pelosikids.jpg

(Photo by AP Photo/Dennis Cook.)

I hope many of you got to see this on CSPAN, but if not, watch this first from Crooks and Liars, then read these extended excerpts from Nancy Pelosi on becoming the first woman Speaker of the House.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi's Remarks Upon Becoming Speaker of the House

PELOSI: Thank you, my colleagues. Thank you, Leader Boehner, Mr. Speaker.

I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship, and I look forward to working… (APPLAUSE) I look forward to working with you, Mr. Boehner, and the Republicans in the Congress, for the good of the American people. After giving this gavel away in the first two — in the last two Congresses, I'm glad someone else has the honor today. (LAUGHTER)

In this House, we may be different parties, but we serve one country. And our pride and our prayers are united behind our men and women in uniform. (APPLAUSE) They are working together to protect the American people. And in this Congress, we must work together to build a future worthy of their sacrifice. (APPLAUSE)

In this hour, we need and pray for the character, courage and civility of a former member of this House: President Ford. He healed the country when it needed healing. This is another time, another war and another trial of our American will, imagination and spirit. Let us honor his memory not just in eulogy, but in dialogue and trust across the aisle. (APPLAUSE)

[snip] Forty-three years ago, Paul Pelosi and I were married. We raised our five children in San Francisco, where Paul was born and raised. I want to thank Paul and our five children — Nancy Corinne, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul Jr., and Alexandra — and our magnificent grandchildren — for their love, for their support, and the confidence they gave me to go from the kitchen to the Congress. (APPLAUSE)

And I thank my constituents in San Francisco, and for the state of California, for the privilege of representing them in Congress. Saint Francis of Assisi is our city's patron saint. And his "Song of Saint Francis" is our city's anthem: "Lord, make me a channel of thy peace; where there is darkness may we bring light, where there is hatred, may we bring love, where is despair, may we bring hope."

PELOSI: Hope: that is what America is about. And it is in that spirit that I serve in the Congress of the United States. (APPLAUSE)

And today, I thank my colleagues. By electing me speaker, you have brought us closer to the ideal of equality that is America's heritage and America's hope.

This is an historic moment. And I thank the leader for acknowledging it. Thank you, Mr. Boehner. It's an historic moment for the Congress. It's an historic moment for the women of America. (APPLAUSE) It is a moment for which we have waited over 200 years. Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights.

But women weren't just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal. (APPLAUSE)

For our daughters and our granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling. (APPLAUSE) For our daughters and our granddaughters now, the sky is the limit. Anything is possible for them.

[snip]

The election of 2006 was a call to change, not merely to change the control of Congress, but for a new direction for our country. Nowhere were the American people more clear about the need for a new direction than in the war in Iraq. (APPLAUSE) The American people rejected an open-ended obligation to a war without end.

Shortly, President Bush will address the nation on the subject of Iraq. It is the responsibility of the president to articulate a new plan for Iraq that makes it clear to the Iraqis that they must defend their own streets and their own security, a plan that promotes stability in the region and a plan that allows us to responsibly redeploy our troops. (APPLAUSE)

[snip]

PELOSI: Before we move forward — because there are so many children here and so many of them asked me if they could touch the gavel, I wanted to invite as many of them who wanted to come forward to come join me up here. I know my own grandchildren will. Let's hear it for the children. We're here for the children. (APPLAUSE) [Dozens of children come forward and crowd around Pelosi]

For all — for these children, our children and for all of America's children, the House will come to order. (APPLAUSE)

I'm now ready to take the oath of office from the dean of the Congress of the United States, Mr. Dingell. And in acknowledging him, I also want to acknowledge Speaker Foley, who has been with us, as well. (APPLAUSE)

Mr. DINGELL: The distinguished gentlewoman from California will please raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; and that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that you take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will faithfully and well discharge the duties of the office upon which you're about to enter, so help you God?

PELOSI: I do. (APPLAUSE)

Not much I can add to this, but WaPo and NYT have more.

Related posts:

  1. Pelosi Fundraiser at UnitedHealth Lobbyist’s Home
  2. Won’t Someone Think Of The Children?
  3. LATE NIGHT: Boxer’s GOP Opponent Running Against… Scary Pelosi
  4. Pelosi to Include Medicare+5 Public Option in House Bill
  5. With His Children Still Missing, KSM’s Torture Continues