The Skinny: Nancy Pelosi Plays Party Girl

(CBS)  The Skinny is Hillary Profita's take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet. The Skinny is off for the holidays. It returns on Jan. 2.

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Belle Of the Ball

Before the holidays kick off, a dose of political news crowds a few front pages. Incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is planning "four days of celebration" in honor of well, herself as the new speaker. But it's "more than just a party," writes the Washington Post.

Pelosi is presenting herself "as the new face of the Democratic Party" and attempting to "restore the party's image as one hospitable to ethnic minorities, families, religion, the working class and women."

Thus, the celebratory events will highlight portions of her personal life (visiting her blue-collar Baltimore hinterland, attending Mass at her alma mater) "while muting her liberal voting record and ideology."

The planned activities receive the approval of Ken Sunshine, Democratic communications consultant to the stars: "If she's going to Mass, right on. Going to Baltimore, right on. This is really where she's from. She wasn't born in an elite setting."

On the other hand, Mike Murphy, Republican strategist, is appalled: "What? No fireworks? I'm glad they canceled the tickertape parade. They probably couldn't find biodegradable tickertape and a hybrid convertible." Snap!

In other self-congratulatory political celebration news, "some of the nation's governors are still collecting from individuals and corporations to pay for their upcoming inaugurations," writes USA Today.

And some of the donations "vastly exceed what state law allows." But unlike campaign cash, "most states don't limit or require public disclosure of inaugural fundraising." So incoming Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is accepting contributions of up to $50,000, while state law apparently limits campaign contributions from individuals to $500 a year.

Sunny Iraq Dominates Front Pages

Four Marines were have been charged with murder in connection with the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians -- some women and children -- in the town of Haditha in November 2005. The news makes the front pages of three major papers and the top of the Wall Street Journal's newsbox.

Four more officers were charged with dereliction of duty "and failure to ensure that accurate information about the killings was delivered up the Marine Corps' chain of command," writes the NYT. More ranking officers could be punished "administratively" in the future.

Papers emphasize the gravity of this particular case. The Washington Post writes that the "accusations set up what could be the highest-profile atrocity prosecution to arise from the Iraq war" and the NYT writes that military experts said the charges "reflect an unusually aggressive judicial reaction by military prosecutors…"

The case "is regarded as the most serious" compared to other military prosecutions related to Iraqi civilian deaths "because of the number of victims and Marines involved and because the Marine Corps initially said the slain civilians had been caught in the crossfire between insurgents and U.S. forces," writes the LA Times.

Lawyers for the four Marines charged with murder said their clients are innocent in statements explaining that "the killings were an unfortunate result of marines properly responding to an insurgent attack in a dangerous area," writes the NYT. Article 32 hearings to determine whether the case will be court-martialed "could begin next month."

A New Program For At-Risk Democrats

Democrats are enrolling some members of Congress in a new program: the "incumbent retention program," explains the New York Times' front page.

It's a plan by the party to provide those lawmakers whose seats are the "most politically shaky" in the 2008 campaign with "plum committee assignments, prized bill sponsorship and an early start on fund-raising."

Said Florida Democratic Congressman Ron Klein, who defeated incumbent E. Clay Shaw, the message from the higher ups has been clear: "You're running in two years. The campaign starts now, and you need to be prepared. We're not wasting time." It's never too early, after all.

Holiday Travel: Dazed And Confused

And in the grand tradition of holiday travel stories, two front pages reveal that this year's travel isn't just busy, but the weather is also pretty crappy in some places -- "snarled," actually, as the Washington Post's front page puts it, "by a major storm that dumped more than two feet of snow in Colorado and forced authorities to close the Denver airport for nearly two days."

The LA Times adopts the same verbiage, "Major Storms Snarl Holiday Air Travel," reads its front-page headline. Denver airport was "pelted" by over two feed of snow, explained the LAT. And both papers mention the fog that is plaguing London (or "shroud[ing] runways" as the LAT puts it,) leading to "a wave of flight cancellations," says the Post.

The award for best disgruntled traveler quote goes to the Post, uttered by Jared Keith, "business traveler" stuck in Denver: "I'd trade my laptop right now for a clean pair of pants," he said.

And with that, Happy Holidays. The Skinny returns Jan. 2.

[bildooreilly]

yep the politicians in D.C. no matter which party they're in party down with all the party girls and party boys while america crumbles under their insane policies and purposeful misleadership, meanwhile all the two party talking heads and all their parrots mimick everything they see and hear on television never realizing it's all just a charade to sucker you out of a nother dime... suckers

[jn122736]

Come on people; show a little understanding.
By wording the title of the story in this manner CBS has given those in mourning for their losses in November, a rare opportunity to vent their frustration.

Most of them are very disappointed, to say the least, in the way this administrations has let the country down (including their most ardent supporters).
I%u2019m sure they find it very hard to criticize or to defend them.

There are a few who do not fit in this category but they are so obvious you have no problem recognizing them.

