(Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi hugs her granddaughter yesterday at a tea honoring the late Ann Richards. Photo via Yahoo taken by Reuters/Larry Downing, who always seems to get the greatest shots of un-posed moments. Patience is rewarded, isn't it?)
It is a momentous day for those of us political junkies who are women, I must say. To have a female Speaker-elect just puts a smile on my face this morning, especially considering it's a Democratic one. Congress will be called into session in just a little while, and the official vote for the Speakership will be taken: each member of Congress must personally vote by voice on the record, in a ceremony that takes place every two years at the start of the new session. It takes about an hour, give or take, and then the new Speaker will be sworn in by John Dingell, longest serving member of Congress, and will then give a speech. More here from the AP and also here from the SFChron.
The House has an ambitious agenda for the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress, and it will be interesting to watch how this plays out over the next few days. The folks over at MoveOn.org have organized a petition to push the 100 Hours Agenda forward — take a peek and sign your name, and take a little time to contact your Representative to let them know you support the Democratic agenda.
My favorite thing? The Democrats will be enforcing a five-day work week. No more two and a half days in DC, and the rest on junkets and fundraising — members of Congress will be earning their paychecks a bit more, and it is about time. Let the oversight begin!
The NYTimes and the WaPo have some coverage on the Democratic agenda in both houses of Congress, and of some of the new faces on the Hill. But for some detailed analysis of the Senate agenda, you are much better off reading Bob Geiger.
Meanwhile, back at the White House, MSNBC reports that Harriet Miers has turned in her resignation — she'll be leaving the White House Counsel's office effective 1/31/07. Thus far, it's been Gonzales and Miers as White House Counsel…who is next, Yoo? Blergh. Word to the White House: You might want to talk with Pat Leahy before you pick someone — you know, pretend to be bipartisan, do some consultation, act like a savvy adult. (Oh, who am I kidding?)
By the way, as long as I'm thinking about it, signing statements need some challenge, and now — and respect for the other branches of government needs to be restored because George Bush has overstepped far too frequently. Here's to restoration of checks and balances and respect for the rule of law. Members of Congress might want to start here. Get a warrant as the law requires, or stay out of my mailbox.
While Democrats are implementing their legislative agenda based on what is good for all of America, Republicans are falling back on fear. Again. To wit, from the always ready to give a reporter a quote Newt Gingrich:
Gingrich believes that Vice President Cheney and former defense secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, alumni of the Ford administration and now emblematic of the Bush administration's foreign policy, have changed because the world has changed. "Cheney and Rumsfeld have experienced a different world than Ford experienced and are genuinely frightened, and their policies are born out of this fear," he said. "They just don't know how to communicate to the country."
Yes, if only Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld were more Venus and less Mars.
Although that does explain a lot about the recent growth industry of CYA PR firms inside the Beltway. Have to spend all that lobbying contribution money somewhere when you no longer control the legislative largesse, I suppose.
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The fightin’ 110th!!
Fitz too!
Sitting here with tears watching Jon Tester being sworn into the Senate….. Way to go Jon!
Now to my new DEM Congressman from Arizona… Hot Damn…
More “accidental” confusing of Obama and Osama
http://blogs.citypages.com/can…..s_pick.asp
I say again: Pelosi-palooza!
Hi Redd- I read yesterday that it’s a four day workweek- up from two..
Wow… what a boogy man, a 5 ft grandmother from San Francisco…. lordy thank God for the Grannies!
rw at 6 — My understanding is that they are reserving the fifth day for committee hearings free of main floor time. But that may have been altered since last I spoke with my Hill contacts earlier in the week. There is SO much oversight to be done, they had to work something out somehow to fit everything into the schedule.
Oh lordy, Howdy Doody is up next. They really are grooming him for leadership, aren’t they, on the GOP side? Blergh. What a craptastic choice.
I just saw that bullshit deal where Clusterfuck,again, decides he is above the law.
Just a convenient little signing statement declaring it to be just peachy for the government to peek at your mail.
Oh, just in emergencies, you know.
(wink wink, nudge nudge.)
Ann Richards. Another giant. I miss her.
Speaker Pelosi. This woman just may have the whole world in her hands.
Sitting here on the edge of tears watching Deval Patrick giving his inaugural address. This is a HUGE change for MA. A poor black kid from the south side of Chicago gets a break and winds up Gov. of MA. Talking about “universal human dignity” now.
Ceremony is being held outside in front of the state house facing the Boston Common and huge crowds. This is the first time this has ever happened.
What a day!
and he took the oath on the Bible from the Amistad, the one the slaves held on to for hope.
Great post Christy:
Minor typo:
[Mod Note; thanks for the heads up. Refresh and it should be fixed.]
…Fox News still holding out on covering congress opening. hee hee hee
Good morning (on the west coast, anyway) to all!
What a fine day it is to swear in Madame Speaker!
An honor to share it with the spark of humanity that is FDL!
so they have decided to spy on it instead.
OT: Haven’t read the whole thing, yet, but it looks at least partially promising:
The Law Catches Up To Private Militaries, Embeds
I’m so excited to see history today! CSPAN here I come! It will be Pelostastic!
C-SPAN – election of Speaker of the House
According to CSPAN, there are two Buddhists in the 110th Congress. There is also a Muslim. Nice to know that there are at least some places in the country where
something other thanone’s religion is less of a consideration than character or political issues when it comes to electing representatives.Wonder if they’ll make the Buddhists swear in with a Bible?
It may take a long time, and there will probably be retrenchment, but on days like this, I think that the trend in America will be toward less bigotry, not more.
They’re starting the vote for speaker in the House. Pelosi 8-5.
