|
 |
 |
|
Superwoman Comes to the Supermarket: The Speaker Wins a Big One
-
05/11/07 09:52 AM ET
The title of this note is taken from Norman Mailer's famous essay about John Kennedy, which he wrote in 1960 during the Democratic National Convention. It remains one of the most brilliant political writings in history and I heartily recommend that anyone who has not read it should find it.
We will soon learn whether Harry Reid can play big-time poker with George Bush on the Iraq war, a subject to be discussed here soon.
For now, a standing ovation for the Speaker, the House Democratic Caucus, the Out Of Iraq Caucus, the Fighting Democrats in the House, and two Republicans who had the courage of their convictions, Walter Jones (N.C.) and Wayne Gilchrest (Md.).
This week, the Speaker played poker, big time. She left the table in triumph, holding the first big pot, in the first truly big hand, of the decisive battles over the Iraq war.
Historians will look back on this week as the beginning of the end of the disaster of our generation.
A new Associated Press poll shows the president with his ratings remaining in the crapper, and the Congress joining him with dismal and equally low approval ratings of 35 percent.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) towers 10 points above both the president and the Congress in national approval, and therein lies the message of the moment.
Now the fight moves to the Senate, and make no mistake: The great behind-the-scenes proposal on this day, the alleged compromise, would include benchmarks and would include enforcement, but would also include the president having unilateral power to waive enforcement.
If this is the idea, Democratic leaders and reasonable Republicans, starting with Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.), should reject it. This is not an honest compromise. Anything that gives Bush the unilateral power to escalate further, regardless of what happens on the ground, regardless of what Congress might do, is a limp, impotent and useless fraud.
I predict: As the world sees the legislative language, the view expressed here will be seen as truth, and the alleged compromise will no longer be viewed by honorable men and women as compromise, but capitulation to continued disaster.
Let's hope the Senate gets the message.
In the meantime, superwoman has come to the supermarket. There is a new sheriff in town.
Nancy Pelosi is not only the first woman Speaker. She may be the most historically important Speaker, in either party, since Tip O'Neill, at least.
We will soon learn whether Harry Reid can play big-time poker with George Bush on the Iraq war, a subject to be discussed here soon.
For now, a standing ovation for the Speaker, the House Democratic Caucus, the Out Of Iraq Caucus, the Fighting Democrats in the House, and two Republicans who had the courage of their convictions, Walter Jones (N.C.) and Wayne Gilchrest (Md.).
This week, the Speaker played poker, big time. She left the table in triumph, holding the first big pot, in the first truly big hand, of the decisive battles over the Iraq war.
Historians will look back on this week as the beginning of the end of the disaster of our generation.
A new Associated Press poll shows the president with his ratings remaining in the crapper, and the Congress joining him with dismal and equally low approval ratings of 35 percent.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) towers 10 points above both the president and the Congress in national approval, and therein lies the message of the moment.
Now the fight moves to the Senate, and make no mistake: The great behind-the-scenes proposal on this day, the alleged compromise, would include benchmarks and would include enforcement, but would also include the president having unilateral power to waive enforcement.
If this is the idea, Democratic leaders and reasonable Republicans, starting with Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.), should reject it. This is not an honest compromise. Anything that gives Bush the unilateral power to escalate further, regardless of what happens on the ground, regardless of what Congress might do, is a limp, impotent and useless fraud.
I predict: As the world sees the legislative language, the view expressed here will be seen as truth, and the alleged compromise will no longer be viewed by honorable men and women as compromise, but capitulation to continued disaster.
Let's hope the Senate gets the message.
In the meantime, superwoman has come to the supermarket. There is a new sheriff in town.
Nancy Pelosi is not only the first woman Speaker. She may be the most historically important Speaker, in either party, since Tip O'Neill, at least.
Most Viewed RSS Feed »
