Comments on: Speaker Pelosi Takes The Helm Once Again http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/ Reality-based political commentary Tue, 23 Jun 2026 01:46:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Kick http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130784 Kick Wed, 09 Jan 2019 02:59:51 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130784 JL 14 <i>https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/01/charles-duhigg-american-anger/576424/ </i> A long read but worth every minute. Thank you. :) JL
14

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/01/charles-duhigg-american-anger/576424/

A long read but worth every minute. Thank you. :)

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130774 nypoet22 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 19:50:11 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130774 the push for a wall came from irrational anger, and i think this was captured pretty well by a recent article i read in the atlantic. a long read on the role of anger in civic life: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/01/charles-duhigg-american-anger/576424/ the push for a wall came from irrational anger, and i think this was captured pretty well by a recent article i read in the atlantic. a long read on the role of anger in civic life:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/01/charles-duhigg-american-anger/576424/

]]> By: Balthasar http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130773 Balthasar Sun, 06 Jan 2019 19:32:06 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130773 italyrusty [11]: <i>The Democrats need to STFU or turn their backs on reporters who ask them for a statement about a non-issue like this.</i> I dunno. Maybe you're the pearl-clutcher. I still don't see anything wrong with that statement. The Repubs want it that way. They want Dems to be mild and non-abusive while they go off in every direction to get their way. I call bullshit. Trump couldn't get a wall out of the Repub congress for two years, NOW he wants a wall? Bullshit. The truth is that Trump is in big trouble with his core constituency, and this is the symptom. Trump doesn't know how to get out of it without a wall, plain and simple. It's up to the Dems to show him the way... italyrusty [11]: The Democrats need to STFU or turn their backs on reporters who ask them for a statement about a non-issue like this.

I dunno. Maybe you're the pearl-clutcher. I still don't see anything wrong with that statement.

The Repubs want it that way. They want Dems to be mild and non-abusive while they go off in every direction to get their way. I call bullshit.

Trump couldn't get a wall out of the Repub congress for two years, NOW he wants a wall? Bullshit.

The truth is that Trump is in big trouble with his core constituency, and this is the symptom. Trump doesn't know how to get out of it without a wall, plain and simple. It's up to the Dems to show him the way...

]]> By: James T Canuck http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130772 James T Canuck Sun, 06 Jan 2019 18:31:07 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130772 From and to...'Crusty words to...' I much prefer the term ...'synergy' to 'collusion'. It portrays a more synical*, synister* intertwining of the Trump campaign and the Ruskies. LL&P From and to...'Crusty words to...'

I much prefer the term ...'synergy' to 'collusion'. It portrays a more synical*, synister* intertwining of the Trump campaign and the Ruskies.

LL&P

]]> By: italyrusty http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130771 italyrusty Sun, 06 Jan 2019 10:10:17 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130771 Great summary of Ms Pelosi's strength and possibilities. I agree entirely that the Democrats in the House are much more unified in their objectives than the Republicans were. I hope that the newly-elected progressives will ignore the Huffington Post, Politico, and MSNBC in the repeated attempts to manufacture conflict. Unfortunately, the Democrats are their own worst enemy, easily distracted by right-wing rhetoric disguised as 'civility' (see the defunding of ACORN in 2009!) I do wish that the House Democrats would keep silent more often. The latest tempest in a teapot: Representative Tlaib stating that 'we will impeach the motherfucker'. The media ate it up, because it a) gave them another outspoken woman to call to task and b) adds 'evidence' to the media's narrative that Democrats are a one-issue party, as you have excellently addressed, Chris, in your essays. Note the pearl-clutching headlines I've seen: Politico: "Dems livid" The Guardian: "Senior Democrats chide Rashida Tlaib" MSNBC: "Democratic Rep criticizes Tlaib" The Democrats need to STFU or turn their backs on reporters who ask them for a statement about a non-issue like this. They should leave it to Ms Pelosi, who responded perfectly: "Nothing worse than the President has said". Great summary of Ms Pelosi's strength and possibilities. I agree entirely that the Democrats in the House are much more unified in their objectives than the Republicans were. I hope that the newly-elected progressives will ignore the Huffington Post, Politico, and MSNBC in the repeated attempts to manufacture conflict. Unfortunately, the Democrats are their own worst enemy, easily distracted by right-wing rhetoric disguised as 'civility' (see the defunding of ACORN in 2009!)

I do wish that the House Democrats would keep silent more often. The latest tempest in a teapot: Representative Tlaib stating that 'we will impeach the motherfucker'. The media ate it up, because it
a) gave them another outspoken woman to call to task and
b) adds 'evidence' to the media's narrative that Democrats are a one-issue party, as you have excellently addressed, Chris, in your essays.
Note the pearl-clutching headlines I've seen:
Politico: "Dems livid"
The Guardian: "Senior Democrats chide Rashida Tlaib"
MSNBC: "Democratic Rep criticizes Tlaib"

The Democrats need to STFU or turn their backs on reporters who ask them for a statement about a non-issue like this. They should leave it to Ms Pelosi, who responded perfectly: "Nothing worse than the President has said".