Random finds on the tubz today:
Maybe a way for Christy to save on rent? (click on ninja thumbnail)
Ian Welch lauds some of his favorite bloggers, with a shout out for you guys.
The Morning News lets Hitchens be Hitchens.
Once and for all — the actual oath for members of Congress is taken en masse and without their hand on anything. They simply raise their hand and take the oath. There is a private ceremony that is for photo-op purposes only that is done on a bible or koran or what-have-you later in the day. The moron who started the whole mess about the Koran being used was bitching about a private photo-op — and essentially lied to the public about the procedure to serve whatever divisive agenda he had. Wanker.
Can’t edit my last comment for some reason, but imagine that “something other than” isn’t there, and it will be a little clearer.
twolf1 @
13
I’m waiting for Brit Hume to put his hands over his ears and say, “La la la la la la la. I can’t HEAR you!”
Christy Hardin Smith @ 21
Wanker indeed!
But I love that Mr. Ellison is going to have his photo-op using the Koran that Thomas Jefferson owned. And the Wanker Goode lives in the district where Jefferson’s home was.
Sweet.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 21
Unfortunately, in this day and age, the photo-op is usually more important than the reality.
Frank Probst @ 23
Kinda OT, but I worked one summer as a bicycle courier in DC, and one of my regular runs was to the Senate press gallery. Hume had a desk up there, and he was easily the most despised reporter there.
Redd–Hard to say what a congresscritter counts as a work day- a day where someone asks em for their vote?
(Unemployed philosopher- one who isn’t thinking)
Go Nancy go!
Woo hoo!
RevDeb @ 24
It was ironic on more than one level. Jefferson’s writings make it pretty clear that he was (at least) an agnostic. I suspect that his interest in the Koran was far more intellectual than religious.
On MSNBC a little while ago, Chip Reid reported that Carl Levin might be open to a troop “surge” if certain conditions were met. Matt Lauer’s response? “Ooh, look! Richard Gere!!”
Does it ever end?
Wonder if anyone has used Russell’s “Why I am Not a Christian” for the photo op?
Did I miss something? Are you saying “Abu” Gonzales has submitted his resignation? Or just that he left the White House to become a worse Attorney General than Ashcroft?
This brings to mind the seemingly-odd move of Negroponte from Directory of National Intelligence to Deputy Secretary of State. My pet theory is that Condi is basically done, she’s been in way over her head since day one. I’m thinking Negroponte is being brought in to take over running the State Department, keeping Condi on as figurehead to preserve her reputation (gag).
This feels like a Kissinger-inspired move, since we know Kissinger is dictating Bush’s foreign policy as an advisor. And Negroponte has the war criminal mentality favored by the bad doctor. I think this is a drawing of the inner circle ever tighter to barricade the Bush government against the onslaught of those who disagree with them.
LindaR @ 30
Whoa! How’s Gere looking these days?
Yaaaay!!! It’s cleaning day.
JF @ 16
Okay, it looks like the contractors will now be subject to the UMCJ in conflicts that are not declared wars. This includes Iraq and Afghanistan.
Wonder who slipped this in?
Frank Probst @ 33
yummy, as ever — ha.
Frank Probst @ 29
He was a Deist and studied it all. Quite a mind.
On another note, the Boston Children’s Choir just sang at Deval’s ceremony. From what I could tell, the song was
“The Storm is Passing Over”
Love it.
Jefferson was, I think, a Deist–as I understand the species, they were struck by Newton’s discoveries and thought that they implied a natural law giver- but not a “personal savior”.
I was EPU’d on this in the last thread. Mrs. BC and I were talking about the line-item veto last night. She studied the case in a Con Law class she took a couple of years ago.
She said that the decision (link is to a CNN story on the decision) clearly says that the Consitution presents the President with two options: sign the bill as it is, or veto the bill. The President isn’t allowed to treat the bill as a Combination Plate (I’ll have a chicken taco, a green chile tamal, cheese enchiladas, and can I substitute guacamole for the refritos?).
The case is Clinton et al v New York et al (link is to FindLaw’s synopsis of the decision.)
The decision was 6-3 against the bill. Given that, Roberts’ respect for stare decisis, and the clear statement about process in the Constitution, I think it’s a slam dunk on the signing statement crap.
Someone with standing needs to file a suit over these things, tout de suite.
BC
When did Abu Gonzales resign???
I don’t understand the reference to John Yoo who helped provide a “legal” justification for torture and the unilateral executive. He served in the Bush Administration from 2001 to 2003 and is currently (and bizarrely) a professor of law at UC Berkeley.
Parenthetically, a complaint was filed against him in Germany November 14, 2006 by a private attorney for providing a legal framework for crimes against humanity under the Nuremberg provisions which dealt with the facilitation of such crimes by Nazi judges.
puppethead at 32 — No — what I was saying is thus far we’ve had Gonzales and Miers in the White House Counsel’s job, and was wondering who would be next.
No one can stop the idiot from producing signing statements- the question is whether or not they have any legal force- that’s for the courts to decide I suppose- (they may have been mentioned in a couple of decisions where they were found at least relevant-)
puppethead @ 32
There are fewer and fewer people left to man the barricades. Robert Gates does not appear to be a yes-man, so I can’t see him doing it. I don’t know what’s going on with Miers, but it can’t be good for Bush. I haven’t figured the Negroponte move out yet, either. Wasn’t he supposed to be a key figure in the sacking of the last CIA chief (Porter Goss, I think)? Lots of Repubs weren’t very happy about that. I’m not sure if the Negroponte move is an attempt to shiv Condi or if it’s a defensive move to keep someone from shivving Negroponte.
katymine @ 40
Abu resigned as White House Counsel to become Attorney General vice Ashcroft.
