How Much Longer Will Pelosi Survive as Speaker?
She’ll fight to the bitter end, but she’s on her way out. She may last through this Congress, but the blood is already in the water. Some in the media do seem to be covering for her, with the AP’s David Espo using his article on her press conference to lavish praise on Barack Obama and lambaste Republicans:
Pelosi’s decision to respond to her critics was something of a surprise, since most polls show Obama and his policies are popular, and Republicans have exhibited virtually nonstop political disarray in the six months since last fall’s elections.
What he says may be true, but has no place in an article like this, unless of course, you see journalism as a forum to cheerlead for Democratic policies and highlight Republican failings.
When, however, the MSM begin to address a Democrat’s failings, you know that they can no longer cover for her and have to cover her. If she were a Republican, the writing would be on the wall. Now, we’ve just got reporters wondering how to remove the pictures while they reach for their Sharpies.
It doesn’t help when a Washington Post reporter begins his article on the Speaker’s press conference yesterday when he blamed others rather than acknowledge her own misrepresentations by calling her credibility into question:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s extraordinary accusation that the Bush administration lied to Congress about the use of harsh interrogation techniques dramatically raised the stakes in the growing debate over the Bush administration’s anti-terrorism policies even as it raised some questions about the speaker’s credibility.
Pelosi’s performance in the Capitol was either a calculated escalation of a long-running feud with the Bush administration or a reckless act by a politician whose word had been called into question. Perhaps it was both.
The Bush Administration has long since left town and Democrats are still blaming the former Republican President. It does seem to be the defining article of their faith.
But, in going overboard trying to prosecute officials in that Republican’s Administration, Mrs. Pelosi seems to have gotten caught in a web of her party’s own making. She’ll hold on for a while, perhaps until the end of this Congress. With some of her partisan colleagues eager to see her gone, she’s going to have to fight to keep her job.
That could be a good thing as it will slow the expansion of government her party has planned and could shine a light on the disarray and corruption in the Democratic caucus.
Sometimes justice does prevail, even in a media culture and political system seemingly stacked against conservatives.
ADDENDUM: Peter Wehner offers a nice summary of the situation:While she, in Wehner’s words, made an “explosive charge” in accusing the CIA of “knowingly misleading a Member of Congress,” she also conceded that
. . . Michael Sheehy, a top aide, informed her about waterboarding. In other words, Ms. Pelosi did learn about waterboarding no later than February 2003, according to her own account — and she didn’t do anything about it. A letter was sent to the CIA’s general counsel, Pelosi says — but it was not sent or signed by Pelosi (Representative Jane Harman sent it). “No letter could change the policy” according to the Speaker. But of course there were several options available to Ms. Pelosi; she exercised none of them.
Democrats have long thought that the issue of waterboarding would do great political damage; they may well be right. But what they may have not anticipated is that the person who would be most damaged in this whole thing might well be the current — and perhaps at some point soon, the former — Speaker of the House.
26 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I don’t always listen to the MSM, but I did hear more about this story on the local news radio. Didn’t catch any bias either way. Of course, they reported that she is defending herself. They also said there will likely be an investigation and she may have to testify under oath. That would be fine by me. I wish that would happen more often.
Comment by Pat — May 15, 2009 @ 8:07 am - May 15, 2009
Yesterdays polling says that almost 7 in 10 Americans want Obamateleprompter and the Democrats to quit blaming Bush and start taking responsibility for things as they exist. The bloom it appears is off the rose. Now starts the process of fixing things and getting things done. As CEO of Chrysler and GM, it is Obama that is laying off thousands and closing 4000 dealerships across the country. When your small town dealership closes, call the White House. A record 6.6 million people unemployed. Add another 150,000 from car dealerships in the coming weeks. While the people want the Speaker and the President to fix problems like the looming collapse of S Security and Medicare, MS Pelosi is detailing how dumb and stupid she was after 9/11. Can we get some adults back in town please?
Comment by Gene on Pennsylvania — May 15, 2009 @ 8:52 am - May 15, 2009
Remember, Obama inherited Pelosi from the previous administration. However, he has a plan to cut waste and build a new America which will take us in new directions. The fact that Pelosi is a holdover from the Bush Cheney years should not be any reason to tarnish Obama’s mission of bringing hopenchange. And that goes for Haliburton, too.
Comment by heliotrope — May 15, 2009 @ 9:18 am - May 15, 2009
Boy, this is the kind of scandal I can really enjoy. Doesn’t matter what party either, I love it when a politician hoists itself on its own petard. Of course she knew. Why do you think she dropped the whole impeachment thing as soon as the Dems captured the majority in 06. The only downside is that the person who replaces Mrs.P will almost certainly be more competent, though I do recognize that sets the bar pretty low.
And anyone want to bet that the replacement owes back taxes????
