Pelosi Gets "Booked" & Confronts Her Own Past

Last Monday evening, in the plush environs of Los Angeles' American Jewish University, a dedicated group of pro-peace, Pro-Constitution patriots "booked" Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. No, I don't mean "booked" as in charged her with a crime and jailed her. In this scenario, "booked" is more akin to "punked" - in which case we surprised Madam Pelosi by revising her new book, and then forced her to read our revisions. Tuh-Dah!!

It happened like this:

Madam Speaker of the House Pelosi, second in line to the Presidency, appeared at a book signing for her ironically titled new tome, "Know Your Power." Since Madam Pelosi has not used her power as Speaker to hold impeachment hearings against George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, as prescribed by Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution, we pro-Constitution patriots held her to task. We took her new book and scrawled our personalized imperatives and questions within it. I wrote "Honor Your Oath" on side-by side blank pages in the book and "Debate Cindy Sheehan" on the blank side of the book jacket. See below:

Incomparable activist and former Congressional candidate, Marcy Winograd, who sat on my right in the second row of the auditorium, asked how much Pelosi knew about torture. She wrote: "Nancy? Torture? Torture? Torture?" On my left, Jodie Evans, activist par excellence and co-founder of CODEPINK, wrote "Do Your Job!" Eight of us, who sat squarely in Pelosi's line of vision, including environmental attorney, Sara Nichols, and CODEPINK organizer, Tighe Barry, held up our copies of her book to show her our bold edits. Madam Speaker was so flustered by our efforts that she barely made a cogent remark for her whole "Know Your Power" talk. Our peaceful action had impact. The truth is a powerful tool. But if only our actions weren't necessary. If only, as Jodie Evans suggested, Madam Speaker would do her job!

For me, as an Italian American woman who wants Pelosi to succeed, watching her in action was difficult. She's sweet and congenial and inherently likable. But those positives pale when compared to her tragic misdeeds. Those of us who value our democracy and our Constitution are too patriotic to succumb to her charm. If only her valor, her love of nation, and her observance of the rule of law matched her likability. But they don't. Saddest of all is the contrast of who Pelosi once was to who she his now. For a woman who was once at the cutting edge of social progressivism, Nancy Pelosi has lost her way. She has strayed from her former social consciousness into the malaise of power. A sorry state for a woman who 32 years ago was a pivotal player in the 1976 Presidential campaign of radically progressive California Governor, Jerry Brown. In that critically important campaign, known as "The People's campaign," Pelosi helped Brown push hard for social values. She was instrumental in his win in the Maryland primary. Who would believe that 30 years later, Nancy Pelosi, who'd fought so hard for social change, would subvert the Constitution and enable the crimes of George Bush and Dick Cheney?

In 1976, Nancy Pelosi was a well connected political volunteer and social justice activist. She maximized her minimal power to promote a grassroots Presidential campaign. Today, that same Nancy Pelosi, with exponentially more power, turns a deaf ear to "The People" and quashes their dissent. How troubling that a once valiant activist, at the forefront of social causes, is now a tool of the administration and an adversary of participatory democracy.

Since January of last year, members of peace and justice organizations across the nation, not to mention her own San Francisco constituents, have been begging Pelosi to meet with them to discuss defunding and ending the war in Iraq and impeaching George Bush and Dick Cheney. Pelosi has refused their requests. The only opportune venues since that time, where "The People" could challenge the Speaker, are the stops along this tour. "The People" have seized the opportunity and have been confounded every step of the way by Pelosi's bewilderment at their disfavor. Indeed, the mere fact that she scheduled this tour without anticipating the chilly receptions shows she's impervious to her own folly. It's a similar fantasy to the one the Administration held that it would be greeted by Iraqis with flowers. Pelosi is either clueless or delusional. It's inconceivable that after countless refusals to meet with the public that she'd not expect a verbal flogging. Yet all along her ill-fated tour, although she is the culprit, "The People" bear the brunt of her malfeasance by being ejected and even arrested.

