Posted on 10/21/2006 12:22:30 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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 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 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi works a phone bank in Sacramento with Phil Angelides, the Democratic candidate for governor of California.
Steny Hoyer?
It's all Bush's fault, period.
That's why I predict that the Democrats will fail to capture Congress once again.
I wonder if a conservative Republican has ever gotten such fawning treatment from the Wa Post?
I wonder what history would say of a Republican who heeded the advice to take FDR "down" during World War II. I find it hard to believe that she would have confided this to a reporter. I bet if you go back to 2004, you'll find some boiler plate comment from her about how she was willing to "work with the President to accomplish important goals"; and the whole time she was preparing to "take him down".
Just an observation from a southerner...but I think 90 percent of southern Democrats...can't bring themselves to support Pelosi. I'm thinking that she may find a rude awakening after the election...where maybe the democrats did come out ahead...but then some strong warnings from southerners who won't support her. And for this to come out in public...may scare alot of the Hillary-ites because they need Pelosi in position to dampen the nation on Bush over the next two years.
More like the liberal kook that would be the undoing of this nation.
I sure hope the GOP runs some national ads soon showing this nation what awaits if Pelosisaurus is speaker.
bookmark
Had to loose all that "United We Stand" stuff and stab the Commander in Chief in the back in order to get more power.
I hate Democrats.
The real issue is, in my mind, that once the Dems regain the House (if they do, we haven't conceded yet) they will again start up the gun grabbing liturgy. At that point we could be one gun control law from having something similar to Iraq right here...jack booted thugs again. Some of us still remember Ruby Ridge, Waco, etc.
Your last sentence should be required reading by disgruntled VRWC voters who are throwing hissy fits!
LLS
But when Republicans vote in a unified manner, they're wasting taxpayers' money by failing to accomplish anything, obstructing the legislature, playing partisan politics, not reaching across the aisle, etc.
this bee-itch will be great for the US....
1. raise taxes
2. cut off funding to the troops to help cut & run
3. oversee the impeachment process of Bush
when the economy sputters...unemployment rises/business downsize or leave/taxes increase/the military is downsized/amercia's security is damaged....pellosi/the lib/dems & msm will just blame Bush!!!!
Nancy reached out to WHO???? "Internet moguls" hmmmmmmmmm, so is this why she won't go under OATH??? Wonder oh wonder Nancy what have you gotten yourself into??? What about protecting the 'children', Nancy???
The Power that has been behind Nancy Pelosi for Years, over 50 members of the U.S. House of representatives, including Nancy Pelosi, belong to the "Progressive Caucas",
which in turn is led by this organization:
http://www.dsausa.org/
The Democratic Socialists of America!!!!:-(
I call it the demoCommiecRATic Socialists of Amerika!!!!:-(
Frightening prospect if Pelosi would ever become Speaker of the House!!!!:-(
We must VOTE on Election Day to keep this from happening!!!!
D2
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