Comment by Sonicfrog — May 15, 2009 @ 9:56 am - May 15, 2009
Sonicfrog:
Anyone owing back taxes is by definition a problem inherited from the previous administration. If Bush/Cheney did not catch them, they get a free pass. And if it goes back to the Clinton years, it is still the fault of 12 years of Reagan and Bush.
Comment by heliotrope — May 15, 2009 @ 10:05 am - May 15, 2009
Watch the interrogation photos leak out now.
Comment by The other Peter H — May 15, 2009 @ 10:22 am - May 15, 2009
I thought her face held up rather well.
Comment by Ignatius — May 15, 2009 @ 10:29 am - May 15, 2009
#7 – LOL!
Of course, her face has seen more knives than a Benihana chef.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — May 15, 2009 @ 10:59 am - May 15, 2009
#3 helio you’ve got this MSM press reaction down pretty well.
I’m hoping for more entertainment today or in subsequent days with more press conferences led by Pelosi. Hopefully she won’t have a teleprompter, they are more fun that way. But I’m also hoping for a press corps that SHOUTS QUESTIONS and demands answers with leading questions. For example, “when exactly MS speaker did you know about water boarding and did you look the other way, all while pilloring the previous administration.” “If your grandchildren were being held hostage by terrorists, would you approve of waterboarding a detainee who said he knew of the location of where the children were bing held? Huh huh MS Speaker….” Those kind of professional detached press questions I would find helpful.
Comment by Gene on Pennsylvania — May 15, 2009 @ 11:31 am - May 15, 2009
“hang on let me find the page where the answer to your question is located……….”
boobs, morons, tax cheats, crooks and dummies. Obamas Democrats.
yes we can, hopenchangeo.
Comment by Gene on Pennsylvania — May 15, 2009 @ 11:33 am - May 15, 2009
Except for the record 6.6 million unemployed, and $9 Trillion debt, I had no idea this first 113 days was gonna be so much fun.
Anyone see the leftists bloggers lately? hehe
Comment by Gene on Pennsylvania — May 15, 2009 @ 11:35 am - May 15, 2009
Now Gene, lets be fair.
bob’s busy writing his non-existant books making his non-existant high salary.
gillie’s here, it’s just his medication isn’t.
Levi would be shocked, but his mother’s revoked his internet access until he takes the garbage out.
Paula is helping her children in following by any means and dressing them for success.
Pat however has been polite and conversational, please extend the same courtesy.
Comment by The Livewire — May 15, 2009 @ 12:14 pm - May 15, 2009
Steny Hoyer second to Speaker Pelosi has never been a fan of hers. He always knew she was dumb as a box of rocks. Look for Hoyer’s allies to continue to undermine Queen Nancy. The country could benefit. I believe Hoyer if elected Speaker, lives in Maryland, so we’d save a ton of money not paying for Pelosis 747 flights to California every weekend.
On a more minor note, Pelosi’s press conferences are not doing BOTOX sales any good. Her shaking and stumbling and bumbling might be attributed to excess BOTOX and not that she’s an Obama liberal Democrat.
Comment by Gene on Pennsylvania — May 15, 2009 @ 12:22 pm - May 15, 2009
#12 – LW, very well put.
And actually, I hope we see more of Pat around.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — May 15, 2009 @ 12:37 pm - May 15, 2009
#13 Her shaking and stumbling and bumbling might be attributed to excess BOTOX…
What’s nice about a Pelosi press conference is that one can say she pulled it off rather well without issuing a compliment.
Comment by Ignatius — May 15, 2009 @ 1:31 pm - May 15, 2009
Also talking through her teeth is not necessarily a slam.
I’m not one to be critical of other’s appearance. I prefer to stick to the issues and the Democrats flip flopping on national security. Kind of interesting how thier opinions “evolve” once they are in charge. It is heartening that they are taking VP Cheneys advise on the Abugrab photos , GITMO and the CIA memos. They should call on the adults in the previous administration anytime they need some help in hard situations. It is a stunning blow to Obama and Pelosi when the previous 5, that’s FIVE CIA chiefs are critical of their natl security stance. Now today CURRENT CIA chief Panetta hammers another nail in the Pelosi coffin. Tells his people the CIA was “honest and up front with Pelosi.” Is the clock ticking on her Speakership? The Dems tend to keep their dolts around as long as they don’t make too much noise.
Comment by Gene on Pennsylvania — May 15, 2009 @ 3:34 pm - May 15, 2009
Honestly, if the tables were turned and this was a GOP Speaker who had been caught in not just one, but several lies, the Drool-By Media would have 24-hour coverage of it, talking about “how long can she hold out?”
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — May 15, 2009 @ 6:05 pm - May 15, 2009
The press, the media? They are busy doing another cover story on Michelles garden and her new dresses. They are busy preparing a 3 part series on Obamas second hundred days, and how marvelous it has been.
Comment by Gene on Pennsylvania — May 15, 2009 @ 6:46 pm - May 15, 2009
Gosh, why all the fuss over this Pelosi dust bunny when there are much bigger fish to fry……..like Carrie Prejean.
