“There haven’t been gains, Wolf,” the speaker replied. “The gains have not produced the desired effect, which is the reconciliation of Iraq. This is a failure. This is a failure.
Those were the words from Speaker Nancy Pelosi while speaking to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Sunday. While we come to expect such dismal prognostications from her - especially after going 0-60 on trying to change the policy in Iraq, and the public dissing of her masters at MoveOn after the Petraeus ad, her statement stands in stark contrast to another statement released over the weekend:
“There were almost 600 fighters in our sector before the tribes changed course 360 degrees . . . Many of our fighters quit and some of them joined the deserters . . . As a result of that the number of fighters dropped down to 20 or less.”
The author laments a reduction in force, due to an increase in pressure from the enemy.
It was written by a man named Abu-Tariq. Mr. Tariq just happens to be a member of al-Qaeda.
The limp corn-based straw and the recycled coffee cup: a legacy of the “New Direction” from Speaker Pelosi.
Notice how you need two cups to not burn your hand, and how the straw doesn’t hold up to the heat.
The response from the powers-that-be:
“We have had a few people observe that [straw] phenomenon and we had to tell them, ‘Sip your coffee like a normal human being,’” Ventura said. “We’re trying to save the planet here.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives seems a bit frustrated, so much so that she cast this aspersion toward House Republicans:
“The grassroots are justifiably disappointed, and I am too, that we could not do something to end this war. The assumption that I made, that the Republicans would soon see the light and listen to their constituents, was not an accurate one.”
“They like this war. They want this war to continue…” (Press Conference, 12/13/07)
The editors of the National Review (admittedly, a publication with a conservative outlook) take the Pelosi-led Congress to task.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid return to work this week. But the Congress they lead is already a failure, no matter what they now do.
When they took power, they had three major goals: to end the war in Iraq, cripple this presidency, and pave the way for a Democratic sweep next year. They have failed in all three respects.
We want to direct you to this article in the McAllen (Texas) Monitor about Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to the Rio Grande Valley.
After her HESTEC speech, Pelosi called the border fence set go up in parts of the Rio Grande Valley “a terrible idea.”
“I’ve been against the fence,” she said. “It shows a lack of understanding of what the communities are on our borders. These are communities that have borders going through them.”
Speaker Pelosi’s Congress makes history, as just 18% of Americans approve what they are doing.
And the bad feelings aren’t coming from Republicans, but rather the party of Pelosi, Reid, and Clinton.
The nine-point drop in Congress’ job approval rating from last month to this month has come exclusively from Democrats and independents, with Democrats’ ratings dropping 11 points (from 32% to 21%) and independents’ ratings dropping 13 points (from 30% to 17%). Republicans’ 18% approval rating is unchanged from last month.
First, we thought “scoreboards never lie.” Turns out, that was incorrect.
Next we were found of the phrase “let the record show.”
Turns out the Congressional Record (the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress) doesn’t show it all.
On Friday, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said “enough is enough,” expressing frustration with a parliamentary move by Republicans. In other words, engaging in debate over the parliamentary effort attempting to be undertaken by the minority.
b 2100
The SPEAKER pro tempore: The resolution constitutes a question of privilege.
MOTION TO TABLE
Mr. HOYER: Madam Speaker, I move to table the resolution.
POINT OF ORDER
Mr. BOEHNER: Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order that the gentleman
from Maryland engaged in debate.
The SPEAKER pro tempore: The question is on the motion to table.
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
Mr. BOEHNER: Parliamentary inquiry, Madam Speaker.
The SPEAKER pro tempore: The gentleman will state his inquiry.
Mr. BOEHNER: Madam Speaker, isn’t it correct that the gentleman from Maryland engaged in debate, which allows the House to then proceed with up to 1 hour of debate on this resolution?
The SPEAKER pro tempore: The gentleman was not recognized as the Chair had not yet ruled that the resolution constituted a question of privilege. The question is on the motion to table.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. BOEHNER: Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
Let’s go to the video!!!
For those who missed it, we’ve generously provided a transcript of the video:
Speaker Pro Tem (Rep. Ellen Tauscher): For what purpose does the gentleman from Maryland rise?
Rep. Hoyer: Madam Speaker, enough is enough.
Rep. Tauscher: [to the Parliamentarian] Does the what?
Rep. Tauscher: Does the gentleman have an amendment?
Rep. Hoyer: Madam Speaker, I move to table the resolution.
Rep. Tauscher: The resolution…
Rep. Boehner: Madam Speaker! [no answer] Madam Speaker! [no answer] Madam Speaker! [no answer] Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order. The gentleman from Maryland engaged in debate…
Rep. Tauscher: The question is on the motion to table. All those in favor say aye…
Rep. Boehner: Madam Speaker, isn’t it correct that the gentleman from Maryland engaged in debate, which allows the House to then proceed for up to one hour of debate on this resolution?
Rep. Tauscher: The Chair did not yet rule that the question constitutes a question of privilege. The question is on the motion to table. All those in favor say aye, all those opposed say no. In the opinion of chair, the ayes have it.
Rep. Boehner: Madam Speaker, on that, I demand the yeas and nays.
Pentagon officials are bracing for a fight with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) over her desire to allow lawmakers’ adult children to tag along on taxpayer-funded travel for free.
Needless to say, some were a tad bit surprised.
But taxpayer watchdog groups and ethics advocates said they were surprised Pelosi would seek more perks for members.
“One of the things she was praised for when she came in was her sweeping reforms on gifts and travel,” said Craig Holman of Public Citizen. “It is very disheartening if she is, in fact, backsliding on this.”
This request comes following requests earlier this year for a personal “Air Force 3” for the Speaker.
