Did Nancy Pelosi fail the Democrats?

[NJmaverick]

Did she fail to support Obama's bipartisan efforts by not even meeting the the Republicans?

Did she fail to protect the party's image by shepherding a bill that was laden with pork (which gives plenty of ammo to the GOP and right wing talking heads) , instead of keeping it tight and on target?

Seems to me if she had followed Obama's lead and met with the Republicans, she would have effectively disarmed their claims about being ignored.


It seems to me if she had made a tight bill that focused strictly on stimulating the economy and not allowing any pork, she would have been able, at this opportune time, re-branded the Democratic party as compassionate AND fiscally responsible. It just seems to me that she let the party down, by allowing more of the same, instead of pushing for change.

[Fovea]

1. I have not seen much

that suggests she is competent at her job.

[katandmoon]

2. The repugs were determined to be assholes no matter what.

[NJmaverick]

3. That's a given, the issue is did Nancy's actions help make them look less like assholes

I think if she had handled things differently the GOP would have looked much worse. Instead she played right into their hands and gave them political cover.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. "Impeachment is off the table"

She not only failed the Democratic Party, she failed the nation and should be held as complicit in the treason of the Bush Administration.

[pleah]

5. Bingo!

That is exactly how I see it.

[ThomWV]

8. Exactly

[NJmaverick]

12. I would have to agree, it's clear she cares little about change or being non-partisan

so her declaration can only be seen as a sign of weakness.

[Still Sensible]

6. I agree completely

it was wholly unnecessary to include some of those pet projects in the Recovery Act. It gave the other side legitimate pork to bitch about.

[geek tragedy]

7. Obama is failing Pelosi and the House Democrats

who are trying to get progressive legislation passed only to be undermined by his "why can't we all just get along" kumbayah nonsense.

He needs to lead or get out of the way.

[NJmaverick]

11. The only think Nancy is leading, is a return of Republican rule

she is tone depth to the all important national image. There is a damn good reason Congress was given even lower marks that that idiot Bush.

[geek tragedy]

19. Yes, because they didn't stand up to Bush. They had no balls.

And now Obama is forcing Pelosi to stand up to the Republicans while he sips cocktails with them and names him to his Cabinet.

[NJmaverick]

23. Nancy is bad politician. She was a poor choice for House Speaker

and most of her actions have hurt the Democratic party. About the only thing she does seem to have an interest in, is building her own personal power base.

[geek tragedy]

27. She's actually fighting the Republicans on issues that matter.

And then Obama goes out and begs Congressional Democrats to give the Republicans what they want.

And, if you can read between the lines, he's already given up on health care reform.

[NJmaverick]

30. When she should be fighting the Republicans, like in 2006-2008

she was no where to be found. Now when she should be toning down her rhetoric she is doing the exact opposite.

[KharmaTrain]

9. Pelosi Can Never Win On DU

Many here expect Pelosi to part the waters and make everything change. When she doesn't, she's a miserable failure. When she doesn't jump as high as people want here, she's a traitor or worse. So no matter what you say or think, minds here are closed...she's damned no matter what she does.

I can understand the impatience, but her accomplishments are easily overlooked...especially in light of fighting both repugnicans and an obstructive executive that bottled up legislation and made it all but impossible for her to do the things people here were expecting. Now, with a larger majority in both Houses, we're starting to see some of the things she championed last year...Ledbetter, S-CHIP and other programs start to move. Of course she won't get any credit cause she won't go out singlehandedly and make a citizens arrest of Karl Rove and impeach everyone and everything.

The Democrats have been playing the stimulus bill very well. They offered the GOOP a bite of the apple...even watering down the House bill in hopes of bringing a few along...and the stupid repugnicans blew what could be one of their few chances to have any say in things moving forward. By rejecting the House version the way they did, the GOOP gave the entire country the finger and now President Obama can write the bill whichever way he pleases in conference (where the bill will end up after the Senate passes...and it will), then it goes back to the House where final passage takes place. The GOOPs screwed their own pooch.

[NJmaverick]

10. How do you explain her failings?

Your claims about DU aside, you conviently ignored her failure to reign in pork and her failure to meet with the Republicans. Before going after DU, I think you need to address they important issues.

[KharmaTrain]

17. Failure To Meet With Repugnicans???

What do you call the summits that were held by the White House prior to the House vote...the one Boner called DOA even before he went to the meeting. So that's Pelosi's fault?

Now which pork are you refering to? Money for fixing up the National Mall? Funding for women's reproductive health? Or is she hording something else that has been missed.

My claims are all over any thread with Pelosi's name on it. Look at how she constantly gets trashed here. I used to have a list of the bills Pelosi helped champion...this one is from 2007...now feel free to show me the pork within and who was responsible for the failure of these bills...that PASSED the House to become law...

The College Cost Reduction Act - H.R. 2669

Homeland Security Appropriations - H.R. 2638
State-Foreign Operations Appropriations - H.R. 2764
Interior-Environment Appropriations - H.R. 2643
The Energy Price Gouging Act – H.R. 1252
The No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act - H.R. 2264
FY 2008 Defense Authorization Bill - H.R. 1585
FY 2008 Homeland Security Authorization - H.R. 1684
Hate Crimes Prevention Act – H.R. 1592
D.C. Voting Rights Act – H.R. 1905
Rail and Mass Transit Security Act - H.R. 1401
Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 - H.R. 1255
Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 - H.R. 985
Reauthorizing Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund - H.R. 720
Employee Free Choice Act - H.R. 800
Requiring Medicare to Negotiate Lower Prescription Drug Prices - H.R. 4

Again...that is just a partial list...