BC
nice nice reading christy, very exciting times we are in today
let’s point out the following;
it’s important for the democrats to make it crystal clear, a warrant takes NO time, if national security deems mail needs to be opened we need NOT wait for a warrant, we can get the warrant AFTER the search
this important to get across because those that support this president don’t get it
in addition, we need to put a realistic face on warrant less searches, instead of “protect our rights”, or “against the constitution”, we need to change that up and put it in practical perspective, something like so;
“we need to make sure officials aren’t stealing from us, stealing our bussiness secrets and our personal secrets, we need to make sure an official the reasons are national security and not theifery…every single search is going to have checks in place and we will do our best keeping “evil doers” from stealing from us”
nice, I don’t mind if a democrat steals that verbatum
rwcole @ 43
I can’t imagine that they’re going to have any legal force. I suspect that the Court will ultimately rule that they’re legally equivalent to a press release.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an actual calling of the roll in the House before.
Lots of blue ties today.
The question : “Does God exist?” may have more in common with “Does the number four exist” than with “Is there a cat on my mat”- that is- it ain’t an empirical issue.
Okay — I’ve edited above to make clear I’m talking about the White House Counsel’s position only — Gonzales has NOT resigned. Sorry if that was somehow unclear in the reading.
From a purely standing perspective, could it be a congress person, or would it have to be someone, somewhere, who has been adversely effected by the executive acting in accordance with the signing statement but contrary to the actual law the statement is attached to?
Here’s a fun one from CNN,
Oh how I love my new Representative, Keith Ellison. He just sought out and introduced himself to Virgil Goode on the House floor.
Frank at 44 — Don’t be too sure about Gates not being a “yes” man. William Arkin had a blogpost the other day saying that he was flanked by Cheney’s “minders” on his trip to Iraq.
Thomas Jefferson would be unelectable these days.
RevDeb @ 48
They usually use the electronic vote thingy if they want an exact roll call. I suppose this is political theatre?
Frank
Well if there is a serious question about the meaning of an ambiguous statute- then the question of what congress meant when they drafted the thing and what the president THOUGHT it meant when he signed it may be relevant (but not the final word) for the court. On the other hand- if the statute is clear- then I can’t see any role for the signing statement.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 50
More’s the pity.
I’ve got to put a plug in for a colleague’s book. General Ashcroft: Attorney at War is a really good study of Ashcroft and Bush’s view of the office of the Attorney General. It’s well worth the read.
BC
I fancy Nancy as Speaker
Frank Probst @ 47
Well, it looks like Murtha’s not gonna play nice (via ThinkProgress):
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/…..scalation/
Boo fucking hoo!
Cujo359 @ 56
absolutely political theatre. And I’m ready to give it a standing O.
Madame Speaker!
MADAME SPEAKER!!
gawd, I love the sound of it!
Cujo at 56 — This is the only time that a voice vote is required, the election of the Speaker. It’s a requirement that each member has to register their vote out loud and in public — long-time tradition of the House for this vote. I linked a couple of articles above that talk about the tradition on this.
puppethead @ 53
whoo–hoo for you and Ellison, too. Now that is how a fine and upstanding Congressman acts- classy!
Saw Mr. Webb get sworn in– ramrod straight and elegant.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 50
I got a little excited for a second there…
jeffreyw @ 51
IANAL and the question of standing in these things is tricky. A related decision by the Supremes held that congresscritters didn’t have standing to challenge the line-item veto bill. I’ll defer to Redd, LHP and the other lawyers here.
BC
The sun is shining here. This feels good. (shall I throw away my anti-depressants now, Dr. Frist?)
raven @ 52
Christy Hardin Smith @ 54
Larry Johnson wasn’t too impressed with his independence either. Let’s see if I can find that article… there it is:
http://noquarter.typepad.com/m…..hes_b.html
I noticed a few more since then that haven’t been overly complimentary, either.
Frank Probst @ 44
It’s part of the Stonewalling strategery. With Harriet missing, who is going to know where all the documents are that the Democrats will be subpoenaing?
rwcole @ 49
Ummm. Begging to differ, rw, but I can prove that the number four exists, if you’ll give me any integer and a successor function.
I don’t know what axioms are needed to prove God’s existence.
BC
So, is Harriet going to work for Hallmark now?
Hugh @ 41
If there are people leaving the administration, they’ll have to get new people from outside. Yoo is a “worst case scenario” of a sort that is, unfortunately, not unlikely in an administration that specializes in them.
Thanks, BC. That was my understanding, though I don’t remember seeing anything I would consider definite.
puppethead @ 32
I was puzzling over that, too. But the reference is to the two people who have been White House Counsel to Bush, not to two people who have resigned today.
Miers probably needs to salt away some cash for her retirement- she’s of more value with Clusterfuck still in the White House than after he has been replaced by a sane person.
It’s cash in time- put away the diapering tools and get back to work.
Re: Goode. Was there not some great pix of Leiberliar as a Goodie in a bonnet? That came to minde. . .sanctimonious.
I think it was a pointy hood.
bg @ 78
Bargain Countertenor @ 72
cogito ergo sum
Re Gates, I would argue that he is likely to prove a yesman. If he backs the Bush surge then it is definitive. If he disagrees with escalation, then he should resign. This would send a powerful message but I don’t see it happening.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 80
cogito ergo sum
OKKiddo,
In my case, it’s perturbo ergo sum.
BC
As the first woman, the first Californian, and the first Italian American is elected Speaker today, I can’t help but recall newly sworn President Gerald Ford’s words to the nation: “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.”
