NYT: Talk of Pelosi as Speaker Delights Both Parties

[Placebo]

Hoping to win a Congressional majority in November, some optimistic Democratic lawmakers have taken to referring to Representative Nancy Pelosi as "speaker," as in speaker of the House. So have some optimistic Republicans.

Representative Nancy Pelosi has become more visible as the prospect of a Democratic Congressional majority gains credibility.
"She ought to be a big component of the fall campaign," said Ed Rogers, a Republican strategist and lobbyist. "There are some Democrats who make really good bad guys."

Ms. Pelosi, the California Democrat and House minority leader, lends herself to easy caricature by Republicans. She is an unapologetic liberal, with a voting record to match (the Republican National Committee chairman, Ken Mehlman, said she was neither a "New Democrat" nor an "Old Democrat" but a "prehistoric Democrat"). She is wealthy (married to an investment banker, she has assets listed at more than $16 million). She represents San Francisco, which Republicans love to invoke as a hotbed of counterculture decadence and extremism.

"Is America ready for Nancy Pelosi's Contract With San Francisco?" asked Representative Ric Keller, Republican of Florida, posing a question that, one imagines, could form the basis of many Republican advertisements this fall.

More...

[savemefromdumbya]

1. Isn't she from Baltimore?

I think we might as well call her speaker now. There may not be any GOP left at the rate they are going

[KamaAina]

23. Originally, yes. She moved to SF after college.

In fact, her dad Tom D'Alessandro was mayor of Baltimore.

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

Pelosi was born Nancy D'Alesandro in Baltimore, Maryland to Italian American parents. She became involved in politics at an early age and her father, Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., was a U.S. Congressman from Maryland and also a Mayor of Baltimore.

Pelosi attended Trinity College (now Trinity Washington University) in Washington, DC, where she met her future husband, Paul Pelosi. When the couple married, they moved to his hometown of San Francisco, where his brother was a member of the city's Board of Supervisors (San Francisco city & county--council).

[savemefromdumbya]

25. yes I thought so, thanks!

[garthranzz]

2. What the Republican really mean...

We're not ready for a woman to be Speaker of the House. Women are supposed to be Keepers of the House, not Speakers of the House.

[SharonAnn]

4. Thank you. I thought I was the only one who noticed this.

I'm running for office right now, myself, and I still get people asking if our county is "ready for a woman Mayor".

I know this is a small county (45,000) but isn't this the 21st Century? Even Chile has a woman leader, as PRESIDENT!

[garthranzz]

6. Good luck! I hope you win.

[Placebo]

5. Bingo.

It was Tom Delay who said, "Nothing worse than a woman know it all."

[MarinCoUSA]

3. If Dems can't counteract any Swift Boating of her- THEY DESERVE TO LOSE

N/T

[Orsino]

24. Debunking, unfortunately, isn't the same as counteracting.

The latter would require airtime that the media won't give them.

But yeah, the Dems should be unswifting every chance they get.

[Up2Late]

7. I personally would LOVE to see her become the First Female Speaker...

...but I'm still not convinced that Diebold will let that happen.

[Placebo]

8. Will or Won't?

:)

[pnwmom]

9. NYT: Talk of Pelosi as Speaker Delights Both Parties

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/washington/30pelosi.html?ex=1149566400&en=bb44dc6089c5b70f&ei=5065&partner=MYWAY


By MARK LEIBOVICH
Published: May 30, 2006

"WASHINGTON, May 29 — Hoping to win a Congressional majority in November, some optimistic Democratic lawmakers have taken to referring to Representative Nancy Pelosi as "speaker," as in speaker of the House. So have some optimistic Republicans.

"Representative Nancy Pelosi has become more visible as the prospect of a Democratic Congressional majority gains credibility.
"She ought to be a big component of the fall campaign," said Ed Rogers, a Republican strategist and lobbyist. "There are some Democrats who make really good bad guys."

"Ms. Pelosi, the California Democrat and House minority leader, lends herself to easy caricature by Republicans. She is an unapologetic liberal, with a voting record to match (the Republican National Committee chairman, Ken Mehlman, said she was neither a "New Democrat" nor an "Old Democrat" but a "prehistoric Democrat"). She is wealthy (married to an investment banker, she has assets listed at more than $16 million). She represents San Francisco, which Republicans love to invoke as a hotbed of counterculture decadence and extremism.

