Beltway attacks on Nancy Pelosi

[cal04]

The mindless group-think driving the media's caricatures of Nancy Pelosi is truly astounding to behold, even considering the source. She's not even Speaker yet, and they've already pronounced her to be a bitchy, vindictive shrew incapable of leading because she's consumed by petty personal bickering rather than serious and substantive considerations. And all of this is based on nothing.

Unsurprisingly, all of this has been concocted by the herd of all-knowing Beltway analysts who fancy themselves to be such high-minded warriors against conventional wisdom even though they are its most obedient vessels.

(snip)
The Bush administration has spent six years completely obsessed with personal loyalty to the President and intolerant of the slightest independence. The entire Congress was kept strictly in line for the last five years. Every official who showed the slightest independence was replaced by obedient Bush loyalists. Yet Pelosi does nothing other than support an ally rather than an opponent for the position immediately underneath her, and that makes her some out-of-control egomaniac consumed by personal vanity and emotional impulses.

(snip)
Americans just elected new leadership quite deliberately. They are obviously fine with Nancy Pelosi. Republicans tried to make the election be about her -- constantly reminding everyone that a vote for Democrats would mean installing super-liberal Nancy Pelosi and her San Francisco values in power -- and the Democrats won. So voters have no problem with Pelosi. They want Congressional Democrats to take the lead in policy and governance because the Republicans have failed so miserably. I have no idea whether Pelosi will be a good Speaker, but I'm going to withhold judgment until she actually at least starts, and Americans are obviously doing that as well.

Glenn Greenwald
http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/

[ixion]

1. what we're seeing is the typical MSM hypocrisy

this has always been the narrative, at least since the 80's when cable news created infotainment. The running narrative is that Dems are: whiny, bitchy, wild-eyed, hating, disingenuous, indulgent, untrustworthy; while Rethugs are defined as: stalwart, honest, family-minded, tough, and blah blah blah.

If you think about that serial drama, a.k.a. status quo journalism, and you look back over the years, you'll see what I mean.

It's time to change that narrative, IMO.

[smoogatz]

4. The only way to change the narrative is to turn off your TV.

Corporate media are not going to change their stripes--their job is to sell a political narrative that supports the interests of their parent companies; i.e., tax breaks and deregulation. The good news is that TV Nooz-o-ganda is rapidly becoming irrelevant--young people hardly bother with it anymore, preferring to get their news from the Internet. The bad news is that, aside from voting with your feet, there's really nothing you can do to change the way Nooz-o-ganda covers politics.

[ixion]

6. I cut off cable over three years ago now

actually, over the years, I've probably lived w/o cable more than with it. In any case, I live off my DVD collection now, and youtube.

[ananda]

12. Thank you.

I returned my cable box about 7 or 8 years ago and never looked back.
Now I use rabbit ears. I get three channels - CBS, ABC, and PBS - on
one tv, and those three plus Fox26 and 39 on another.

At least I can still watch 24 when the new season starts. I love that show
and I'm dying to know what happens to Jack now chained in the cargo
hold of a Chinese ship going who knows where to do who knows what
to him - probably a lot of torture and aggravation - and then he'll escape
and something really byzantine will happen. hehe Ain't imagination
great?

[bemildred]

9. Yep. Cold Turkey. It rots your brain and makes you depressed. nt

[connecticut yankee]

33. I never watch TV anyway,

so I'm spared all this garbage.

[Kikosexy2]

19. amazing..

isn't it?...well just yesterday (in L.A.) channel 4 news were all blathering and nitpicking about Pelosi's victory and her defeat (Murtha not appointed).."she already stumbled"..."the Democrats are not in unison and that has the Republicans gleeful"...listening to all this was so disgusting...especially coming from the MSM...but when you're in Bushco payroll...this is very much expected..right?...

[leveymg]

2. There are a number of sources for Pelosi-bashing: one is AIPAC

They're really working her over because the Speaker-elect blocked Jane Harmon from the #1 spot on the Intel Committee

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1549069,...

Exclusive: Feds Probe a Top Democrat's Relationship with AIPAC

The Department of Justice is investigating whether Rep. Jane Harman and the pro-Israel group worked together to get her reappointed as the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee
By TIMOTHY J. BURGER/WASHINGTON
SUBSCRIBE TO TIMEPRINTE-MAILMORE BY AUTHORBackground: A Web of Intrigue

Posted Friday, Oct. 20, 2006
Did a Democratic member of Congress improperly enlist the support of a major pro-Israel lobbying group to try to win a top committee assignment? That's the question at the heart of an ongoing investigation by the FBI and Justice Department prosecutors, who are examining whether Rep. Jane Harman of California and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) may have violated the law in a scheme to get Harman reappointed as the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, according to knowledgeable sources in and out of the U.S. government.