Hooray for the Republic! It has, perhaps, survived another assault.
Hugh @ 69
This was on NPR this morning. It gets even better. He was on the painkiller since 1972, and was doctoring shopping and taking 3 times the prescibed amount. The FBI also intimidated witnesses that were going to testify against him at both Senate confirmation hearings. His drug problem was covered up by the Senate committee confirming his position as Chief Justice. I bet Rush is the first to defend him.
Pelosi just voted, to a standing ovation. [snoopy dance!]
rwcole @ 77
Miers never having had to deal with a Congressional subpoena, perhaps she’s realized she’s outta her depth. “Best President EVER,” feh!
“prove that the number four exists”
Well you can certainly make a proof inside mathematics that “there is an integer x such that…” but that doesn’t exactly answer the question “Do numbers exist-or are they just logical fictions?”
Questions about the ontological status of common “objects” are rarely empirical- and your “proof” is not empirical either.
What these questions boil down to is “can objects be said to exist that are not medium sized pieces of household goods that make up the furniture of the universe–like tables, chairs, and teevee sets?”
It actually bugs the shit out of people that you can’t see and pick up things like “the national debt”- so does it exist?”
raven @ 79
Check out this photo of a little creative redecorating of Goode’s district office!
Where’s the hip-waders.
rwcole @ 87
Break open the champagne!!
{{{VICTORY DANCE}}}
OT – Mullah Omar says hasn’t seen bin Laden for years
Murtha on MSNBC
I like it that Sheehan is putting pressure on my party, the Democrats, to end the war in Iraq. She lost her son there. And I support her.
rwcole @ 87
I think the way to explain that is – “See the extra X dollars that aren’t in your wallet? That’s a real manifestation of the national debt.” (X=their part of the national debt at the moment)
Kinda helps if you’ve studied semiconductor electronics. You get used to thinking about where the holes go.
rwcole @ 87
Okay, I see your point. I concede that the proof is inside (meta)mathematics, but my point was that the existence of four is provable in some logical system.
Proof of the existence of god? Not so much… and not for want of trying, either.
BC
“Je pense donc je suis” is the original formulation. Descartes’ Discours sur la methode in which it occurs is commonly cited as the first modern European philosophical treatise written in vernacular and not in Latin. The phrase is a classic example of begging the question since the conclusion (I am) is held in the premise (I think).
Does Cheney’s black-hole soul exist?
oh baby, this is too rich, I’m surprised this isn’t the lead line in the story;
OH BABY, I LOVE THIS RANGEL
raven
Not a fan of philosophical discussions I see- pity.
They’re in the T’s, and Pelosi’s ahead 209-185.
The GOP radicals are such weasels when it comes to signing statements and the “unitary executive” that it makes them hard to challenge. Bush never writes “I’m not going to obey this part,” he writes “I will construe this as advisory consistent with the Constitutional powers of the presidency” or some such crap. And they’re careful to make the strongest statements about things that would be done in secret, so they can deny they’ve ever actually followed through.
Cheney believes the president should have dictatorial powers, but they’re too weaselly to actually put that to the test and risk having the courts say no. Instead they’re building up a paper trail of stuff that has never been tested, so in the future they can refer back to it as precedent.
It needs to be definitively destroyed, but how to get a grip on it, I’m not sure. The best opportunity may be the various laws already passed that including reporting requirements that the administration has ignored.
RevDeb @
11
What a day indeed – your comment brought me to happy tears – good thing I hadn’t put on my mascara. May just throw in the towel and be late for work – just glued to C-Span and FDL.
Glorfindel @ 97
No. His personality just sucks so much that no light escapes.
Pectopah @ 71
That’s not going to work this year. Smuggling your female witnesses off to Switzerland is SO 2006, and I suspect that a Democratic Congress will be more persistent than our torpid media.
Redshift @ 101
That’s a great point. Not only is it a great point, but it gives the congresscritters legal standing, because they are ‘harmed’ (impeded in their ability to fulfill their constitutional duties) by the Administration’s failure to report as required by law.
BC
Cujo359 @ 103
don’t know, it would be like proving the number 4 exists
tee hee
news flash – Nancy has the numbers!
rwcole @ 99
What is your doctorate in, RW? Philosophy?
BC
they are almost done with the count…
Oh, I do love the sound of “Madame Speaker.” hehehehe
McCain ups the ante, now says that troop escalation has to be at least 35,000 or it will be worse than nothing.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 110
isn’t that just a thing of beauty!?! I am smiling today…
Hugh @
96
followed soon thereafter by the woodworkers’ guild motto: je ponce, donc j’essuie
(I sand, therefore I wipe up the dust)
Newt, I’m sorry that Dick Cheney is a bed-wetting, bunker dwelling coward. I think that the vast majority of the American public understands that now. The day is fast approaching when these snivelling thumb-suckers will be replaced with men and women of courage.
and McCain can just STFU… I’m sick of him…
jeffreyw @ 111
I think he dropped a zero or two.
Bargain-
It may be that many questions of the “Does x exist form” are based on intellectual confusion. You can’t just take any old words and plug em into the form and get something that makes sense.
“Do quadratic equations exist?”,” Does the natural law exist?”,”Does the alphabet exist?”, “does velocity exist?”
All sound like english sentences- but none of em make a lick of sense- unless someone gives em sense.
Guess I’m just a ham and egger. My Ed.D is just in Adult Ed. Of course I have a GED too!
They are showing a woman rwcole @ 99
rwcole @ 99
They are posting the count at 228-199. That doesn’t add up to 435. Who is missing?
jeffreyw @ 111
Oh! Oh! Let’s send ONE MEELION troops over there! And balance the budget! And give everyone a pony!