"'Is America ready for Nancy Pelosi's Contract With San Francisco?'asked Representative Ric Keller, Republican of Florida, posing a question that, one imagines, could form the basis of many Republican advertisements this fall."

SNIP

But to listen to many DU'ers, she's not a liberal at all!

[President Kerry]

10. nice little snippet..

She represents San Francisco, which Republicans love to invoke as a hotbed of counterculture decadence and extremism.

Funny thing is, the current GOP's extremism is the major cause of ITS decadence. Which is why she'll be the Speaker of the House.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

11. I would love to see Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH)as Speaker

:dem: Thank You for posting.I'm not real thrilled with Pelosi,as of late. I really like Dennis J. Kucinich,though. I would love to hear Dubya pronounce his name:evilgrin: :kick:

[pnwmom]

13. In the House of Representatives, Pelosi ranks as 23rd most progressive,

according to ProgressivePunch, with a 94% score on progressive issues.

Kucinich is in 95th place, with a 86%.

So I guess Pelosi's too liberal for you, is that it?


www.progressivepunch.com

[cyclezealot]

16. Health care and trade are my main issues.

Does your progressive punch give those the weight I give them? I know D. Kucinich stands %100 correct on those. Know where Pelosi stands on Helthcare? I guess more HMO garbage for all? Not that Pelosi is a totally lousy choice. Of late, she has improved some, with exception of impeaching Bush.

[pnwmom]

18. You can check the weightings at www.progressivepunch.com

I'm not sure what you mean by trade, exactly, but you can see the categories they used in the rankings. "Trade" per se wasn't one of them, but you could look for Pelosi's votes on particular bills, if you were interested.

In health care, Pelosi ranked higher (98%) than Kucinich (89%). But if there are individual issues that are particularly important to you, you can see all the votes there. (Kucinich had a 25% on stem cell research, which helped bring his score down.)

[cyclezealot]

22. By trade

I mean lousy trade deals such as Nafta, Cafta, and now- Oman. I will check out progressive' weighted averages. Nafta , Cafta not about free trade but corporate propertiary rights in new markets, along with selling Pizzas and burgers in an effrot to makes others' diets lousy.

[PittPoliSci]

12. Most disgusting comment I've ever heard.

"Is America ready for Nancy Pelosi's Contract With San Francisco?'asked Representative Ric Keller, Republican of Florida, posing a question that, one imagines, could form the basis of many Republican advertisements this fall."

Why because there might be some gays living in San Francisco? Does Republican bigotry know any end?!
:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[pnwmom]

14. Nope. n/t

[reprobate]

15. Just ignore Rick Keller. All of us in Florida do.

[radfringe]

17. Pelosi as a wedge issue?

Ms. Pelosi, the California Democrat and House minority leader, lends herself to easy caricature by Republicans. She is an unapologetic liberal, with a voting record to match (the Republican National Committee chairman, Ken Mehlman, said she was neither a "New Democrat" nor an "Old Democrat" but a "prehistoric Democrat"). She is wealthy (married to an investment banker, she has assets listed at more than $16 million). She represents San Francisco, which Republicans love to invoke as a hotbed of counterculture decadence and extremism.

"Is America ready for Nancy Pelosi's Contract With San Francisco?" asked Representative Ric Keller, Republican of Florida, posing a question that, one imagines, could form the basis of many Republican advertisements this fall.

looks like the repubs are going to try to use her as a wedgie

[pnwmom]

19. And San Francisco as a wedge. And soon there will be New York, too.

There's a gay marriage lawsuit before the NY courts now, and Bloomberg has announced his support of whatever the court decides.

We can look forward to the Repubs having a gay old time.

[Demeter]

20. The GOP Is Whistling Past the Graveyard

Their goose is well and thoroughly cooked. This country needs Nancy Pelosi as Speaker, because she will serve the commonwealth, defend and protect the Constitution, and yes, put BushCo on trial at home and abroad. Because it's time, it's right, and it's the only choice left.

[yellowcanine]

21. It didn't work for Democrats to run against "Speaker Gingrich" in 1994 and

this won't work either.