Stop Apologizing!

Nancy Pelosi did it again. One more apology on a stack of endless apologies from Democrats. Please stop being so damn weak. It's embarrassing to look at.

This time it was a rebuke of Pete Stark (D-CA) for saying the president is getting kids killed for his own amusement in Iraq. Amusement, ego, whatever. The kids are dying and it is all because of the president's vainglory. Pete Stark shouldn't be apologizing for that, Nancy Pelosi shouldn't be apologizing on his behalf or rebuking him, it should be the president who is apologizing!

Read this. It is the first article I ever wrote on Huffington Post. It's called the "Seven Step Plan for Media Domination and Opponent Destruction" and it's just as true today as it was over two years ago. The Republicans have done this countless more times since I originally wrote this article. The Democrats are apparently never going to catch on to this shell game.

But I'm long past waiting for the Democratic leaders to do the right thing or realize how badly they're being outplayed at every turn. It's time to start rooting for a new generation of Democratic leaders like Pete Stark and Chris Dodd. If they're ready to do the fighting, I'm ready to stand behind them.

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Comments

[reteach]

I was so disgusted by Pete Stark's disrespectful comments I sent him a campaign contribution. Best way to answer the Pelosi, Reid, Hoyer axis of incompetence.

[weslenforever]

WAY TO GO!! I'd send one too if I could. I did send an e-mail telling him I was proud to finally hear a Democrat speak up and tell the truth.

[yurbud]

The problem is the Democrats are not one party but two.

One is progressive and wants to do what will help the majority of Americans.

The other is progressive on social issues like gay rights and abortion, but business-owned on trade and war & peace.

This was done intentionally because big business realized they could never get Republicans elected in some districts or even to some senate seats. The solution was to create Democrats who would obey them just as slavishly.

A crucial article on the history of this fifth column in the Democratic party:
http://web.archive.org/web/20010502041458/http://www.prospect.org/print/V12/7/dreyfuss-r.html

[Krashkopf]

Cenk, you are right about the weak-kneed Speaker. She, and "Bush-Dog Democrats" like Steny Hoyer, represent the WORST of the Democratic Party.

We, "grass roots Democrats" want, and America NEEDS, aggressive leadership that will stand up against Bush, and the neo-fascists, not leadership that consistently, and cravenly, caves in in the face of right-wing bullying.

In short, we want, and America NEEDS principled leaders like Pete Stark and Chris Dodd (I would also put Russ Feingold, and Dennis Kucinich in that group).

Another NEW Democratic leader who IS standing up to Bush, rather than being brow-beaten by him, is Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin.

Obey, the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, has said that he will NOT report an Iraqi Supplemental Funding Bill unless Bush proposes a significant change in course in Iraq - including a specific plan for getting all of our troops out of Iraq by 1/09 and fair home tours between tours of duty in the Combat zone.

Can someone please explain to me WHY this is NOT FRONT PAGE NEWS!?

As Chair of Appropriations, Obey HAS the power to, single handedly, end the war. Pelosi does not have the power (or the "balls") to force him to report out a bill. He doesn't need 60 votes. He doesn't need 40 votes. All he needs is the political will to STAND HIS GROUND.

Thank GOD for true patriots like Stark, and Dodd, and Obey. They truly represent ME, and I stand behind them, 100%

Krash

[KRANKY]

Do not trust Obey. He will fold after talking tough. Always does it.
Mind you, he votes correct. But he will abandon liberals in favor of money at the last second.
Dodd, likewise, is a sunshine patriot.
Stark has promise.
Only other ones worth talking about are Dennis Kucinich, Steve Cohen, Sen. Russ Feingold, and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

[kbrown528]

Every time the media replays Reid, Pelosi, and Hoyer coming out of the White House to stand at the mike with that frozen look on their face, I want to puke.

How many times do we have to have the Republican lies and talking points rammed down our throats before those three get the message.

The Republicans jump all over any skewed comment or action by Democrats going over and over it countless times and how does the leadership respond? They apologize, capitulate, and kowtow. I could go on.

George W. Bush said the 2004 election was a mandate and that he was going to use it for all it was worth. Didn't we have something like that in 2006. Somebody forgot to tell the Democratic Congress.
It's no wonder the Republicans refer to the "Democrat Congress" it must be code for spineless.

If it looks like a weak duck and quacks like a weak duck, it must be a weak duck.

