The Pelosi-Obama style - not so much the rage at the moment

Yesterday Speaker Nancy Pelosi once again demonstrated her powers of political leadership. For people who were not intensely engaged in the primary season, Speaker Pelosi's methods for consensus building seem to be coming as something of a surprise as does her glaring lack of consistency let alone integrity. (Listen to Speaker Pelosi's speech in support of the legislation it was her job as Speaker to see passed.)

When Speaker Pelosi would like - or even needs - the cooperation who do not share her point of view, what does she do? She insults them. As she has done with Clinton Democrats for months, so she did with House Republicans yesterday.

When Speaker Pelosi finds it convenient to say something true, she does but if it is not convenient, she does not. She, along with her preferred Presidential candidate, Senator Obama, spent the primary season denying the economic success of President Bill Clinton's administration. On the floor of the House yesterday, Speaker Pelosi  repeatedly emphasized President Clinton's success at securing the nation's economic foundations by balancing the budget, a move that brought economic prosperity in the aftermath of President George H.W. Bush's total failure on the economic front.

When Speaker Pelosi finds it expedient to claim that something is good she claims it is good, when she finds it expedient to shift to an inconsistent position she nimbly dodges over. On September 28, Speaker Pelosi said the bill was a wonderful bipartisan achievement made all the better by the measures she pressed for, such as not giving Secretary Paulson $700 billion effective immediately. On September 29, speaking in support of this legislative achievement she made no mention of the provisions in the bill meant to check the Secretary's ability to draw down more than $250 billion at first.

When Speaker Pelosi wants a result she seems to think that all Democrats will simply fall in line behind her. So instead of coming to the floor of the House having done the work necessary to persuade members of her own party to stand with her, she arrived with over 90 of them ready to steer clear of the legislation she had just 24 hours ago been touting as an example of Democratic success in checking Wall Street greed. Similarly, Speaker Pelosi arrived at the Denver Democratic Party presidential nominating convention having spent months insisting that the party was unified around Senator Obama despite the fact that Senator Clinton had won the popular vote and if a free and full roll call vote had been held, with uncoerced superdelegates playing their appropriate role, Senator Clinton might very well have won the nomination on the first ballot. At the convention, aware she did not have the votes, Speaker Pelosi was able to use a combination of delegate intimidation and payments from her PAC to superdelegates to prevent a straightforward voting procedure rather than risk an outcome that was not her first choice. Too bad for Speaker Pelosi that  election tampering is harder to pull during a House floor vote.

If you want years and years of Pelosi-style political "skill" dominating U.S. federal level politics, then you will vote for Barack Obama on November 4. Because if Barack Obama becomes the next president of the United States, Nancy Pelosi will insist upon remaining Speaker of the House. She will based her claim to legitimacy on her support of Barack Obama. No matter how badly she has performed as Speaker of the House - and she has performed stunningly badly - she or somebody she supports will carry on as Speaker.

Furthermore, if Barack Obama becomes the next president he, with help from Nancy Pelosi (and Harry Reid and Howard Dean, some other masterful politicians of our day) will appoint  the next set of DNC leaders. His claim to this prerogative will rest  upon the fact of his winning and the fact that, according to tradition, this is the winner's prerogative. And like Nancy Pelosi, Senator Obama believes in breaking from tradition or acting for real change so long as that benefits him personally; if sticking with the status quo is more advantageous to Senator Obama's own agenda than change is no longer the order of the day.

You can be sure that any DNC leadership appointed by Barack Obama, would be very likely to continue to support candidates  cut from the cloth of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama. Senator Clinton will be further marginalized by her own Party; and the Party leaders will carry on efforts to shun President Clinton, the most successful Democratic President in Nancy Pelosi's adult life (the Speaker was 5 years old when Franklin D. Roosevelt died) and Barack Obama's entire life.

No, I do not think John McCain is a wonderful alternative for the next four years. Nor did I think the bailout legislation was good public policy (for what I had to say about that, look here). But I think a Democratic Party dominated by the Pelosi-Obama style is an even worse state of affairs, not just for the next four years but for many years thereafter. If I thought I could reform the Republican Party and make its members understand the need for a total overhaul of how this country handles health care or convince them of the significance of reproductive rights for women and civil liberties for all, then I would actively support the Republican Party. But the prospect of being able to achieve that seems slimmer than even the admittedly daunting challenge of bringing about a total overhaul of the Democratic Party.

