I know. I know. They haven't even taken office yet. But Nancy Pelosi seems judgment impaired when it comes to leadership choices.

The last election was arguably won on corruption issues in large part and then Iraq secondarily (maybe the other way around, but both were significant).

So why would she be determined to fill the highest offices in the House with ethically challenged members?  Why would she toss aside Steny Hoyer for the ethically troubled Jack Murtha?  And why put bribery-impeached Alcee Hastings in charge of a committee?  And still they have to deal with William Jefferson and his filmed bribery accusations and the $90k he had in his freezer.

There are surely no accusations of corruption against Nancy Pelosi.  But she seems politically tone-deaf and unbendable in her determination to surround herself with loyal but ethically corrupt members.

Anything else that happens in the next two years (and there will be, there always is) will be reported and followed by the recounting of all of these things.  Pelosi has never led the House and maybe she thinks she's bulletproof. 

There's no such thing.

sharp

With the lead Al-Qaeda terrorist giddy over the election results and the departure of Donald Rumsfeld, terrorists will be watching very closely what happens on Capitol Hill.

There were dozens killed in a bombing at a police station and stories of 50 taken hostage yesterday.  Will America have serious discussions about abandoning the people of Iraq who bravely sign up for police duty?  Will they abandon those who haven't left yet because they still hope for peace and stability?

A bitter Congressional fight to stop or reduce funding for Iraq would send a signal that victory is near for the terrorists if they just kick it up a notch for a little longer.  On the other hand, if other countries now feel a greater opportunity to work with America to end the crisis because of the changes in Washington, then we could be on the road to a solution that would save thousands of American and Iraqi lives.  And all Americans could recognize and celebrate that contribution from the Democrats.  And a democratic country in the middle of the Middle East would be of unimaginable value in the war on terrorism.

There is no easy answer.  But all eyes will be on Congress.  For better or worse.

sharp

It's about 70 degrees and beautiful here. I hope it's nice where you are today. I will miss these days when the sun is going down at 6:00 p.m. and it never gets above 35.

But the fall colors have been stunning and, for reasons I don't know, I've noticed it more than before.  I've enjoyed it more than ever. 

God has painted this place beautiful.  This has to be close to heaven.

sharp

They went to a school and shot and killed little children.

Just like the Chechen Muslim rebels who held a school hostage and then killed many of the kids.

There are sick people in the world, like the lone American who shot kids at an Amish school.  And then there are evil people who dream up ways to kill the most innocent at the least personal risk and say it's all for Allah.

Just as America was never without sin as long as we condoned slavery and then racism, so Islam will bear the guilt and the stain while they stand silent.

This is the kind of evil anyone can condemn.  And yet it's so similar to blowing up a cafe or a police station.  And so prevalent.  Where is the condemnation?  Where is the stain?

sharp

Just as I had predicted. The falling price of oil and growing foreign markets should keep this on a downward trend for a couple of months. This tax-cut driven economy is in terrific shape.  A couple of other notes:

• The continued surge in job growth will keep downward pressure on the deficit as payroll taxes swell.
• The surging stock market continues to add dramatically to wealth and will also provide additional tax revenue and keep the deficit falling.
• Jobs are growing at a phenomenal rate.  The household survey shows the massive growth that makes the unemployment rate of 4.4% make sense. 

But didn't Clinton "create" more jobs?  Not exactly.  Bush overcame massive obstacles while Clinton rode the wave of current growth and military spending cuts.

• Clinton inherited an economy growing at 3%; Bush inherited an economy that went negative 2 of the 3 quarters before his first full quarter as President. 
• Due to its lagging response to major economic shifts, this gave Clinton millions of jobs and removed them from the Bush years. 
• Katrina
• 9/11
• The tech bubble that created the surplus
• The stock market fraud from the Clinton years that wiped out billions in wealth and in tax dollars after Bush took office.

Bush's economic performance has been outstanding.  Let's hope the new guys with the keys don't try to undo it.

sharp