Dems may feed on their own

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is reporting that Pennsylvania House Democrats may feast on their leader, Rep. Bill DeWeese, as they convene for a private retreat today.

DeWeese, who did not have enough support from his own party to be Speaker of the House even after Democrats won a 1-seat majority in the House in 2006, stumbled throughout 2007.

Not only has he proven to be an ineffective leader, unable to deliver the votes for Gov. Ed Rendell's agenda, but DeWeese himself is the center of attention in the ongoing "Bonusgate" criminal investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General.

The House agenda for 12 months has been "a train running amok, close to a train wreck," Rep. John Pallone, D-New Kensington, told the newspaper. House leaders are distracted and "the public and the members are asking them to be accountable," Pallone said.

Read about DeWeese's ongoing problems in this article by Brad Bumstead and Debra Erdley.

(Cartoon by Randy Bish/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)