Already – as I told you – we see the Democrats beginning to fall apart before they come together. Pelosi’s first insistance on “intergrity in the House” hit a sink hole, by her backing of Cowardly Murtha:

“The race to be the No. 2 House Democratic leader turned nasty Tuesday, with challenger Rep. John Murtha accusing opponents of “swift-boat style attacks” that hark back to his days being investigated in the FBI’s 1980 Abscam sting.

Murtha won endorsement Monday from Nancy Pelosi, who is widely expected to be the House speaker. But Murtha is opposed by some liberals who say they are not happy with the Pennsylvania lawmaker’s pro-gun and anti-abortion record. Others say Pelosi took a wrong turn in backing Murtha over her current deputy Rep. Steny Hoyer because Murtha’s record is marred by ethics questions of the type Pelosi pledged to clean up in Congress.”

Abscam isn’t Murtha’s only baggage:

“Murtha was not indicted in the bribes-for-political-favors probe and ultimately cleared of wrongdoing by the House ethics committee. But his raunchy language and open-ended option to consider a future deal with undercover FBI agents is forever captured on videotape.

The New York Times on Tuesday also reported that Murtha helped block changes in ethics policies that Democrats proposed last year and is known as “an astute backroom-deal maker known for trading votes for the pet projects known as earmarks. He has had family members who lobbied on issues under his control.”

It always cracks me up to hear democrats talk about cutting pork. Hell they invented it!

Murtha’s done, watch for a “hasty retreat” as Hoyers shores up votes. This will substantially weaken Pelosi before she even gets off the ground. Contrary to popular opinion she is completely despised by many of the moderates and even left of center of her party. Her “ramrod” style doesn’t sit well and quite frankly it’s still a “good ole boys” club up on the hill, and I got a feeling that there are many who aren’t exactly dancing in the streets about her being the first woman Speaker of the House. Which lends me to believe that there is possibly what Curly Joe used to call “sabatoogie”.

UPDATE: More on the background of who saved Murtha’s bacon way back when.

UPDATE II: Michelle Malkin covers Murtha’s history like a cloud.