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Why is she doing this? Her fast-evaporating political power. Democrats won both the presidency and the Congress she leads, but neither are, like her, a San Francisco Democrat with a far-left political base. Many Dems are showing signs of pragmatism about key issues, sometimes rethinking old positions.
None wants Gitmo terrorists walking around their districts. Most care about recovery and understand how free trade will help. They have questions about the impact of cap-and-trade on the economy. They know voters don't want to be forced into unions with card check. They wonder what health care nationalization will cost.
Pelosi's effort to say she was never briefed by the CIA on interrogations is nothing but an effort to keep the old anti-Bush craziness of her heyday alive among Democrats. That's the premise of her tawdry little lie over events that occurred nearly a decade ago — and it's happening because she is losing power.
Once Pelosi's lie is exposed, the fallout will likely widen the gulf between herself and her fellow Democrats. That opens the door to a challenge to her speakership from a political rival.
House leaders like Steny Hoyer already are making maneuvers consistent with that. If he succeeds, we may see sanity return to the Democratic Party.
