Nunes' take-no-prisoners tactics attract spotlight, criticism

Michael Doyle | McClatchy Newspapers • Published October 18, 2009

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Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein was more blunt.

"I've been very disappointed in his approach, to hit and hit," Feinstein said in an interview. "I just see him as striking out blindly, and that's really not helpful."

Most broadly, Nunes' approach toward California water policy raises important questions about congressional tactics, strategy and personality. In brief: When is compromise weakness, and when is it victory? Put another way: When is sending a message on a losing vote no longer sufficient, and what happens then?

"He's done an excellent job at raising awareness," Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., said of Nunes. "People are now aware of these things."

Or, as Nunes put it: "If I come across as angry, it's because I am."

That's sometimes obvious, as in an Oct. 14 hearing of the House Rules Committee. The panel chairwoman, 80-year-old Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York -- herself a stout Democratic partisan -- physically recoiled when Nunes harshly denounced the committee's unwillingness to allow California water amendments.

The amendments themselves, such as one suspending the Endangered Species Act, are opposed by the Obama administration. Their primary purpose, some on Capitol Hill believe, is to send a political message.

Payback can take several forms. Campbell, for one, had his resolution honoring the University of California at Irvine men's volleyball team blocked by Democratic leaders because he sided with Nunes on a water vote. Nunes himself has been left out of certain water policy discussions. He doesn't request earmarked spending, though, so that can't be taken away from him.

"Devin has been both effective and deleterious," said Rules Committee member Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced. "It's totally appropriate to try to fix this (water) problem, but I've been disappointed with him on some of his tactics."

Nunes' reputation is such that politicians sometimes see his hand even when Nunes himself denies involvement.

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