Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are wondering exactly what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi meant by her pledge to “govern from the middle.”

Pelosi (D-Calif.) made that promise immediately after the election that expanded her Democratic majority.

GOPers spent their first day as representatives of the 111th Congress vilifying the Speaker — who was reelected and unanimously supported by her caucus — for changing the rules regarding how much power the minority has to hinder the legislative process on the floor.

“‘Governing from the middle’ or bipartisanship means that Democrats and Republicans negotiate a compromise on a piece of legislation — either before it’s introduced or through the amendment process,” said a GOP leadership aide.

But even some Democratic officials concede that a more conciliatory legislative process was likely never what the Speaker meant by governing from the middle.

“I haven’t seen any evidence of working from the center yet,” said a senior Democratic aide. “And I think she meant governing from the center of her caucus. It is possible that she will reach out to the other side, but it’s too early to tell.”

In accepting the House gavel on Tuesday, Pelosi renewed her pledge to work with Republicans, but also hinted that “urgency” may trump some traditional notions of bipartisanship.

“Few Congresses and few presidents in history have been given the responsibility and the privilege of serving the nation in a time of such profound challenge … It is in that spirit that I pledge to you — let us all pledge to the American people that: We will look forward, not backward; we will join hands, not point fingers; we will rise to the challenge, recognizing that our love of country is stronger than any issue which may divide us,” Pelosi said, looking over to the Republicans on the floor.

“This is the lesson and legacy of the last election,” she said.

When Pelosi pledged to govern from the middle, she was just as quick to urge the new president-elect to do the same.

Saying she hoped Barack Obama would “bring people together to reach consensus” on a host of issues, she reminded him that “a new president must govern from the middle.”

Two months later, it’s Obama who is earning high marks from the right for his efforts at inclusion. And House Republicans are furious at Pelosi for her reluctance to open up what could become a trillion-dollar stimulus plan to a full round of legislative hearings.

As of press time, only the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee was scheduled to hear from economists and experts on what kind of stimulus proposals were needed for the ailing economy.