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Pelosi’s August recess memo takes the cake
Hillnews ^ | 08/06/03 | Bob Cusack and Hans Nichols

Posted on 08/06/2003 8:00:50 AM PDT by Pikamax

Pelosi’s August recess memo takes the cake By Bob Cusack and Hans Nichols

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) made sure Democrats left for their home districts armed with a recess brief full of suggested talking points to bolster her party’s national prospects.

So far, so normal.

But her recess packet also includes detailed instructions on how to throw a local party—a 38th birthday bash for Medicare.

The minute instructions have raised concerns among Democratic aides and lobbyists that Pelosi is developing a didactic style that can be too patronizing to be helpful.

Leaders on both sides of the aisle commonly provide briefing books to be used during congressional breaks by lawmakers as a means of synchronizing their party messages.

But they do not usually contain suggestions such as: “Order your cake! Order a sheet cake with ‘Happy Birthday Medicare’ written on it.”

patrick g. ryan

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) instructs her troops.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Democrats’ section on Medicare is unusual in providing a day-by-day plan for lawmakers to highlight their policy differences with a Republican plan they charge will privatize the program.

The cake instruction was for the Monday of the week of July 28.

The orders go on: “Buy additional party supplies. Be creative. Buy a ‘Happy Birthday’ tablecloth for the center table. Purchase disposable plates and utensils if the facility will not provide them. You may also wish to purchase additional party favors — horns and whistles can be very useful to ‘boo’ the Republican agenda,” suggests the document.

For Tuesday, lawmakers are reminded to “review supply check list. Confirm cake/food orders and make sure supply checklist is complete. Provide writing utensils and paper for seniors to complete letters to the editor.”

On the day of the meeting, lawmakers are told to “arrive early” and then: “Set up tables. Spread a ‘Happy Birthday’ tablecloth on the center table, where cake will be placed. All other tables should have pens/pencils, writing paper, and copies of the sample letter to the editor.”

In bold bullet-points the document commands lawmakers: “Know where the restrooms and telephones are located.”

The Medicare issue is one of four that Pelosi’s leadership team is encouraging lawmakers to discuss over the long August recess. Others are the economy, education, and protecting national parks.

On the economy, the recess packet suggests an event at a highway construction site.

The instructions read: “Host a press conference in front of a highway construction site — great visual!”

Democratic aides said this year’s packet is unusual in its attention to minor details.

“It’s a bit patronizing,” said a senior Democratic aide: “It’s counterproductive because it keeps people from reading the good stuff.”

A Democratic lobbyist said: “I thought this was a joke. The Medicare stuff is so detailed, it’s laughable.”

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) said most lawmakers read the recess materials on the plane, but then don’t pay much attention to them.

As he put it: “They have some good points, but I don’t go with the scripted stuff. If I had gone with the scripted stuff in 1994, I would have been slaughtered like everyone else. You’ve got to know your district.”

Jennifer Crider, a spokeswoman for Pelosi, dismissed the criticism: “This is just one page out of a 78-page packet, and it’s a suggestion of an event that has worked successfully in other districts.

“It’s an issue that is very important to seniors in the country and that Democrats have been focusing on.

"This is the type of information that members in our caucus have found helpful have requested more of,” she added.

Pelosi loyalists also said Republicans had scripted each week’s message over the recess with a level of detail and coordination quite beyond what came out of their own caucus.

“We do have broad thematics, but our members don’t need detailed instructions because they understand the issues,” said John Feehery, spokesman for Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).

“We always give suggestions to our members. The reason why she needs to script her caucus is because she’s marching them over the cliff,” Feehery said.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: augustrecess
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To: Nick Danger
I don't believe it's possible to talk down to a dem. In fact, it may be the only way to communicate with them. Don't forget their official seal.
21 posted on 08/06/2003 8:36:43 AM PDT by Shooter 2.5 (Don't punch holes in the lifeboat.)
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To: Pikamax
“We do have broad thematics, but our members don’t need detailed instructions because they understand the issues,” said John Feehery, spokesman for Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).

