Pelosi fires back at Bush

Posted: Thursday, November 01, 2007 2:13 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Congress, Mike Viqueira

From NBC's Mike Viqueira
"What does he have to show for his presidency?" Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked today, with her hands outstretched. She said that the president is talking about his library, but all he will have to put in it is "tax cuts for the wealthy" and "a war with no end that is a failure."

"He stoops to a level that is beneath the office" of the president, she concluded.

Pelosi was responding the the red meat dished up by President Bush in a speech today at the conservative Heritage Foundation.

On the war supplemental monies, she said that the president has "wasted billions" and that the request will be the subject of "harsh scrutiny." Democrats are likely to approve a small portion of the $196 billion now and wait until next year to send the rest.

Yet Pelosi said that she, too, doesn't approve of the job that Congress is doing. She was asked why, despite recent efforts by Democrats to tout their accomplishments this year, Congress has such a low approval rating. You might say her answer was counterintuitive.

"I don't approve of Congress, because we haven't been effective in ending the war in Iraq," she said, adding that "if you asked me in a phone call" from a pollster, she would herself be counted in the disapproval column.

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Comments

WashPo story quote

"What do you see as your greatest mistake?" asked one reporter. Pelosi smiled. "Why don't you tell me?" she proposed. She smiled again, then laughed. " 'Cause I think we're doing just great."

The woman is certifiably nuts.

Linda Preston (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 4:32 PM)

I cannot understand liberals and focus on impeachment. It's not like impeachment would force him out of office before Jan. '09. There is no denial from me that he is an absolutely TERRIBLE President. I despise what he has done to the office. He is shady, corrupt, ethically lax, but I don't see a solid crime to paint him with. Bluster all you want, but he never messed up like Nixon (R) or Clinton (D). And without that, it's just political theater.

Work on the positive end by getting somebody open, honest and able to unite the country in '09. That is what the democrats need to do with Bush. But the most partisan of democrats won't do that, they want revenge through a Bush-Cheney lite.

--NSMSNBC (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 4:32 PM)

I agree with Sierra, tie the SCHIP funding to the War funding request. Carrot for a carrot, stick for a stick. Squeeze the kings balls............

Dan, Columbia, SC (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 4:35 PM)

to her credit, pelosi is disappointed in her and congress' performance...and has the guts to say so. to her detriment, she and congress have not accomplished a thing. at least she has a semblemce of knowing what reality is.

totally bushed with politics (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 4:35 PM)

Mark T. writes: "Pelosi is right on all points.

The Bush administration remains America's Nightmare. "

You're just as whacked out as Pelosi. 11% approval. That tells you something. You obviously would be one of the groupies even if it was down to 1%.

Karl Kampman (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 4:36 PM)

I believe that we might achieve peace and safety in our country by electing any Democrat to the White House while keeping the Congress, too.

Peace at any price is becoming 'comfortable' for me at last. I am a registered Republican (figuring this to be an Open Forum not restricted to just Democratic input, if you please).

Happy Days Again are just around the corner if we can only accept my premise of a 'clean sweep' for the Dems in November 2008. All the 'hate' will cease except for the eternal investigations into the corrupt Bush administration which can be individually 'filtered' to keep the day 'bright and fair'under progressive Democratic rule. We've been 'citizens' for quite some time now as a nation and, perhaps, with the hugh challenges we now face as a society we might be better off as 'subjects.' Oh, as an aside I heard this the other day: "An armed man is a citizen and a disarmed man is a subject." (like that?)

Just think about it -Peace and Safety in Our Time.
Really, think about it.

Keeping Hillary out of the White House will only bring out the worst in all of us for another eight years.

Vote for Hillary for Peace and Safety.

A Republican vote for Hillary is a vote for Peace and Safety in our daily lives for eight glorious years!

Robert E Eldridge, Jacksonville, FL (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 4:39 PM)

The only thing nancy pelosi can claim victory on was getting the minimum wage hike.....

However, the state and local governments saw all that extra money and raised taxes and the price of fuel went up and cost of food went up and now people are right back where they started at.

