About Why Congress Is Gridlocked
In writing an article that is meant to flatter Nancy Pelosi, the Washington Post reporter who wrote the story, Lois Romano, inadvertently gives away some startling admissions. Want to know where the paralysis in Congress is coming from? Want to know why there has been a constant, unending stream of vicious partisan politics instead of a Congress working to move the nation forward? Look no further than the woman who would be speaker:
On election night 2004, Nancy Pelosi faced a painful reality: Her party was again a big loser, failing to win the presidency and losing three more House seats. Pundits were suggesting Pelosi should accept her fate as the leader of a permanent House minority.
But the California legislator had a different idea. Instead, she reached out to advertising executives, Internet moguls and language specialists to ask how Democrats could rise from the ashes and challenge President Bush and the Republicans. The advice that came back was unabashed: "You must take him down" and then hammer away at the differences between the two parties, Pelosi recalled.
Today the Democrats appear capable of taking back leadership of the House after 12 years in the minority, for reasons largely beyond Pelosi's control: an unpopular war, an unpopular president and a series of scandals that have left the Republicans highly vulnerable.
Nevertheless, if the Democrats win, experts say, much credit is due this 66-year-old woman, whose notable fundraising abilities (she raised $50 million this election cycle) and scorched-earth strategy of refusing to negotiate with the GOP have put her on track to become the first woman to be speaker of the House.
Dismissed by her critics as too liberal, too elitist and too lacking in gravitas, Pelosi, serving her 10th term, has proved to be a tough-minded tactician who has led her caucus from the political center and kept the fractious House Democrats in line. Pelosi and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) rarely work together, and the Democrats voted along party lines 88 percent of the time last year — the most unified voting record in 50 years — according to a Congressional Quarterly study. By hanging together, the Democrats have thwarted many GOP initiatives, including the centerpiece of Bush's second-term agenda, restructuring Social Security.
So, congratulations to any conservatives who decided to sit out the elections, Nancy is proud that she was able to hoodwink you into doing her bidding. Congratulations for being unable to look beyond the manipulation and the media cheerleading. Congratulations for making her job of tearing the country apart easier.
Other Links to this Post
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bRight & Early » First Cup 10.21.06 — Saturday, 21 October , 2006 @ 7:44 am
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Blue Crab Boulevard » Blog Archive » Because It Has Been All Sweetness Up Until Now, Right? — Sunday, 22 October , 2006 @ 2:54 pm
By reddog, Saturday, 21 October , 2006 @ 6:40 am
The Democrats chair no legislative committees, the Republicans require no democratic votes to pass legislation. I agree that Pelosi is abhorrant and the Democrats lack a coherent strategy. The failures of the 109th Congress rest squarely on the shoulders of the Republican majority.