Thyself has a good piece.
Hot Air has more examples of this inhouse fighting over Pelosi's bad choice.
Captain's Quarters says that even Rangel is sticking with Steny Hoyer.
Others talking about this:
Donklephant.
Flopping Aces.
More from Sister Toldjah on Pelosi.
Polipundit.
Bullwinkle Blog.
RightWing Guy.
Iowa Voice.
Strata-Sphere.
Murtha Must Go.
Wizbang.
186 per second.
Linkfest over at Pirate's Cove.
Conservative Cat.
Blue Star Chronicles.
More to come.
