Should Nancy Pelosi be the Speaker of the House? Your comments...

[Radio_Lady]

What are the qualifications, in your mind? I understand this is a secret vote, but my husband brought up her comments about "taking impeachment of Bush off the table." He thinks this was wrong-headed, because impeachment surely would be a bargaining chip for future negotiations. Some of the news reports suggested Jack Murtha might be a better choice.

How long has Nancy Pelosi been the Minority Leader in recent times? Historically, what happens when the second-ranked party takes over?

UPDATE: Here's a quick Pelosi look-see for those of us who are not in California and who might not be that well-versed in her career. She's been in office since 1987! That's some career!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Pelosi

Thanks for your comments.

[aquart]

1. MURTHA?

Very funny.

But perhaps you're serious. Please list his liberal credentials.

[Radio_Lady]

5. I believe I heard this on cable TV this afternoon, but I am on medication today for pain.

I've been drifting in and out of sleep. Not sure now if I've got it mixed up. But I didn't mean it as a joke...

[libnnc]

10. Murtha is up for Majority Leader--Speaker is something different

They are two different positions. Nancy Pelosi will be the next Speaker of the House.

[Radio_Lady]

12. Thanks for bring that up. It's clear that I've been away from the

Government class for decades!

[Floogeldy]

2. Let us see what the hearings reveal.

The table will be in front of our Dems for the next two years. ;)

[Radio_Lady]

6. Yes, that's a good point. Thanks for your post.

[unkachuck]

3. yes....

....she got the job the old-fashioned way, she earned it!....

[Radio_Lady]

7. Great point... thanks.

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. Imagine that?

:evilgrin: I am glad Rep Pelosi will be the Speaker of the House! I think she will do a great job!

[Radio_Lady]

31. Your comments duly noted, Blue State Native.

Thanks.

[SammyWinstonJack]

37. Well I don't think that Rep Pelosi would necessarily give her strategy away. That wouldn't be a

good move and she is after all a politician. She is going to weigh all of her options first as well she should. Investigations will determine her postition, I would guess.

[Floogeldy]

4. If things were different, it should have been Tom Daschle.

He was great. :)

[Radio_Lady]

9. Yes. But he was targeted by the Republicans, and they knocked him off.

"Fat lot of good it has done them," husband comments.

[LeftCoast]

15. Daschle was Sen. You're thinking of Gephardt

Both of whom suffered from the same problem - they were in swing states and were constantly having to fight for their seat. Speaker Pelosi doesn't have to worry about that. :D

[Radio_Lady]

17. Clarification central here. Thanks, Left Coast. You must be very proud

of Pelosi. She's been in the spotlight for a good part of the last several years, but you SF folks certainly have had "the best seat in the house" to watch here in operation.

Now, about that Governor of yours! I guess his strategy of "running like a Democrat" actually worked in the final days.

Thanks again.

[LeftCoast]

42. We are indeed proud of Nancy!

Sorry 'bout the Governor. :)

[Floogeldy]

22. Thanks for the correction.

Doh! :)

Edit: Although, I was not thinking of Gephardt; I just had the bi-camerals momentarily confused. :blush:

[LeftCoast]

43. No problem

They all blur together after a while. :)

[hfojvt]

44. Daschle did start out in the House

things might have been different if he had not run against Abner and won way back in 1986. I feel proud of that since I was at the SD State Fair in 1985 and spoke to a member of his staff. I said "Is he gonna run for the Senate?" She said: "Do you think he should?" I said: "I think he can beat Abner." I got worried later when Janklow ran because I did not think Daschle could beat Janklow, who was then Governor, but Janklow lost to Abner in the Republican primary. So what do I know? But I am predicting that Herseth will beat the odious Thune in 2010.

[bdamomma]

8. let's give her a chance, but if she muffs up, she will have to answer

to us, as quick as we put them in power we can take them out!!! they have alot of work to do and we will be watching.

[williesgirl]

11. I believe it's because she was minority House leader and moves up to

speaker when majority changes. I think you'll see there's always that threat of impeachment lurking when she talks with * if he goes too far out of line on things.

[fairfaxvadem]

13. Because....

What man can say, when the mic goes out and they have to speak over all the chattering..."This is my Mother of Five Voice!!"

Seriously, I don't agree with Nancy Pelosi on every position she takes, but no Dem fills the bill for me. None ever has, and I guess none ever will. But, I'd rather have her as Speaker to mind the children, and if Hoyer and Murtha want to thrash it out as Majority Leader, fine. I sure as hell don't want Steny Hoyer as speaker, that much I do know.

Nancy has extremely good political skills, she's a pro. That's what we need in that position, and frankly, being a woman, it will give her cover as seeming to be accomodating to the Rs when in fact, she is not. Don't worry about all that "let's not impeach" crap. They are going to investigate. That's what counts. We only have two years. Let's not tie it up in impeachment hearings per se. But let's find out what went on, so in 18 months, when the '08 election is in high gear, we have the ammo we need for the next round of Senate and House seats, along with the White House. No one said we weren't going to investigate. There just isn't enough time on the calendar to impeach. Just damage the guy to the point where he can't walk straight and hang all the Rs with the lack of oversight when the Ds challenge their seats.

And Nancy will a hell of an improvement over that idiot Hastert.

[Radio_Lady]

16. That's an excellent post, FairfaxVaDem. Thanks for the excellent commentary.

I appreciate your contribution.