Anyone else think Congress could benefit from an in-house methadone clinic?
as far as the signng statements, let me propose;
right now the republcans HAVE to believe that a democrat will win president in 08
now is the time to recruit their support AGAINST signing statements, they can insure their future seat if they throw the president under the bus.
this is our chance becuase as the presidency rolls closer they will be a little more comfortable they might win the presidency.
if they think it could be a democrat they are going to weaken the office as much as possible
this needs to be pointed out to the leadership so they can wheel and deal behind the scenes
we might actually get them on board in nixonian fasion where it was the republicans that told the nixon he had to resing
RevDeb @ 119
A bunch of them probably had important meetings with their defense lawyers.
Bargain ABD.
RevDeb @ 119
if I had to guess, it would be my guy from CA42, Gary Miller – he HATES to go to work…
jeffreyw @ 111
In a few months McCain will be saying it needs to be 100,000 new troops, the X-Men and Gandalf the Wizard or it won’t work. He’s just pulling stuff out of his ass. What a wanker.
jeffreyw @ 111
Proving once again that his original proposal was just a ploy to try to escape blame for Iraq.
From McClatchy:
Yeah, decide how many troops and then figure out their mission. That’s a recipe for success.
jeffreyw @ 111
that’s his exit strategy
he’s gotten the president to abandon the 20,000 figure and go low, mccain will now “gracefully exit”
not too shabby I have to admit
in point of fact we’d need about 400,000 more troops to have any hope and he’s off the mark no matter what but he has an out and he’s gonna take it
rwcole @ 117
Correct grammar is a necessary condition for meaning, but not a sufficient condition?
Makes sense to me.
BC
Boooo…. look at that scary Grannie holding the new baby….. YEA our New Speaker!
OldCoastie… are you dis’n my Senator…. Lord McCain? Been telling everyone that he is a BIG war hawk. 35K is all, I thought it was over 40K he was wanting.
rwcole @ 123
ABD Toon
RedShift at 126 — Yeah, because that has worked SO well thus far, hasn’t it? Escalation with no defined mission = more of the same malarky and our folks in uniform paying the price. Craptastic job, Bushie.
Think I’m seeing Pat Schroeder on the floor of the House mulling around with the crowd as they add up the tallies.
Love that Woman!
sorry about the dis, Katymine ;-)
he’s gettin’ on my nerves bigtime… his voice is grating on me like junya’s usually does…
Oh, and the best quote from the McClatchy article:
“Rush to Failure” would make an awesome title for an article or book about the conduct of the occupation!
Frank Probst @ 120
A lot if folks thought than when he was calling for 20,000 he was setting the stage for a claim that when they weren’t sent, he could say “not my fault, they wouldn’t take my swell advice!”.
Now that it looks like they may do the 20,000, he has to double up to preserve his argument.
raven- sounds about right- I eventually went to work for a living.
Going back to Negroponte, I wonder if he was satisfied with his job as intelligence czar. He didn’t have the power to hire and fire and most of the intelligence budget was controlled by the Pentagon anyway. Overseeing 16 different intelligence agencies under such circumstances must have been a lot like herding cats, or mountains. You could tell them what to do but would they do it? Deputy at State OTOH would put him back in the game and that probably looked quite attractive to such an inveterate schemer.
Was watching MSNBC and while listening to Brian Williams interview John Murtha, the camera panned the House floor. Lo and behold there sitting together were several Republicans, one being James Sensenbrenner and he was in the middle of showing a card to his cohorts. The card appeared to be an ID card with a picture on it…and I am certain it was Nancy Pelosi’s picture on it. They each looked at it and then all laughed like fools. I just know it was some obscene or mocking comments or bigoted remarks next to her picture. I wish I knew how to YouTube things.
They are all such sick pervs.
raise your glasses, we are seconds away from Nancy getting “Madame Speaker”!
oh, I could say that over and over again…!
In math, ‘limits’ tells us we can get ever so close to something and never touch it. But I do believe the number 4 is existential. Profound stuff, huh?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 140
I thought the answer was 42.
I had it pinned over my desk for those many years of hammering away.
rwcole @ 136
the gavel is banging…
Here it is!!!!
233-202
MADAME SPEAKER!!!!!
The HONORABLE Nancy Pelosi…
I am crying, I’m so happy!
perris @ 127
Despite my caustic comment above, I actually don’t think even a half-million will do it. That’s about how many troops we had in Vietnam, and Vietnam combined had roughly the same population that Iraq does. If the population is against you, being outnumbered 60 or 70 to 1 still isn’t much of a ratio. Even with those kinds of numbers, you’re faced with either killing a large number of people or committing similar levels of atrocity that don’t cause organ failure. Either way, I don’t think we want to go there. I know I don’t.
Break. Apparently, the others finally voted. Pelosi wins.
you know what?
the few weeks it took to get here today seemed to take more time then the entire six years of the man in office
this is so very exciting I am shaking
rwcole @ 123
That’s begging the question.
BCrwcole @ 136
So did I, rw. My dissertation advisor knew my boss, and called him to say, “It’s time for BC to finish his dissertation.” So they rearranged my work schedule, and I finished the dissertation anyway.
I’d rather be lucky than good, but it’s best to be good and lucky.
BC
It’s official!!
boy they sure are showing a lot of shots of sad white republicans…
RevDeb @ 141
I thought the answer was 42.
It is. What’s the question?
OldCoastie @ 143
WOO HOO! What a moving standing ovation for our fearless Nancy! Life is SO good!
WOW–WOMEN OF THE WORLD!!
