Dems Go to Bat for Pelosi as Accusations Fly

(NEWSER) - The CIA debacle engulfing Nancy Pelosi stems from two key mistakes on the part of the House speaker, Jay Newton-Small writes in Time. Pelosi’s dangerous belief that media training is “a waste of her time” was demonstrated when she walked away from her own press conference on the subject of interrogation briefings. Her other mistake—or character flaw—is reacting rashly in unanticipated situations. More»

Kristol: Why else would CIA boss 'humiliate' his party's speaker?

(NEWSER) - After Nancy Pelosi suggested the CIA had misled Congress, the agency’s director fired back with a letter denying the claim. But the idea that Leon Panetta would send a letter “humiliating a House speaker of his own party” entirely of his own accord seems “almost inconceivable,” writes William Kristol in the Washington Post. Perhaps he “ran it by” Rahm Emanuel—begging the question: “Does Emanuel (and, presumably, President Obama) want a chastened Pelosi to remain speaker?” More»

Newly released documents show speaker was briefed in 2002

(NEWSER) - Nancy Pelosi and other Congressional leaders received multiple briefings on the CIA's use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation techniques, according to new information released by the Obama administration. Records suggest that Pelosi learned of the CIA's interrogation of Abu Zubaydah in a September 2002 briefing that covered the "particular" methods employed. He had been waterboarded 83 times the previous month, but the speaker has repeatedly said she was never told that waterboarding was used. More»

Give Clyburn TBD No. 3 post, avoid Hoyer dogfight

(NEWSER) - House Democrats have avoided a dogfight over their No. 2 leadership slot, announcing that Steny Hoyer would stay put while Jim Clyburn takes a to-be-determined No. 3 position. The move leaves Nancy Pelosi, who announced the deal last night, without any significant leadership battles ahead of Wednesday's caucus vote, Politico reports. More»

Speaker also reportedly says Dems could grab back 25 seats

(NEWSER) - Nancy Pelosi told top Democrats that President Obama needs to be “perfect” if he wants a second term, several Democratic aides tell Roll Call . She predicted that Obama will face a struggle in 2012 due to the Democrats' loss of governorships in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and other key states, the House Speaker reportedly said in a conference call. But she added that the party will have plenty of chances to reclaim 25 seats and return to the majority. More»