In Washington, DC, people were discouraged from asking questions. In Philadelphia, people were whisked off if they tried to ask a question. In San Francisco, people were pushed away if they tried to ask a question. In Los Angeles, attorney Peter Thottam, founder of the Los Angeles National Impeachment Center, was hauled off and arrested after he stood up in the front row and shouted:

I'm going to vomit. Who gave you the right to take the Constitution and shove it down the toilet? Who gave you the right to take impeachment off the table? Stop talking to us like we're children. One million Iraqis are dead, 5000 Americans are dead. You have destroyed the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 8th Amendments.

A second impeachment activist, Jennifer Epps, was also arrested after attempting to question Pelosi at the book signing table. Epps and Thottam both spent 13 hours in jail and were released the next morning. They have court dates in the beginning of September.

The most telling exchange of the evening was between CODEPINK cofounder, Jodie Evans, who has known Nancy Pelosi for over 30 years. Evans stood up to Pelosi in frustration after Pelosi said:

I completely agree the Constitution is challenged by these people [Bush administration]. That's why we have passed over and over again Contempt of Congress resolutions in subcommittee and full committee and even on the floor of the House holding the Administration in contempt for not honoring the checks and balances.

The following exchange ensued:

Evans: But Nancy, you swore to uphold the Constitution.

Pelosi: (recognizing Evans) You can ask me any question you want.

Evans: I brought 2 books because you said if there was proof that Bush...

(Pelosi rescinds Evans permission to question her)

Evans: You said that you would answer the question.

Pelosi: I said that if you hand it [the question] to me I would answer it for you but I'm not interrupting the program.

(Evans holds out Vincent Bugliosi's book, "The Prosecution Of George W. Bush For Murder"and Ron Suskind's book, "The Way Of The World" to Security to give to Pelosi)

Evans: (to Security) So you want to hand her this?

Evans: (to Pelosi) But if you're going to talk about upholding the Constitution and you're not upholding the Constitution..

Pelosi: Let me just say this to you. I take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution. Don't dare tell me that I don't do that.

Evans: That's what I just said.

At that point Evans was hauled away by Security and driven off the property of American Jewish University. She was spared arrest because Security heard Pelosi grant her permission to ask a question. Below is a photo of Jodie Evans attempting to hand the books to Pelosi. It was shot by Jason Leopold and Alan Breslauer who were seated in the rear of the auditorium. In this photo, Evans' similarity to the Statue of Liberty is eerie, as are the books' resemblance to the torch. A transcendent moment as Jodie tried to light Nancy's way.

Watching these two old friends and current political opponents square off in a public arena was a powerful moment for those who know their history. In 1976, when Pelosi was working on Jerry Brown's Presidential campaign, Jodie Evans, just 22 years old at the time, was Governor Brown's Director of Administration. The two women worked closely together. Pelosi, an ardent progressive, had been Evans' mentor. As Jodie has told me:

Nancy loved me. She taught me everything she knew.

How sad that these former allies have hit such a dismal impasse. How far apart they have grown. Evans has been a political powerhouse on the national scene for over three decades. She ran Jerry Brown's 1991 Presidential campaign in which she instituted campaign finance limits and the first electronic fundraising effort that inspires grassroots fundraising today. Unlike Pelosi, who succumbed to the pitfalls of elected office, Evans has remained true to her progressive values. Evans tells me:

Nancy has fallen prey to her hunger for more power and doesn't honorably use the power that she has.

A few nights prior to the book event, knowing Evans would be challenging Pelosi, I asked Evans how she would feel publicly confronting her friend. I told her I thought it would be painful. Evans' response was simplistic, yet profound. She said:

Friends don't let friends do the wrong thing.

It doesn't get much clearer than that. In fact, that's the sentiment that drives most activists who push for impeachment, an end to the war, an end to corporate influence over government, an end to the military industrial complex and the prison industrial complex and an end to the disparity between rich and poor.

