PELOSI ROCKS

[omega minimo]

:yourock:

PELOSI’S GAMBIT SUCCEEDS — HOUSE REBUKES BUSH ON IRAQ
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/17/MNGTLO6OOU1.DTL

THE STRATEGY: Speaker and her colleagues kept Democrats united and attracted GOP votes with a resolution that puts every member on record but is only a first step by critics of the war

(02-17) 04:00 PST Washington -- Behind House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to push a simple, nonbinding Iraq resolution is the calculation that a broad showing of anti-war sentiment is needed to more forcefully confront President Bush in the months ahead.

Pelosi fended off criticism from war critics that the resolution was too weak, and from conservatives that she was undermining the troops, as the House passed the measure Friday with 63 votes to spare. By doing so, the new speaker accomplished what her Senate Democratic counterparts were unable to do last week, sending Bush the sternest rebuke of a wartime president since the Vietnam War and laying the groundwork for more consequential legislation.

"This resolution today sets the stage for that new direction," Pelosi crowed minutes after the vote.

If there was any point of agreement during the 44 hours and 55 minutes of debate, it was that passage of the 97-word resolution was only a first step. Republicans warned that it was the start of a process that would signal surrender, while Democrats insisted it was the beginning of the end of Bush's Iraq campaign.

<snip>

"Pelosi was pitch-perfect,'' said Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for Americans against Escalation in Iraq, another anti-war umbrella group that met with the speaker last week and echoed her pragmatism.

"You can only pass what you have votes for. Right now -- today -- you could not get through the Congress a bill to cut off funding," Woodhouse said. "We have achieved our first goal of isolating the president."

Lantos marveled at Pelosi's ability to take the long legislative view.

"The legislative process is not a kayak that you can turn around in two seconds," Lantos said. "It is a battleship that does not turn on a dime.

"Nancy insisted that if we kept it simple, it would not only keep (Democrats) united, but would make it bipartisan. And if we have an overwhelming vote ... the administration will not be able to ignore it."

:kick:

"The administration will not be able to ignore it" as they ignored the MILLIONS of world citizens who warned AHEAD OF TIME against the devastating debacle in Iraq-- millions who KNEW that the sales pitch for pre-emptive war was BOGUS......

Somehow we're supposed to accept that our prime presidential candidates DID NOT KNOW; that some of them were FOOLED with more information than we had, that was less than the truth, but enough to convince our GULLIBLE and CULPABLE representatives.

So thanks to all Democrats and any Republicans with enough humanity to correct this deadly error in judgement and jurisdiction.

And Speaker Pelosi, special recognition of your ability to go to Congress and GET SOMETHING DONE.

[illinoisprogressive]

1. Nancy Pelosi is my personal hero.

[omega minimo]

6. This is a great beginning. She will be a hero for the Ages

:thumbsup:

[MzNov]

10. didya see her just beaming at her chairmen yesterday as she introduced

them at the press conference after the vote? I thought each and every one of them who spoke was eloquent, knowledgeable, classy, and UNITED. Nancy is one class act. But then again, I'm a little prejudice since I'm a finatical left wing anti-war progressive tin foil commie pinko democrat...

:dem:

[omega minimo]

16. "a finatical left wing anti-war progressive tin foil commie pinko democrat..."

:rofl: :spray:

how bizarre that it was easier to find a photoshopped photo of Speaker Pelosi than any of the big photos that plastered front pages today with BANNER HEADLINES.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x231930


LOVE your "wave" :hi:

[MzNov]

23. sorry I couldn't see your graphic...

but think I know which one you mean.

Now, the Democrats are clear, let's see what the next step will be. Obviously, Mdme Speaker is not one to do nothing at all, even though we're all very frustrated at the pace on this side of the GW Parkway. :-)

I think Murtha will come up with an acceptable plan to de-fund or at least cut back and start to deploy the troops.

A fine mess we're in, eh?