For some other good reads about the problems of with the Pelosi-Obama influence on the Party and the country see From The Range at FDR.

Comments

[kavala007]

I wrote an email, regarding the financial bailout bill, to the two Senators from my state as well as to the Congresswoman from my district. The Congresswoman sent a reply in which she bashed the Republicans and their failed policies and then asked me for my thoughts on the matter. Here is what I have drafted:

The basic problem we are all facing is the lack of trust in Congress, the Oval Office, and the news media. The Acorn Slush Fund included in the financial bill exacerbated this lack of trust. For the Democrats to push through a bill where 20% of the monies being requested go to a slush fund for an organization involved in voter fraud was totally unacceptable to many people. Even though it was eliminated from the final bill there is great suspicion as to where the 350 billion dollars in the financial package voted, on and rightfully defeated, will end up. In addition, Democrats are also using the financial crisis for politics and that just increases the distrust.

Yesterday and today, the Speaker of the House made a serious tactical blunder.
The Speaker failed to understand that Congress, and therefore the Speaker, represents all American Citizens in this current financial debacle. She does not just represent and those who support her political candidates or views. When Members of Congress or citizens who are Republicans are castigated, they generally take umbrage. When the Democratic presidential candidate is touted as the one whose proposals will save the financial crisis, many shake their head in disbelief. Many Americans do not trust him and do not believe anything that Congressional Democrats say about him.

Congressional approval is at an all time low. Yet, instead of working together for the good of the entire United States the Speaker and the Senate Majority leader decided it was politics as usual and began to smash the Republicans as well as the Republican candidate for the presidency. That was not a smart tactic for anyone dependent on the goodwill and trust of anyone else. I personally have never found slamming someone else to be beneficial in achieving my goals.

American citizens, in spite of what some in Congress believe, are savvy and do pay attention to politics and government. They do not pay the detailed attention they really should but they do pay attention. They are very unhappy with what they have seen
and read about over the past few years. As a group, they do not feel that Congress has their best interest at hearts. That is not a good thing for our country.

I am aware that between the 2nd and fourth weeks of September, the bank borrowing at the Federal Reserve Bank increased almost 9 fold from 24 billion to around 184 billion and the FRB today pumped another 330 billion into the financial markets to maintain liquidity. Others and I are also aware of the July bailout that was meant to stabilize the financial markets and failed to do so. The fundamental issues of the economy and the financial markets need to be addressed and partisan politics have no place in the solution. It breeds nothing but distrust and if American citizens do not trust their government, and they do not at this moment, no solution will be achieved and no solution will succeed.

That is my opinion. Too many Democrats have lost the trust of too many people. Humans operate on a modicum of trust. It is a fragile concept and when it is gone, it is gone and it is hard to get back. When you bash the Republicans, the Republican presidential nominee and even blame George W. Bush you lose, since it does not wash with the public. So please do not do that and do try to focus on what needs to be done for our beloved country.

[Amazonia]

In my view not voting for McCain is like voting for Obama, therefore

McCain/Palin '08

Hillary Clinton '12

[Amazonia]

In my view not voting for McCain is like voting for Obama, therefore

McCain/Palin '08

Hillary Clinton '12

[Annie]

The Acorn Slush Fund included in the financial bill exacerbated this lack of trust. For the Democrats to push through a bill where 20% of the monies being requested go to a slush fund for an organization involved in voter fraud was totally unacceptable to many people

Exactly Heidi. 20 % of this historic bailout is a HUGE red flag amount,
almost 1/4th!! That's not about helping people get houses, ACORN supposed goal. Lord knows what it was for ...Obama brown shirts?

[Annie]

opps! I see this comment was make by
kavala007 | September 29, 2008 at 11:46 PM , not Heidi

The Acorn Slush Fund included in the financial bill exacerbated this lack of trust. For the Democrats to push through a bill where 20% of the monies being requested go to a slush fund for an organization involved in voter fraud was totally unacceptable to many people

my mistake! You put it well

[Stray Yellar Dawg]

What needs to come to light at this point... is why the Pelosi/Obama model cannot even garner 100% of Democratic votes in the congress. Let alone those of Republicans.

Who are the Democratic hold-outs? What are they trying to tell us about the unacceptable nature of Pelosi/Obama leadership?

