On Monday, I'm going to be videotaping an exclusive HuffPost interview with Nancy Pelosi. And I'd love your input on what questions I should ask. This will be an informal conversation with the Speaker, an opportunity to delve into the personal as well as the political. Of course, we'll talk about Iraq, SCHIP, FISA, and the other critical issues facing Congress as she heads into the home stretch of her first year as Speaker. But I also want to find out how she balances all her different roles, how she recharges herself, how she manages to get enough -- any -- sleep, and whether she really prays for George Bush. Let me know what questions you'd like me to ask by posting them in the comments section of this post.
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http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-i-would-not-give-congress-high-marks-on-ending-the-war-2007-10-14.html
Pelosi could simply refuse to bring bills to the floor that don't have a deadline, or she could force Republicans to vote down funding bills require withdrawal, she could force Republicans to filibuster. There are so many options, but under her leadership (and Reid's) Dems have taken the most anemic, cowardly approach imaginable.
The great irony is that fearful of being called weak, Democrats have capitulated again and again and again under her leadership. They can't even stand up to Republicans at home. They're even scared of being called weak. They have been fooled continuously by transparent Republican ploys. Please ask Mrs. Pelosi how these actions show strength of mind, of purpose, or of principle? Given this transparent cowardice, how can one conclude anything but that the current Democratic leadership is simply too weak to lead, no matter what your politics?
Perhaps she does pray for Bush. It is wise to pray to God to show someone the light and error of their way. We will need all the help we can get to reunite these United States after this administration.
You and many of your Democratic Colleagues in the House and the Senate refuse to address my concerns because you are not the elected representative of my congressional district or a senator from my home state.
Where exactly, then, do you get off asking me for money to help you win re-election? Where exactly, then, does the DCCC, the DSCC and the DNC get off asking me for money at all?
Seriously. I want to know her answer. Why does she think the Democrats won in 2006?
If her first answer contains the words "Mark" and "Foley" and/or "corruption", smile politely, maybe give a quiet little laugh, then raise your eyebrows to indicate you--WE--are waiting for her real answer.
If her real answer does not include the terms "Iraq" and "Get Out" then shut your notebook, turn off your recorder, shake your head sadly, and leave.
On your way out the door, turn and tell her you have a message from everybody who is a Dem---no, everybody who is not a Republican, and some who are...
"If you aren't going to be any different than the Republicans on Iraq, we have no reason to keep you in power."
Period.
You say you are a "leader", Speaker Pelosi. You use this word to insult your active base. Fine. Then lead. LEAD. And I don't mean us. You work for us. LEAD. THE FUCKING. GOVERNMENT.
Jesus. How much clearer do we have to make it?
2. How much money would we taxpayers and ordinary Americans have to pay you to represent our interests?
3. If you reneged, would we get our money back? What other recourse would we have to demand performance?
4. Could the elites put in a higher bid and buy back your services?
5. What amount would it take regular Americans to permanently retain your representation?
6. If you did not actually take money from the elites, then please let us know what other services or compensation they gave you to represent them.
7. Is there anything the people of this nation can do to get you to represent them, if money is not the way?
8. If you got nothing from the elites for your representation and you already are representing the people, please explain what has changed in this country since January, when you took office.
Take your time. I'll wait.
Speaker Pelosi gave an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer where she reiterated that "impeachment is off the table" then in almost the next breath said "if I have to discuss how we went in under false premise...that's well known to the American people."
Now, logic tells me that if she says that the facts are "well known to the American people," the facts must also be well known to her (or does she not count as one of us American people?). If she knows the facts, what other evidence does she need to begin impeachment proceedings? Going to war under false pretenses is, in an of itself, an impeachable offense....
Even though impeachment is off the table, do you think enough hearings have been held and information gathered to have grounds for impeachment? If so, would you please explain why it is off the table. I'm not saying it's right or wrong to be "off the table," but do you think you have a responsibility to provide a detailed explanation as to whether you think you have the "grounds" to begin the impeachment process? If not, why not?
What does Speaker Pelosi think of a provision in the FISA bill that would allow any U.S. citizen or company/corporation to seek a ruling, themselves, from the FISA Court, when the citizen or company is asked to comply with a governmental request?
If such a mechanism was in place when the agencies contacted the telecommunication companies, those companies could have and should have been allowed to go to the FISA Court for a ruling regarding whether it was lawful for them to agree to such requests.
It just makes sense to me that a person/company can't always know what is legal or not. Hence, a court ruling would answer that.
Would she be willing to endorse the members of the House applying for private health care insurance, just like the common folk, for a period of six months or a year... just so the members could see what it was like for the rest of us, and then maybe they would be inclined to pass new health care reform. The rules would be that the members would have to search out the insurance themselves, it couldn't be staffed out, and the members would have to fill out the applications themselves, and also follow through with the never-ending paperwork, i.e., bills, statements, they get in the mail. The member, themselves, would have to do everything with regard to health care for themselves and their families. Of course, the U.S. government would pay for this "trial," but the member would need to do everything themselves... not their spouses or staff.
And any Democrat who votes for continued funding for this illegal, immoral, and stupid war on Iraq should not only be shunned, but should be voted out of office.
And that includes Speaker Pelosi.
P.S. I was Senator Joe Lieberman's roommate at Yale and I have expressed the same opinions to him. He, unfortunately, is in the grips of political Zionism and is more than willing to attack any country he perceives as being an enemy of Israel (namely, any other country in the Middle East).
Ms. Pelosi, although she is not Jewish herself, seems to vote that way, too. Believe me, the people in her District are not that Zionist, either. Like most liberals, we care about the human rights of all people, including Palestinians. For the U.S. government to continue to pay for and support the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank is an abomination.
These people are fundamentalists like the Muslim jihadists and the the Christian right. And they are all wrong.
Only through tolerance and religious liberty will we ever succeed in making peace on this earth.