The sources tell TIME that the investigation by Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has simmered out of sight since about the middle of last year, is examining whether Harman and AIPAC arranged for wealthy supporters to lobby House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Harman's behalf. Harman said Thursday in a voicemail message that any investigation of — or allegation of improper conduct by — her would be "irresponsible, laughable and scurrilous." On Friday, Washington GOP super lawyer Ted Olson left voicemail messages underscoring that Harman has no knowledge of any investigation. "Congresswoman Harman has asked me to follow up on calls you've had," Olson said. "She is not aware of any such investigation, does not believe that it is occurring, and wanted to make sure that you and your editors knew that as far as she knows, that's not true... . No one from the Justice Department has contacted her." It is not, however, a given that Harman would know that she is under investigation. In a follow-up phone call from California, Olson said Harman hired him this morning because she takes seriously the possibility of a media report about an investigation of her, even though she does not believe it herself.

SNIP

[oc2002]

31. Jane Harmon is so bought by AIPAC she may as well be an Israeli agent,.

Both of which disgust me.

[populistdriven]

58. George Washington: George Washington....

"Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me,
fellow-citizens,) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake;
since history and experience prove, that foreign influence is one of the most
baneful foes of Republican Government. But that jealousy, to be useful,
must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be
avoided, instead of a defence against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign
nation, and excessive dislike of another, cause those whom they actuate to
see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of
influence on the other. Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the
favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious; while its tools and
dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests."
George Washington


Source: Farewell Address, September 17, 1796, Ref: George Washington:
A Collection, W.B. Allen, ed. (521)
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/George.Washing...

[castiron]

3. Each NPR report on the Hoyer victory

yesterday ended with the assertion "Pelosi and Hoyer have had a contentious relationship" or some shit like that. Like that was all you needed to know about THIS hot-head. Oh, those Dems: so consumed with their "infighting" and "bikering".

[bemildred]

5. It is deliberate, and it will continue.

Scorched earth all the way. The treatment that Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton received when in office will be repeated.

[grizmaster]

7. Speaker Pelosi

damn I love the sound of that.

[rgbecker]

8. Be ready for more of this condescending anti female MSM crap.

The media will be full of this kind of anti female talk (as
serious political players) over the next two years as they
bash Hilary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.  The republicans
quickly forget their lavish support for Margaret Thatcher as
they mention choice of dress and cat fighting as obvious
attributes of all women, in politics or not.  Will the
Democrats be able to counter this deeply ingrained bias when
they go about picking their 2008 candidate and will the
country ever be able to evaluate a woman like Hilary's
attributes without letting these biases intercede?
How Pelosi does at leading the Congress out of the darkness
will be absolutely what we should be looking at when
evaluating Hilary's chance of winning the nations vote in
2008. 

[Stargazer09]

10. I've seen this time and time again

Every time a woman is successful, there is a deep-seated need for people to bash the heck out of her. If she's assertive, she's labeled a bitch. If she's feminine, she's labeled as a push-over. In this case, we have a woman who is about to become the first female Speaker of the House. Another glass ceiling for women broken. Many men feel that this is a threat to them, so they lash out by making the woman look insubstantial and inconsequential. That's why you see Pelosi's reasons for supporting Murtha being portrayed as her being vindictive against Hoyer, and that is especially why you see her concerns about Harman being portrayed as nothing more than a cat fight.

I agree that the American people obviously didn't mind the idea of Pelosi becoming Speaker, despite the Republican's best efforts to paint her as a super-liberal bent on destroying America as we know it. I think she will do a great job as Speaker, and I'm looking forward to seeing how well she does once she is formally in charge.

[sallyseven]

11. They can all go Cheney Themselves.

Lets get them fired.

[madrchsod]

13. i really love that line---"San Francisco values"

no she`s just like her dad and brother- big city machine politicians. she was born and raised in the political machine of Baltimore which is far from the "San Francisco values" -what ever the hell that means.

[EFerrari]

21. I think it refers to godless gay abortionists but I'm not sure.

Unless it refers to conservation, tolerance and multiculturalism, which probably sounds like the same thing to the Wackjob base.

