Posted on 10/19/2006 12:28:05 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nancy Pelosi stands to make life much tougher for President Bush if the November 7 elections net her a powerful job that puts her just two steps behind him.
The 66-year-old California liberal stands to become the first woman to lead the House of Representatives if she and fellow Democrats win control of the chamber from Bush's Republicans.
She vows to ensure Congress acts as an equal to the most powerful man in the world.
Often ignored or even mocked by Bush during his six years as president, Pelosi, now the House Democratic minority leader, told Reuters in an interview: "If we are in charge, he'll have to listen."
As speaker of the House, the chamber's top job, Pelosi would be second in succession to the presidency after the vice president under U.S. law. She is a shoo-in for the job if Democrats prevail.
"The only way to deal with Bush is as a co-equal branch of government," she said. "The Republican Congress has been a rubber stamp for his failed policies" on such basics as fiscal and national security.
She has vowed to clean up the way Congress does business in the wake of a wave of influence-peddling scandals.
Just hours after Republican Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record) of Florida resigned last month following disclosure he made sexual advances to male teenage interns, Pelosi called for an investigation.
Describing herself as "a mother and a grandmother," Pelosi drew boos from Republicans, who nevertheless sent her proposal to the House Ethics committee for consideration. A week later the panel began a probe.
"Maybe it will take a woman to clean up the House, and a new speaker to restore civility," Pelosi said.
Already the only woman ever to lead a political party in Congress, Pelosi would become the first woman speaker in the chamber's 217 years. She is thrilled at the prospect.
"But I don't spend two seconds of thought on, 'I'm going to be the speaker.' I'm focused on what it's going to take to win as many House seats as possible. What's important is that Democrats prevail," Pelosi said between cross-country campaign stops on behalf of Democratic candidates.
'HE IS IN DENIAL'
If Democrats take the House, they vow to confront Bush during his final two years in office on such matters as the rising cost of health care and a college education as well as the increasingly unpopular Iraq war.
"He is in denial," said Pelosi, who along with other top Democrats favors a phased withdrawal of U.S troops from Iraq.
Pelosi first learned politics as a child a half century ago from her big-city mayor father in Baltimore where she was taught how to help constituents who knocked at their door.
She first ran for Congress in 1987 from her adopted hometown of San Francisco where she raised five children with her husband and served as state party chairwoman.
Republicans portray Pelosi as an out-of-control liberal who would increase taxes, roll back the war on terror and oppose conservative efforts to ban gay marriage, flag burning and abortion.
"We have been able to use her as a poster child -- the liberal from San Francisco -- and that picture works well in Middle America," said Carl Forti, a spokesman for the House Republican campaign committee.
Ethan Siegal of the Washington Exchange, a private firm that tracks Congress for institutional investors, said, "Nobody really knows how she would fare as House speaker."
As minority leader, Pelosi effectively kept House Democrats united against a number of Republican initiatives in the past year or so, Siegal said.
"But she'd have her hands full as speaker," Siegal said. Pelosi would probably have a slim Democratic majority and would have to maintain the support of conservative Democrats.
Bush took a swipe at Pelosi at a White House news conference. He quoted her as saying, "I love tax cuts" while nonetheless voting against many of them.
Pelosi fired back: "Democrats have long fought for middle-income tax cuts. This is in stark contrast to the Republican tax breaks for the super rich that have led to a budget that is grossly out of balance and a national debt that is morally indefensible."
Democrats have dubbed their campaign agenda "A new direction for America." It includes raising the federal minimum wage for the first time in a decade, ending tax giveaways to big oil companies and implementing stalled proposals by the 9/11 commission to secure ports and borders.
Pelosi said Democrats would not try to force Bush from office. But she said they would hold oversight hearings on such matters as whether he manipulated the facts to build early support for the Iraq war.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks at a news conference about port security on Capitol Hill in Washington March 15, 2006. The 66-year-old California liberal stands to become the first woman to lead the House of Representatives if she and fellow Democrats win control of the chamber from Bush's Republicans. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)
Clean up the House? Ms. Pelosi couldn't close an umbrella.
House Democratic leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi,, D-Calif., speaks at a news conference in Portland, Ore. Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006. Pelosi is stumping for Oregon's Democratic congressional candidates. Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., and Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore.,are seen in the background. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
I want those toilets sparkling Pelosi, because that will be your job after the elections, if you want a job on the hill afterwards. Cleaning lady is a fitting Job for you.
Are we going to have to hear this crap everyday until election day 2006?
Nancy Peluda has lost it.
