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| Novak: Pelosi's First Mistake |
| 2006-11-16 |
| Robert D. Novak As the new House majority caucus prepared to pick its leadership today, Democrats were trying to make the best of the inevitability of Nancy Pelosi as the party's first speaker in a dozen years. They have put out the word that she was not serious in endorsing Rep. John Murtha for majority leader. How much effort she has exerted for her longtime ally is irrelevant, but she has actively solicited votes this week. The damage to her was irrevocable when she wrote her colleagues Sunday urging them to pick Murtha over Rep. Steny Hoyer. Close associates of Hoyer say her letter stunned him, and he was not alone. While Pelosi had made it clear that she would vote for Murtha, the public endorsement was unexpected. Although Pelosi's apologists had stressed that this was not a public campaign, but a pro forma endorsement, she began actively campaigning for Murtha on Tuesday. Even before that, the letter itself was taken seriously within the Democratic caucus, including by Hoyer and his close associates. A speaker's written word cannot be taken lightly. |
| Posted by:.com |
| #6 Harmon should run for speaker against Pelosi on the 'my face is real' ticket. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-11-16 14:23 |
| #5 149 to 86 - Not good to have such an early, public and broad-based repudiation of the speaker's leadership. Have a nice ride Speaker Pelosi |
| Posted by: tzsenator 2006-11-16 14:21 |
| #4 Pelosi is completely clueless. It would seem that everyone but Pelosi realizes that. I predict she clinches her tiny fists, and stamps her tiny feet. Maybe she'll hold her breath as well. |
| Posted by: Mick Dundee 2006-11-16 12:54 |
| #3 Vote wasn't even close - Pelosi is completely clueless. Let's see how she reacts now that the volkes have rebelled against the will of der fuhrer. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2006-11-16 12:34 |
| #2 Democrats name Hoyer to number 2 position in the House leadership. |
| Posted by: Mick Dundee 2006-11-16 12:23 |
| #1 If Gingrich had stood his ground and lobbied against Delay, maybe the Republicans would still be in power today. |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2006-11-16 07:07 |