Bargain Countertenor @ 151
It is. What’s the question?
Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Wow, Boner-head looked like he really didn’t want that hug from
SPEAKER PELOSI!
SPEAKER PELOSI!
SPEAKER PELOSI!
now, did he?
Sufficient conditions? Well… perhaps at one time not so very long ago, a sufficient condition for not finding ourselves where we are in the Middle East today, would have been to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Now, solving the Israeli-Palestinian question is merely a necessary condition for peace in the region.
RevDeb @ 141
And Bill Clinton was 42.
Also, Agent Mulder’s apartment number.
punaise @ 113
Did they steal that from the nurses union: je panse donc j’essuie?
the answer, my friends, is ‘mu’
punaise @
59
Just a Nancy-boy, pumaise?
They had better get to building those new powder rooms in the Speakers’ chambers pretty quickly.
RevDeb — I see that Romney couldn’t be bothered to attend Deval Patrick’s swearing in today. What a wanker.
OldCoastie @ 145
Me too! I just said to my son, we’ve come a long way from being told we could be a teacher or a nurse or a secretary! (which I was told in 1971 on career day when I was 11th in my class)
HotFlash @ 160
He’s a FANCY NANCY boy!
LindaR @ 157
And Jackie Robinson’s uniform number too.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 162
He couldn’t get out of town fast enough to make me happy. Wanker doesn’t begin to describe him.
LindaR at 163 — I got the same speech in 1987 when I graduated from high school first in my class. I could be a teacher or maybe even a nurse if I applied myself. (As if either job isn’t important and necessary for all of us — hello?!?) And, of course, I’d never get into a school that was out of state, so I shouldn’t bother. Ahem. Guess my guidance counselor didn’t know with whom he was dealing, did he? *g*
Redshift @ 134
More like to paraphrase Rumsfeld “A long, hard slog to Failure”
Forty two is a good number- it’s so even it’s odd.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 167
he did not!
RevDeb @ 141
I hurriedly made some phone calls. And in my town, the consensus is… the number ‘42′ also exists. ;)
Renee in Ohio @
55
fucking liberal he was ……..
Christy Hardin Smith @ 167
Christy, you rawk in so many ways!
Long live freedom of being who we are!!
BC @ 151
‘What’s 9 times 6?’
Is it me, or does whomever is controlling the House camera have a crush on Richard Gere? LOL
RevDeb @ 154
Life, the Universe, and Everything.
All praise be to Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T…..Everything
MY state delegation is large, innit?
I have Grandma SPeaker’s poster from last April’s Calif. Dem convention, te one where her smiling, strong-willed face is atop a Rosie theRiveter type gal from the 40’s – red polka dot bandana, blue dress, flexing her bicep – WE CAN DO IT! And underneath…Speaker Nancy Pelose, coming November 2006. There are thousands of these floating around CA.
Wahoooooooo!
Love Douglas Adams. :)
Ellison introduces himself:
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002278.php
Numbers? I love irrational, imaginary, and prime numbers. Definately my faves.
Lurid headline at tpm’s muckraker:
Sex-for-Oil Scandal Rocks Interior Department
this is one of those days I’ll remember like I did when we first walked on the moon…
glad to be sharing it with you guys!
Man, I hate doing laundry. SIGH Dryer just went off…brb.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 180
I’m a fan of pi. Especially pecan and pumpkin.
All God’s numbers exist (even the square root of 3) but none of em gots shoes!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 167
Not only that, but I think he slept through the previous decade. All the way around, not the kind of guy I’d want to take career guidance from.
gavel is banging again and a hush has fallen over the crowd!
And as for negative numbers? They take me back. I love them also.
Ya’ know, I got up this morning before work and watched a little of the “tea” for Nancy.
Unexpectedly, I got a little teary-eyed. So I suppose my emotions are running as high as some of the folks here. After hearing Barney Frank yesterday, I have a little hope for the first time in a long time.
Boner looks perfectly miserable…
(breaks into giggles)
Jacqrat @
164
a prancy, fancy, nancy boy
OldCoastie @ 190
And he’s wearing a yellow tie. Loser.
Did you see??? She made the WE CAN DO IT pose!!
Christy Hardin Smith @
183
David Dreier went off on whom?
Congrats to Speaker Pelosi and to all you fine folks blogging here who helped make this day possible!
OldCoastie @ 182
Right back attcha dear OldCoastie from the central coast!
Boner’s fixin’ to cry…
David Dreier went off with someone?
We have regained power. Thanks be to the righteous indignation of the American people, at long last.
newspaperbrat @ 196
Yes indeedy. I concur.
OldCoastie @ 187
All of a sudden the CSPAN feed is getting slow. Must be a bunch of folks getting connected right now.
rwcole @ 198
Christy’s dryer (dreier)…
Froomkin is quite a good read today — FYI.
“Madam Speaker” — wooo!
Peterr @ 184
Are those irrational pies?
jeffreyw @ 181
Greasy-gate?
Hugh @ 206
Lubri-gate?
Nice gesture by Beohner in congratulating Pelosi.
Lube-gate?
Forni-gate.
Now there is a contrast. Pelosi and Hastert.
Anyone else NOT looking forward to the details of the sex-for-oil thing? Ugh…please let there not be photos…
Hastert is certainly looking dyspeptic. Snicker,
Glorfindel @ 199
It’s amazing what a little well-directed righteous indignation on the part of the People can accomplish:
We the People of the United States,
in order to form a more perfect Union,
establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
That’s your new job, Nancy – hold the House to it!
Boner is now whining. Can’t deal with being a loser.