[madrchsod]

36. ya i think that`s the standard code word for gga`s

[etherealtruth]

48. Every time I hear "San Francisco liberal" ...

... that's exactly what I think of "conservation, tolerance and multiculturalism"

I've decided the term is a compliment

[EFerrari]

49. We need to sell some t-shirts

"This looks like a job for -- SAN FRANCISCO LIBERAL WO/MAN!"

[ladym55]

59. That's an O'Lielly line

It's usually followed with a comment about how those San Francisco values aren't American, aren't mainstream, and are detrimental to the health and well-being of our nation.

[SutaUvaca]

14. It's the sign of tiny minds..

..on the one hand (the alleged journalists)
and very big money on the other hand (those whose name is on the paycheck for alleged journalists).

No TV in my house. But ah do luv those Internets!

[natrat]

15. given the msm's total lack of responsibility over the last 5 years

it's astounding what complete pieces of shit they are now to somehow be critical of those not yet even in power.

[Deep13]

16. Below the belt is not below the Beltway, I guess.

[FighttheFuture]

17. They are a reflection of the fear of their masters who are loosing control

of the faux-debate which was nothing more than a march toward oligarchy and Feudalism via the right wing path. It will amusing to watch them sputter and spin.

[BonnieJW]

18. If she's as smart as I think she is,

she'll ignore all the opinions and MSM descriptions of her and concentrate on what she does best: make the Democratic Congress (doesn't that sound lovely?) a cohesive unit that legislates for a stronger, better America. A Congress that gets out of Iraq and works to control an out-of-control, hyperactive, crackhead president until he is safely either impeached or drifts away in 2009. That's her job. It's NOT her job to convince anyone that she's not a vindictive manipulating shrew. From what I've seen, Nancy Pelosi never needs to be told about her job description and I for one am honored that she is our Speaker of the House. Should bush and chaney be sent away to the big house (from my keyboard to God's eyes), she will become our president and I will regard that as a gift.

[Time for change]

20. They have to attack her

They know that she will be out to pass legislation that is much too liberal for their tastes and will cut into the profits of wealthy, powerful and corrupt corporations and individuals. They will continue to attack her as long as their attacks have any beneficial effect.

[Kokonoe]

27. THANK YOU

I finally understand what they mean by trickle down effect. You have enlightened me! I believe this forum is infiltrated by TRICKLE TRICKY DICKIE'S. Please disregard obvious anti-democratic comments, and keep an eye out for trickle tricky dickie's in the future.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LSK]

40. huh??????????????

[The Wielding Truth]

42. She sure does appear real compared to anything the Repubs have!

She has held her own as Minority Leader. She will, with our help, grow as Speaker.

[The Wizard]

23. The corporate media

fed its own demise when they magnified the Clinton witch hunts of the 90s enabling a right wing jihad to set the political tone. They have done, and continue to do the bidding for a neo-fascist movement that was skunked on November 7th. In essence they're trying to hold smoke or nail Jello to a wall. They failed to understand the majority, instead trying to create their own reality. Sound familiar?
We're in a new age, and we continue to shed the last vestiges of corporate control of our thoughts.
Message to the corporate flunkies and shit heels: "You are a fluke of the Universe, and whether you can hear it or not, the Universe is laughing behind your back."
(National Lampoon, Radio Dinner, Deteriorota)

[oc2002]

24. Its not just the Republicans+MSM, but also the DLC trying to destroy the dems.

The DLC is trying to controll the Dems, they are feeding the MSM Republicanish attacks on Pelosi, and Dean. They want to control the dems, so they can sell them to thier corporate clients.

[bemildred]

25. There are parts of the Democratic Party that will fight reform

tooth and nail, in the most underhanded possible ways,
smiling all the time, and pretending to cooperate and
to sincerely desire that which they most want to prevent.

[Aviation Pro]

26. Two words on the inability of woman to be tough and a leader...

Golda Meir.



A couple of other words. The Freeptard Neocons worship at the feet of Margaret Thatcher. Given the fact that Meir's Israel was and still is surrounded by hostile nations and Thatcher's Great Britian was and still is a lap dog nation (thanks to pouffy Tony Blair) any comparison between the two is laughable at best and stupid in complete (which sums up the critical thinking ability of Freeptards and their "heroes").

[Orrex]

28. "a bitchy, vindictive shrew"

I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen Ms. Pelosi not smiling, and those were during hearings wherein Bush loyalists and cronies were being smugly evasive in their non-answers.

[groovedaddy]

29. Give the woman a chance, for Christ's sake

She didn't make it this far because she was chopped liver!

