Pelosi in a Pinch
Is House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi already backing down on one of the Democratic Party’s main campaign planks?
During the campaign, Pelosi and her party pledged to implement any recommendations of the 9/11 commission which have yet to be enacted. Well, the commission argued that “members should serve indefinitely on the intelligence committees, without set terms, thereby letting them accumulate expertise.” But Pelosi’s people have been citing term limits as a main reason for trying to block Democratic Rep. Jane Harman, an initial supporter of the Iraq war, from becoming chairman of the House Intelligence Committee (click here for backgrounder).
Harman’s campaign for the job has generated support in some circles, but may also have gotten her into some trouble. Before this is over, Pelosi will have to come up with a different reason for dumping Harman or appear to betray a pretty black-and-white campaign promise.
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