]]> By: Balthasar http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130770 Balthasar Sun, 06 Jan 2019 00:47:03 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130770 Nancy Pelosi's moment comes when the budget for the shutdown reaches $5 billion. Then she starts saying, "you spent it all." Nancy Pelosi's moment comes when the budget for the shutdown reaches $5 billion. Then she starts saying, "you spent it all."

]]> By: TheStig http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130769 TheStig Sat, 05 Jan 2019 22:32:10 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130769 CW- This column is a very impressive synthesis! You have hit the ground running in 2019! I hope the Democratic leadership is thinking along the same lines you are...and that the Democratic noncoms and foot soldiers fall into line. The latter is never a given for the Democratic Party. CW-

This column is a very impressive synthesis! You have hit the ground running in 2019!

I hope the Democratic leadership is thinking along the same lines you are...and that the Democratic noncoms and foot soldiers fall into line. The latter is never a given for the Democratic Party.

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130768 nypoet22 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 14:53:14 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130768 @john, my concern is that donald may use "national emergency" to provide a pretext to raid other departments' budgets that are already allocated for something else. probably illegal, maybe unconstitutional, but perhaps not impossible. remember, just because no sane person would do something doesn't mean donald won't. JL @john,

my concern is that donald may use "national emergency" to provide a pretext to raid other departments' budgets that are already allocated for something else. probably illegal, maybe unconstitutional, but perhaps not impossible. remember, just because no sane person would do something doesn't mean donald won't.

JL

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130767 John M Sat, 05 Jan 2019 14:10:24 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130767 [1] nypoet22 "I wonder how Nancy will respond if Donald follows through on his threat of declaring a "national emergency" to get funding." One thing that has been brought up but that people do tend to forget about is: Even if Trump were to declare a national security emergency in order to use the military to get his wall built.... He still has to get the money for it from somewhere... and that funding can only come from an appropriation bill passed by the House Democrats and Nancy Pelosi! [1] nypoet22

"I wonder how Nancy will respond if Donald follows through on his threat of declaring a "national emergency" to get funding."

One thing that has been brought up but that people do tend to forget about is:

Even if Trump were to declare a national security emergency in order to use the military to get his wall built....

He still has to get the money for it from somewhere...

and that funding can only come from an appropriation bill passed by the House Democrats and Nancy Pelosi!

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130765 nypoet22 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 12:55:32 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130765 the trouble with impeachment, and i think nancy knows this full well, is that its use as a check on the executive branch rests on a sense of shared facts existing outside the bounds of party dogma. and in the current "post-truth" political environment, mutually agreed upon facts are in short supply. basically, until there is a set of related facts that democrats and republicans can agree upon, impeachment proceedings would end in acquittal and weaken her political hand. JL the trouble with impeachment, and i think nancy knows this full well, is that its use as a check on the executive branch rests on a sense of shared facts existing outside the bounds of party dogma. and in the current "post-truth" political environment, mutually agreed upon facts are in short supply. basically, until there is a set of related facts that democrats and republicans can agree upon, impeachment proceedings would end in acquittal and weaken her political hand.

JL

]]> By: Mezzomamma http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130764 Mezzomamma Sat, 05 Jan 2019 07:11:52 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130764 Re impeachment: However much many people loathe Trump, and however thoroughly he may be shown to deserve impeachment, the prospect of a President Pence tends to dampen calls for Individual 1's impeachment. I don't see Pelosi and other pragmatic Dems in either house going for impeachment unless and until they know they will get a conviction, in any case. But some elements of the media don't seem to see past <i>BIG STORY! LOTS OF AIRTIME! HEADLINES!</i> Re the new Congress: I hope to see a (fairly) steady stream of positive legislation, even if it can't pass the Senate and Individual 1 wouldn't sign it, even if it doesn't all meet my personal specifications, rather than the blanket 'no' directed at Obama. I also very much hope that some of the younger and the newly-elected members will be tutored and mentored by Pelosi, so they learn how to turn their ideals into legislation. Of course hopes aren't the same as reality, but the photos and film clips from the House this week have made me smile--and how often does that happen? Re impeachment: However much many people loathe Trump, and however thoroughly he may be shown to deserve impeachment, the prospect of a President Pence tends to dampen calls for Individual 1's impeachment. I don't see Pelosi and other pragmatic Dems in either house going for impeachment unless and until they know they will get a conviction, in any case. But some elements of the media don't seem to see past BIG STORY! LOTS OF AIRTIME! HEADLINES!
Re the new Congress: I hope to see a (fairly) steady stream of positive legislation, even if it can't pass the Senate and Individual 1 wouldn't sign it, even if it doesn't all meet my personal specifications, rather than the blanket 'no' directed at Obama.
I also very much hope that some of the younger and the newly-elected members will be tutored and mentored by Pelosi, so they learn how to turn their ideals into legislation.
Of course hopes aren't the same as reality, but the photos and film clips from the House this week have made me smile--and how often does that happen?

