Editorial
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Published: November 17, 2006
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.
By CARL HULSE
Published: November 17, 2006
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 — House Democrats chose Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland as their new majority leader on Thursday, rejecting the choice of the incoming speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and straining the unity of the new majority party.
Perspective (ignore Dana Bash, such an appropriate last name):
November 17, 2006
With storms in the southeast, cable TV had a hurricane of coverage on the weather. But there was some political talk, particularly about the Dem House Leadership race:
CNN's Bash: "Democrats unanimously elected the first woman to speaker of the House -- but, with her victory, also a stinging defeat" ("AC 360," 11/16).
MSNBC's Shuster, on the maj. whip battle: "We can't find a single Democrat tonight who says that there is any lasting impact. They are saying that, yes, there were some strong arm tactics, perhaps even a little bit of backstabbing. But the damage does not appear to be permanent at all" ("Countdown," 11/16).
Incoming House Maj. Leader Steny Hoyer, on Pelosi supporting Murtha: "Well, that was yesterday."
Asked about James Carville's comments on Howard Dean: "There is no time for bitterness. We have won a victory. But we have also won a responsibility. We have been given a responsibility by the American people to move this country forward, to move it in a new direction, to solve our problems. And that's what we're going to do" ("Situation Room," CNN, 11/16).
Hoyer: "I don't know who is going be elected to the leadership tomorrow in the Republican Party, but I can tell you that John Boehner and I and Roy Blunt and I, in my position as minority whip have had good relationships. We, obviously, have disagreed, but we've had an ability to talk to one another."
Asked if Bush seemed to prefer Pelosi to him during their meeting: "No, no, no" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 11/16).
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), on Pelosi: "Her first power play was a very successful one. I know only controversy makes news, but we had a potential controversy between Rahm Emanuel, who did a great job as the Democratic Congressional Campaign chairman, and Jim Clyburn, our caucus chairman. She worked out a deal whereby Jim became the whip, the number three, an African-American very important in an elected leadership position, only the second time in history that's happened, and Rahm became caucus chair" ("NewsHour," PBS, 11/16).
Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA): "Nancy never backed off. When she was asked, 'Do you have any regrets?' She said, 'Absolutely not. Jack's my friend. I stuck with him.' And, you know, we respect that. I think all the members on both sides respect that. My guess is that she's going to emerge from this even stronger, and she'll be able to work with Steny very well" ("NewsHour," PBS, 11/16).
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