I have plenty of disappointments with how things have gone in the House over the past 2 years, but it's a shared responsibility...no one person holds all the keys.

[NJmaverick]

21. That was Obama's meeting, not Pelosi's

While Obama was doing that, Pelosi was busy telling the press her party won so the Republicans should deal with it

[KharmaTrain]

25. Pelosi Was At The Meeting...

Sorta hard to blow one's horn when you're in a meeting...boy, Pelosi is more talented than I realized. And I noticed how you avoided the fact Boner had already decided against any compromise even before the meeting. But that was probably Pelosi's fault, too. :rofl:

Obama according to my knowledge if the President and head of the Democratic Party...damn him for usurping Pelosi here.

Not to be picky here, but I'd be interested in a link to where Pelosi said that her party "won" before the vote...other than the obvious fact the Democrats have a 70 plus seat majority...so such predictions aren't that much of a stretch.

Any more hate radio talking points we need to address???

[NJmaverick]

26. good day, I do not waste my time with those that are so limited

in their intellectual ability, that they need to suppliment their ideas with this pathetic crutch- :rofl:

[Johonny]

14. I agree

The Bill will be changed in conference committee anyways. She passed the Bill with a thumping without the Republicans help. To me that sent a pretty loud message that the house doesn't need to be bipartisan, so the Republicans better start getting more friendly. Her biggest failure would appear to be not getting her people on TV with face time.

[Enrique]

39. first she caves too much

now she doesn't cave enough. :crazy:

[dynasaw]

13. Yes!

This woman doesn't seem to know who or when to assert her leadership. She ducked when she could have taken on the repubs, and had the gall to "argue" with Obama over the stimulus bill. Putting the Bush impeachment "off the table" was a singular indication she lacked guts.

[NJmaverick]

20. That a pretty good assessment

[endarkenment]

15. No.

The bill is not 'laden with pork' unless you believe Rush. Republicans got compromises - for example the family planning stuff was taken out - and still voted lockstep against it. This bill passed the house and will pass the senate.

A stimulus bill cannot be fiscally responsible. It isn't supposed to be fiscally responsible. That is the point. Turn off hate radio. The only 'fiscal responsibility' hate radio understands is unrestricted military spending and more tax cuts for billionaires, and that was the only compromise the wingnut party was interested in.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. yes

[NeedleCast]

18. Pretty Much

I remember the fap-fest around here in 2006 when there were two dozen "Madame Speaker" threads bragging about how much Pelosi was going to kick as and take down Bush.

I made a comment that I didn't think she was going to do a good job and got my head handed to me.

I was right.

[Kansas Wyatt]

22. The Republicans met before their meeting with President Obama.

Where they agreed to unite and oppose anything President Obama wanted. A few Republicans that wanted to work with Obama, were "persuaded" not to do any such thing.

Republicans are the #1 obstacle to this country recovering from REPUBLICAN destruction.

[NJmaverick]

24. and every American would see that, if not for the bad choices and actions

by Nancy Pelosi. She provides the same sort of help to the GOP that Bush provided to the Dems, in his later years.

[Kansas Wyatt]

28. Oh, make no mistake about it...

I would much rather see Dennis Kucinich as Speaker of the House.

[geek tragedy]

29. No, Obama REFUSES to call the Republicans out.

If Obama won't blame them, how on earth do you expect the American people to?

He needs to lead or get out of the way.

[NJmaverick]

31. If you are SMART about how you conduct yourself

you don't need to do the finger pointing. It simply becomes glaringly obvious. Obama is doing things smartly, while Pelosi is not. Unfortunately Pelosi's foolish efforts are hurting Obama and the party.

[geek tragedy]

32. If he's so smart, why are the Republicans winning

the stimulus fight so far? They're united and on the attack, Democrats are in disarray and in full retreat mode.

And, considering that in order to get the House Bill passed, he effectively abandoned health care reform . . .

[NJmaverick]

33. I just told you why they are winning- Nancy Pelosi

[geek tragedy]

34. It's her fault for advocating good policy?

Seems to be that President Cavesalot should be blamed for not putting an ounce of pressure on the Republicans.

It seems his approval ratings are more important than solving problems.

[NJmaverick]

35. No it's her fault for being a tone depth politiican that don't know when to take a stand

and when to try and get along. It's her fault for gift wrapping so much ammo for the GOP and right wingers. It's her fault for being more worried about her personal power, than being a good Speaker of the House.

[Enrique]

36. do you realize you're falling for the GOP's strategy?

they're playing concern troll, pretending to support Obama (whom they called a socialist and a terrorist) and bashing Pelosi for undermining him. Your post could have come straight from GOP propaganda.

[NJmaverick]

37. Not me, that's what Nancy Pelosi is doing

she is being played the fool by the GOP. If she was smarter, like Obama, there would be no ammo for the GOP or the right wing talking heads.

[Enrique]

38. she gave all the concessions Obama wanted

pulled the family planning provision (which was good policy and which she had just defended on TV) and also giving the republicans some tax cuts.