Nancy Pelosi: This Is ‘Blackmail’

[Purveyor]

By Lauren French

12/11/14 2:31 PM EST

Updated 12/11/14 3:42 PM EST

Nancy Pelosi is “disappointed” in Barack Obama for backing a bill she described as a form of “blackmail” on the part of Republicans.

The California Democrat objects to two provisions in the trillion dollar spending deal, including one that would roll back Dodd-Frank financial services reforms. She called the looming backdrop of a potential shutdown a form of blackmail.

Pelosi, an often loud supporter of the president, pushed back when the White House announced support for the package.

“I’m enormously disappointed that the White House feels that the only way they can get a bill is to go along with this. That would be the only reason I think they would say they would sign such a bill,” she said.

(Also on POLITICO: Obama backs budget deal)

Pelosi also urged Democrats to block the bill, anyway.

“It is clear from this recess on the floor that the Republicans don’t have enough votes to pass the CRomnibus,” Pelosi wrote. “This increases our leverage to get two offensive provisions of the bill removed: the bank bailout and big money for campaigns provision.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/nancy-pelosi-budget-bill-113506.html#ixzz3LcuqjEvh

[polichick]

1. k&r

[Calista241]

2. I don't see how we win this one tbh.

The President has announced he's for it. Republicans are clearly for it. Our options are to suck it up and vote for it, shut down the government, or have the repubs pass a 60 day continuing resolution.

A shutdown is the worst option, and make no mistake, Democrats will take the blame this time.

A 60 day CR is the 2nd worst option. Next year, the Repubs will basically do what they want in the house, they'll be able to bring bills to the floor in the Senate, and the President will probably sign it. Then, we'll have to have a filibuster, and Turtle will probably make us have a speaking filibuster. Then we'll really take the blame for shutting it down, since the government would close because our senators are on the floor bitching about the bill.

This is the result of stay at home Dems in the last election. Thanks!

[Aerows]

4. Dems are powerless

when they have a majority. Dems are powerless when they are in the minority.

Tell me again why I should vote for people that can't act unless they have a mandate from God, the Angels, the Superbowl winners, and everybody's dog?

If Dems are that powerless, why are we even bothering to support and elect them?

Explain this to me.

[Joey Liberal]

22. They do seem to be afraid of the GOP

But could you vote republican? I cannot.

[okaawhatever]

8. It appears not all Republicans are for it. The Cruz's of congress won't vote yes because they want

to defund anything that will allow Obama to carry out his immigration plan. Boehner will either have to convince them to vote for it or more Dems. Pelosi is betting that Boehner can't get the votes from the ultra-right wing and will have to cave to the Dems demands. Interesting turn of events. I hope Boehner throws the neo-cons under the bus and gives up the Dodd-Frank and campaign reforms for the Dem votes.

[genwah]

11. The past is over. Call your rep. and yell! [phone]

To locate your Member on-line:
U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.gov
U.S. Senate: www.senate.gov

White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

[daleanime]

24. +1

[hughee99]

14. If the president and the republicans are on the same side and Congressional DEMS shut down the govt,

that really is the worst case scenario. The President would basically have to admit he can't sell something he supports even to his own party, and he'd have a hard time making the case the the general public that it's really the republican's fault (even if it is blackmail as Pelosi says).

[alfredo]

18. Mitch can change the rules. He could ban the filibuster.

He could put restrictions on who can offer amendments.

[alfredo]

21. It's a poison pill. They want us to reject the bill.

[Aerows]

3. I'll never forgive her

for taking things "off the table" even when she was Speaker of the House, arguably one of the most powerful positions of state behind the President.

[Purveyor]

6. Unfortunately Pelosi wasn't taken "off the table" and will again the DEM

leader (if you can call her THAT) in the House come 2015.

[Aerows]

7. It's amazing to me

how unable to do a goddamned thing Democrats are, no matter whether they are in the majority, are President, or in control of both Houses of Congress.

To listen to people on DU, you would think President Obama needs permission from Congress to take Bo out for a walk, never mind run the country.

[treestar]

15. this is easy

they don't want the government shut down

Republicans don't care, giving them an advantage.

[Scootaloo]

28. "Unable"? Oh, keep that optimism

The Democratic party serves to legitimatize the bullshit ofthe republican party. They work in tandem. The republicans come in, trash the place, and leave a mess. The Democrats come in, declare the mess to be hte new status quo, and advocate we 'move on." Then the republicans come in again, trash the place even more, only to have the democrats declare it the new status quo, and the circle of life continues

[Enthusiast]

23. My enthusiasm for Nancy is waning.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[99th_Monkey]

5. Rolling back Dodd/Frank?

It appears the GOP will shut down gov't one way or the other.

When the whole economy crashes again, due to these 'roll backs',
we may wish we HAD let them shut down gov't.

[GoCubsGo]

9. No, Rep. Pelosi, it's extortion, not blackmail.

Blackmail involves threats of exposing something that one doesn't want exposed. I don't think the opponents are the ones trying to hide anything here.

As for the President supporting this thing, I wonder if he's "supporting" it in order to drive off some republican votes. They're against everything he's for, so why not dick around with them? They certainly deserve it.

[Pantagruelsmember]

19. BO backs spending bill

"As for the President supporting this thing, I wonder if he's "supporting" it in order to drive off some republican votes. They're against everything he's for, so why not dick around with them? They certainly deserve it."

Every atrocity laden bill that comes out of congress for the next 2 years should probably be vetoed by BO but then the Dems get blamed for the inevitable shutdown. So maybe this type of dance is simply smart "politics"?

[GoCubsGo]

32. That's what I'm thinking.

I think he's trying as best as he can to put this all back on the republicans, where it belongs.

[LuvLoogie]

33. If Republicans succeed in wrecking this nation.

I WILL blame the Democrats.

[progressoid]

10. "I’m enormously disappointed"

Understatement of the day.

[genwah]

12. Goddammit! Ten comments and no one wants to DO anything? Nothing is over until WE say it's over!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/q7vtWB4owdE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

To call your Member of Congress:
US Capitol Switchboard [phone]

To locate your Member on-line:
U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.gov
U.S. Senate: www.senate.gov

[genwah]

13. Stupid embed...

[Oilwellian]

16. Nancy is all to happy to bend over backwards

and serve her Wall Street masters. I'm sure she's helping Obama whip those Democrats into shape and vote for this piece of shit.

[spanone]

20. no she's not. she's at odds with the President on this.

[mountain grammy]

17. My Congressman is voting NO!

Thank you, Jarad Polis!

[The Green Manalishi]

25. Better to shut everything down than pass this turkey EOM

[malthaussen]

26. Nancy can't think of a reason?

Maybe the WH supports the bill because they agree with it.

-- Mal

[daredtowork]

27. Why only those two?

Where are the people speaking for the WIC money and student Pell grants?

[heaven05]

29. been "blackmail"

for the last 6 years, where's she been?

[hifiguy]

30. You play ball with mobsters and you're surprised

that they blackmail you? How goddamn naive ARE you? Oh wait, you're the one who said "impeachment is off the table." Pretty fucking naive. Or pretty damn bought/crooked/complicit.

[Pinkflamingo]

31. How about a line item veto? Is that possible?

[world wide wally]

34. Who really cares if the Dems get blamed for shutting down the government this time?

I remember the Repblicans being blamed the last time and they swept the elections.