Q&A #1 -- Pelosi's Swamp

In our only question so far on this merry Ask Me Anything Wednesday, "Bruce" asks:

When will Nancy Pelosi finally get around to "draining the swamp", as she promised she would more then two years ago?

To refresh people's memories, after the 2006 elections that made her Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi promised quick action on ethics reform. Sayeth Pelosi:

'Drain the swamp' means to turn this Congress into the most honest and open Congress in history. That is my pledge. That is what I intend to do."

The swamp, needless to say, remains fetid. There has been some reform action, mostly around the edges, but nothing that makes good-government and open-windows types jump for joy. I would expect more occasional small measures, allowing Pelosi to claim ongoing action without dramatically affecting the business at hand.

The chummy lobbying relationships continue -- although there doesn't seem to be anything as gross as the DeLay "K Street Project" going on. And to this point, there haven't been a lot of clear signs of actual corruption since the House Democrats took power. That could change, depending on where the Murtha investigation goes -- it has the potential to be very bad, but so far that's just potential. The Charlie Rangel fiasco, still under investigation, has embarrassment potential, but thus far doesn't look like a big blow-up scandal to me. And of course Louisiana voters thankfully spared us further eye-rolling Democratic embraces of Rep. Jefferson.