a shocking email from Nancy Pelosi

[welshTerrier2]

i received this in an email today from Nancy Pelosi ... pretty shocking change in tone, don't you think? either the Congressional dems have decided to play a little offense or they are expecting an all out assault by the republicans ...

Fight Republican Corruption: Co-Sponsor the Pact for Progress

Rep. Nancy Pelosi

Dear welshTerrier2,

Democrats in Congress are in a battle for the very soul of our nation with Republicans whose arrogance and abuse of power have made a mockery of Congress. As House Democratic Leader, I should know.

We must ask ourselves, do we want to adopt corruption, indifference to suffering, and contempt for democracy as American values? Will we allow the progress America has made over the past five decades under Democratic leadership to be erased in a few short years by an extreme right-wing Congress run amuck?

The Republicans in the House of Representatives, Senate, and White House are awash in scandals involving everything from bribery and intimidation on the House floor to vicious attacks on America's most vulnerable. Are these the "moral values" that the Republicans like to crow about?

They are not my moral values.

This morning, my fellow House Democrats and I signed the Pact for Progress, a simple statement of unity in defense of the American ideals and democracy we cherish. I ask you to join me today as a Citizen Co-sponsor of this Pact in a strong statement that we will not stand by as Republicans try to turn back the clock on all that America has accomplished as a nation:

http://www.democraticaction.org/pact/index.php?source=democrats

The Republicans' arrogance and abuse of power have risen to new heights in this 109th Congress. Never before has the institution of the House of Representatives -- which is supposed to represent all of the American people -- been used so cynically by one party to protect its own power.

Here are just a few examples of Republicans' abuse of power...

The Assault on Social Security. Social Security is the most popular, most successful government program in history, and now the Republicans are attempting to turn this cornerstone of the New Deal into a raw deal for millions of Americans by privatizing it, which would slash benefits by more than 40 percent while adding trillions to the debt. A new study from Yale University informs us that 71% of recipients would likely lose out through privatization, and yet Republicans charge on without a care.

A Reverse Robin Hood Budget. President Bush and House Republicans are pushing a budget that will shortchange housing, education, and veterans, while heaping even more tax cuts on the extremely wealthy and handing out sacred lands that belong to all of us as prizes to their political contributors in the oil industry. Nowhere is our government's morality tested more starkly than in the hard numbers of the federal budget, and this year's proposal fails this test miserably.

http://www.democraticaction.org/pact/index.php?source=democrats

The Gutting of Medicaid. President Bush and House Republicans have targeted the social program providing the most basic health care to struggling Americans, with a staggering $40 billion cut that will have repercussions for virtually every state in the union. The Republicans hope to dismantle our great social contracts, destroy our very moral fabric, and make America into a country that leaves its most vulnerable destitute -- even as tax giveaways for the super rich are given the highest priority.

Leading an Unethical Government. Judging by the steady stream of scandals revolving around Republican House Leader Tom DeLay, involving everything from bribes and intimidation on the House floor to junkets paid for with millions in extorted casino money, ethics must somehow be the opposite of moral values. This comes after three separate ethical condemnations last year and the looming threat of indictment for shady corporate fundraising in Texas. But rather than curtail his corruption or humble himself, Tom DeLay and his loyal rubberstamps in Congress have simply rigged the ethics rules to protect him and purged from the Ethics Committee the Chairman, Members and staff who held him accountable last year. The American people do not conduct their lives in an ethical vacuum, and our Representatives should not either.

These are not my moral values and I am sure they aren't yours either. In fact, they're an affront to the values of tens of millions of Americans who believe their government should work for all -- not just the well connected and the very wealthy. We are for progress, we are for REAL reform, and we will not tolerate attempts to turn back the clock on our beloved country and our democracy.

In the last Congress, House Republicans became the most arrogant, unethical and corrupt majority in modern Congressional history. Tragically, this profoundly immoral behavior is continuing without a pause in the first few months of this Congress.

Please be a Citizen Co-sponsor for the Pact for Progress and stand with us:

http://www.democraticaction.org/pact/index.php?source=democrats

Thank you so much, and I look forward to fighting along side you.

Sincerely,
Nancy
Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader

[SodoffBush]

1. Bushy behavior will only get worse

America is already a goner, IMO.

[sellitman]

2. The link is NFG

:wtf:

[welshTerrier2]

6. it works in the original email ...

give me a minute to fix it in the post ... not sure what the problem is ... thanks for the heads up ...