Patriots don't let their governments do the wrong thing!

That's the message we'll be bringing to Denver and to St. Paul.

Patriots don't let their governments do the wrong thing!

Say it loud! Say it proud! Say it loud! Say it proud! Say it loud! Say it proud!

Note: Here's the video of Peter Thottam and Jodie Evans addressing Nancy Pelosi at American Jewish University on Monday night - courtesy of Jason Leopold and Alan Breslauer:

http://pubrecord.org/nationworld/1-nationworld/255-pelosi-clashes-with-protesters-over-impeachment.html

Comments

[holredd]

Great article my friend! I wish I could have been there with you all that evening. Knowing Jodie as I do I can actually hear the whole tone in my head the way you describe the exchange between Jodie and Pelosi. It is quite sad how the few women in this country we have in these positions of so called power have completely sold their souls. One can only wonder in their quite moments how they really feel, it can't be pretty.
Congrats on a successful evening! No matter who gets elected as we have seen so many times in the past everything won't just be ok without the American people standing up for our rights and what we believe in. Nothing changes without our voices!

[Lemeritus]

The single most destructive codicil to W's legacy is Nancy Pelosi's willingness (even eagerness) to remove impeachment from the table. Speaker Pelosi fails to find an actionable impeachable offense (although I cannot understand how lying about a sexual indiscretion is impeachable but lying our country into war, at the cost of thousands of lives, is not).

Professor Cass Sunstein, advisor to Senator Obama, argued that prosecuting government officials risks a 'cycle' of criminalizing public service. Democrats, he said, should avoid replicating retributive efforts like the impeachment of President Clinton, or even the 'slight appearance' of it. What Sumstein overlooks is simply this: where iniquity goes, reprisal SHOULD follow.

In their pursuit of Clinton, the Republicans have poisoned the one tool we have against egregious misadministration (to put it mildly). But impeachment should not be viewed as a Democratic indulgence; it is, in fact, a national need -- the only way we can restore balance to our government and country.

[jcorrington]

I think I'm in love with Peter Thottam!!! WTG guy!

[jhNY]

Wish she had done her constitutional duty; wish she had not been a colluder with Bush's sorry gang re torture and wiretapping. But she will be returned to office by a huge margin in the Fall, and will retain the Speakership, with which she will do nothing more than she has done to date. That will be the fault of the provincials of her district and of the Democratic Party. As Pogo used to say, "we have met the enemy and he is us."

[EspressoAtNoon]

Excellent Post!

I agree with you 100%.

It is clear to me that the Bush Administration is not the problem. There will always be crooks, and ideologues in this world. Our Constitution was set up to protect us in the event these crooks were ever to take power. The founding fathers were terrified of tyranny and monarchy. They gave Congress the powers to ensure that tyrants could be dealt with and disposed of through oversight by the Legislative Branch, impeachment, and the rule of law. They wanted it to be clear that no ruler would ever be above the law.

Pelosi has not only enabled this criminal administration - she has perpetuated their existence. She has empowered them, and covered up for them. She has convinced herself, despite the Constitution, that the only recourse against criminals in the political elite is getting voted out of office.

She is placing the political elite squarely above the rule of law.

The Constitution requires her to provide oversight of the Executive Branch and to hold them accountable for violations of the law. The Constitution does NOT require her to end division in Washington. Notice how she says in every interview that she will abdocate her responsibility to provide oversight so that she can end political divisions in Washington.

[Lemeritus]

"She is placing the political elite squarely above the rule of law."

But, let us hope, not beyond the reach of justice.

[jcorrington]

Well said, Expresso!

[pbandj3]

@MBryant:
You said "Impeachment is not about partisanship" -- exactly. Pelosi has stated that the impeachment process would essentially ruin the Democrats' ability to get elected at this point by creating too much mud and distracting from their focus. I don't buy it. When the president breaks a law -- especially so egregiously -- impeachment must be on the table. (And the Republicans had no qualms at impeaching for far less). And impeachment, while messy, would be the final nail in the coffin for the Republican party. So what's the real reason, Pelosi?