(L-R) Rep. Ike Skelton, (D-MO), House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) listen to a fellow member of Congress speak during a news conference about the Bush administration's handling of Iraq in Capitol Hill, September 29, 2006. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
Old News, She snuggles up to MBLA and her buddie Ried needs his diaper changed.
You mean she's going to demote Waxman, Conyers, Murtha, and Rangel?
Yes, we need a woman to clean up the slime in the US House, but I doubt Ann Coulter would take the job.
All the more reason to keep the House and the Senate in GOP hands.
Sounds to me like she does not really need the President to run the country-kind of like the Queen across the pond?
As long as she's in the Congress you will hear it, and you vill like it.
Someone tell BugEye to don't forget to iron our shirts while she's at it.
I wonder if the dem's don't take over Congress if they will publically begin the discourse about replacing their leadership. If Pelosi and Reid, after all these expectations, don't take their party to control of Congress, will they be replaced?
send her over to my house when she's done there..I need to have some crud cleaned off the garage floor..(I accidentally ran over a dem in there and can't get the stain out)..:-)
According to Howard "wiggy" Dean and George (bitter old man) Soros and their secret conference call with ABC, Yep!
Give her a broom and a dust pan and let her start in DNC offices.
With whom?
LOL.........that is the FIRST thing that came into my mind!
"Often ignored or even mocked by Bush during his six years as president"
Excuse me? When has Bush EVER 'mocked' her?
No MSM bias there, nope /sarc
Are we going to have to hear this crap everyday until election day 2006?
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'FRaid so.
I actually enjoy posting these kind of threads so I have some place to post pics of the perps. If seeing them isn't enough to get out the vote.. then we truly get what we deserve.. sCREWed.. :-)
No idea, but if after a year of GOP unpouplarity and stumbles, if it's clear that the leadership didn't bring them to the kind of victory they have been anticipating, how can they make their case to remain in their leadership positions?
Well that eliminates "it".
She can start with my bathroom.
So now she's playing the gender card.
That sentence right there should get every man and woman who claims a passing acquaitance with conservatism to the polls.
Murtha: I can't believe I'm growing a new head out of my neck..
Does she do windows? My 2nd floor windows are pretty bad.
How did this screeching wench ever rise to this level of "leadership"?
What a disgrace!
She gives all women a bad name. lol.
I was wondering the same thing, isn't this pathetic? Actually, the reverse is more the truth.
Yep. She want's to be a "chamber maid" LoL! I would purposly p on the seat and floor knowing she has to get on her knees and clean it up.
Ok. Jean Schmidt.
I know we are going to see anything and everything to dissuade us from voting. And you are right about whipping up the base. Hopefully all the drive by media efforts will be in vain, and we'll see the tears well up again as we did in the Kerry camp (did you know he's a Vietnam Vet?) in November 2004.... Carry on!
How did this screeching wench ever rise to this level of "leadership"?
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Uhh,, no comment. (altho some thoughts come to mind)
Could you imagine Senate Majority Leader Clinton and House Speaker Pelosi?
yeah, and then there's her claim that she'll be the one to restore civility to the house!
No problem, it sure seems like political cycles just get more and more bizarre... Can't wait 'til '08 ;-)
A man needs a maid. Neil "Shakey" Young
Who says Nancy is ever going to get the opportunity?
If the Dem'crats somehow manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, Nancy is going to be thrown under the bus.
If the Dem'crats somehow manage to fulfill the promise of the party being out of power gaining seats in the off-year election, Nancy is STILL going to be thrown under the bus.
If for no other reason than she is froot loops and looney toons. When the guys who run the Dem'crat caucus REALLY want to get something done, they don't mess around, they send in the goon squad, and do all the heavy lifting themselves. Can't be depending on no broad then.
Nancy, you are just a joke to them, the power structure within the Dem'crat caucus, and only just barely tolerated even now.
She would use the broom for transportation. What is the dust pan for?
Uh, do I have to state the obvious?
Click below for audio:
"leadership? Did you say "leadership"? No, you di nt. The dems haven't had any leadership for a long long time. That is the one obvious fact about that (and I use the term loosely) party. Actually it's not a party at all. More like a wake. Look what they replaced their top guy (I can't say "leader") with.
Oh my gosh, a preposition is a bad thing to end a sentence with.
Pleasse vote (R) in november, or next summer, it could be President Pelosi.
Queen Pelosi! what an ugly thought. Hurry hurry bush out my mouth with lie soap.
Has she done the grand tour of Oprah, The View, Barbara Walters, etc.? You'd think they'd be falling all over the future first woman Speaker, wouldn't you? Or as Rush hinted, are they hiding her?
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