[oogabooga]

The Democrats under Pelosi are servile lapdogs to the Bush/Cheney crime enterprise. The only reason I can think of to continue brown-nosing Bush/Cheney is money. Somebody among the Democrats is making lots of money. The real cost, however, is our personal freedom as enshrined in our Constitution. Reid and Pelosi are wimps, not leaders. Get rid of them.

[Halsey]

ooga..I wish it were that simple..I don't think Nancy P is getting money for going soft..some­times a horse is just a horse..she is WEAK..and I'm so sorry, as it was a joy to have a female speaker..b­ut now...my disappointment in her, in Harman, in Boxer..all of them...

I ususally just call them to "encourage" a vote this way or that..but me thinks time to let her know she has LOST my vote when she comes up for re-electio­n.. WE (the voters)...­gave them the power to uproot the Cheney machine..a­nd they've cowed at every turn..spou­ting off about MoveOn's ad and now Stark's clumsy but brave comment..
While she(with Reid et cie)...get all indignant.­.
people die... GET to the POINT Mdm. Speaker..o­r ask not for whom the bell tolls.

[CornellRedneck]

Can the House impeach the entire Senate?

[couragewins]

Nancy Pelosi just doesn't get it. I say good for Pete and his direct plain "tell it as it is" language. Why are people so afraid of simple but awful truths? Tough words are most appropriate for tough times. If the Democrats can't even talk tough why should people believe they can be strong and tough against terrorists?

[kjg25171]

i rebuke you, Nancy Pelosi. Check out the videos of Bush making light about not finding wmd and keep your eye out for Pelosi who attended the dinner. I do not remember her rebuking Bush. Did she?

finwww.youtube.com/watch?v=nKX6luiMINQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0TnqUlB4Gg&eurl=http://www.hoffmania.com/blog/2007/10/backbone.html

[Vajara]

Every "R" or anyone who ever voted for Bush or his party owe our country an apology. If they don't recognize that they are the ones who created these disasters by putting thier idot leader into office. Bush, surrounded himself with others, just like him, and that is the reason we are looking at a destroyed spirit and country of generous, loving and caring human beings.

[Dap]

Dear Brother Cenk,

Seems to me the bottom-line comes out to: We, the People vs Fascism, clearly our leaders are no longer serving the People, they have perpetrated a coup and stolen our Republic from us. Agape.

[kushykush]

Cenk, once again, you have hit the nail on the head. Pelosi is obsessed with appearing a nice lady. In her so self conscious effort to be good she keeps crossing that thin line over into weakness. The good fail to understand that the vile opponent always interpret the goodness as weakness.

There was no need whatsoever for Nancy Pelosi to rebuke Pete Stark. In doing so she made George Bush, the real culprit, look GOOD.

Nancy Pelosi has shown in one example after another that she lacks commonsense and also does not understand the hypocrisy of her opponents. In standing up for a hypocrite (George Bush) Nancy Pelosi diminished her own colleage. So why is this lady coming to his defense?

Your analysis is on the mark Cenk. Nancy Pelosi defends George Bush because she is so afraid of the fake right media bullies.

[DaisyZimmerly]

You left out that the Clintons ate babies and killed kittens. And then Vitter, oh wait ,never mind, Vitters a Rethuglican. My bad.

[Mark1]

The Democrats remind be of Charlie Brown in Peanusts. Lucy always manages to persuade him to try to kick the ball, then always snatches it away. See today's strip:
http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/peanuts/archive/peanuts-20071021.html

[RDixon]

"Pete Stark and Chris Dodd. If they're ready to do the fighting, I'm ready to stand behind them."

There's nothing I could add to that except maybe some cash for Dodd's presidential bid.

[NoContest]

dude, don't apologise.­....

Grandma Pelosi and Granpa Reid S-U-C-K...­! Fire their tired wrinkled asses.

I've met the enemy and they are us.

Put Grandma and Grandpa out to pasture and bring on the warriors.

Thank you...

~!#

[dabronx]

What more proof do we need that says that there is not that much difference in the two parties.?? What "BOLD" ideas have come from either party to alleviate the problems of the citizens of this country..?­? GO to church more often..? Blame the Gays & Lesbians for all the countrys ills..?? The "Bread & Circus &Guns&
Butter" days are over for the hardworking people in this country but not for the Privileged & the ass kissing politicians.

They fully expect us to continue to act like the sheep they are accustomed to, no butter and bread for the docile pets and farm animals they are fed the scraps and slop of the farm owners..!!­! BAAAAAA..