Pelosi halts effort to sanction Wilson

[joeycola]

it is OFF the table.

I missed this yesterday.



http://thehill.com/homenews/house/58115-dems-may-move-to-censure-wilson

Pelosi halts effort to sanction Wilson

By Mike Soraghan and Jared Allen - 09/10/09 11:23 AM ET

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats should cease efforts to sanction Rep. Joe Wilson for shouting "You lie!" during the president's address.

While she said the South Carolina Republican's action was "stunning," and noted that lawmakers can be sanctioned for calling other lawmakers liars, she said she didn't want to dwell on the incident.

"It's time for us to talk about healthcare, not Joe Wilson," said Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Democratic leaders were looking into what formal action the House may take against Wilson, whose outburst during the Wednesday night address has rocked the lower chamber. On the list was a move to censure him.

But Pelosi dismissed that idea, as well as a call for Wilson to apologize on the floor...........................

[polichick]

1. What a lame-ass "leader" - great Nance, so we'll have this happening...

...again and again. How long before members of Congress are totin' assault weapons??

[emulatorloo]

2. JMHO - but no need to give the Wingnuts a new "Martyr" and it would be a HUGE

DISTRACTION. You gotta know what fights to pick. Healthcare is the one to pick, I think

Plus You think the cable coverage is bad now, this would be a nightmare circus.

But like I say Just My Humble Opinion.

[EmilyAnne]

3. I agree. nt

[Barack_America]

6. Agreed. But I would like to see the military go after him...

...for disrespecting the CIC as a veteran.

I find it interesting that it's also in the GOP's rule book that calling the President a liar is strictly forbidden. Any chance they'll enforce that?

[renate]

33. i also agree

And I also agree that it would be extremely awesome for someone in the military to spank him--it'd be so much more dramatic than if it were the Speaker of the House whom those wingnuts hate anyway.

[polichick]

I disagree completely - Dems will never get respect if we allow this to continue...

...and the next time Pres. Obama speaks it will be worse. Which one of those assholes will carry a gun in the chamber?

[emulatorloo]

13. I can see your point n/t

[Inuca]

19. Exagerate much? n/t

[polichick]

25. You're pretty funny - Joe Wilson has proven that Republicans in Congress...

...are no different that the ones showing up at town halls. I only WISH the gun scenario was an exaggeration.

[Inuca]

28. It IS an exaggeration

ANything is possible, but when the chances of something happening are a tiny fraction of 1% it is called an exaggeration.

[polichick]

31. No it's not - it's something that hasn't happened yet...

An exaggeration is normally about something that HAS happened.

It's just looking ahead to what allowing this behavior could lead to ~ which we have to do in light of what has happened with gun toters at presidential events.

[demwing]

10. Agreed - but disagree

when one uses that reasoning to avoid all conflict all the time.

[Inuca]

22. Agree 100%

Pelosi is right "It's time for us to talk about healthcare, not Joe Wilson,". Under the circumstances, it is a wise decision. It also makes Pelosi and Obama look classy, making that asshole look even more of a troglodyte.

[Deja Q]

4. If they're all bought and paid for, then it's all one big act for hollywood to follow.

[Vincardog]

5. Just ANOTHER case of "Looking Forward" FUCK THAT

[polichick]

7. [phone] - Speaker Pelosi nt

[Ghost in the Machine]

8. Nancy Pelosi = Pathetic Piece of Shit

We now return you to your normal programming...

[ShortnFiery]

11. I'm disappointed. I know we are the party of thoughtful debate and consensus building ...

but if you don't DISCIPLINE the right wing's bad behavior, it will only increase in both frequency and intensity.

However, since the right wing has deionized Pelosi, it is also wise not to supply "the crazies" at FOX with anymore ammunition. After all, Glenn Beck fantasizes about poisoning her. It's VILE.

The best news today was that of the retire USMC General Officers censuring Dick Cheney.

Just perhaps, some retired Army Reserve General Officers will STAND-UP and censure one each Colonel Joe Wilson, USA Reserve. Albeit he was NOT activated at the time of Obama's speech, he still dons the uniform and commands troops, i.e., he's not been Discharged from the Army.

Just because Joe Wilson was not activated, does not detract from the fact that the SAME MAN will later serve Obama as (Wilson's Commander in Chief). An Active Duty Officer voicing CONTEMPT for the POTUS is a courts martial offense.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm88.htm

“Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”

Joe Wilson escaped charges via the UCMJ, but there's NOTHING holding back retired Army Officers from strongly voicing their disapproval and request that he RETIRE NOW. How can Col Joe Wilson EFFECTIVELY lead active duty soldiers after demonstrating open contempt for his Commander in Chief?