In peace,

Radio_Lady in Oregon

[UTUSN]

14. This is a question beCAUSE? n/t

[Radio_Lady]

18. Because I thought it would be interesting tonight -- and my husband and I

discussed it at dinner.

Want to join the party -- or just rain on the parade? :sarcasm:

[UTUSN]

38. Rain on parade? Moi? In Peace, have a great weekend n/t

[fairfaxvadem]

20. thank you...

I've been looking for an opportunity to address the "no impeachment" issue all night, trying to pick out of Oh So Many threads on the subject, and preferred your more pointed question about Pelosi.

It'll all be fine, just wish folks would chill. Swearing in isn't until January 3rd....

[Radio_Lady]

23. Yes, I guess we all have a case of "chomping at the bit," as they say in horse racing.

We're pretty eager to get moving.

Hope we make it through until early next year without any of the things on Bush's agenda getting through.

That might be difficult -- lame ducks have done a lot of damage in the past. One correspondent suggested that the "honeymoon" period with Bush might last until the date of the State of the Union message.

That's in January, too --

Have a great weekend!

In peace,

Radio_Lady in Oregon

[fairfaxvadem]

30. Well, I think we can safely rely on Bush to be himself.

And then, all bets are off. After 6 years, it's going to be damn near impossible for that leopard to change his spots. It's not in his nature. He is now a finely tuned spinning machine with about 4 or 5 scripts to rotate from. That's it. And then there is his instinct to reject anything that does not line up with his limited worldview. I think it's pretty reliable.

The only thing that will make a difference is if his dad and his handlers offer more than just Gates to rein this mess in. I'm talking a wholesale takeover of the administration. DeLay has already proclaimed Gates to be someone who would "negotiate" with terrorists. This isn't going to go smoothly at all within the GOP. Not by half. At least, that's my bet.

Let's just see how far the rope goes....

[Rebellious Republican]

19. Why not? She has been in politics for a very long time.

As far as her comment about "impeachment is off the table", she could be pulling a Bush on Bush. Remember when he said he had no war plans on his desk. Well that was probably true, they were on someone else's desk. So, maybe impeachment is not on the table, just yet, does not mean it is not or will not be in a committee!
:evilgrin:

It is with great pleasure, that I retire my distress flag gif


And with great pride, hoist my new flag in honor of our new direction

[Radio_Lady]

24. Good point. Also, thanks for holding your "flag raising" in this thread!

I salute you -- with pride -- for your change and the chance at a new direction!

[madmusic]

21. Yes. She fought to get us here. That should be her reward.

Only fair. I like her, a lot.

[Radio_Lady]

26. Seems to be 100% agreement on this tonight.

[Warren DeMontague]

25. YES.

And she's going to be.

Go Get 'Em, Nancy!!!

[Radio_Lady]

27. Thanks, ImpeachDubya! I love your ingenious new graphic!

So many of you have computer graphic skills these days -- and the time and interest necessary to design and post your work, too!

I'm totally in awe!

Have a great weekend!

In peace,

Radio_Lady in Oregon

[Warren DeMontague]

32. Thanks, Radio Lady!

You know, as far as Nancy Pelosi goes; aside from the fact that we're obviously very proud of her here in this neck of the woods, I really objectively think she's done an admirable job of keeping our members in the House together, focused and disciplined during what has been a pretty rough ride. Sure, I've disagreed with her at times, but I think one would be hard pressed to argue she hasn't earned the job of Speaker.

As for the History of it, I think it's terrific. And long overdue.

Peace!

:patriot:

[Radio_Lady]

36. Beautifully stated. The last sentence of the Wikipedia article makes me tingle!

Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi (born March 26, 1940) is the House Minority Leader of the 109th Congress of the United States. Since 1987, she has been the Democratic Representative from the 8th district of California, which falls entirely within and includes most of the city and county of San Francisco.

As a result of the Democrats winning control of the House in the 2006 midterm elections, Pelosi is expected to become the next Speaker of the House when Congress reconvenes in January 2007.<1>

Pelosi is the first woman to lead a major political party in either house of Congress, and will most likely be the first woman, Italian-American, and Californian to serve as Speaker.

[sutz12]

28. Actually, I think we'll learn a lot in the next two months...

King George is proposing a lot of lame duck legislation to get his RW agenda passed before New Years. How well the Dems fight that off will tell us a lot.

[Radio_Lady]

35. Let's keep communicating with our Congresspeople during this time frame.

We can't slack off with the group that will be considering those "lame duck" proposals. Slap it in an email or a LTTE as soon as we hear about it.

We still have a couple of months. It's important that this Congress be "neutered" as quickly as possible.

[mtnsnake]

33. Early indications say no.

I thought she was much tougher than what she appears so far.

[Ksec]

34. Pelosi would be fine with me.

I believe she will do us proud imo.
Shes smart and saavy and understands politics.

[featherman]

39. Nancy is Tommy D'Alesandro's daughter - that's enough credentials for me

[Radio_Lady]

40. My husband lived in Silver Spring, MD a long time ago. He remembers

the name and that he did a good job.

[madrchsod]

41. simple..she grew up in a political family from baltimore

she learned in ins and outs of the art of politics by watching her dad and her brother in the rough and tumble politics of baltimore and maryland.she commands respect from her fellow democrats because she has the knowledge and the ability to organize and deliver. she also makes it clear that if some one in the party crosses the line there will be consequences. there is no doubt in my mind that she will be as good as any democratic speaker we have ever had.
it will be interesting to watch her direct the play