Nancy, selling your sould for 30 pieces of silver is never a good idea.....

I'm waiting for Pelosi V Sheenan to emerge.....
Should be a fight to the death.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 4:43 PM)

Looks like the world communist are going to have to wait.

boo hoo (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 4:54 PM)

The Speaker's inability to provide any coherent leadership is causing to lay blame anywhere she can. Personally, I prefer a do nothing House of Representatives.

American Voter (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:02 PM)

Hey Bruce, NV...stop buying that garbage argument.
PJ (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 2:54 PM)

--- he's not buying, he is selling

nuanced (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:04 PM)

Someday, the masses will realize the ineffectiveness of congress has as much do with its rules/organization and is does with its leaders. If we want an effective congress, we need simpler procedures for passing bills, limiting attachments and reducing the power of committee chairman. The people's house is supposed to be run by the people, not the speaker and the whips. Motions to recommit, call the question, table, accept with unanimous consent and amend at the core of the rules of order for the house may be steeped in history, but their time has come to pass. No one would run a company or their house that way. Why should we run the legislative branch that way? Limit the changes to bills once they have been introduced and force negotiations on those bills between the parties prior to a bill's introduction. The system is to antequated to deal with our needs of governance and needs an update to provide the service we expect. I stopped using my Commodore 64 for my computer needs back in 1982 when I was 11 years old. Why use a 200+ year old parliamentary rule book to govern the process of making laws?

Nick A., Deerfield, IL (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:09 PM)

Let me get this straight. Nancy Pelosi is responsible for the tax rates of all 50 states and tens of thousands of counties and munincipalities. jerry that's crazy even for you.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:11 PM)

She needs to go shack up with Dashl and she needs to take the sidekick idot Reid with her. They deserve each other, but America sure doesn't deserve them.

Feed up! (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:14 PM)

The fearless leader of an 11% congress still trying to play politics instead of doing what the people wanted her and the rest of those elected in the last go around to do.
She, and Reid, and their cronies in congress better get thier act together very soon, or they just might all be turned out to pasture in the next election cycle, and rightly so!
The blame Bush for everything game is growing fairly weary with some of us. It's easy to talk a good game (Pelosi is great at this)but totally another to get the job done.
When the best the Democrats have to offer is a Clinton, and a bunch of excuses times are very bad indeed.

Ron Newman, Richmond, KY. (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:22 PM)

[[Peace at any price is becoming 'comfortable' for me at last.]]

This is a major plank in the platform for the Democrats. Even if the price is that we have more attacks on our cities, the Democrats don't want to fight back.

Btw: How's your Arabic?

Sanders Clause (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:36 PM)

Money for jobs, healthcare, and education - no more money for foreign occupation!! End the war now! Impeach Bush and Cheney - they are liars and cannot be trusted.

Genie, Bedford, NH (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:48 PM)

ALL YOU LIBERAL DEMOCRATS ARE FULL OF S_ _ T. ALL YOU HAVE DONE SINCE CONTROLLING CONGRESS HAS BEEN TO CRITICIZE AND BITCH ABOUT BUSH. YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING POSITIVE SINCE TAKING OFFICE. WHEN THIS WAR IS WON, AND YOU COME OUT WITH MUD IN YOUR FACE, YOU WILL BE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE WORLD. AS FAR AS MS. PELOSI IS CONCERNED, I AM SAD TO SAY AS AN ITALIAN-AMERICAN AND A CATHOLIC I AM ASHAMED OF HER. I ONLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT HER AND ALL OF YOU LIBERALS WHO FAVOR KILLING UNBORN CHILDREN, WHILE WORRYING ABOUT SAVING THE WHALES, RECEIVE FORGIVNESS AND MERCY FROM GOD.

JOHN CRIVARO (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:54 PM)

MK Rawlings wrote, "Then there was that nonbinding resolution condemning as genocide the killing of Armenians starting in 1915. That was helpful, it calmed things down in the Middle East."

