145 Comments

Great answer to a question full of pitfalls.

Expand full comment

How could ANYONE have ever doubted her as leader?!!! What a brilliantly composed answer.

Expand full comment

That's discouraging to say the least. I like Nancy, she an effective leader - but in this new political landscape that has started to shift to the left (which really is the center as most support liberal policies), I get the feeling she is playing both sides, placating the new less experienced liberal members while working harder in the background for the status quo.

Expand full comment

But that’s her job as the leader of a diverse legislative caucus.

Expand full comment

Maybe she's trying not to play into the hands of the GOP. Has anyone noticed that with all the talk about Medicare for All, no one has come up with a plan to fund it? Because that will be a very inconvenient moment, despite claims that in the long run, it will be a little cheaper than the current system and besides, the rich people will pay for it. This will give the GOP the opening to claim the Democrats want to double your income taxes. So let's get a little more control of Congress before we start changing everything. The same people pushing this condemn Obama for not including at least a public option in the ACA. What they forget is that if Obama had included a public option, a couple of Democrats were going to vote against the ACA, Which would have sunk it, meaning no Obamacare at all.

It's fine to present some bills knowing that the Senate will not vote on it, as long as the price tag is not too high. Sending something through that will drastically alter the current health care system in the US and add at least $1.5 trillion a year to federal expenditures (out of about $3.3 trillion in current federal receipts), knowing that it will not pass, just gives the GOP a field day for tax horror stories. Get funding explained first, then pass the legislation. Like anyone would do on any major investment.

Expand full comment

Comment? We can comment now? Kewl!

Expand full comment

Oh I know, I can't imagine how hard it is for her to manage such a diverse group. Personally I believe most of the policies that the repuglicans call left-wing are really center considering the polling popularity even in conservative leaning districts. But if the party doesn't take the chance at winning on those policies, voters will just see more of the same, and it would seem most of the country is tired of that.

Expand full comment

I'm the actual president of the Pelosi4Prez2019 campaign and even I don't understand why she says GND is DOA. But at least she doesn't say she "has her own version of it".....

Expand full comment

Thanks again, oh Great Editrix. The perfect is the enemy of the good, have to build a foundation before we can build to the sky, we fucking have to WIN to rule. I mean govern. Pelosi is literally born to the game. She is smart and she has heart. Don’t get greedy and don’t go running like feral children through the minefield. Pelosi has tasted defeat, and tasted victory. She learns from her, and others, mistakes. Pelosi, by all appearances, has confidence, but seldom hubris. Oh my progressive friends, and my moderate friends, let’s not turn this into another Greek tragedy

Expand full comment

Insurgents become leaders when they learn what to compromise upon to acheive the end goal, and to understand that goal often may only be achieved by intermediate steps

Expand full comment

OT. I have one of those from my big peak summiting days 30++ years ago. Every once in awhile I take it out and get it burning just to show the grandkids. Long since replaced by canister stoves. The fact that the old Primus still works and I've been through a few of the new type is worth noting.

Expand full comment

Every day I'm like, "Don a suit of armor, put on your brass knuckles, eat nails for breakfast, and go out there and stop them from taking children out of the arms of their parents, food out of the mouths of babies."

What a fucking badass. Bravo, Madam Speaker https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Expand full comment

"Get funding explained first, then pass the legislation. Like anyone would do on any major investment."

Same applies to the Green New Deal.

Expand full comment

One thing I like about Wonkette is that unlike a lot of other "political" sites, you actually delve into the issues and talk about and point out applicable Democratic accomplishments instead of "Rhetorician-Bot: The Faux-gressive Platitude Generator™" that's fun for all ages. I've reconsidered my viewpoint on a LOT of politicians and learned a better appreciate their work thanks to the info you provide here (that tends to get overwhelmed by a litany of "DEMS IN DISSARAY" sirens outside of this site.)

But thank yoy guys for keeping me informed about these people beyond the portentous hype and grandstanding rhetoric and trite political bromides. 👍

Expand full comment

The GND isn’t even a bill, it is a non binding wish list. It has the same power as every other non binding resolution like declaring Tuesday taco day or declaring March 5th (just picked a random date) national ice cream day.

Expand full comment

As a set of policy goals, it's a lot like Wilson's Fourteen Points.

As a package of legislation......it's a lot like Wilson's Fourteen Points...

Expand full comment