True Democrats MUST work from within to reclaim our party. But... FIRST and foremost... we must elect John McCain president in 2008!

[BeBe]

At first glance Democrats who voted against the bill were from mostly conservative districts or states who went for Clinton in the primaries. I could do an analysis later to make sure that this holds up.

OT but perhaps tangentially relevant. With the Obama campaign taking over all Democratic party fundraising and forbidding outside groups from encroaching upon their shakedown operation, leaders such as Pelosi do not have as much filthy lucre to pass around this campaign cycle. This centralization of funds has increased Obama's clout at least until the election but minimized Pelosi. We may have seen the aftereffects of this yesterday with the Democratic caucus in meltdown.

[Annie]

other Democratic hold-outs seem to be from where the housing bubble has popped the most, the West. Those Dems would risk their seats if they voted yea at this point. But does Nancy care? No. She continues going up the Dem food chain, trashing everyone in order to help Barry. We warned the Dem down tickets ....that Barry and company would not be content with just voters and delegates under the bus. It seems Barry plans to be King, while Nancy will be his PM.God help us .

[ainnj]

Who are the Democratic hold-outs? What are they trying to tell us about the unacceptable nature of Pelosi/Obama leadership?

Posted by: Stray Yellar Dawg | September 30, 2008 at 03:09 AM
****************************************

Here are some of the democratic holdouts, tells you all you need to know about the leadership abilities of pelois and obama from the states of California and Illinois and the swell "bipartisan" show they put on:

FIFTEEN of the 34 California House Democrats voted "no." Joe Baca, Xavier Becerra, Bob Filner, Barbara Lee, Grace Napolitano, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Linda Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman, Hilda Solis, Pete Stark, Mike Thompson, Diane Watson and Lynn Woolsey.

FOUR Illinois House Democrats voted "no": JESSE JACKSON JR., Jerry Costello, Dan Lipinski and Bobby Rush while Jerry Weller did not vote at all. Guess he must have gone to the barack obama "just vote present" summer day camp, the only one in the entire House to pass, now there is a man destined for a place in the obama cabinet.

21 of the 42 members of the Congressional Black Caucus voted "no".

[ainnj]

Has anyone actually checked to see if we still HAVE a government? I am beginning to suspect that there is nothing behind that curtain.

[pjbuchan]

You'll forgive me, but most of you people simply do not understand politics and, I must admit, it IS the reason why I am ending my PUMA status and voting for Obama. As much as I respect you, Heidi, your grasp of how politics works seems less then minimal. Pelosi may have given an unwise speech yesterday, but it was NOT her job to whip all Democrats in line on such an unpopular bill that may (or may not) be needed. She promised 140 votes and delivered. Pelosi was being smart by allowing vunerable members to vote no without penalty. All you folks who claim the party needs reform should APPRECIATE that Democrats are free to dissent from the leadership.

And you also do not understand when you claim Pelosi would retain her speakership because Obama would demand it. That is simply, politically and governmentally, untrue. Congress people are free to choose who they wish and often do. Presidents actually wisely avoid meddling too much in leadership fights in the House or Senate. And the fact of the matter is that Pelosi would have LOST her speakership if she whipped members into voting for this bill. So she'll probably keep her job because the members appreciate her willingness not to force them to walk the plank while the Republicans were revolting against THEIR leaders.

The bottom line after watching all this, and the increasingly silly comments of PUMA, is that I'm swallowing hard and voting Obama-Biden. Hillary, I think, will have her choice of jobs (the cabinet, Supreme Court, senate leadership if she wants) in the Obama administration. Besides, McCain is clearly dangerous. I have decided that my personal disagreement with the party CANNOT override the country's needs.

I'm putting country over party and now voting for Obama. We can fight the party fights later.

[no no no no to crooked]

Voting for Obama isn't putting country over party. Of course you are welcome to vote however you like, but you sound to me like a troll when you say "well now I must end my PUMA status and vote for the Right Guy for the good of the country".

I'm voting for John McCain because I'd rather vote for a Republican than a crook. Obama took too much money from Fannie Mae! What did he give them in return?

Of course Pelosi did not have to whip up the Democrats in Congress. It was her job to let the bill tank, because letting the economy sink is believed to be good for Obama in the election, and she is crooked crooked crooked.

