Nothing Really Changes

Radley Balko | November 13, 2006

Defeat?  What defeat?

The depleted House Republican caucus, a minority in the next Congress, convenes at 8 a.m. in the Capitol Friday on the brink of committing an act of supreme irrationality. The House members blame their leadership for tasting the bitter dregs of defeat. Yet, the consensus so far is that, in secret ballot, they will re-elect some or all of those leaders.

In private conversation, Republican members of Congress blame Majority Leader John Boehner and Majority Whip Roy Blunt in no small part for their midterm election debacle. Yet, either Boehner, Blunt or both are expected to be returned to their leadership posts Friday. For good reason, the GOP often is called "the stupid party."

Meanwhile, our new overlords aren't any better.  Nancy Pelosi is moving ahead with her plan to pass over Rep. Jane Harman for House Intelligence Committee in favor of Rep. Alcee Hastings, a former federal judge impeached for taking bribes.  The decision apparently boils down to little more than a catfight between Pelosi and Harman.  No word yet on what the speaker-to-be plans to do with Rep. Mollohan and his seat on the Appropriations Committee.