:hi:

here's another smiley for ya



:rofl:

[omega minimo]

24. COOL!

The pace is bad-- the media visibility was good. Maybe these politicos think they have to win in the media to win on the Hill? Led by the media rather than the other way around?.............

[mix]

26. i love her too

she has extraordinary presence

and she's from cali, like me : )

in IL now though

[Jack Rabbit]

2. "(T)he administration will not be able to ignore it."

Watch 'em.

[omega minimo]

19. Point well taken

what if the (apparent) incremental effect is ACTUALLY effective?

:thumbsup:

[Jack Rabbit]

22. You don't have to play those kinds of what if? games

Its chances of being effective are a little better that snowball's chance in Hell. It will be ineffective, but Bush and his merry band of prevaricators will proclaim it effective and question the patriotism of the 200 million American citizens who will know better.

[lancdem]

3. Nancy Pelosi most definitely rocks

:)

[ray of light]

4. according to a free-republic friend,

the troops are upset at the wasted day of a nonbinding resolution.

Though it's a parliamentary procedure necessitated because the Republicans would not work with Democrats on real bills. So I told him he needed to demand that the Republicans get to the table with Dems on this.

(Of course, this guy still believes Bush didn't lie about the war, so I'm sure my words meant nothing to him. BUT, I hope the Dems are sending the message out to the troops. They'd prefer something stronger than a nonbinding bill, but they can not dictate laws on their own. The Republicans MUST step up to the plate too.)

[snowbear]

5. Friends don't let friends hang out at Free Republic

[EFerrari]

7. Your friend thinks our troops get to watch CSPAN?

Nancy's plan worked in a limited way. She gets credit for that.

But being pitch perfect means she's still trying to sing the Thug's tune.

It's a contradiction -- just as Mr. Conyers saying we can't impeach because we need to win a bigger majority and the WH when nearly no one knows as well as he does how corrupt our elections are.

:wtf:

My approach would be different. But, Nancy is in the hot seat and she looks to have won this round such as it was.

:toast:

[chknltl]

8. Be sure to agree with him about this affecting troop moral...

...like Vinnie From Indy has suggested that is:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=237425

[pnwmom]

13. Tell your friend it's not a wasted work day -- today is Saturday.

This Congress is working a 5 day week now, generally -- as opposed to the 3 day week of the Repubs. They have plenty of "extra" time to devote to non-binding resolutions.

[ccpup]

9. DU can be so frustrating sometimes.

She's damned if she does, damned if she doesn't. I, personally, see what she's doing and whole heartedly support it.

[Hatchling]

11. More people are aware of the war now.

That is the effect of the resolution. People who were afraid (really terrified, the atmosphere was so Orwellian!) to speak out a year ago are not afraid now because Congress has taken this step.

I ride the public transit daily and a year ago, few of the other riders discussed anything that criticized this Admin. When it was discussed others only listened quietly. Now the daily news starts topics that many join in criticizing.

These resolutions say to those who were so frightened, it's okay, we, the Congress have your back.

[omega minimo]

15. Great points. So important!!

:thumbsup:

[calimary]

17. Indeed! And Welcome to DU!

I must admit I'm one of the impatient ones. I want IMPEACHMENT NOW and the war ended YESTERDAY. But if baby steps are what we have to take, then so be it. And Madam Speaker seems to know exactly what she's doing. We certainly have been served a LOT more poorly. She's actually getting some things done. I think the strategy here is to gather momentum, and building blocks - toward the ultimate goal. And just maybe IMPEACHMENT will be a foregone conclusion by then.

I tell ya, 20 and 30 years from now, our youngers will wonder why the hell we didn't get rid of him.

[omega minimo]

18. thanks calimary. overlooked the 'welcome'

Impatient? Impeachment?

Yes "baby steps" are good if they are productive..................... gather momentum, building blocks, blah blah blah (meant in the most POSITIVE way :hi: )

"I tell ya, 20 and 30 years from now, our youngers will wonder why the hell we didn't get rid of him."