“We always give suggestions to our members. The reason why she needs to script her caucus is because she’s marching them over the cliff,” Feehery said.

That says it all.

22 posted on 08/06/2003 8:47:46 AM PDT by steveegg (If you think Bush is bad, you'll really hate Hillary and the 9 Dwarves - all bad, no good)
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To: Nick Danger
Welll the reason they go into "Mommy Mode" is that AFTER raising their children they realize that the male versions never grow up...therefore Mommy Mode is a must! LOL!!!
23 posted on 08/06/2003 8:51:43 AM PDT by antivenom (BEING OFFENDED means never having to answer an argument)
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To: steveegg
Man I love throwing Medicare parties. I usaaly have one the weekend after my annual Social Security bash.
24 posted on 08/06/2003 8:51:47 AM PDT by BCrago66
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To: Pikamax
Democratic aides said this year’s packet is unusual in its attention to minor details.

...and...

“It’s a bit patronizing,” said a senior Democratic aide: “It’s counterproductive because it keeps people from reading the good stuff.”

So now the demonRATs have come to the conclusion that it's not just their VOTING BASE are simplistic morons that can't think or survive without the demonRATs controlling their every move...

It's the ones' they've ELECTED as well...unless you are in the elite Leadership you are as brain-dead as your constituents!

Congrats to the demonRATs for finally figuring out what CONSERVATIVES have known since you began your stealth socio-eco-Communist takeover!

25 posted on 08/06/2003 8:52:19 AM PDT by Itzlzha (The avalanche has already started...it is too late for the pebbles to vote!)
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To: Nick Danger
"...that Pelosi is developing a didactic style that can be too patronizing to be helpful. "

Should not that be "matronizing"...?
26 posted on 08/06/2003 8:57:29 AM PDT by Jumpmaster
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To: anniegetyourgun
It allus cotton pickin' time on dat ol' librul plantation, ain't it? Better get in line all you lil' librul cotton pickers, 'cause Mistress, Pelosi, she done got out de whip. Lawdy have mercy.

Nooooooooobody know de trouble Ah seen...
27 posted on 08/06/2003 9:10:23 AM PDT by Noumenon (Shoes for the dead!)
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To: TheSpottedOwl
I think it's the Botox. You could bounce a quarter off that face.
28 posted on 08/06/2003 9:11:53 AM PDT by Noumenon (Shoes for the dead!)
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To: Noumenon
I think it's the Botox. You could bounce a quarter off that face.

Hahahahaa! It must hurt to blink her eyes!!!

29 posted on 08/06/2003 9:42:44 AM PDT by TheSpottedOwl (You bring tar, I'll bring feathers....recall Davis in 03!!!)
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To: TheSpottedOwl
I think the whip has gone to Nancy's head.

True, and I think she liked it.

30 posted on 08/06/2003 9:42:56 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter
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To: redlipstick
"“Buy additional party supplies. Be creative. Buy a ‘Happy Birthday’ tablecloth for the center table. Purchase disposable plates and utensils if the facility will not provide them. You may also wish to purchase additional party favors — horns and whistles can be very useful to ‘boo’ the Republican agenda,”


31 posted on 08/06/2003 10:06:26 AM PDT by two23
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To: Pikamax
"Birthday party for Medicare"?

This is so idiotic it sounds like it came from Patty Murray. But such is the result of electing addle-brained liberals to leadership.

32 posted on 08/06/2003 10:57:12 AM PDT by tom h
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To: two23
Why they're ordering cake instead of PIE...


33 posted on 08/06/2003 11:05:52 AM PDT by EllaMinnow
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To: Pikamax
Mommy, Dearest...
34 posted on 08/06/2003 12:58:06 PM PDT by gcruse (http://gcruse.blogspot.com/)
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