Boehner continues to look like he’s choking on nausea. Maybe he realizes what crap his words are. As if…
Oklahoma kiddo @ 211
Beauty and the beast.
So when do the first 100 hours start? Have they started already? Do we count 24 hours in every day? Do we count weekends?
More importantly- who gets the teevee coverage next week- Pelosi with her first 100 hours or Clusterfuck with his riveting speech on Iraq?
Boehner: “The Democrat Party”
He can’t even get it right when it really counts. Wankers Aweigh!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 205
Right now they are imaginary. The ones that used to be in the empty plates, however, were divine.
Well, so much for the “nice gesture” portion — we’re back to the sore loser whining…sigh
He’s now telling us all to be nice.
Choke.
Sent Hastert a copy of “Harnessing the Hawg Inside You”. Hope he likes it.
Sex for oil? Mercantilism in ‘action’.
fine call for niceness now on Boner’s part…
sheesh!
but NANCY HAS THE GAVEL!!!
“Democrat Party”
Shorter Boner: Waaaaah! Don’t do as we did! You’ll be sorry!
Boehner’s speech turned to a fine whine at the end…
look how happy she is!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 224
At my age, oil for sex is more useful.
Oh, Republicans? …losers.
Pies of Christmas past are not imaginary pies- they are “past pies”.
Hastert reminds of a beached whale
Oklahoma kiddo @ 233
with suspenders.
Pelosi just started her speech! I started clapping as if I were there.
A whale with two pant legs– a frightening spectacle.
Peterr @ 214
a government FOR THE PEOPLE
a government BY THE PEOPLE
NOT for corporations, NOT by corporations
LET THE 1ST 100 OF FRUITFUL DAYS BEGAT A SECOND ONE HUNDRED, and so on.
we want our country back and today begins the journey
Oh, excellent line: “we must work together to build a future worthy of their sacrifice.” Good speechwriting.
Is Nancy gaveling down the boner?
Shorter Pelosi: Hasn’t been a decent Republican since Ford.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 238
yup – excellent start…
LindaR @ 230
Whew! That’s good. Very good. But I don’t think I better go near that one.
My how the mighty whale hath been beached. Oh, and…loser.
LindaR @ 230
Oh LOLROFLMAO!!!
Shorter Pelosi: A hand for the new members who beat their Rep. opponents!
CSPAN flashed a message that the Connecticut For Lieberman party has been taken over by his political opponent. I’m guessing that opponent is John Orman, who elected himself the chairman of the C4L party last November:
http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/sh…..aryId=4685
He probably expelled Lieberman by invoking this rule, which he drafted after electing himself to the chairmanship:
[Aside: It’s clear that Rep. Boehner still doesn’t know the name of the major political party to which he doesn’t belong. He just called it “the Democrat Party” in his welcoming speech.]
ooo – she slipped in “your commitment to the Constitution”….
LindaR @ 230
Ah, yes, chemically enhanced both internally and externally, and, …………..mommacita,ain’t it grand!
Shorter Pelosi: Helping those in need, the minority party.
she’s thanking her family – darling!
what’s not to love?
Shorter Pelosi: Christy, you can do it too, come on down!
Oh, I am loving this speech. She is undercutting the “scary liberal Nancy” image altogether with this speech today. “from the kitchen to the Congress” — hehehehehe
One of my childhood friends had the issue of what we would play sewn up like this. When we were at her house, she got to choose, because it was her house. When we were at my house, she got to choose because she was the guest. Reminds me of Republicans.
I am so very proud I vote for our new Speaker when I lived in the City (San Francisco).
Shorter Pelosi: Mr Boner, thank you for the wit to point out the obvious, you dick.
Wow, she just embodies that cat what swallowed a canary sometimes, with that big grin. Love it.
Is Madame Speaker running for President?
“This is an historic moment for the women of America, a moment we’ve been waiting for for 200 years. . . . ” All men and women are created equal.. . We have broken the marble ceiling.”
Go, Nancy!
btw, Swopa has a fresh thread for everyone.
OldCoastie @ 257
If we can roust out the criminals from the White House, she WILL be President.
Pelosi and Democratic party: winners
Hastert and Republican party: not so much
speaking on Iraq now…
“it is the responsibility of the President to articulate….”
LindaR @ 30
What the hell is Matt Lauer doing on MSNBC?
Shorter Pelosi: The 2006 election means the people really, really don’t want this war. Are you paying attention, Bush?
From Think Progress, apparently John Murtha isn’t going to fund a troop increase in Iraq:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/…..scalation/
(h/t My Left Nutmeg)
UPDATE: Source interview at HuffPo:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..37750.html
What did Pelosi just say about responsible redeployment? Syncronicity or something :)
OldCoastie @ 262
articulate and chimpy do not belong in the same sentence
I haven’t had this much fun since election day. :)
San Francisco, arguably the most liberal and progressive city in the country. And our Speaker hails from there. Nice. Very nice.
Shorter Pelosi: We’re gonna walk the walk.
OldCoastie @ 257
Oh I hope so – if you want a Pelosi for President bumpersticker and/or button I’ve got a good supply and will happily send a pair along to you dear OldCoastie and any other interested Firepup! We can do this friends!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 254
So am I!
A toast to women! And a special toast to my mother who is beaming right now.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 267
This is the first time in years that I actually wanted to watch what was going on in the House.
And the fun is just beginning. Hearings anybody?
she’s giving me chills!
Bush never cotton’d much to artikerlatin’
And I firmly believe that as Bush, Rove, Cheney, Rice, and the rest watch the Speaker, they are quaking. And well they should.
hopefully this will be epu’d. This 52 year old is crying like a baby hoping this is the start of our way back to sanity. Tears of joy and relief that the grownups are finally in charge.