[baldfrog-2009]

aaaahhhh the money don't worry we shook down,Rove,and Cheney for the Party as fair well Christmas present from them.
Merry Christmas,Karl,*** and George and thanks for giving Congress back to us.Next on the ageneda we are going to stop funding your illegal war and bring the guys home so the all American People can have a nice Chistmas gift soon.Till then we are going Jingle Bells Rock just knowing Happy Days are Here Again.HAHAHAHA
Anyone care to Texas Two Step?
Merry Christmas America!

[oleander8]

Why shouldn't the Democrats hold a victory party? It's the beginning of the end of 6 years of devastating "leadership".

[phd2006-2009]

What age is the incoming senior Congresswoman, Nancy Pelosi? The gender term for a grown-up female is woman, not girl, buddy boys (who don't distinguish age differences--ie. the Foley child seduction cover-up by the former house speaker): that's "Madam Speaker" to you, minority-party Strategist, Congresswomen, Congressmen & Senators.

As to GOP Strategist pubescent speaking, Mike Murphy's loose-lipped, dig-the-ever-blindered-GOP-one-more-silver-foot-in-the-mouth-deeper-into-their-grave say on his party's typical disconcern & unconscientiousness about the state of our shared environment being wounded with pollution & toxins, "What? No fireworks? I'm glad they canceled the tickertape parade. They probably couldn't find biodegradable tickertape and a hybrid convertible,"

I say, surely, the GOP was a do-nothing one, even as it had full control of every branch of government, & continued to further violent pollution & misappropriations of precious unspoiled land with Earth degrading, animal & people exploiting toxins. Laugh, man, laugh: expose GOP values for all to read & hear, since as their strategist what you say publicly represents the whole GOP!

It's refreshing to know that incoming Madam Speaker is taking our environment into her own personal care. Even as a GOP strategist, who better get up to speed in 2007 CE lest his party be completely wiped out in 2008, taunts environmental concerns, as if they are somehow trivial! ... stupidity to be cont'd.

[bluestardad]

must be low on news to run this thing as long.

[lmossbrook]

I would be embarrassed, but then nothing seem to bother these people. Spend that money. That's all they're good for.

[mh4cbs1]

Condi, lets be a bit more clear on who does the investing and who does the sacrificing...

It is the very WEALTHY who "Invest" in Iraq. They have already reaped huge War Profits as their return on investment. War is a great Business to be in. But they make NO sacrifices.

It is the POOR and MIDDLECLASS who Sacrifice in Iraq. They die and are wounded every day. Many joined up because they couldn't afford rising tuition costs and the cuts in student loans (how convenient for recruiters). 3,000 have died, being treated as cannon fodder for your imperial War. The soon to be $450 BILLION cost will be debt for their children to pay off.

So Condi, please be a little more specific about just who it is that "invests" and who makes the sacrifices. Maybe the sheeple of America will wake up and throw you and your co-fascists in JAIL, where you all belong.

[lamoyer0]

"Nancy Pelosi Plays Party Girl" ????
Now there's some pretty transparent right-wing 'framing' for ya! Calling Pelosi, the first woman to be elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, a 'girl' is intended to create an image/impression of immaturity and frivolity unbecoming the leader that she most definitely IS. "Party Girl": creates the image of immorality and wasting funds on a 'party,' which supporters are probably paying for, anyway. As if no other speaker in U.S. history has ever had celebratory parties or receptions upon their election! Yet, the media doesn't call THEM "Party Boys"!! This is so obvious, it's disgusting! The sarcastic and demeaning title of this article, alone, is enough to make one nauseas! The media, this time CBS, needs to take a big, deep breath and pull its own head out of it%u2019s a--! Maybe a good hard kick in the butt from the public, sick to death of this stuff, is just what they need to make them pull their heads out of their butts (or out of their checkbooks). Maybe, with the light of day, they'd realize that what we and the world really want is some TRUTH from them... I mean, for a change!

[lamoyer0]

"Nancy Pelosi Plays Party Girl" ????
Now there's some pretty transparent right-wing 'framing' for ya! Calling Pelosi, the first woman to be elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, a 'girl' is intended to create an image/impression of immaturity and frivolity unbecoming the leader that she most definitely IS. "Party Girl": creates the image of immorality and wasting funds on a 'party,' which supporters are probably paying for, anyway. As if no other speaker in U.S. history has ever had celebratory parties or receptions upon their election! Yet, the media doesn't call THEM "Party Boys"!! This is so obvious, it's disgusting!
The sarcastic and demeaning title of this article, alone, is enough to make one nauseas! The media, this time CBS, needs to take a big, deep breath and pull its own head out of it%u2019s a--! Maybe a good hard kick in the butt from the public, sick to death of this stuff, is just what they need to make them pull their heads out of their butts (or out of their checkbooks). Maybe, with the light of day, they'd realize that what we and the world really want is some TRUTH from them... I mean, for a change!