Pelosi dismisses need for bipartisanship

[sabra]

Source: The Hill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she didn’t come to Washington to be “bipartisan”, one day after shuttling through an $819 economic stimulus bill without a single Republican vote.

“I didn’t come here to be partisan, I didn’t come here to be bipartisan,” Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference. “I came here, as did my colleagues, to be nonpartisan, to work for the American people, to do what is in their interest.”

Pelosi expressed no regrets over passing the stimulus measure without any GOP support. Republicans followed their leaders in objecting to the bill on the grounds that it was put together without GOP input, and that it would not do enough to stimulate the economy.

Repeating the term “nonpartisan” on more than one occasion in describing the bill, the Speaker said her goal was to put President Obama’s vision on paper for the good of the country regardless of the type of support it garnered.

“The president’s agenda is reflected in this legislation,” the Speaker said. “People vote for what they believe in. Clearly, Republicans did not believe in (that) agenda … I think they probably voted their conscience.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-very-happy-with-stimulus-vote-2009-01-29.html

[bdamomma]

voted their conscience?? Nancy?

voted against the American people and the country is more like it.

[Laelth]

18. Most R's lack consciences.

They vote their wallets, 9 times out of 10.

:dem:

-Laelth

[villager]

1. Don't tell me Pelosi is actually wising up!!?

"Bipartisan" is just Republican codespeak for "let us keep fucking with you"

[Plucketeer]

12. I remember GOP "bipartisanship".

We saw disgusting examples of it in the House a couple of sessions back. LOL -- amazing how quickly the GOP forgets the definition of it! :crazy:

We need to fund Alzheimers research and use the GOP reps as a test group.

[PFunk]

17. Hey. Better late than never (especially after her last 8 years).

Looks like any chances of bipartisanship is out the window. The battlelines are now being drawn and blue dog dems better (really) decide which side they're on.

[BlueCaliDem]

2. Wow. Nancy is finally letting a little of that liberal in her shine through.

All I can say is you GO girl and don't you stop.

[liberal N proud]

3. There should be no regrets about passing the stimulus

The fuckers had every opportunity to participate. They didn't get their beloved tax cuts and went right back to their partisan ways.

I suspect that is how they plan on working for the next 2 years at least. They will try to make it look like the liberals are spending this country into debt when it was their 12 years of reign that got us to where we are today.

FUCK EM!

[Demit]

4. I think the use of the word "nonpartisan" is a stupid idea. We didn't vote for nonpartisans last Nov

As if the Democratic leadership hasn't had enough trouble letting us know what their principles are. Now they act like there's no need for them. As if there's a virtue in being neutral. Clumsy, idiotic framing! It's like they're freakin afraid of their own success!!

[Alcibiades]

5. At the very first chance for the minority to demonstrate

bipartisanship, they failed.

Speaker Pelosi should understand that she is Speaker of the House. The House is different from the Senate: in the House, the majority rules. Period.

I would like it very much if Pelosi would step up and be the tough leader we need in the House. This realization is a step in the right direction.

[gratuitous]

6. Interesting headline

It looks like Pelosi was dismissing the need for bipartisanship and partisanship, but only one element of her statement slipped into the headline. I wonder what the editorial thought process at The Hill was for the decision they made? Because The Hill's choice of one word over another makes the headline in opposition to the facts of the story. I mean, if someone only had enough time to scan the headline, they'd get a completely wrong impression of Pelosi's remarks.

Very interesting, indeed.

[Wizard777]

7. Oh so NOW she realizes she doesn't have to bend over backward to kiss Republican butt.

:banghead: Well better late than never.

[cosmicone]

8. I'd rather had a good bill with zero repukes than a bad bill

with their token support.

[biopowertoday]

9. I think the headline

is disingenuous and i am no Pelosi fan.

[Fire1]

10. Right On! Nancy!

[katty]

11. thank you Nancy-finally! Do The People's biz-screw the Rethungs

[SlingBlade]

13. Hello !!! That's what we've been saying

for eight friggin years. :spray:

[No Elephants]

14. Okay, but why did she have to say that Pubs voted their conscience? No Pub has one.

[Zhade]

15. Coulda fooled me these last 8 years, you fucking COWARD.

NT!

[pnorman]

16. "Bipartinship"

Grover Norquist says: "Bipartisanship is another name for date rape," and "We are trying to change the tones in the state capitals-and turn them toward bitter nastiness and partisanship."

But I HEARTILY approve of the President reaching his hand across the aisle in bipartisanship. So they SPAT on it? There are close to 60 Congressmen who may have to really CAMPAIGN to get re-elected in 2010, and "Roadblock Republican" may not be too popular a tag to the voters.

pnorman

[classysassy]

19. Dennis Kucinich

should be the speaker,he would get things done.Bush would have been impeached,there would be a sane middle eastern policy,and he would put those republicans in their proper place,the dungeon.

[Posteritatis]

20. That almost sounds like she's growing a notochord (nt)