[welshTerrier2]

7. OK ... the links work now ...

looks like the querystring (the stuff after the "?") got chopped off ...

should be all set now ...

[zann725]

8. Done! I signed it!

Keep it kickin'!

[johnnyrocket]

3. Your kidding right? That's the LEAST they could do!

And I AM wondering why aren't there Dems on TV nightly slamming Tom Delay, calling him a crook and a scumbag? They did it to Clinton!

[jojo54]

9. ABC nightly news' entire 1/2 hr was on DeLay

During the show, they reported that DeLay said the "impeachment of Bill Clinton will be the most important thing I'll ever do".

I'm not sure of that.....I thought the most important thing he did was the redistricting in Texas. BWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH :bounce:

[zulchzulu]

4. Nothing like the truth to get this ship turned around

The Repugs have overreached and now it's time to watch them fall.

[Skip Intro]

5. I like

very good.

Is there a Dean influence going on?

[kerrygoddess]

12. Nancy has a mind of her own.

She's always been outspoken.

[FreedomAngel82]

17. I'm glad she wrote about this

Glad to hear. :) I agree with everything she said. I've always enjoyed how she handled the press briefing things she does.

[wryter2000]

43. Another one of the ladies from NoCal

Along with Barbara Boxer and Barbara Lee (and DiFi...sigh)

[me b zola]

14. I tell ya, people are beginning to stir

I saw this a month or so back. It seemed as though some of the Dems awoke to the stench of facsim & didn't like it. But those awaking from the fog-dreamlike state were/are a little unclear as to how to unburry themselves & the Nation from this nightmere.

Of course, Dr.Dean has had a profound influence on the party, & he is exactly what the doctor ordered.;)

[ariesgem]

53. Yeah - I think the "reverse robin hood" was a talking point from Dean.

[mcscajun]

10. OOoooooooo-EEEE! It's kickin' ass and takin' initials time!

Sounds like a big shot over the bow to me.

:)

[woodsprite]

47. Signed! n/t

[elshiva]

11. I signed it! Thank you!

Nancy Pelosi is neat. She reminds me of Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman.

[sueh]

13. I signed it, too. Thanks for the post. n/t

[Withywindle]

15. Signed, thanks! n/t

[me b zola]

16. done & signed!!!! eom

[Benno]

18. signed!

Thanks for the post, glad to see somebody gives a shit in congress.

[burrowowl]

19. Not as strong as I would like

but I signed.

[Kerrytravelers]

20. 'bout time, don't you think?

I've been screaming for years, but I feel like I'm inside a dream, screaming and hollaring my lungs out... and no one hears me.

That's why I love DU.

[fishwax]

28. yep, it's a good start

i just hope it sticks and they stay united.

[rockymountaindem]

21. Kick

[Califooyah Operative]

22. done. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Done NT

[evilqueen]

24. done

...and passing this around too.

[flpoljunkie]

25. I would like to see Dems band together against one-sided bankruptcy bill

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/8/202044/7026

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker:

We write to encourage you to bring bankruptcy reform legislation to the House floor as soon as the Senate completes its consideration of the bill. The New Democrat Coalition has backed common sense bankruptcy reform in the past and helped in passing the bankruptcy reform bill by overwhelming margins in the House of Representatives during the 108th Congress.

Over the last several years, we have worked to advance reasonable and balanced legislation that would require individuals who have the ability to repay their debts to do so, while preserving the important safety net of bankruptcy under Chapter 7 for those who truly need it. We believe that responsible bankruptcy reform embodies the New Democrat principle of personal responsibility, while at the same time adding important new consumer protections such as requiring enhanced credit card disclosure information and encouraging participation in consumer credit counseling.

It is our hope that the House of Representatives will consider this important piece of legislation in an expedited manner. We stand ready to work with you and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass bankruptcy reform into law.

Sincerely,

Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher
Rep. Adam Smith
Rep. Ron Kind
Rep. Artur Davis
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy
Rep. John Larson
Rep. Stephanie Herseth
Rep. Dennis Moore
Rep. Mike McIntyre
Rep. Joe Crowley
Rep. Jay Israel
Rep. David Wu
Rep. Diane Hooley
Rep. Melissa Bean
Rep. Jim Davis
Rep. Harold E. Ford, Jr.
Rep. Ed Case
Rep. Jay Inslee
Rep. Shelley Berkeley
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks

----------------

The bill passed by the Senate was one-sided and skewed to the interests of the banks and credit card companies. When Diane Feinstein withdrew her support for the bankruptcy bill, after helping to vote it out of committee, this was an opening for the Democrats to block this bad bill from coming to a vote on the Senate floor by voting against cloture. They chose not to do so.

