Pelosi's ducking on waterboarding
The Speaker embroiled in political controversy? It may have proved fatal for Michael Martin's career at Westminster but in the US partisan feuds have been meat and drink to Nancy Pelosi, the fuel on which the Speaker of the House of Representatives has thrived. Until now.
Rep Pelosi is one of the more polarising personalities to occupy a post which, in America, is always intensely party political. After all, the US Speaker leads their party in Congress and is thus expected to embody exactly what the UK Speaker must avoid: political bias.
But Ms Pelosi, a California liberal and always a lightning rod for Republican ire, has left herself wide open to attacks from opponents of all stripes over her recent confusion over the CIA and torture.
The issue, as ever, turns on what the politician knew and when she knew it.
Ms Pelosi has been a long standing critic of the "enhanced interrogation techniques" fostered by the Bush administration for suspected terrorists.
She, like many others, condemned the measures as torture and led the demands that those responsible be held accountable.
But then it was revealed that Ms Pelosi herself might be considered "responsible". As the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee it has emerged that she was briefed on the interrogations, and most significantly on the use of simulated drowning - or waterboarding - more than six years ago by the CIA.
She hadn't uttered a word of dissent.
While Ms Pelosi's initial denial and subsequent embarrassment has rumbled on for weeks the CIA has today been in court defending its right to keep its secrets over the interrogations.
At Westminster, Michael Martin's successor will be chosen before the month is out. Ms Pelosi, the Speaker across the ocean, will probably outlast Speaker Martin.
But even if the row over when she was in the loop doesn't prove her downfall, the torture issue lives on, more publically than ever, in a variety of court cases and congressional committees. It isn't going away.
Speaker Pelosi, facing accusations of humbug and hypocrisy, has to steel herself for months more duckings on the political waterboard.

~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~31~RS~)
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GERRYMANDERING!
The (AIE/W)American Israeli Empire-West, is not Parliment you can not have a vote of no confidence, or like the Republic of California a
Recall of its State Elected Officials. Pelosi is from San Francisco, California, and like all the (544) Imperial Court has a Gerrymandered District, and that means it was set up to ensure the seat is held by the one selected by the "Elite" to hold it "Till Death Do Them Part". If it is not the present candidate then it will be a relative.
In San Diego, County, in the South of The Republic of California Republican Duncan Hunter, retired and his son took the seat of his old man. That how works, that is how it is , and that is why the (AIE) is an Empire. The names may appear to be different but in reality they are generally within family units.
The Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger is married to Maria Schriever who is what? Yes, a cousin to the Kennedy family blood line. The Daily Family owns Chicago, Jesse Jacksons Son is in politics. Mario Cuomo the former Governor of New York States son is the states Attorney General looking to move into D.C. politics, and one of the two top slots Pres. or V.P. Bill Clintons brother is married to Senator Diane Boxers of Californias daughter, and the list goes on and on.
The Empire is more like the court of Czarist Russia, The French Court, or British Royality then one would think. Which means GROUP THINK, they all think the same, and how do you get change with Group Think, get rid of the entire Group.
Pelosi or any other of the (544) Imperial Court can stay in their positions until they are carried out feet first, only to be replaced by a family member. So, Pelosi will stay just were she is at as long as she desires or until her last breath.
Gerrymandering is like Tenure, or life time appointment to the bench, we should all be that lucky.
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Peter:
The Speaker embroiled in political controversy?
I am not advocating and/or knowing of the situation and of it facts...But, Speaker Pelosi, was simplying telling what her version of the story that the CIA, was not being forthright with her...in regards to the waterboarding time and how many times it was done....
~Dennis Junior~
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