Let's look at Pelosi as a local leader - Is there a Feinstein connection?

[truedelphi]

Here's a bit of a backstory

In late summer of 2000, I decided to run for City Council in Sausalito CA.

I decided that my best shot at doing this was to register as A Green and that way I would get cross over votes - both Republicans and Dems in Sausalito would vote for me.

It is my humble opinion that when running for such a position - you should not even have to declare a party - and as you read this you will see why.

Anyway I decided to throw a party and it was probably the worst attended event in the history of local politics anywhere.

However Elaine Demsey offered me her services as a singer and also as a sound equipment person and several local environmentalists came and spoke as well.

ALso the one "bigwig" who came was a woman named Annette Rose. She was then serving as one of the five Supervisors on the Board of Supervisors for the County of Marin. The only purpose she had in coming to the event was to chide me for running, which I thought was odd.

After the event, I asked several more serious and more experienced politicos why Rose would be mad at me.

Their answer was that Rose probably thought that I was running as a Democrat, and therefore she was assuming that I should have asked for her help, her permission, her advice or something in order to run for office.

"After all, Rose is Feinstein's baby and she jumped certain hurdles back in the day when she ran for City COuncil. SHe could not have been too happy when you just announced that you were running."

As time went on, I heard more and more about how things actually happen. For instance, I heard several times that Pelosi was fostered in by Feinstein. That without Feinstein's help she would not have been successful in running for Congress.

How much does Pelosi owe Feinstein?

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Think back to 1987

Feinstein was one of Pelosi's earliest supporters out of the of "Burton Machine" Pelosi faced a tough fight against Harry Britt. Dianne campaigned very hard for Nancy Pelosi in 87. It was a close race.

[shance]

3. Who's your mommy?

Interesting....

Perhaps more evidence what money and power does to individuals.

[shance]

2. That's interesting. Seems like there is so much gatekeeping in politics.

The exclusivity is amazing, a pivotal factor in the tremendous apathy and citizen involvement, and is probably what is a main spoke in the toxicity wheel of our entire political system.

Its a cancer which has choked off the life oxygen and freedom of allowing anyone and everyone to run for office.

Thank you for posting and sharing,

and I bet your party was not the worst attended event.......

;)

[onenote]

4. One wrinkle in this theory: Harry Britt

Nancy Pelosi was elected to her first term in Congress in a special election. Her opponent was Harry Britt. Harry Britt was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. How did Harry get on the Board originally? He was appointed to succeed Harvey Milk after Milk's assassination. And who appointed Britt? Dianne Feinstein, who as President of the Board of Supervisors, succeeded to the office of Mayor upon the assasination of Milk and previous mayor George Moscone.

So unless there was a falling-out between Britt and Feinstein over the years, and there may have been for all I know, it would seem odd for Pelosi to owe Feinstein her position.

[ronnykmarshall]

6. There was a falling out between Dianne and Harry.

Dianne thought that Harry would be a vote she could count on with him on the board. Not the case. Harry, like Harvey was very independent. In the 1987 race, Dianne said "Harry Brit is not qualified to be in Congress."

Yeah, I think there was a bit of a falling out between the two.

BUT, Harry was quick to mend fences with Nancy following the election. He endorsed her the night of the election for the run off. They also road together in the Gay Pride parade that year. I remember that. I yelled at the "Hey Nancy, hey Harry! Glad you two made up!". Harry, who was drinking a beer in the car gave Nancy a hug and she kissed him on the cheek.

[onenote]

9. thanks for the info!!

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Look at Nancy Pelosi's family history and how Maryland politics worked.......

.....back when her father and brother *were* Baltimore politics, and were nearly as big statewide. The state was essentially a one party system and all the dealings were done pretty much in the back room.

That's the environment that causes you to understand how deals are made and to understend how to fight to near death in your own party and show up in public with a smile and backslap for the one you just knifed (or who just knifed you).

Google Tommy D'Alessandro

[truedelphi]

7. Thanks for the tip. n/t

[truedelphi]

8. BTW Feinstein voted for the Supplemental

Or at least that is what her very chagrinned-sounding aide just told me

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Yes usually people start in politics by working at a local

leve for those who will ahem sponsor them

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[autorank]

12. Amazing, simply amazing. (I'd K*R but no R button)

"her press secretary, Drew Hammil, harass members of the media and the peace movement,"

If that's true, it's time to step down. I can't tell you how much that would outrage me.

I hope somebody looks into it.

[autorank]

13. K*"R

Yikes!