[Ghost in the Machine]

35. It seems no one is held accountable anymore...

Impeachment = off the table
Sanctions for Wilson = off the table

The next thing that should be "off the table" is Nancy Pelosi's re-election. She's either too spineless, or too corrupt, to be an effective leader and/or Speaker of the House...


"However, since the right wing has deionized Pelosi, it is also wise not to supply "the crazies" at FOX with anymore ammunition. After all, Glenn Beck fantasizes about poisoning her. It's VILE."

I personally don't give damn about the crazies on FOX. I don't watch them, I don't give them any credibility and they don't affect my life. When I hear someone on the street (or in the doctors office, grocery store, etc.) talking bullshit, I don't keep quiet. I call them on their bullshit. I live in a very red part of East Tennessee and you wouldn't believe the people here, especially those working minimum wage jobs or who are on Social Security Disability, who spout rightwing bullshit. I try to educate them as much as possible.

Hopefully *someone* will hold Joe Wilson accountable...


Peace,

Ghost

[Bumblebee]

21. that's actually as inappropriate as what Wilson did, imho.

you may disagree with her but calling her what you called her is utterly unnecessary.

[Ghost in the Machine]

36. You're entitled to your opinion and I can respect that...

... as for me, however, I don't sugarcoat my thoughts or feelings. In other words, I *know* I can be an asshole.. when I want to be. Nancy Pelosi is useless to the Democratic Party. <~~ Is that better?

:hi:

Peace,

Ghost

[Inuca]

24. That's a very mature and well thought out observation n/t

[Ghost in the Machine]

37. Well thank you... thank you very much!... n/t

[Individualist]

9. DLC will never allow republicans to be held accountable.

[branders seine]

12. what has Pelosi accomplished in her tenure as Speaker?

[emulatorloo]

14. Served as a fundraising tool for wingnuts for one thing. Pelosi is one of the favorites to demonize

in their hysterical fundraising letters.

Of course that is not Pelosi's fault. But she certainly appears to get under the wingnut's skin, which is probably a good thing

[Skidmore]

15. My guess is that President Obama asked her not too and

he wants the conversation to be about healthcare, given the effort put into that speech, and not yammering endlessly in the news about some goober like Wilson. I'll bet he is forced to apologize on the floor of the House and that's as far as it gets for now. Later, take him out in the election. That's the ultimate punishment.

[countingbluecars]

18. I agree.

I believe she is doing what the President wants.

[Spazito]

27. I agree, the focus needs to remain on reform not on a racist backbench repub....

to highlight the distraction instead of focusing on the REAL issue is what the repubs and Wilson would love, imo. He is irrelevant to the issue.

[gatorboy]

16. No wonder Repugs in Congress act like spoiled children.

They know there will be no consequences for their actions. Pelosi you leadership is weak.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

17. Despite Knee Jerking; It Was Actually The Right Thing To Do.

As much as I'd like to see him dragged across the House floor, it is the right move strategically to reshift the focus back to healthcare. That's what real people care about; not wilson. From a political standpoint, she absolutely made the right move.

[Bumblebee]

20. She is right on that one.

[LisaM]

23. If Democrats had tried to disrupt Bush, I would have been all for it

The Wilson thing just doesn't bother me that much. I refuse to waste bandwidth on it. I understand that Wilson himself was lying, but that's not really the point as far as I'm concerned. If some Democrat had gone berserk on Bush, it would have delighted me. I would prefer that the media spend their time on the substance of Wilson's comments, which were ludicrous. They should be pointing out that Wilson, not Obama, was lying.

[dogday]

26. Wilson is history, it doesn't matter what is done.

He is history, and will forever carry the stigma of his actions... He will be gone next term...

[DainBramaged]

29. Kiss my ass, and if WE had done that, we'd be licking the shoes of Bohner

for forgiveness.

Dems are weak. Period.

[spanone]

30. it will only embolden the next racist son of a bitch rep.

but the media today would only make the fucker a martyr....and we all know it

[stklurker]

32. keep your eye on the ball...

this is an intended distraction.. it made headlines, he looked like a child.. let it go... dont give them the chance to rally around this and make everyone ignore healthcare..

[ljm2002]

34. Impeachment? Off the table...

...Investigation of Bush war crimes? Off the table. Charges against those who lie to Congress? Off the table. Single payer? Off the table. Public option? Sliding off the table, about to hit the floor. Punishment, or any kind of sanctions for those who break House rules (not to mention over 200 years of precedent)? Off the table.

Weak, weak, weak. I don't care if it's Pelosi, Emanuel or Obama who decided this is the thing to do: it's weak and harmful. It is not the way to run things!

[Bleacher Creature]

38. She's right. If they go ahead and take action, the proceedings are a 1-2 day story -- best case.

We don't have 1-2 days to waste anymore.