Comment by heliotrope — May 15, 2009 @ 9:35 pm - May 15, 2009
It is good to see that Pat is being non-partisan on the issue.
I think that we can all agree that when someone has lied in a way that jeopardizes the country then that person deserves little in the way of mercy or sympathy.
I hope that she goes sooner rather than later. It is not good for your country to have this issue hanging around. It is bad for the CIA and it gives new incentive to the real enemies of the USA – Iran and Al Qaeda.
Comment by thestraightaussie — May 15, 2009 @ 10:32 pm - May 15, 2009
No, no, no, no straightaussie! We want Nancy around!
Not that I want her to hamstring the Obama initiatives (Lord knows they’re idiotic), but I’ve become an admirer of DC gridlock. Keep the White House in one party, and Congress in the other (but not dominating) and they can’t get much done.
This is a Good Thing!
I have to say this: by recent historical record the most effective combination seems to be a Democratic president and a Republican Congress. I’ll say something else: “Slick” Willy Clinton makes Obama look like a two-bit Chicago ward heeler. Sure, Will was an unrepentant cocksman and a bullshitter, but he knew how to hammer out healthy compromises, not to mention when to trim his sails to the prevailing winds.
Lacking a sane center-left Democratic President, I’ll settle for a crippled Obama administration. The less they accomplish (according to their agenda), the better.
Not too long ago someone here was considering how Dubya will be treated by history, once we achieve the objectivity of distance. I suspect he will suffer in comparison to both Reagan and Clinton.
Comment by Casey — May 15, 2009 @ 11:01 pm - May 15, 2009
I recall the Speaker walking down the hallowed congressional aisle carrying her grandchild to accept her appointment. It was supposed to a great thing that we had not only a woman, but a grandmother, to parent a group of unruly men into a find body of legislators. What a crock!!! I believe that Pelosi has opened her big mouth without considering the consequences of her accusations – against the CIA, no less!!! She has probably already met with a group of insiders to plan a quiet exit for her – health issues, a need to be with her family, etc. etc. On the other hand, I gleefully expect to see more documents, pictures, transcripts of meetings that clearly document the meetings she attended. She has become a victim of her own press!!!
Comment by Duffy - Native Intelligence — May 16, 2009 @ 12:23 am - May 16, 2009
Thus spake Ms Nancy of Pelosi to the assembed press concerning her trials and tribulations of being lied to by the CIA.
Huh? what was she saying?
Possibility #1 is that she meant “I was fighting the administration over the war in Iraq.” Possibility #2 is that she was caught up in the delusions of grandeur which have propelled her to meet with Assad without State Department cooperation and to announce her bipartisan nature and her declaration of the most ethical Congress ever known.
Ms Nancy of Pelosi should have a staffer draw up a flow chart of where she says she stands and then she should get the brother to Obambi’s teleprompter. She can speak without moving her lips, perhaps she can also think without using her brain. Who knows? Even gillie is willing to throw her overboard.
Comment by heliotrope — May 16, 2009 @ 10:07 am - May 16, 2009
I’m just going to say one thing: Pelosi sickens me to the core of my being. I don’t even know any “liberals” who like the witch. She is the epitome of the unAmerican classist who never practices what she preaches. Everyone knows. She makes Hillary Clinton’s power lust look like the impish dreams of a silly school girl. Pelosi is the purest of the elitist authoritarias. How she ever got into the halls of the US government I’ll never know. The entire country should be fuming mad at her constituents for electing her. How could anyone not see through this witch’s mental illness.
Comment by Mark — May 16, 2009 @ 12:23 pm - May 16, 2009
Can I point out here that the top four Democrats in Ameria are….
1. Obama, who dare not speak without a teleprompter even when giving three sentences of remarks, nominating a secretary! And who’s left flank this week is ripping him to shreds for duplicating almost entirely the Bush national security measures.
2. Biden, who has been banished to tour European sewer systems.
3. Harry Reid. Well…. you know ole Harry.
4. Nancy Pelosi.
These are the best and brightest Democrats.
Man. More members of the former administration, like VP Cheney and Porter Goss should step forward and volunteer to help out the Obama administration. It is one thing to snicker at all the incompetence, but I don’t think the country can take much more of the bumbling, fumbling, gaffes, and mistakes. Israel is afraid and is going to go it alone in Iran. Obama and Michelle are busy having parties and doing commencement speeches. Pakistan is teetering. We need some more adults.
Comment by Gene on Pennsylvania — May 16, 2009 @ 6:37 pm - May 16, 2009
Kinda sad about old Nancy as being the first female speaker, she could have been a
role model to a lot of women, including my daughters. Instead it appears she is just
another politician that was caught lying to further her own political aspirations. As far as the BOTOX thing, a classic case of a little is good but too much is, well…. reminds
of the movie, Brazil. Yeah I know, bad visual.
Comment by Apples — May 27, 2009 @ 7:21 pm - May 27, 2009