Three weeks ago, I sent an open letter to my congressman, Jay Inslee, asking him why he thought Nancy Pelosi was fit to be Speaker, and possibly President. Congressman Inslee never replied.
This devastating New York Times article may help explain why the Democrat who represents Washington's 1st congressional district was unable to come up with a defense of Pelosi.
Ms. Pelosi, the California Democrat and House minority leader, lends herself to easy caricature by Republicans. She is an unapologetic liberal, with a voting record to match (the Republican National Committee chairman, Ken Mehlman, said she was neither a "New Democrat" nor an "Old Democrat" but a "prehistoric Democrat"). She is wealthy (married to an investment banker, she has assets listed at more than $16 million). She represents San Francisco, which Republicans love to invoke as a hotbed of counterculture decadence and extremism.
. . .
Ms. Pelosi can struggle at times to give the air of the gravitas that powerful women like Hillary Rodham Clinton and Condoleezza Rice do, both friends and adversaries say. She can appear tentative and overscripted in interviews, with a tight smile and large, expressive eyes than can leave an impression of nervousness.
. . .
I had a hamburger last night and it was my breakfast, lunch and dinner," she said last week. "And I had these strange things. I realized they were French fries." She made quick spiraling gestures with her fingers to show what they looked like.
It was apparent that she was not familiar with curly fries.
. . .
She repeated Jesse Jackson-like alliterative sound bites in halting un-Jackson-like cadences. Republicans, she said, "are engaging in deluge and desperation," while her Democratic caucus "is a great collection of idealism, intellect and" — she paused while trying to summon the third "i" — "integrity."
. . .
Ms. Pelosi nodded vigorously when asked if she was friends with Representative Tom DeLay, whom she had just seconds earlier described as "corrupt." She went on to catalog the work the two had done together in Congress. And then Ms. Pelosi affirmed, once again, how "corrupt" her friend Mr. DeLay was.
That's what New York Times, a newspaper which will be trying to promote Pelosi to Speaker, says about her. Speaker Hastert has his faults (as all of us do), but he is far more impressive than Minority Leader Pelosi. And I would bet that Hastert knows what curly fries are.
The careful reader will note that the reporter, Mark Leibovich, did not challenge Pelosi's claim that she is a Catholic, with "very traditional" values. (Interestingly, the Times dodged the abortion issue in just the same way, in an article on Pelosi, just after she became Minority Leader.) I think it is fair to conclude that the New York Times is willing to hint that Pelosi may not be qualified to be Speaker, much less President, but not say enough to spoil her chances.
Cross posted at Jim Miller on Politics.
(For more on Pelosi, see this post, in which I describe her as a machine politician, and this post, which compares Pelosiville to Hasterland, Pelosi's San Francisco district to Dennis Hastert's suburban Illinois district. And for something visitors should know before they visit Pelosiville, see this post.
The article mentions a more moderate Democrat, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, saying that "has made no secret over the years of his interest in moving up the leadership ranks". That's a weird way to put it, since Hoyer ran against Pelosi for the leadership position.)
Posted by Jim Miller at May 30, 2006 06:53 AM | Email ThisWith the current crop of Democrats, they are all a far cry from Jackson and Magnusson, or Mitchell or Bob Kerrey (my favorite Democrat).
Now we have Teddy, Dodds, Tommy D, Harry Reid, Pelosi, and my favorite Charlie Rengel (not for what he says but the entertaining manner he has).
But, I don't see how the Rs can let these people (and I use the term loosely) can let this particular group carry on without counter attacks. It seems they will prevail.
Posted by: swatter on May 30, 2006 07:37 AMMcDermott, Murray and Cantwell come to mind.
Posted by: Jeff B. on May 30, 2006 07:55 AMdidn't bother to ask these questions when delay was being elected to the position.
any concerns about other republicans (or even dems) perhaps involved in the wholesale selling of our govt to lobbyists?
Posted by: dinesh on May 30, 2006 10:14 AMI believe him when he said that, though I also believe there were lots of discussions before he quit.
You guys made him a polarizing figure, not a nitwit like Pelosi comes across. You destroyed another- Gingrich, and again, not a nitwit like Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy, etc.
Why can't you guys get a real leader like Jackson? I even like Norm Dicks better than any of these nitwits that we have now. Why isn't he in more of a leadership position?
Posted by: swatter on May 30, 2006 11:25 AMI got a call last week from an R committee of one sorts or another who warned me about Pelosi, et al.
Posted by: swatter on May 30, 2006 02:26 PMJust wondered.
Posted by: Misty on May 30, 2006 03:05 PMThe gop can't keep us safe on 9-11? Were you saying the gop didn't keep us safe on 9-11? Or, were you saying the gop has not kept us safe after 9-11? Or, were you saying the gop will not keep us safe on 9-11-06?