Will the House Democrats stand together and vote against this one-sided bankruptcy bill--even though their votes are not needed to pass this bill--unless they can get enough Republicans to vote with them--fat chance of that!

The House will probably vote the bill out unchanged from the Senate version so that there will be no need for a conference, and this egregious giveaway to the banks and credit card companies will become law--and Dubya will cross this one off the wish list of his big corporate crony contributors. Next up--medical malpractice "reform."

I am deeply disappointed that the Senate Democrats did not stand up for economic justice and let this bankrtupcy bill pass. Shame on them!

[spooky3]

26. What will shock me is...

the day that the Dems begin to use that type of language with Americans in general and not just to solicit contributions from the loyal.

One step at a time...

[sendero]

27. It's coming...

... it's a slow train, but it is coming. Some people adapt to change quicker than others.

Signed it, couldn't disagree with a word of it.

[katinmn]

29. Signed.

:kick:

[toad12]

30. Signed, thanks for posting. (n/t)

[PleadTheFirst]

31. Signed!

Thanks for waking up, Nancy. We need you.

[YankeyMCC]

32. Following in the rights footsteps

This "Pact for Progress" sounds like a similar tactic to the "Contract with America" idea Newty championed.


But I wish they had taken it a bit futher and included some values statements. Like "I will not tolerate an unjust budget." Something to that effect.

[wabranty]

33. A Good Start . . .

but more needs to be done in fully expressing the Democratic message.

The Principles Project - http://www.principlesproject.com/
SFAM on Democratic Strategy - http://sfam.blogspot.com/
The Framing Project - http://www.politicalstrategy.org/archives/001118.php

[tinrobot]

34. Reverse Robin Hood Budget

Isn't that Howard Dean's quote?

Regardless of who made it up, it's terrific. This could be the Dems own contract with America.

Looks like our spine is growing. Cool.

[Eric J in MN]

35. Why do you call it "shocking?" nt

nt

[welshTerrier2]

37. glad you asked ...

in the base post, i gave the main reason i thought the letter was shocking: "pretty shocking change in tone, don't you think?" ...

this is a long way from the Congressional "collegiality" we saw under Daschle and Gephardt ... no, Lieberman kissing in this memo ... no "standing shoulder to shoulder" with the president ...

the highest ranking Democrat in the House just called the republican party a bunch of crooks ... we've known the truth for a long time on DU; i find it shocking to finally hear a key Democrat making the case ...

these specific sentences are overtly accusatory and put the very core of our democracy at issue:

Democrats in Congress are in a battle for the very soul of our nation with Republicans whose arrogance and abuse of power have made a mockery of Congress.

a simple statement of unity in defense of the American ideals and democracy we cherish.

their government should work for all -- not just the well connected and the very wealthy.

In the last Congress, House Republicans became the most arrogant, unethical and corrupt majority in modern Congressional history. Tragically, this profoundly immoral behavior is continuing without a pause in the first few months of this Congress.

my view of the Democratic Party is that it has either been totally asleep or totally complicit in the support and nurturing of the corporate state ... Democrats pick at wonky individual issues of policy but never identify the "gestalt" ... when Democrats open a dialog with the American people about the erosion of our democracy for the benefit of the super-wealthy, they are taking a major step in the right direction ... this letter seems to go much further than merely criticizing bush's tax cut because it benefits the rich ... this is suggesting, although the point could have been made more central, that our government is not providing service to ALL its citizens ...

the one area of disappointment i have with Pelosi's letter is its total blindness to bush's corrupt foreign policy ... viewed through the lens of seeing our government as a corporate state, there is a fairly seamless divide between domestic abuses and international abuses ... we cannot allow the Democratic Party to abdicate its role as a proponent of a just foreign policy ... Pelosi's letter is a great first step if it truly becomes an ongoing theme in the Party ... let's hope her next letter directly challenges the neo-con foreign policy agenda ... no more money for war ...

what was "shocking" to me is the substantial change in tone ... during last year's campaign, did Kerry repeatedly call the republicans in the house, senate and white house corrupt? did he suggest that most Americans were no longer being served by their government and that the government only acted in the interests of the wealthy? perhaps he made statements in support of these positions ... if he did, it certainly didn't have much impact ... i remember his criticisms of the unfairness of the tax cut but i don't recall it being set in the "framework" Pelosi outlined ... my point isn't to criticize Kerry's campaign but rather to note that Pelosi is setting a much more aggressive tone with her letter ...

