In the aftermath of last night's election, we can expect Nancy Pelosi to be handed the blame for losing the House. She was the face of the Congressional Democrats and a favorite target of the hate ads.
But the reality is that Speaker Pelosi was the only national Democratic leader who delivered what the voters in the last two election cycles had demanded, an effective alternative to the failed Republican policies that brought the nation to its knees. We will never be able to measure the difference that the larger and more powerful economic stimulus, the stronger health plan with a public option, the targeted tax cuts for small businesses, or the hundreds of other bills she marshalled through the House against the total opposition of Republicans and the resistance of the Blue Dogs, only to see them killed or maimed beyond recognition by the dysfunctional Senate, would have made in the lives of suffering Americans, or whether they would have been enough to moderate the inevitable midterm backlash.
But if Barack Obama and Harry Reid had the courage, commitment and leadership skills of Speaker Pelosi, both the country and the Democratic party would be better off than they are now or are likely to be for at least the next two years. They survive, and she'll be expected to take the fall for their failure, not hers.
History will show the first female Speaker of the House was also the most effective legislative leader of her generation, and one of the greatest in the history of the country.
Speaker Nancy, you deserved better.
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Linda Ann Rentschler
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Thanks, Roy.
Mr. President, I still support you, but are you listening? You gave away too much, too willingly. I wanted President Bad Ass.
rated.
thank-you.
From my perspective, her biggest problem was simply a personality that was impossible to warm up to -- she gave off the same elitist vibes that are at the heart of the venom dumped on Obama. I suppose, it could have been even worse for her, tho, if she was black.
Lawless makes a good point. I note with interest that 50% of the Blue Dog Democrats who were up for re-election went down in flames. Being more "republican" gave them no benefit.
But dont count her out. She wont disappear over the horizon. Theres a lot of good ol' fighting democrat behind those overly stretched eyes.
I second Shiral's notion that we need President Bad Ass and don't get him.
I also am saddened by the chastening effect this defeat will have on the already underwhelming Barack Obama. The losses from last night are sure to be used by the Larry Summers wing of the party to further rationalize kissing the asses of a political opposition that has just been rewarded for cynicism and intransigence.
My hair-brained prediction for Pelosi's future: She's going to run for Feinstein's senate seat in 2012. With Brown and Boxer both taking statewide races by double digit margins, she might just win it.
And here we all are holding the bag again, wondering if the mortgage is about to outstrip the value of our homes and if our friends who have been out of work for an interminably long time will ever find work that is worthy again. Nancy did her best to do something about those issues. I hope she runs for Feinstein's seat next.
I think we will all have cause to wish Pelosi back in charge, and sooner rather than later.
I think, however, that Pelosi bears as much blame as any other Democrats in Congress for the failures we’ve seen from our government over the past four years. Beginning with the FISA vote BEFORE the 2006 midterms, we’ve seen congressional Dems turn their backs on the core values of progressives and our concept of “rule of law”. Kowtowing to conservatives in virtually every piece of legislation that has come down during the past two years, they have failed progressive values and have appeased conservative/corporate interests at every turn.
Their abandonment of those values continues today, and their losses --- our losses --- are a byproduct of extreme political investments by the very forces to which they kowtowed. Whether people admit it or not, there is a war going on within our own country and progressives cannot win that war by strengthening and more deeply entrenching the enemy. Now, we will see a further deterioration of our nation as these conservative idiots --- Republican AND Democrat, alike --- further destroy our core values.
Are we a nation of people? I think only if corporations are people. Oh, wait, …they are. Sociopaths are in control.
RATED
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"I think, however, that Pelosi bears as much blame as any other Democrats in Congress for the failures we’ve seen from our government over the past four years. Beginning with the FISA vote BEFORE the 2006 midterms, we’ve seen congressional Dems turn their backs on the core values of progressives and our concept of “rule of law”. Kowtowing to conservatives in virtually every piece of legislation that has come down during the past two years, they have failed progressive values and have appeased conservative/corporate interests at every turn."
Thirty years ago, she'd have been considered a moderate repugnicant, and I don't vote for moderate repugnicants.
She failed to uphold her oath of office which was to defend the constitution.
If repugnicant had voted positively on issues that benefitted her multi-millionaire husband, progressive would be all over it. She's a woman, she's a democrat, that doesn't excuse her hypocrisy.
Just one instance: one of many such votes
Shame on me, such a sexist remark, but I'll be d*mned if I can see any other reason for the junk dumped on this woman.
Here's a blowout 2012 ticket - H Clinton and N Pelosi.
Katie bar the door and get the h*ll out of the way...
;)
Rated for unspoken truths.
is, I think, why the vote went the way it did.
Good riddance as Speaker, Ms. Pelosi.
People even ridicule her physical appearance. She is 70 and looks great. She's the best-dressed person in the U. S. IMHO.
In their relentless lust for power they transformed one of the best Speakers in decades into the most hated Speaker in decades.