Everyone out there is talking like Pelosi is a done deal. I love the idea of sitting the first female Speaker in history and having a woman so high up in the line of succession. I will in no way be disappointed if a Pelosi speakership does play out.
However, I'd prefer Murtha. At the very least I'd like to see him get some serious consideration and for there to be some debate about the prospect.
Jump if you care to hear my reasoning.
For one thing, Murtha commands tremendous respect from both sides of the aisle and is a clear leader in military matters. This should give him tremendous pull to influence the course of our Iraq policy. Regardless of our control on Congress, Bush is still the Commander in Chief. I fear Congress being relegated to influencing the Iraq debate purely by raising the spectre of of their control over the purse-strings. As I see it, that's a lose-lose situation for the Dems, and opens them up to the criticism of not providing for the troops.
Additionally, we're already hearing the the press talk up Pelosi's repeated eviscerations of Bush and question whether Bush and Pelosi can work together in the face of this lack of respect (whether perceived or real). Many, including Bush himeself, say Pelosi's attacks were just campaign rhetoric, and now they'll just get to work. I just can't envision it not having some effect. Pelosi and Bush would be entering into this relationship with baggage. It's just human nature to distrust someone who has been so critical, and I think Bush is particularly susceptible to this mentality.
While Murtha has been a fierce critic of the conduct of the Iraq war, I don't think his comments have been nearly as personal or directly targeted at Bush. I think they can come to the table starting from a better place raising the liklihood that Bush can return to the bi-partisan attitude he trumpets from his governorship.
Lastly, what happens when the coming investigations reveal the treasonous nature of how the Iraq war was propagandized and sold to the public and Congress on false premises? What happens when the war profiteering and mismanagement are finally exposed? What happens when the evidence show that this administration deserves impeachment?
Pelosi is on record that impeachment will not occur on her watch. While solid evidence could sway public opinion and allow her to go back on that pledge it'd be seen by many as a stain on the Democrats' integrity and fester all the way through the '08 campaign. "Read my lips." We need to take a lesson from Bush 41.
Well, that's my argument, hammer away, I'm new to this.
*UPDATE* Thanks all for the discussion! I've followed politics for many years but have only become engaged in the discussion in these trying times as it appears imperative that we need to fight a rising authoritarian trend. My political education is clearly just beginning.