I tell ya, 20 and 30 years later, this younger still wonders why the hell we didn't get rid of FUCKING REAGAN?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111

[calimary]

21. Yep, this one wonders that same thing. WHY didn't we get rid of him?

Hell, why did we even allow somebody like reagan to gain a foothold? I always thought he was the most dangerous man in America, if not the world, because he could be about many sinister things, but wrap them in such a nice, comfy, cozy, amiable, aw-shucks package that everybody would just be enthralled - and thoroughly distracted. The old pleasant, benign, avuncular uncle crap. He was all smoke and mirrors, but he greased the skids for a lot of the vermin who helped the wretched CONservative movement gain so much ground. reagan made it possible for the newt gingriches, ralph reeds, richard vigueries, and yes - the bush machinery - to fast-track themselves straight to the top. They all rode in on his coattails (well, except for bush senior, who'd been lurking and gaining ground on his own for some time) and wrapped themselves in his flags and his Busby Berkeley staging crap. reagan did more damage than ANYBODY, and laid the groundwork for all the shit that's come down since, because he made it real nice and folksy and palatable, a true wolf in sheep's clothing.

[omega minimo]

25. Your historic post should be pinned to the top of every page at DU

For those who don't know.


A good source about the effects of (26 years of) Reaganism is Thom Hartmann. He gives the history and impacts-- minus the abiding emotional disgust that RR raised in "those who were paying attention" (a good book: "The Clothes Have No Emperor" )


http://www.thomhartmann.com

[calimary]

28. Thanks! I think it comes from being an old fart, myself. Well, okay,

middle-aged (53). Been around long enough to have seen a few presidents with my eyes open, yet not so long that what brain cells I didn't kill in college aren't yet shriveling. :D

[mzmolly]

20. Welcome!

Post more often. :hi:

[chknltl]

12. Pelosi in '08!

I have been watching her since she took power...now I am convinced that if it is possible, she would make the BEST Presidential choice when compared to all who are currently running. The tragedy would be that we need her right where she is doing exactly what she is doing so well right now. Perhaps she could toss her hat in the ring and announce that instead of traditional campaigning she will just continue doing her job. If folks want to know what kind of leader she will make, if folks need to see how she can handle Washington DC, if folks want to know where she stands on issues, JUST KEEP WATCHING HER IN ACTION for the answers. I need no further convincing.

She has led the Democrats in creating a STRONG message, one not only for the President but also for WE THE PEOPLE. The war is being mismanaged, WE THE PEOPLE know it, our military knows it, the whole world knows it. It is time to change tactics. Now WE THE PEOPLE who voted for change in the last election are seeing that change in it's birthing... Madam Speaker has just told WE THE PEOPLE that she is doing EXACTLY what we elected her to do.

I confess my hopes for REAL change were dashed when she said that impeachment is off the table. I have renewed hope and faith in her now. I still want to see the bush regime removed from power, I still want to see America's image in the world brought back to respectability, (after-all WE ARE the last remaining superpower, we have an enormous responsibility), I still want to see all this corruption in Washington stopped, I still want to see America made strong against the potential for terrorism, I still want to see osama bin laden brought to task for what he did... If Madam Pelosi can do all this without impeachment then fine, she now has my full support. Somehow, I think she'll do all this AND let the impeachment happen anyway before '08. If that ain't the markings of a GREAT president then I don't know what is.

Perhaps with all the distractions going on, we DUers are missing out on a bit of history in the making...perhaps Nancy Pelosi will be President before '08, perhaps she will be so loved and trusted by WE THE PEOPLE that she will remain POTUS for the next 8 years after that and perhaps history will look back on her as a patriot right up there with our Founding Fathers. It is possible and from what I am seeing right now...it is a possibility I can hope for.

[omega minimo]

14. great post chknltl

:hi: some more hearts for you :loveya:

[lpbk2713]

27. It's true. Pelosi does indeed rock.

And that remains the one constant truth in this ever changing universe.