Pelosi's Epiphany: "We’re enablers. We’ve become enablers."

[bigtree]

Joan Walsh ?@joanwalsh 4m

Nancy Pelosi on Dems: "We’re enablers. We’ve become enablers. We can’t be that anymore." http://www.salon.com/2013/10/11/nancy_pelosi_%e2%80%9cwe_can%e2%80%99t_be_enablers_anymore%e2%80%9d/ … via @Salon

excerpt from Salon interview:

Salon: Can you see yourself providing the votes of Democrats for something that lifts the debt ceiling but doesn’t open the government?

Pelosi: Well, we’ll have to see what it is. If they need our votes, they don’t come for nothing. You know what I’m saying? They go one of two ways for votes. They either go to the over the edge crowd and insist the government stay shut down, well, that’s not going anyplace. The president’s not going to sign it, the Senate Democrats are not going to pass it. I mean, if not only do they not address the government shutdown, but they insist that the government stay shut down, as a condition of lifting the debt ceiling? No. So if they come to us, we say, we want to lift the debt ceiling, we want to open government, that’s where the votes are.

Salon: So it sounds like you’re saying to me that you can’t see an endgame where you provide Democratic votes for something that does not open the government…

Pelosi: I’m not saying that because I haven’t seen whatever else they are proposing that might mitigate the damage they are causing. I’m pretty constant on the subject that I don’t know what we’ll do until we see what it is that they’re going to propose…

Salon: OK, I will not put words in your mouth.

Pelosi: (Laughs) Again, we want this to be a year [debt-ceiling extension]. That it’s six weeks, it’s ridiculous. But if we can help them do both, open the government and protect the full faith and credit of the United States – well, we reserve the right to do both. But six weeks is not a good thing. I mean, these are both “No’s” – shut down government, and lift the debt ceiling for just six weeks – it’s not like one’s good, and one’s a bitter pill. No. They’re both bitter pills. It’s all bad. But we’ll see what we have to do. And one thing they know about us is that we’re responsible. And they think that we’ll hold them in good stead, that they can be irresponsible and we will save the day. So I think that we have to think about the long term in all of this.

Salon: Yes, at some point, could being the “responsible” party actually be irresponsible, because it keeps them coming back and asking for more.

Pelosi: That’s exactly right. We’re enablers. We’ve become enablers. We can’t be that anymore.

[Laelth]

1. k&r for WISDOM. I applaud this approach. n/t

-Laelth

[meow2u3]

2. It's about time Pelosi opened her eyes to the truth about the repigs

The more you give into blackmail, the more they'll up the ante. All I can say is better late than never, unless it's too late.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

38. The first step is admitting you have a problem ...

... even if it is years after the rest of us have known about it.

[closeupready]

3. Yes. Finally! Finally, they discovered how self-destructive

the GOP has become, and Dems are not going down with them. K&R

[joeybee12]

4. That's good that she recognizes it...but like all enablers, they need

to work to change their behavior.

[The Magistrate]

5. She Is Absolutely Right, Sir

They have to drop the gun and kick it over to the officer; they cannot just tuck it back into the waist-band and drape a shirt-tail over it.

The debt ceiling must be raised by an amount sufficient to ensure it the next Congress which must vote to raise it, and the continuing resolution must be for the full fiscal year --- neither can have any condition attached.

"I will fight it out on this line if it takes all summer long."

[IdaBriggs]

6. Great imager with the gun and the officer.

[BlueCaliDem]

7. Excellent metaphor, Magistrate!

[calimary]

10. Agreed!

[Sentath]

17. I'm not sure where I'm going to use it, but that is so f'ing stolen ( ;

As of right now.

Thank You!




Really ( :

[awoke_in_2003]

18. Leave it to you...

to come up with the perfect metaphor.

[Politicub]

8. Love Pelosi

Always have and always will. I hope we get to see her as speaker of the house again.

[bigtree]

9. I'm a fan

. . . most of the time (which is as close as I've EVER come to 'loving' our Democratic legislators). She's a sure bet for Speaker, given the makeup of the leadership; a smart choice, I think.

[calimary]

12. I do too. I also hope she remains clear-eyed about NOT being an enabler anymore!

She's a mother and a grandmother. SURELY she's been around enough whiny infants and toddlers to recognize spoiled-brat tantrum-throwing behavior, and as a mother and a grandmother, SURELY she knows how that kind of disobedient, destructive behavior MUST be handled.

[NuclearDem]

11. Could've told you that years ago, Pelosi.

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. I think we did.

[Tansy_Gold]

51. Indeed, a lot of us did. n/r

[BlueCheese]

14. I was hoping she was talking about the NSA...

... and the way she fought to kill the Amash-Conyers amendment.

[Downtown Hound]

15. Does this mean you'll actually start listening to people that have been TELLING YOU THIS FOR YEARS?

[deutsey]

21. Let's not get crazy, now

Seriously, let's hope this indicates a new direction...well, "new" for some, anyway.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

62. Unlikely

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. 'Bout bloody time

[Orsino]

19. So do something.

Or tell me that nothing can be done until you retake the House.

[GoneFishin]

20. Wow. nt

[bvar22]

22. WOW. Pelosi finally WAKES UP!

Too bad she was still snoozing and enabling for this:

[font color=white]..........................[/font][font size=5]Now THIS is Bi-Partisanship![/font]


Is it too late for a Claw Back?

Did Nancy "wake up",
or is she just watching the Weather Vane?

----bvar22
Cursed with a Memory
and a belief that people should keep their promises.



You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]

[Fumesucker]

23. Bless her heart

[Zorra]

24. The Liberals here at DU have been saying they're enablers over and over, for more than a decade. nt

[Doctor_J]

44. The few that are still here

and I am on the ignore list of around 40 BOGers, so they have their fingers in their ears.