[IWantAChange]

30. Speaker Pelosi can silence the critics through action - if the Repugs

try and stop her the Dems have to take it to America and explain what is happening.

[peacetalksforall]

32. I think Dems picked the right person - she is not going to let them

fluster her. We need to support her to counter and exceed the character assassination that is going on by the right wing. I caught a little of it on MSNBC and decided that all these wasted degree holding so-called journalists must have spent their youth watching the bitchy characters on tv soap operas. We're not talking mischevious and conniving - we are talking destroyers. They surely know that George was just joking when he spoke about the getting along. They are ahead in the race. Congratulations GE and Microsoft - you've outdone yourselves. Led by Dan Abrams?

[connecticut yankee]

34. They're so used to

having the Repukes fall in line upon receiving orders from Bush or Hastert,that they can't deal with any difference of opinion.

BTW, there's a great photo of Pelosi and Hoyer on the front page of today's New York Times. They're all smiles, but, unfortunately, Murtha is in the background scowling.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a link.

[Jackpine Radical]

35. Wait, wait, stop right there:

"The mindless group-think driving the media's caricatures of Nancy Pelosi..."

Bullshit.

Make that read "The cynical, scripted, RNC-directed attacks on Nancy Pelosi..."

[The Wielding Truth]

44. Yep. They plan their nastiness. We need neutralizers.

[TomClash]

37. KO had a nice piece on this last night

"Funny, how when Trent Lott defeated Lamar Alexander by one vote for the Senate minority leadership yesterday, it was characterized in the media as a remarkable comeback story, with the random kidding reference to that ironical word “minority.” But when Steny Hoyer and Jack Murtha both stood for the House majority leadership today, that was characterized in the media as Democratic infighting, with frequent implications that the Dems were already coming apart at the seams." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15766566 /

Then The New York Times, fed us a new hoax with its putrid editorial on Pelosi, gratuitously attacking Murtha, this morning:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/17/opinion/17fri2.html?_...

Gail Collins and her cadre of Ivy neophytes should take note: you can't criticize Nancy Pelosi for backing Murtha when Judy Miller and you whored for the War in Iraq. Your moral authority is zero.

[TankLV]

54. Yep - I was just going to post that observation.

AND notice how the repukes did all their voting in SECRET sessions...

[lebkuchen]

38. Whenever women break the glass ceiling, the RWers become unglued

Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Gloria Steinem are just a few examples.

So relax. It's to be expected.

[amb123]

63. But of course. Pelosi's a woman.

GOPer: "Women are incapable of logical rational thought! They always think with their tits, not their brains! That's why they shouldn't be allowed to become Speaker or to control their bodies!"

Typical RW, Christo-Fascist BS!

[LSK]

39. the whole thing is a right wing attack on women

And a preview of 2008 if Hillary runs. Its truly disgusting.

[INdemo]

41. Karl Rove is behind this media blitz somehow

If we think this is bad just wait until the Democrats take control in Jan.Every little twitch will be major news and of course for the next two years we will under a microscope..The 2008 election campaign started on Nov 8th and Karl Rove's sleazy politics can be seen and heard on every Cable news station.

[IWantAChange]

43. You'd think Pelosi lied about WMD's in Iraq or something

the way she is being attacked. The 'summary' in US News & World Report depicts her as short-tenured and incompetent - imagine how they are going to react once she is the Speaker!!

<http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin... >

[ACES]

45. OUTGUNNED

The MSM hates it when they are outgunned by the voters who do not pay attention to their CW. They have now becoming irrelevant!

[NMDemDist2]

66. welcome to DU Aces!

proud to have you aboard!

[cassiepriam]

46. The same thing they did to Bill Clinton the minute he was elected Prez...

It never stopped for a minute.

[TankLV]

55. I'll always remember that and NEVER forgive the whore media till the day I die...

he wasn't even INAUGURATED and somehow he was a "failed President"...

[cassiepriam]

62. Same here, it was agony watching him being sliced with knives

for 8 years.

[David Zephyr]

47. It's just sickening how quickly new standards arose for Pelosi that never existed.

I have a daughter and granddaughter. I am so sick of these double standards.

It is truly amusing to see how quickly "new" standards are created for a woman that never, ever existed for men.

It is simply breathtaking.

Nancy Pelosi has my complete support and respect.

[ShortnFiery]

52. I second that ... Call off the sharks M$M ...

I wanted to blow chow when that smarmy Tucker Carlson and some stooge from Slate.com just got finished with TRASHING Nancy Pelosi from here to tomorrow (M$NBC cable), i.e., she's incompetent, she's not smart, she doesn't like Jane Harman, etc. etc.