it's great to see this campaign beginning ... let's hope it becomes the foundation of the Democrat's strategy and public face and not just a "red meat' email to fire up the base to raise money ... and let's hope the message gets broadened to signal an all out assault on the bush and PNAC foreign policy agenda ... we don't need to show Americans how tough we are on defense; we have to show them how we can make them safer ...

one last point ... Pelosi said "we are for REAL reform" but doesn't indicate whether that includes reforms within the internal workings of the Democratic Party itself ... the days of having elected reps go off and do whatever they want without closer interaction with ALL members of the Party have to end ... i hope we start hearing about reforms within the Party to truly make the Party itself more democratic ... the more Democrats actively participate, the stronger the Party will become ...

[liberalla]

54. This sounds like a natural follow-up to Broken Promises

Great post! Thanks for starting this thread. The links are not working for me now, so I'll try again tomorrow.

This sounds like a natural follow-up to the Broken Promises report released by Pelosi & Slaughter on March 8, 2005.

Pelosi and Slaughter Release Report on Republican Rules Abuses
"This report provides devastating details of the profound abuse of power that characterizes House Republicans after 10 years in the majority. It demonstrates how House Republicans have completely abandoned not only the standards they set for themselves 10 years ago, but how they have also abandoned any other principle of fairness and accountability. In fact, many non-partisan analysts said that the 108th Congress not only matched the worst abuses of earlier Congresses, it has set a new standard."
http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=885

The actual document is a pdf file, 147 pages. I haven't read all the way through it yet, but it is in the same tone. Very direct and powerful, and no mincing of words. An outright, straight up indictment of the Repugs corruption and abuses.
http://www.housedemocrats.gov/Docs/BrokenPromises.pdf

The Pact for Progress sounds like the next step.
The women are bringing it! Yeah!

[Toots]

36. Wow after six years she noticed the barn door is open and the cows are gon

What did she have to say in 2001, or 2002 or 2003 or 2004? Or how about the entire decade of the ninties. Someone must have cut off her money supply she is starting to squak.

[blue agave]

38. Done ! n/t

[bush_is_wacko]

39. Signed! I wish they would start recruiting Republicans with brains to get

lot of them impeached and thrown in jail! It is time for THAT "movement" as well!

[Gloria]

40. Signed. Now I want to see them repeating these point OVER AND OVER

again in the press and on TV.

They should add "hypocrisy" to the list...the bullshit GOP/rhetoric vs. their actual actions AND how it's hurting Americans in personal, concrete terms.

[OzarkDem]

41. What's Your Plan, Nancy?

Other than whining to us about it, what do you plan to do?

Here in Ohio R's are running tv ads constantly pointing out that Dems have no plan for SS solvency. What is your response? Do you have a plan?

Building your online fundraising list by having us sign another one of these silly online petitions isn't a solution.

Being on the right side of the argument is meaningless unless you're prepared to do something about it.

Enough of the phony slactivism. Get to work, Nancy and do your job, give us some plans to rally behind, or give it up to someone who will.

[Al-CIAda]

42. ditto! -but signed, eom

[libodem]

44. I signed

[WillyT]

45. Done !!!

Thanks!

:yourock:

[nonconformist]

46. Done! nt

[Darkhawk32]

48. Signed! n/t

[Laurab]

49. Signed, thanks! n/t

[GetTheRightVote]

50. I am loving it all the way, Go Dems, protect us from these abuses

:kick:

[deadparrot]

51. signed! nt

[savannahana]

52. signed, fwd'd, & circulating - thank you!

:kick:

[Coexist]

55. the link isn't working again

[Califooyah Operative]

56. I think the web site is down, check it later. nt

[welshTerrier2]

57. weird, isn't it ??

don't think i can fix this ... the website seems to be down ...

keep trying ...

the link isn't working from the original email either ...

[welshTerrier2]

59. just FYI, the LINK is working again ... (n/t)

[liberalla]

60. Yes, I was able now to access the site and sign!

Thanks!

Read the Report!

Broken Promises: The Death of Deliberative Democracy
A Congressional Report on the Unprecedented Erosion of the Democratic Process in the 108th Congress.

http://www.housedemocrats.gov/Docs/BrokenPromises.pdf

[Hotler]

58. I ask why now...

the Dem's on the hill are just starting to find some balls? Where was their tough talk during the little turds first term. Give them a week then Chaney or KKKarl will slap them back in line and they'll roll over like little puppies. Just a show folks. Move along nothing here to see.