Pelosi might totally lose respect

[John_H]

,especially as the first woman Speaker, if the following is not one of her very first statements: "I know many in Washington are anxious to see if any House rules and procedures will be changed. All concerned will be pleased to know that not a single word of House Rules will be changed. Since these are rules and procedures that the Minority put in place when they were the majority, and which they said were perfectly fair on many occasions, I know the same rules will pass with a strong bipartisan vote."

That's it. Every amendment preventing, Minority time limiting, bill steamrolling word should stay. Sure the payback wil be sweet, but the practical benefits--political, legislative, and "message" make this a no brainer:

The Republicans, and especially the mediawhores, will be looking for the slightest signs of weakness. The tiniest crack that appears will immediately be attributed to pelosi being a "weak democrat" and a woman.

But the most important reason the Rules should be left alone is this: Our 2008 strategy is going to depend upon us sending sensible legislation to Chimp to veto. The house rules, as they are written, will allow the House to pass bills in exactly the form the Dems want it to pass.

So please, Madam SPeaker, no Ms. Nicey Nice!

[mom cat]

1. Senr that reccomendation to her in writing!

[pnwmom]

2. I disagree. The way to differentiate ourselves

from the Republicans is to differentiate ourselves -- not follow along in their tracks.

If we don't change the rules, then when we lose control again someday -- as we inevitably will -- the rules will still be there and we can be sure that we'll have to live under them again. Our country will have taken a permanent step backwards.

It's time for us to set a positive example, not to follow the lead of the corrupt, power hungry Delay/Hastert crew. Our country will be far better served by a Congress whose members at least try to work together, as they did for the more than two hundred years before the current bunch took over.

On edit:

I also disagree that Pelosi, as the first female Speaker, has a special obligation to get into a game of chicken with the Republicans. The Democrats didn't win because the American public wants any more testosterone-fueled, ego-driven battles. Quite the opposite.

[John_H]

3. Nice sentiments, but sentiments should not be confused w/ strategy. n/t

[seabeyond]

4. by gosh she better say exactly what i want or she is toast

we dems, are so good fuckin our own before the clothes are even off yet

[Raiden]

5. No! I'm tired of this corrupt card-stacking in Congress

If we don't set an example now, then when we're inevitably in the minority again, we'll have only ourselves to blame. Nancy Pelosi is a fighter, but unlike Hastert/Delay and crew, she plays fair and by the rules. We cannot become what we've hated the most these past six years, and if we do, then we're no better than they are. It's tempting to do so now that we have the power, but we have to show the American people that they can trust us to do what's right, not what's Republican.

I need not worry though, I know Nancy will do the right thing. She always has. I can assure you, she is gonna make one hell of a Speaker!!:patriot:

[xiamiam]

6. pelosi hasnt had their respect...they've trashed her at every turn

but she is currently the mandate of the American people...