If the latter, do you know something we don't know? Or, are you saying that if the democrats take over, then there will not be another attack from the fundamentalist Muslims?
It is very difficult to understand your comments.
Oh, ever hear of the story that a good prosecutor could indict a ham sandwich? The Delay prosecutor has needed a half dozen grand juries and throws a fit every time he loses. Half the Delay indictment has already been thrown out.
Posted by: swatter on May 30, 2006 04:11 PMHaving said that, I'm not sure how many voters think through the process as far as "majority leader" when selecting their own congressional representative.
Posted by: TB on May 30, 2006 04:53 PMOh, that's what that look is. I thought it was too much plastic surgery on a deer-in-the-headlights.
Posted by: Shaun on May 30, 2006 08:23 PMTry grade school english and grammer, then a keyboard class or two.....Move on up to HS courses and I think you might be up to posting here.
But a troll you are, and Democrat one at that... enough said.
Posted by: Chris on May 30, 2006 08:44 PMas for delay's "qualifications":
kicked out of baylor (subsequently graduated from u of houston). pest control (exterminator) owner. reformed drunk/born again christian. texas house of representatives. not necessarily a stellar resume.
Posted by: dinesh on May 31, 2006 10:25 AMhere's a summary of delay's predicament, outside of his texas legal issues. if you don't think abramhoff is giving up delay, well.....we'll just have to wait and see.
from http://tpmmuckraker.com/delay.php
DeLay was indicted for money laundering in Texas.
In September 2005, DeLay was indicted along with Jim Ellis and John Colyandro for funneling $190,000 from corporations to GOP candidates for the Texas State Legislature in 2002. The funds, which were laundered through the RNC in Washington via TRMPAC (Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee), helped facilitate the GOP takeover of the Texas statehouse, which in turn allowed a redistricting effort that led to the election of five new Republicans to the House of Representatives in the 2004 elections.
DeLay accepted $65,000 in contributions from Abramoff.
Since 1997, Abramoff and his wife, Pam, have given DeLay's political action committees $40,000. Additionally, the Capital Athletic Foundation, one of Abramoff's charity/slush funds gave the DeLay Foundation for Kids $25,000 in 2003.
DeLay and his staff accepted gifts and trips from Abramoff:
• Russia
Tom DeLay visited Russia in 1997 to meet with executives of Russian oil and gas companies along with Jack Abramoff at a cost of over $57,000. He claimed the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) covered it, but NCPPR was reimbursed by a Bahamian firm connected to Russian oil interests. The oil interests, who were Abramoff clients, were trying to secure billions of dollars in IMF loans to bolster the faltering Russian economy. The Russians laundered $1 million through a law firm in London to the US Family Network in 1998. DeLay would vote to support those loans that same year.
A March 2006 National Journal piece (unfortunately not online, but covered by Paul Kiel here) revealed another bundle of money from the Russians. Peter Stone reported that the Russian energy execs invested $299,975 in DeLay back in 1997, before they donated the $1 million. $250,000 of that came just two weeks before DeLay flew to Moscow with Abramoff and Abramoff's Russian clients.
• Scotland
DeLay and his wife went to Scotland in 2000 along with several of his staffers, Jack Abramoff and Ed Buckham. The expenses were placed on the credit cards of Abramoff and Buckham, who were both lobbyists at the time. House ethics rules do not allow lobbyists to cover travel expenses, and there is no exemption based on the fact that Abramoff was on NCPPR's board of directors at the time.
• Superbowl
In January 2000, Abramoff leased a corporate jet and sent Tim Berry, a DeLay staffer, and Tony Rudy, a former DeLay staffer-turned-lobbyist, to watch the Super Bowl and then spend a night gambling on a SunCruz ship. They were joined by two of Conrad Burns' staffers.
• Skyboxes and Other Travel
DeLay was also a frequent guest of Abramoff at the lobbyist's MCI Center and FedEx Field Skyboxes. DeLay staffers were guests of Abramoff on a trip to Pebble Beach, CA, to see the US Open.
DeLay was a consistent and fervent advocate for Abramoff's first big client, the Northern Mariana Islands.
Abramoff was lobbying on behalf of business interests in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, notably Tan Holdings, who wanted to maintain CNMI's deregulated business environment while putting Made in America labels on their products.
DeLay "aggressively took the lead" in the effort to keep the Marianas deregulated. He told Abramoff's clients in the CNMI that Abramoff was their "most able representative in Washington." When DeLay visited the South Pacific island in 1997, he and his wife and daughter stayed for free at a beachfront resort.
Michael Scanlon, Abramoff's business partner and now an admitted felon, was DeLay's Spokesman.
Michael Scanlon was press secretary for Tom DeLay until the end of 1999.
DeLay's Chief of Staff, Tony Rudy, worked for DeLay when Rudy used his influence to benefit Abramoff clients.