This seems to be the guts of the Pelosi message:
“A new America with a vibrant and strengthened middle class for whom college is affordable, health care accessible, and retirement secure.
“A new America that declares our energy independence, promotes domestic sources of renewable energy, and combats climate change.
“A new America that is strong, secure, and a respected leader among the community of nations.
“The American people told us in the election that they expect us to work together for fiscal responsibility, with the highest ethical standards and civility.
“After years of historic deficits, this new Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: pay as you go, no new deficit spending. Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt.
“In order to achieve a new America, we must return this House to the American people. So our first order of business is passing the toughest ethics reform in history. This new Congress doesn’t have two years or 100 days to renew itself.
“
Shorter Pelosi: Fear not! A new Order has arrived. No more (name your beef). We’re gonna do a sane enery policy, budget like it was out of our own pocket, no more credit card sprees.
new thread
PAY AS YOU GO!
“no new deficit spending”
some of the repugs were a little slow to rise to their feet… odd! what could be their objection…?
George is about to get his credit card taken away by Granny Nancy.
puppethead @ 53
puppethead: Do you live in MN-05 too? I live in Mpls.
Shorter Pelosi: Suck it K street.
“A new America where Health care is accessible and retirement reliable. Energy independence. . . .”
“Pay as Go: no new deficit spending!” She’s listing goals and responses to what American voters said they wanted.
“Returning House to the people with the toughest ethics reform in history. This new congress doesn’t have 100 days. . . 100 Hours! 100 hours.”
Shorter Pelosi: I’m your boss, you hearing me minority?
So when’s The State of the Union?
Top this one, georgie!
one of the best speeches I’ve heard in forever!
Fasten your seatbelts. This is going to be a wild ride.
YYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
she’s also smart enough to take that the gavel away from the kid about ready to clobber the glass of water….
President “Puddin an Pie” has his work cut out fer him.
“Let’s hear it for the children!” “We’re here for the children.” I have tears in my eyes as Nancy laughs in pure delight, the children around her.
Goodnight George!
Hammers them to the seats and gets it running!
Wow. I’m speechless at te symbolism of being surrounded by kids as she bangs the gavel for the first time. Such an historic moment…tears, everyone.
Mommybrain @ 294
I was JUST THINKING, “when was the last time you saw that?”… and just how important that is…
“fer the children”
Heard on NPR that the biggest childhood problem is obesity
We got different kinds of problems today- the problems of EXCESS- and spoiled rotten little bastards.
Rush Holt trying to protect Christine Jennings in the FL. 13th before the swearing in of the members.
How good is that?
The battle is starting already.
Cujo359 @
186
I did’nt figure this out unil I was *long* out of my small-town high school, but if this guidance counselor is so smart, what’s s/he doing *here*?
Picture of white repig. men looking grim as they take the oath.
what a great day!
And she’s ours, Coastie. Well, Baltimore’s, too.
A little later, I’ll be raising a glass to our Madame Speaker. Won’t you join me?
awright – I’m heading upstairs…
Mommybrain @ 302
you betcha!
Today we were all part of history. (blinks eyes)
Congrats to Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. You did a great job. I notice how American the Democratic gallery looked. The Republican gallery looked like an all male casting call for Cocoon.
Also, the dignity that Speaker Pelosi showed was in exact contravention to dour, pouty Dennis Hastert. The big loser of the day.
Out with the mold in with the new.
-GSD
Fresh thread, y’all. Once we get past 300 comments, things start to slow down. Highly recommend that you switch over to the new thread if possible. Thanks!
Mrs. Teasdale: This is a gala day!
Firefly: A gal a day is enough for me!
Congrats, Speaker Pelosi!!!
Christy, I must say, it is a momentous day for some of us men, also, to have for the first time a woman who is two heartbeats away from the presidency. as a proud father of four daughters, I say: about time.
A wonderful day for us all, but how about another round of cheers and applause for the ladies among us, especially the regulars!
PS, re: Rehnquist hallucinations
Cognito ergot sum.
Proud day watching the new Speaker get elected and make an excellent speech.
I had only one concern. She invited all the children to “touch the gavel”…did they all get a chance or was it just one of those phony photo-ops? Anybody know?
I love women.
Hear us roar!
GSD @
306
In Madame Speaker Pelosi We Trust !
Why didn’t Dennis Hastert hand the gavel to Speaker Pelosi?
Jim@315 It was made from old growth timber.
“It is a momentous day for those of us political junkies who are women, I must say.”
Whoaaa there Nelly. It’s a pretty momentous day too for us sperm factories who firmly believe the world would be a better place if it had a lot more female insight and temperament at the helm; who believe that it should never have taken this long to get here; and who understand that enlightenment is unattainable unless everyone shares equally in the burdens and rewards of our journey together.
[Mod note; edited to keep this comment from moderation]
.
re: Minimum Wage Increase.
Wouldn’t an increase in the minimum wage also mean that more money would go into the Social Security System?
Could this be one of the major reasons why Republicans are against increasing the minimum wage…because it would undercut their planned destruction of Social Security?
Hey, it’s my contention that by increasing the minimum wage then more money will go into the Social Security fund, thus shoring up any potential shortfalls that may arise as baby boomers retire.
And even if these additional funds going into Social Security, due to a minimum wage increase today, do not completely take care of the projected Social Security shortfall expected in 40 to 50 years, this additional money would extend by decades the time it would take to expend the current Social Security fund surplus.
Which is why the Republicans will try to block the minimum wage hike. They cannot tolerate anything that might undermine their goal of destroying Social Security.