Oh, I see, fruitcake, it's the Armenian genocide bill that stirred up the Middle East. It can't be your hero's assinine war in Iraq. No they welcomed us with roses didn't they? I guess you believe that Bushie Boy's actions have no consequences, or, fruitcake, do you believe that you can cut taxes and bring in more government revenue? Or, do you believe that it is wise to fund a war by borrowing oodles of money? Perhaps you think that global warming can be ignored because you expect to own beach-front property in the Ozarks.

Peter, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 6:17 PM)

Quite impressed that it took this group almost the entire first page of comment before some BDS sufferer played the Nazi card.

Veda, you realize, I trust, that talk like that and the actions of code pink on moveon.org actually tend to belittle your cause?There are plenty of intelligent arguments that could be made, and have been made, without white-hot rhetoric. As I pointed out above, the formerly well-loved senior senator from NV has an approval rating in the 30s now because of his loose lips.

The 2008 elections are the Democrats to lose; and as I watch, it seems to me that is what they are going to do.

Bruce, NV (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 6:26 PM)

Sierra: you forgot her most important contribution: Congress' approval is lower than the President's.

Bruce, NV (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 6:28 PM)

JOhn Doe: the gop is dying because Bush is too conservative?

If you think Bush is conservative, you don't understand.

Bruce, NV (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 6:29 PM)

Genie, you sure you don't live it brattleboro? How's the sensie in Bedford, dude?

Bruce, NV (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 6:32 PM)

Mark Theime - what did the potheads do?

JOHN CRIVARO- I DON'T THINK GOD HEARS YOU ANY BETTER WHEN YOU TYPE LIKE A PETULANT 13 YO GIRL, BUT I'LL BET IF YOU WENT TO IRAQ AND EXPLAINED YOUR POINT OF VIEW TO EVERYONE IT WOULD SOLVE EVERYTHING AND WE WOULD INDEED HAVE "MUD ON OUR FACES." HAVE A NICE TRIP AND WRITE IF YOU FIND WORK.

AMEN (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 7:03 PM)

One day Nancy Pelosi told President Bush Now Who's Your Mommy. I think it meant that Democrat Congeress will no longer give him a blank check. I think it means that a woman speaker of the house can tell the President no like the way a Mom can tell her son no.

Banana Kid (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 7:32 PM)

Has anyone but me wondered why Condoleezza Rice still retains her position as Sec. of state? Revolt among the State Department employees, the Blaclkstone fiasco, not one statesmanlike activity of any merit since her appointment, and she still hangs on Dubyas coat tails as one of the last remaining "loyal" Bushies.

M.C.Andre (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 8:30 PM)

Dear "Amen" I am still laughing as I type this. Thank you for the humor.

Pam the OC CA (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 8:44 PM)

After reading many of the comments blogged here comparing the seven-year results of GW Bush and the 10-month tenure of Pelosi I have become frightened by the denial. There is no comparison of these two poliitcians. Even if Pelosi and her democratic cohort were to have done ZERO, it is far less damage than what GW has done to us. I don't see it as a Rep v. Dem issue. The Bush administration is a social cancer. This is the worst period in our national history (unless you're rich).

Bart Smith, San Antonio, Texas (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 9:31 PM)

Too bad the noise of the wind whistling through her head drowns out anything she has to say...what an incompetent dunce

TJB, Scottsdale (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 9:38 PM)

Dear Petey/Sunshine - keep up up the good work. Morons like you are what is going to save the Republican party in 2008.

Democrats. No ideas, no common sense, and they have guys like petey-pooh on their side.

Go back to worshipping your sun god AlGore petey. He loves his adoring public. Be sure not to slip on your drool.

MK Rawlings (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 9:39 PM)

Congress has low approval numbers because they do not want to get anything done in fear that it might make Bush look good. People see this and know the Dems are thinking of themselves more than others.

Neal, New Market MD (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 11:55 PM)

You only talk, Democrats! You are the same as Bush, you have not any courage to see the facts that all of you faked these years, simply to benefit Israel. Your sons fight for Israel. Arabs hates Americans because of Israel and you are going to hurt only peoples in region that really love Americans. You have not even courage to went to Iran and see by yourself that what is really going on there.