Lisa Rudy was employed by Toward Tradition while her husband, Tony Rudy, who would later work with Abramoff, was deputy chief of staff for DeLay. Her salary, $5,000/month was paid for by two $25,000 checks from Abramoff clients.
According to Abramoff's plea, where Rudy is identified as "Staffer A," in exchange for the $50,000 payments to his wife, he used his position in DeLay's office to help Abramoff's clients.
Rudy has since pled guilty to one count of conspiracy. Tom DeLay is named in the plea as "Representative #2."
Alexander Strategy Group provided access to DeLay.
Alexander Strategy Group was founded by former DeLay Chief of Staff Ed Buckham, and was considered the gatekeeper to DeLay's power in Washington. In its early days, ASG was run out of the "Safe House," a townhouse in Capitol Hill owned by the U.S. Family Network (USFN) and used by DeLay for fundraising and other activities. Americans for a Republican Majority, DeLay's leadership PAC (which also employed Buckham), used the townhouse as well.
In August 2001, DeLay and his wife Christine went to South Korea at the expense ($106,000) of a group called the Korea-US Exchange Council. House rules do not allow for travel by representatives funded by foreign agents. The trip was arranged by the Alexander Strategy Group.
USFN was sending hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to ASG. The money was coming from Abramoff clients who were getting help from DeLay in Congress. At the same time, DeLay's wife was on ASG's payroll for $3,200/month.
DeLay used the U.S. Family Network, a fund set up by Buckham and funded by Abramoff's clients, as a slush fund.
Owners of textile companies in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands gave USFN $500,000, according to tax records. The company, an Abramoff lobbying client, was looking to block legislation that would increase their labor costs by imposing a minimum wage in the CNMI, which DeLay publicly promised he would do.
Russian oil execs laundered $1 million through a law firm in London to the USFN in 1998. The executives needed DeLay's help on legislation that would allow the IMF to bailout the Russian economy. The Russians were Abramoff's clients.
Abramoff's tribal clients donated to TRMPAC and the USFN allegedly in exchange for help from DeLay.
The Mississippi Choctaw Indians, lobbying clients of Abramoff, donated $250,000 over two years to the USFN. They were seeking DeLay's help with legislation that was aimed at taxing their gambling revenues. The first $150,000 came just one day after DeLay returned to Washington after spending three days at the Choctaws Casino and Golf resort.
Shortly after TRMPAC received a $1,000 donation from the Choctaws, DeLay sent a letter to the US Attorney General, John Ashcroft, calling for the US Department of Justice to investigate and shut down a Casino run by the Alabama Coushatta Tribe, which was in direct competition with the Choctaw's casino.
Research by Ryan Chiachiere
None of what you claim is or was illegal and that's the way the courts will ultimately rule. It always gives me a chuckle when I hear Dhimmicrats squeal about corruption - Dhimmicrats invented corruption!
The difference is, when Republicans discover the rotten apples, we rout them out. When Dhimmicrats discover (another) shiite-stained rat, they look the other way.
Find something else to rant about, fool...
Posted by: alphabet soup on May 31, 2006 11:42 AMyou can write love letters to duke while he rots in jail. when delay gets there, you can turn your affection towards him.
Posted by: dinesh on May 31, 2006 12:25 PMI liked the bit about junkets or trips overseas. Yes, I think they are wrong; yes, I think Delay was wrong, but yes, I think the whole batch does the same thing. Yes, I would like to change the whole system.
I also liked the bit about foreign governments. Like that was a new one to you. Your superhero, Bill Clinton, gave up state secrets and technology to China and others in exchange for campaign contributions. Wrong then, but what has Delay done any different?
He is principled. End of story. Oops, and you and your ilk can destroy him.
Posted by: swatter on May 31, 2006 01:56 PMaccording to you delay did no different than clinton, but delay is principled whereas clinton is not? please.
i have no interest in your cheering for party over country.
i believe in country over party. and i'm tired of the sanctimonious, "republicans can do no wrong" attitude that so many of you espouse, and so are most the the traditional conservatives who believe in fiscal restraint and small govt.
Posted by: dinesh on May 31, 2006 03:49 PMTrying to compare Delay with Cunningham is pathetic and shows you for the simpleton that you are. I have seen no one claim "republicans can do no wrong" - it must be the thunder of little voices inside your diseased brain that keeps you from seeing the truth.
Posted by: alphabet soup on May 31, 2006 09:31 PMgov't for sale.
alpha: it is going to rain tomorrow? what do the iranians think today? who's going to win the nba finals? any update on the supreme court decisions?
Umm. I'm not sure that traditional Catholic values include being unapologetically supportive of killing babies.
Stick around, all will be revealed!
Posted by: alphabet soup on June 1, 2006 05:32 PM