[Tansy_Gold]

52. there are quite a few of us who haven't left

and who are still shouting.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

61. 40? Good for you.

[cui bono]

25. It's about time she realized this. Dems need to keep using that term.

The public will understand it very well I think.

I also like her wording of this:

I mean, if not only do they not address the government shutdown, but they insist that the government stay shut down, as a condition of lifting the debt ceiling?

That needs to be repeated constantly too.

[MannyGoldstein]

26. Does that mean the Third Way will stop vexing me for saying that?

Or is Pelosi under the Third Way bus now?

Or is this something the Third Way is saying right now because it's convenient, but will drop later if interfere's with their ability to earn?

[NuclearDem]

27. Well, the campaign for those 17 seats is in full swing.

Sounds like we're getting our first taste of Election Democrats now. If only they would be the same when they're Elected Democrats.

[MannyGoldstein]

29. That's probably it.

Sigh.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

54. Election Democrats <> Elected Democrats

They'll talk pretty until the day after the election - then back to business as usual.

Election Democrats ? Elected Democrats

I like that, NuclearDem!

[zeemike]

35. It is just words Manny.

But when it comes to action it is taken off the table.

[Rex]

40. Impossible, that is their only narrative.

If they lose it, then their house of cards comes crashing down around them.

[mckara]

28. It was More of a Self-Actualization than an Epiphany

but I get your intention.

[bigtree]

31. of course, she meant it as 'self-actualization'

. . . but it it reads to most observant folks here as an epiphany - at least, there's hope that it is one.

[mckara]

32. In Unusual Circumstances, One Observes Something and Its Radiance Causes an Epiphany

I recognize that John Boehner radiates an orange glow while reeking of cigarettes and alcohol, but I would hesitate before calling that an Epiphany.

[KoKo]

36. Her Epiphany might be the thought of Ted Cruz replacing Reid in Senate...

as Majority Leader if Dems lose Senate in 2014. Nancy is old enough to remember Joe McCarthy and probably sees the resemblance in Ted Cruz. If she runs again...she doesn't want to have to deal with Ted Cruz from a minority position.

[leftyohiolib]

30. you yourself enabled this and much more when you took impeachment off the table

[bullwinkle428]

33. EMOTARIAN!!! Get ready for your primary challenge, Nancy!

K&R.

[Veilex]

37. "Pelosi: That’s exactly right. We’re enablers. We’ve become enablers. We can’t be that anymore."

Its finally been said! Yes!!! The first step to solving any problem is to acknowledge that there is one! Lets keep this ball rollin!

[BillyRibs]

39. 2 words,

YA THINK!?

[Doctor_J]

41. Here's what I'd have done in 2009

1. Say, "We're truning the page but looking forward. We will not prosecute the bush officials for war crimes, but priority 1 will be to repair as much damage as possible, THIS YEAR.

2. Start ramming through progressive laws. after the 3rd faux-fillibuster, go nuclear.

3. Introduce SP HC, and repeat over and over the numbers of uninsured Americans and bankruptcies caused by medical bills. Talk every day about how obstructive Repukes and hate Radio are literally causing the deaths of thousands of Americans. Do this until they either give in, or election day 2010.

4. Talk every day about borrow and spend Repukes.

5. Tie the DC Dems to Levin, Limpballs, Beck, Fox News, and the other thousands of hate radio hosts, every day.

IOW, ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK.

They screwed up the chance of a generation.

[grahamhgreen]

46. On point 3, hit hard and say that they are killing children by not having Medicare for All, which,

of course, they are.

[Doctor_J]

48. This tactic works even if the righties don't relent

if they'd fought for major changes for 18 months, and failed because of obstruction from the far right, all the Obama voters from 2008 would have shown up again in 2010, and our majorities would have grown. This appeasement or enabling has repercussions beyond just Ted Cruz.

[indepat]

42. My Dear Minority Leader Pelosi: The enabling commenced the day you took impeachment

off the table imo. Respectfully.

[grahamhgreen]

45. Exactly. And before that with the Patriot Act, the War on Iraq, Tax cuts etc.....

[indepat]

47. The entire litany of unpatriotic acts and deeds is appalling imo

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

49. Don't worry. There will be more enabling,

and if is not with the GOP then it will be with her own party.

I haven't had much trust 4 her since she took things off the table.

[JEB]

63. That is where my mind instantly went as well.

"Fool me once, shame on me, er, ...can't get fooled again". I guess I'm just old and cynical, but I hope I'm wrong. She is quite smart and it's good to see her making a stand.

[Uncle Joe]

50. Kicked and recommended for epiphanies.

Thanks for the thread, bigtree.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

53. That's what happens when you take things "off the table."

Give an inch, they will take a mile.

Pelosi made that bed.

[Skittles]

55. oh NOW she f***ing gets it???

Dems would not be in this mess if they had not enabled these whiny bastards

[bigtree]

56. kick

[sibelian]

57. AHHHHHHH so when it comes down to THE MONEY is when the "epiphany" happens....

SurprIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISE!

NOT.

[SHRED]

58. When she said "Impeachment is off the table" she should have realized this

[Iwillnevergiveup]

59. Nancy

lacks the consistent progressive spirit that is sorely needed in the House, but I like what she's saying in this interview.

[heaven05]

60. epiphany?????

well,I guess better late than never

[AnotherMcIntosh]

64. Is she running for re-election? Have her poll numbers dropped sufficiently to wake her up?

[Paladin]

65. Ms. Pelosi, if Dick Cheney isn't sending you thank-you notes.....

...to this very day for the way you enabled the worst actions of the Cheney-Bush regime, he damn well ought to be. Thanks (I guess) for acknowledging what's been obvious for a long time.

[bigtree]

66. .