[EspressoAtNoon]

I suspect she's complicit in their crimes. I suspect they informed her about torture and spying on Americans long ago and she did nothing. I suspect that she's terrified that if there were hearings and crimes were exposed that they would also implicate her complicity.

That's the ONLY reason that I can fathom why she would cover up for this administration.

[MBryant]

When I talk about impeachment - my Dem friends say "wait... we are going to win! (the messianic) Obama will be there soon..."

But unless the congress gets up off the floor and says "No, I will not be kicked around by the executive - a good executive or a bad executive.." there are no balance of powers. We have gangland style government. Obama is presumably not the last President. Even if he won't abuse powers the precedent is set and the congress is still weak and they will be lapdogs for him.

Besides - we've seen two very close Presidential elections with contreversial results and the congress has investigated niether. This election is also seeming to be close. We may yet have this one finagled with malfunctioning e-voting machines in two Pennsylvania counties and one in Virgina or Indiana.

Pelosi is betting on Obama - that he'll win and he won't abuse power and together they'll "make it all better". If Obama loses or if he maybe-kinda-sorta loses and McCain becomes the next President it will be too late to impeach Bush and Cheney and McCain will have the full Bush-ee powers - even if the Dems increase their alleged majority.

[batguano]

Excellent! The timidity.....some would say spinelessness.......of the Dem "leadership" has been frustrating and disheartening. When Nancy Pelosi incomprehensibly and unilaterally took impeachment "off the table", she really took accountability off the table, and thus became in collusion with the manifest crimes and un-Constitutional actions of the Bush/Neocon Admn; a violation and abandonment of her oath of office.

[jmpurser]

I heard a lot of great things about Pelosi when talk first started circulating about her taking on the role of house leadership. I was intrigued and encouraged. Hell even hopeful despite all recent experience with Democratic "leadership".

Sadly, her tenure has been an unalloyed victory for experience, rather than hope. What a bitter disappointment from day one.

[mergina]

Dear Pelosi.
retire please and soon.
thank you.

[castlerider]

Pelosi should have been a major thorn in Bush's side from day one. She should never have even mentioned impeachment, much less say it was "off the table" . She should have simply started the proceedings immediately, her first week in office. They have had proof all along enough to impeach.
If they lost the vote, that would be it. But she would not now be a target. In fact, she would be very popular about now.

[NotMcCain]

And if she was too timid to go after Bush, then she should have gone after Cheney. Not only is there tremendous amounts of evidence against him, but investigating it would undoubtedly unearth much, much more (and perhaps have preserved some of the records that this administration has systematically--and illegally--destroying).

Hopefully, even with Bush gone, the next Democratic leaders in the House and Senate will have some backbone.

[Whinger]

When you become diplomatic with matters of principle you inevitably fail to do your duty!

When you fail to do your duty you fail the nation and yourself.

[Bettysdad]

I've been pretty disgusted with Pelosi for some time now, but this is truly vomit causing.

WTF is going on?

I never thought Democrats would become the bad guys.

[PuppaX]

I don't understand why these people were arrested. It doesn't sound from your description that they were causing problems. What kind of police-state behavior is this?

[freebeer]

This is a great post by Linda.
It should be read by every "pragmatic" Democrat who is against impeachment.

Pelosi will hopefully be rejected by voters, and replaced by Cindy Sheehan.

[mattheweste]

It seems to me that Pelosi may well be the worst Speaker of the House in US history. Lowest approval ratings for congress in recorded history. Completely spineless cowering before the most unpopular and worst president in US history. Total abdication of responsibility.

What a terrible precedent for the first woman to reach the very top rank of the US government.

[Liberal2]

Yes. When a nation falls, it falls not because one political or social leader is incompetent and corrupt, it's because the incompetence and corruption of its entire political and social leadership has reached a critical point. America has reached that critical point.