John, abudhabi (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 5:33 AM)

The reason congress has not done anything is the roadblocking republicans in the senate. The only way they could end the war would be to cut off all funding and if they did that the republicans would win the next presidential election by saying over and over "THE DEMOCRATS DO NOT SUPPORT OUR TROOPS" the reason that the polls are low is because a great majority of the people do not know how our government works. They are the people who never watch a news show or read a newspaper but rely on what someone at the office told them they are sheep. I have republican friends that will not read Newsweek and the Washington Post or watch any news show other than Fox and they are as bad off as the other group.

Rufus Gibbons, DC (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 6:31 AM)

So George is mentally ill and invades Iraq for his own amusement. We already know that Nancy, so do something about it.

WDRussell, East Liverpool, Ohio (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 8:10 AM)

Larry (11/1/07, 4:30) -

Why do they need a men's room there? Seems when this administration needs to go, they just piss on the constitution and the American people. A men's room would be wasted space.

John, Huntsville, AL (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 8:34 AM)

Pelosi: "I don't approve of Congress, because we haven't been effective in ending the war in Iraq," she said, adding that "if you asked me in a phone call" from a pollster, she would herself be counted in the disapproval column

Even Pelosi knows her leadership has been poor. Why doesn't she step down and let someone else have a run at getting this war to end? Pelosi has been a total failure as leader of the House.

Ryan Middleton Durham, NC (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 8:44 AM)

Our reading material uses Caps and small letters for a reason, readability. People who use all caps want us to know they are mad and yelling at us. We get your point, you are mad but it is harder to read your post. Perhaps it is just another example of the unclarity of the rights positions, war without end, tax cuts for the people who already have lawyers who save them from paying their due, no economic program, playing up fear of a group of terrorists who are doing there damndest to keep us bottled up in fear and discension and the slow steady distruction of our civil rights to protect us from a group that has no army to invade our country. Terrorism will not destroy us, it is unable to do this and they know this, there plans are to create an environmet of fear and it shows that they have done a good job because people are suggesting we need to learn arabic and other nonsense. You have been punked by Osama, he has got you in his clutches, you cannot see reality because all you see is 911. We have been attacked on our soil before, 911 was not the first time. If you are afraid of Osama then you should want us to get him. Write to your man in the White House, all the decisions about this enemy have been made there, not in congress.

John S. Alexander,Edinboro, PA (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 8:53 AM)

Dave Tn there you go again. but you are correct "Real liberals as you mean it" that is, conservatives believe women should remain barefoot and pregnant.

Rufus Gibbons, DC (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 9:15 AM)

MK Rawlings wrote, "Dear Petey/Sunshine"

Sunshine? I'm preaching doom and gloom, fruitcake. What about the breakdown in consumer protection? Does the collapse of the housing market indicate a strong economy to you? Is the dramatic increase in the number of people without health insurance acceptable to you? Is the instability in Pakistan, a Muslim nation with atomic bombs and probably the residence of bin Laden, no concern of yours? And, how long are we supposed to ignore the deteriorating condition of our highways, bridges, dams, and other infrastructure? What dimension are you from?

Peter, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 9:22 AM)

MK sounds like a little girl to me. A spoiled, whiney one who hasn't gotten her way. Kinda like W. George is that you?

G (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 10:00 AM)

I agree with Jan, Nashua, NH's brief and clear description of the facts.

I would only restate the description of the Senate to read:

And the Senate is split 49-49-2 D's, R's, and I's (Independents), with a de facto 50-50 split on most Iraq issues based upon how the I's vote.

P.S. to Larry Craig - The White House does have men's rooms (plural!) and VP Cheney will be happy to give you the nickel tour.

Gary, Franklin, WI (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 10:14 AM)

Ok I think I have read enough to make a few comments:

1. Nancy has obnly been in office for 10 months. You cant reasonable expect her to turn the past 6 yrs of drunken spending by the republicans around in that short a period of time.

2. Someone comments that Bush has made us safe on our soil. HOW? The time frame between the first WTC boming and the second was 8 yrs. In between that time what was bin laden doing? PRACTICING. What is he doing NOW? PRACTICING! By my calender and watch Bin laden is right on schedule.

