posted on November 24, 2006 09:41:08 PM new
So....will she REALLY 'clean up WA?' lol....or will she continue to nominate the same element they've been complaining about? lol
Looks like she's favoring the one with the 'checkered past'. figures.
She already flubbed once with backing murtha....will she repeat her mistake again?
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All eyes on Pelosi for intelligence pick
By Amy Fagan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
November 24, 2006
The intelligence community and Capitol Hill are awaiting House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi's choice to lead the chamber's intelligence panel, an explosive decision that will anger key members of her party no matter who she selects.
Even before Democrats won control of the House, reports surfaced that Mrs. Pelosi would skip over Rep. Jane Harman of California, the highest ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and opt instead for Rep. Alcee L. Hastings of Florida or Silvestre Reyes of Texas, the second- and third-ranking on the panel.
Mrs. Harman is backed by many centrists and is seen as hawkish on defense matters, while Mr. Hastings has the support of the powerful Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) but is tainted by his impeachment and removal as a federal judge in 1989.
Mr. Reyes has the backing of many Hispanic members and of those who want a compromise candidate.
"Harman's well-known and quite respected by those involved in national security affairs," said Gary Schmitt, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a public policy group, and former minority staff director for the Senate intelligence panel.
"Hastings is obviously less well-known and given the impeachment is a far more problematic choice for chairman.... His record is one that's going to give the intelligence community something of a pause."
A choice to sidestep Mrs. Harman would be portrayed by Republicans as the second bad political move on Mrs. Pelosi's part, after her decision to back Rep. John P. Murtha in his failed bid to become House majority leader.
"It shows very flawed judgment on her part," Rep. Ray LaHood of Illinois, the second-ranking Republican on the intelligence panel said of a possible Hastings choice. "Her first flawed judgment was backing [Murtha]."
Mr. LaHood said Mrs. Harman "deserves to be chair. She has earned her stripes; she has done the hard work."
He said Mr. Hastings has paid attention to intelligence issues as well but simply doesn't have Mrs. Harman's experience.
Calls to Mrs. Harman's office were not immediately returned, and Mrs. Pelosi has been officially mum. She refused comment at a press event Monday, and a staffer would only say "no decision has been made yet."
The Associated Press has reported that Mrs. Pelosi already has told Mrs. Harman that she won't be reappointed to the panel next year, and several publications, including The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times, have said Mrs. Pelosi does not think Mrs. Harman has been tough enough on President Bush.
On Wednesday, Mr. Hastings' office released a letter he sent to his colleagues seeking their support, denouncing as unfounded the bribery case against him.
He said he has been the victim of "misleading, poorly informed, misinformed and sometimes venomous attacks ... by pundits, politicians, and editors screaming the word 'impeachment,' " while making no mention of his acquittal in a court of law.
House Majority Leader-elect Steny H. Hoyer, says he'll give Mrs. Pelosi his advice on the matter privately. Mrs. Pelosi will make that decision "in a timely fashion, consistent with the interest of the United States and the intelligence community," he said on ABC's "This Week."
Mrs. Pelosi ruffled more than a few feathers when she backed Mr. Murtha of Pennsylvania to be majority leader over Mr. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat and her second-in-command as whip of the minority. Mrs. Harman is the most qualified for the slot, and there's also "no question" Mrs. Pelosi would prefer someone else, said Loren Thompson, a defense analyst at the Lexington Institute.
He said that since the CBC wants Mr. Hastings to be named, Mrs. Pelosi would be seen as making a politically pressured decision if she chooses him.
"She will tend to be viewed as someone who puts politics above broader concerns like national interest," Mr. Thompson said.
Mr. Reyes has intelligence knowledge and lacks the "checkered past" of Mr. Hastings, he noted.
In 1981, Mr. Hastings, appointed to the federal bench in Florida by Democratic President Carter, was accused of soliciting a $150,000 bribe in return for a light sentence for two men convicted of racketeering.
A jury cleared Mr. Hastings, but a panel of judges urged he be impeached by the House, which did so in 1988. A year later, the Senate convicted Mr. Hastings and removed him from the bench. In 1992, he was elected to Congress.
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• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on November 25, 2006 08:09:07 AM new
All eyes on Pelosi for intelligence pick
(Washington Times) (11/24) - The intelligence community and Capitol Hill are awaiting House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi's choice to lead the chamber's intelligence panel, an explosive decision that will anger key members of her party no matter who she selects.
Pelosi Wants Scandal-Ridden Hastings for Intelligence Chair Position (Judicial Watch)
Alcee Hastings, Bribery, and the House Intelligence Committees (Byron York)
Pelosi backslides on ethics (USA Today)
Pelosi and Hastings (Washington Times)
Hastings seeks to head House intelligence panel (Reuters) (11/23) - A U.S. lawmaker ousted as a federal judge in 1989 on corruption charges tried on Wednesday to convince Democratic colleagues he deserves to head a congressional committee designed to help protect America's security.
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LOL - Sure looks like ETHICS don't bother old pelosi at all....at least not those of the DEMS she wants put in the most important positions. THEN it doesn't matter. Why am I not surprised? lol lol
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
Ann Coulter
[ edited by Linda_K on Nov 25, 2006 08:31 AM ]
posted on November 25, 2006 04:30:21 PM new
No surprise mingo AGAIN misses the point ENTIRELY.
Old pelosi promised to 'clean up DC' because the dems were making judgements about the terrible 'ethics' of the republicans. Pointing all those fingers....while each one pointed....FOUR pointed right back at her.
Then what did she do? Backed murtha...with his OWN ethic problems.
And now this impeached judge....obviously comes with lots of 'ethical' issues of his own.
What's next from old pelosi....who was 'going to clean up DC'? LOL
She's just replacing the unethical reps. with UNETHICAL DEMS. lol lol
Oh yea, that's going to make things a LOT better....LOL LOL LOL NOT!!!
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"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
Ann Coulter
[ edited by Linda_K on Nov 25, 2006 04:33 PM ]
posted on November 25, 2006 07:58:33 PM newWhat's next from old pelosi....who was 'going to clean up DC'? LOL
She's not in charge of cleaning up anything yet, and you're already putting her in the past tense??
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May 1, 2003, America brings "democracy" to Iraq. November 7, 2006, Iraq brings democracy to America.
posted on November 25, 2006 08:06:55 PM new
profe - I don't know what you're talking about.
The murtha support didn't help get him approved. Just the opposite.
Are you under some false impression that filling these committee seats has to wait until they take control in Jan. to be decided? They don't. They can vote on them anytime.
Past tense??? lol Yes, if she keeps this up...her party may see her as a 'has been' before she even takes control. lol
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
Why am I not surprised? lol lol
