Sorry I haven't been posting the last couple of days.  I've been busy with that other job I have, but also, frankly, I just haven't been too inspired to write about much. 

I think I'm suffering from post-Election comedown.  What big political issues are there to write about? Rahm Emanuel's acceptance of Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair in place of Majority Whip?  Snore...

The Nancy Pelosi/Jack Murtha/Steny Hoyer smackdown reeked of political intrigue for me, and the cable talk shows, but when I discussed it last night with friends, their eyes glazed over instantly.  It's boring, silly stuff, which most people apparently are paying little attention to, which is a good thing for Nancy. 

Mr. Ed suggests the whole little tiff was blown out of proportion by the media.  I disagree.  I think Nancy made a big mistake getting involved in the fight between Hoyer and Murtha over who would become Majority Leader. 

Steny Hoyer has apparently spent the last several elections working hard and working early on behalf of Democratic congressional candidates.  These candidates often were longshots, who grew to depend not only Steny for support, but for money.  When these candidates won two weeks ago, and came to Washington, they knew they owed people like Emanuel and Pelosi, but many also had developed an even entire tighter relationship with Steny Hoyer.

Jack Murtha, on the other hand, appears to have done little of that kind of work.  He based his candidacy for majority leader on his commanding opposition to the war in Iraq.  His position is noble, but on financial ethics he has also behaved in a highly corrupt manner, and everyone knows it. 

So why did Nancy endorse Murtha, the less-popular underdog, for the position?  It appears she did it out of a need to demonstrate to the Democratic caucus her personal loyalty, and her newfound power as Speaker.  The first move likely succeeded.  Members now know that if they are loyal to her, as Murtha has been for some time, they will be rewarded with her public support.

But that personal loyalty means little if she has no power to back it up.  In that sense, the second move clearly failed.  By publicly endorsing Murtha, she made a gamble that her position as speaker held more influence over the Democratic House caucus than the personal loyalty they felt to Steny Hoyer.  Steny Hoyer went into the voting with 149 promises on the secret ballot for House Majority Leader.  Despite anyone having  been able to switch their vote secretly to Murtha without Hoyer finding out who it was, Hoyer won the voting with 149 votes.

So all Nancy has gotten out of this is the revealing of her hand—one far weaker than people had assumed.