3. You can tell who on this message board failed Civic class. The Constitution vested the congress with the duty of OVERSIGHT of the executive branch. So u are mad because congress is doing its job.

4. You can cut off the funding for the war today. Troop withdrawel can ONLY be done by the President. How many of you think Bush would move the troops because they cut off funding? There is enough money in the pipeline that Bush could keep the troops there without the supplemental funding from the congress.

5. The congress is split almost evenly down the middle. Nancy is getting things passed on the house side. its the senate side with the problem. So Dems in order to really change policy they will need a filibuster proof senate and 2/3's in the house, or a Dem president. Looks like we might get all 3.

6. Impeaching Bush would mean nothing at this moment in time. You dont have the numbers in the senate to remove him from office. Why not wait until say Dec 2008 to impeach him? Add insult to injury as we snatch the white house from his party.

Salita (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 10:33 AM)

I think a crucial point is being overlooked with regard to Congress' low approval rating. This Congress' rating is directly tied to the prez low ratings. Essentially, people are mad because Congress can not contain the power-mad man in the WH! Americans desperately want someone to stop the madness and so far Congress has been unable to do it -- mainly because of the Republicans in Congress who say the prez is wrong on many issues, but continue to back his play when it comes to a vote.

As far as those who commented that Pelosi should just shut up -- maybe she would if Bush does. She seems to only be responding to his petulant rhetoric over the past couple of weeks because he is upset that Congress is doing their job: OVERSIGHT. And if any executive branch occupant needed strict oversight, it's Bush. This admin legacy will be secrecy, expansion of executive powers, bypassing congress, and of course the Iraq debacle! Bush is a law unto himself and must be stopped --soon before we find ourselves in another war with Iran. He's got bombs and he by gollee seems to want to drop them (specifically on countries without them). What a hero!

Throw the bums out in '08. And Sierra: You're absolutely right - --A real republican won't compromise. That's the way to get things done for the whole country, all 300 million people with different interests -- No compromise, that's the ticket.

Jo Jackson from South Dakota (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 12:45 PM)

MK Rawlings, you don't work and play well with others do you. What was your conduct grade on your last report card?

nuanced (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 12:53 PM)

Nuanced, haven't you noticed that Ms. Rawlings is only responding to being attacked first. For the name you've chosen, you sure don't seem to pick up on nuances..

Bruce, NV (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 2:42 PM)

to MK Rawlings: what???
A new paradigm for peace in the middle east. --- really means war without end and unlimited profits for contractors with no accountability.
A great economy. ---really means unlimited profits for contractors with no accountability, soaring gas and utility prices for the groups least able to afford it, and soaring health care costs for all but the most fortunate.
Safety from terrorists on our soil --- really means war without end and unlimited profits for contractors with no accountability.
Well funded health care for seniors and poor children --- really means MK doesn't know any sick elderly or poor people
Lots of good jobs for people that want to work hard --- really means MK doesn't know anyone who isn't independently wealthy or working a government job with great benefits

Jael, downstate IL (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 4:44 PM)

YES! Please Impeach BUSH for God's sake! What the hell have we been waiting for? I am embarrassed to be an American. The Democrats are a bunch of WEENIES!
We need more parties, NO electoral college, one man one vote, real elections, no voter lists used for jury duty, and disconnect corporate control from government. Give me a reason to even VOTE, PLEASE! Maybe we should start another government on the side and ignore the broken, disfunctional one we think we are stuck with.

Karen Downey, Murfreesboro, NC 27855 (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 9:10 PM)

Remember Reagan? Waht happened to the GOP If we has another Reagan,This war would be over and there would also be no gas crisis.Remember what he did to the crisis of the 70's. He restored out world respect.We need a repeat badly!!!!!!!!!!

lloydr,provo,utah (Sent Wednesday, January 02, 2008 3:38 PM)

Bush needs to go!!!!!!

lloydr,provo,utah (Sent Wednesday, January 02, 2008 3:39 PM)

Bush needs to go!!!!!!

lloydr,provo,utah (Sent Wednesday, January 02, 2008 3:39 PM)

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