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130763 Chris Weigant Sat, 05 Jan 2019 06:01:18 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130763 John M from Ct. [2] - Yeah, guilty as charged -- I'm a pretty big fan of Pelosi's. I like to think this is due to her stellar performance in the past, though. When I started blogging (in 2006), Democrats were splintered and the phrase "herding cats" was often heard to describe their leadership's efforts to corral them. Since Pelosi's rise, however, they have been astoundingly unified, even when tested by the Blue Dogs or (now) the Progressives. When Dems hold together as a caucus and the GOP can't seem to (Tea Partiers), that is a huge sea-change. I lay most of this at the feet of Pelosi, personally. So hagiography it may be, but it's still based in my admiration for her past achievements. But then again, as I said, I'll freely admit that by this time, I am biased towards her. -CW John M from Ct. [2] -

Yeah, guilty as charged -- I'm a pretty big fan of Pelosi's.

I like to think this is due to her stellar performance in the past, though. When I started blogging (in 2006), Democrats were splintered and the phrase "herding cats" was often heard to describe their leadership's efforts to corral them.

Since Pelosi's rise, however, they have been astoundingly unified, even when tested by the Blue Dogs or (now) the Progressives. When Dems hold together as a caucus and the GOP can't seem to (Tea Partiers), that is a huge sea-change.

I lay most of this at the feet of Pelosi, personally. So hagiography it may be, but it's still based in my admiration for her past achievements. But then again, as I said, I'll freely admit that by this time, I am biased towards her.

-CW

]]> By: John M from Ct. http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130762 John M from Ct. Sat, 05 Jan 2019 04:31:46 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130762 As much as I admire Pelosi's obvious character and experience, your piece here approaches hagiography, and a little prematurely. The rhetoric drips with the kind of gushiness I'd expect of Sarah Sanders when describing the president's latest superhuman skills and accomplishments. "Pelosi is easily up to all three of these tasks." "most Democrats have so far been pretty impressed with Pelosi's spinal fortitude." "she has uncanny political instincts" "Pelosi knows full well..." "...and *she knows it*." "Nancy Pelosi is fully up to the three tasks..." "...and she knows how to do it well." "she's fully capable of handling such slings and arrows" "she's fully up to that task as well." I mean, God, I hope you're right and the white-hatted gunslinger has come to town for a showdown with Dirty Don. But nothing about this administration or this president has followed anyone's predictions, beyond the obvious ones of oh my god expect a sh**storm folks and it will be worse than we can possibly imagine and the days of the American republic are now numbered. As much as I admire Pelosi's obvious character and experience, your piece here approaches hagiography, and a little prematurely. The rhetoric drips with the kind of gushiness I'd expect of Sarah Sanders when describing the president's latest superhuman skills and accomplishments.

"Pelosi is easily up to all three of these tasks."
"most Democrats have so far been pretty impressed with Pelosi's spinal fortitude."
"she has uncanny political instincts"
"Pelosi knows full well..."
"...and *she knows it*."
"Nancy Pelosi is fully up to the three tasks..."
"...and she knows how to do it well."
"she's fully capable of handling such slings and arrows"
"she's fully up to that task as well."

I mean, God, I hope you're right and the white-hatted gunslinger has come to town for a showdown with Dirty Don. But nothing about this administration or this president has followed anyone's predictions, beyond the obvious ones of oh my god expect a sh**storm folks and it will be worse than we can possibly imagine and the days of the American republic are now numbered.

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/01/04/speaker-pelosi-takes-the-helm-once-again/#comment-130761 nypoet22 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 03:26:16 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=16303#comment-130761 i wonder how nancy will respond if donald follows through on his threat of declaring a "national emergency" to get funding. a wall across the rio grande wouldn't accomplish much logistically, but it sure would remind folks how our government kidnapped children and threw them in cages while their parents were deported. donald is kind-of like the kid who kills his parents and then asks for leniency because he's an orphan... JL i wonder how nancy will respond if donald follows through on his threat of declaring a "national emergency" to get funding. a wall across the rio grande wouldn't accomplish much logistically, but it sure would remind folks how our government kidnapped children and threw them in cages while their parents were deported. donald is kind-of like the kid who kills his parents and then asks for leniency because he's an orphan...

JL

]]>