[ainnj]

The bottom line after watching all this, and the increasingly silly comments of PUMA, is that I'm swallowing hard and voting Obama-Biden. later.

Posted by: pjbuchan | September 30, 2008 at 07:20 AM
**************************************

LOL. So Pelosi playing politics and allowing vulnerable dem. members to get off the hook by voting "no" for what SHE supposedly thinks is the right thing in this time of economic crisis for this country is okee dokee in your book?

When does she push them for their "yes" vote? When we are being attacked by aliens from outer space? Do you actually believe this crap yourself? Country over party? Oh come on, it's obvious you have been swallowing something for quite some time now, the only question is what.

I am not a democrat and puma is meaningless to me but none of these jokers has a clue.

[kavala007]

I have always found the attack mode of trying to open a discussion and trying to state your position to be an unproductive mode. Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats did that yesterday and the writer above is just following her lead. The term "most of you people" and "you don't seem to know much" is the current attack mode of the selected one and his group.

Heidi's positions and posts are always so reasoned and to the point. In a Democratic society, the issues and policies need to be debated. Who one votes for is a personal choice. In the actual casting of a vote, however, one should keep in mind the principle of country over party and to keep in mind George Washington’s admonition to do so.

The following is a quote from Washington’s Farewell Address on that issue. The speech can be read in its entirety at:
http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/milestones/farewell_address_read.html

“I have already intimated to you the danger of Parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on Geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party, generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseperable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human Mind. It exists under different shapes in all Governments, more or less stifled, controuled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight) the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of Party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise People to discourage and restrain it.”

We have both the responsibility and the right to express our views on the policies we think will be best for the country. We need to remember that the other person has that same responsibility and right.

[jess]

The economic fear is helping Obama so it will go on for awhile. Remember the terror color coded system? Yeah. Nancy is doing her job by scaring Americans. You will lose your homes. You can't get loans. This is a different lind of color coded system but it can and will produce similar results.

[MG - PUMA]

My understanding is that the Obama campaign has assigned its top spinners and to infiltrate PUMA blogs. Their aim is to use this economic crisis to cause divisions and to push the Obama/Biden ticket.

PUMA may want to counter these O actions with the narrative that Obama is just another tricky lawyer trying to pull a fast one on the average person.

As you all know, he was an attorney for ACORN but he spins this as being a "Community Organizer".

MG - PUMA

[imustprotest]

I agree with MG above. I've noticed this on numerous blogs of late. The Obama team is going after PUMA sites and trying to divide us. Instead of ever trying to win us over they want to destroy us....how's that for hope and change? Are you feeling hopeful? I'm not.

[kavala007]

Focusing on the issues and policies at hand and what is best for our country and ignoring those who want to spin and prostelitize is the important thing.
Fear mongering and hate have no place in intelligent discourse.

I am glad we have Heidi Li and her smart supporters who work hard to do just that. We should all continue to support her.

[dcattorney]

Thank you Heidi Li for this informative post. There certainly is an absence of true leadership at this difficult time.

Regardless of politics, the majority party and its leadership's job is to lead. If Pelosi believed the crisis is real, the dems should have been "all in" and the same for the minority leadership. Instead, the vote was a political game of chicken by both parties, to see how few votes they could each put in to a bill that is a bitter pill to most Americans. And in playing such a silly and dangerous political game, they failed.

This leaves Americans feeling frustrated, betrayed and ultimately distrustful of the whole system. We don't trust Wall Street, we don't trust Congress, we don't trust our banks anymore.

I agree with ainnj, maybe we don't really have a government.

We can long for true leadership and political courage - lots of people are writing about FDR these days - but wishing for it doesn't make it happen. We had a candidate who was prepared to lead us through these challenges and she is gone.

[SWPAnnA]

when pelosi is unceremoniously dumped as speaker in the next session, the successor will tell us much about the future of the party.

[Tessa Gordon]

How do we put the pressure on to have Pelosi dumped?

[Tamra L]

Speaking of plagiarism and voter fraud, look at these youtube videos, they are very telling; we need to stop being the silent majority and become the vocal majority.

http://wewillnotbesilenced2008.com/video/index.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqOaVbznE5o

just gets better....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwcupp82I3A&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYa8k09V7lI&NR=1

does this guy have an original thought???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V8w7kViQfY&NR=1