Posted on 12/23/2007 2:06:16 PM PST by SmithL
The last day of the House's 2007 session last week summed up the turbulence of Nancy Pelosi's history-making first year as House speaker.
In the morning, she beamed a wide smile as she stood beside President Bush while he signed an energy bill with the first major increase in fuel economy standards in 30 years.
But by Wednesday afternoon, her party was facing two of its biggest defeats. To keep the alternative minimum tax from hitting 20 million Americans next year, Democrats had to abandon their pledge not to pass any legislation that increased the deficit.
Then Pelosi, whose party took control of Congress pledging to change course in Iraq, watched the House approve $70 billion in war funding, part of a budget deal that avoided a government shutdown. Members of her own party denounced it as a capitulation to the White House.
"The war in Iraq is the biggest disappointment for us, the inability to stop the war," Pelosi told reporters in a group interview in her ceremonial office just hours before the war vote. She quickly pegged the blame on congressional Republicans.
The Democrats' failure to shift the war's direction, their No. 1 priority for the year, has eclipsed many of the party's successes on other issues, including raising the minimum wage for the first time in a decade and passing the strongest ethics and lobbying reforms since Watergate.
And Bush, despite his lame-duck status, outflanked Democrats in the end-of-year budget fight - forcing them to accept his number, $555 billion in domestic spending, and funding for Iraq - simply by refusing to yield.
Asked about the setbacks last week, Pelosi, as she has all year, flashed her most optimistic smile and refused to be drawn into the criticism.
"Almost everything we've done has been historic," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Translation: “little change on war” in journospeak translates into plain English as “incompetence”.
Phhhttttttt !!! And a happy splat next year.
Going to be a short tenure for San Fran Nan, America just doesn’t want her brand of debauchery.
Shhhh...
The deep dark secret of politics is that 75% or more of what a government does is dictated by “the cards.” In other words, sometimes you just gotta play the cards you are dealt.
There is no way that the US can pull out of Iraq anytime soon. “Soon” - not in 2 years, not before the next election, no before the 2012 election. The Dems all knew that, but they gambled that they could make it look otherwise to gain power.
Starting about the time of the Surge, more and more Liberal / Dem news sources have changed their coverage of the war, preparing the Dems for a switch in rhetoric.
You can bet that Cindy Sheehan and the rest of her Code Pink girls will be outside with a megaphone for the Dem Convention, and we can bet they’ll stage their antiwar protests. 1968 anyone?
Do Nothing Nancy stands head and shoulders above the Worst Speakers in History. Her political extremism is only exceeded by her incompetence.
Merry Christmas to Our Troops
LOL, it has been abysmal. She is enamored with the sound of her own voice, like a queen calling her loyal subjects to court.
On the plus side, I hear she's ordered lots and lots of flowers to brighten up her offices, and traveled to meet many dignitaries. I'm sure her constituents are pleased to know she's thinking of them.
I’m not sure Mrs. Pelosi has been the worst speaker in history.
There have been a few with even less honesty and character then has Mrs. Pelosi.
Admittedly she is wallowing in the gutter with some of the worst, just not sure she is absolutely the worst.
What an understatement! Pelosi first year marked by an absolute defeat at the hands of President Bush, our troops, General Petraeus, and America.
It gets worse. I’ve heard political commentators now trying to say the dems are the reason progress is being made because of pressure being put by the dem congress on Bush.
She has been singularly ineffective because she is truly a mental dullard. I really doubt her tested IQ would be over 95.
2007 will mark two great accomplishments in the GWOT for George W. Bush. The first is to turn the populace of Iraq against the terrorists, Sunni vs Sunni, Shiite vs. Shiite. The second is to turn the anti-war fringe against its own party, Dems vs. Dems. It’s blue on blue!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
A Speaker of the House - like any position of leadership - requires vision, the ability to get others to share that vision, and the ability to implement that vision.
Vision isn't just "I'm against anything that George Bush is for"..
Nancy didn’t “drain the swamp” like she promised.
She simply replaced the Republican gators with her own Dem crock-odiles.
Inability to stop the war? YOU FUND THE WAR LADY! Just quit funding it! Good grief you voter base must be dumb as rocks if that excuse passes mustard!
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