DAMN THE CORPORATE M$M!

BTW you now see that the ONLY way to have the bastards in the M$M be somewhat nice to Democrats is unfolding before our eyes. Yes, Our "so called" LEADERS are taking half-steps in the effort to bring our troops home from Iraq. Hello! The Baker Report is NOT a panacea any more than it's truly BI-partisan. <wink wink nudge nudge>

Remember who you serve - DEMOCRATIC LEADERS in both The House and Senate? No, it's not the bloated M$M, but "US", the Working American who's too busy to listen to this Corporate Loving Bull Shit. Do your damn jobs and show us you care ----> BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!!!

Yes, IMO Nancy Pelosi is intelligent and competent in her position as Speaker of the House. However, remember THE REASONS (end the war, raise the minimum wage, ease tax breaks for mega-corporations and the ultra-wealth) why we sent A Democratic Majority to Washington D.C.

[David Zephyr]

56. But how do you really feel?

Pelosi rules supreme.

[Sancho]

50. They are scared to death of Nancy P.!!!!!!!!

Logical, progressive, determined....

Nancy and Hillary are on a roll - just different styles from the East and the West!

[krasicki]

51. Revenge of the Angry Stenographers!

I was watching CNN and CBS last night and I could not believe the attention to petty detail that the news staff dedicated to criticizing Pelosi and framing the Democrats as being "extreme". It was as though they were competing with the Daily Show is a bizarro world kind of competition to ridicule Democrats.

My guess is that they'll go back to sleep soon, O.J. Simpson has a new book.

[TankLV]

53. The whore media is gearing up for a hyper-drive attack on Democrats...

I have to turn off the news most of the time.

Faux is even MORE ridiculuous than previously, if you can imagine that - really blatent 24/7 non-stop Dem bashing fest...

It it truly sickening...

We just have to put up with it and KNOW that WE are in charge of Congress, NOT THEM!

This makes me support ALL the democrats, no matter who, even more - NOBODY attacks MY family but ME...

[hurricaneric]

57. another thing bothering me.

Anyone notice how recently a number of organizations, from the Wall Street Journal to some hotel chain in the Midwest, have stopped affiliating with other organizations like CNN and CNBC for some BS reasons like they support terrorism. It seems to me as if it may be the sign of right wing animosity for the Dem's recent win, as are the systematic beltway attacks on Pelosi.

[ladym55]

60. And why are we surprised?

The same hypercritical msm mouths will hyperanalyze everything the Dems do and find fault. Nancy Pelosi changed her hairstyle. Jack Murtha wore a striped tie. At the same time, they will overlook the idiocies of the Republicans. TRENT LOTT IS MINORITY WHIP. They have kept corrupt Boehner in leadership. But let's not look at those minor details. THE DEMS HELD AN ELECTION FOR MAJORITY LEADER AND IT WAS CONTESTED. Oh, my!!!!

If one followed the msm in the 1990s, one totally missed that the country was doing well and despite all the stupid garbage dumped by the Repugs, the Clinton administration actually governed successfully. Who knew? The press was fussing over the travel office, land deals in Arkansas, and Clinton's sex life.

[illinoisprogressive]

61. 61% say they want the Democrats to govern and not Bush

I am sick and tired of the "kiss repuke ass and demonize the democrats." by the media. Didn't we get enough of that when Clinton was in office?
I say that if they do not lay off Speaker Pelosi we do a media bomb on thier asses.
Flood them with complaints of thier unfair practices.
It's now Democratic rule. The gop failed and failed some more. Deal with it, media.

[Julius Civitatus]

64. DAVID IGNATIUS from the WaPo, said this about Pelosi

The new House speaker, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, had a disastrous post-election week in which her first priority seemed to be settling scores rather than solving these big problems. Shame on her!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

What a fucking wanker!
First of all, Pelosi is NOT the House speaker yet. Hastert is. Pelosi won't be the speaker until January.

Second, Ignatius has been one of the more reliable acolytes of Karl Rovei n the Washington Post, carrying water for the porcine Machiavelli and the GOP for years. It has barely been a week since the election and Ignatius is already condemning her. His outrageous "Shame on her!" in his article is disgusting. Ignatius is transparent in his allegiances to the GOP.

Fuck the DC beltway people. They are all a bunch of Republican sycophants.

BTW, you can contact Ignatius here:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/david+ig... /

[lebkuchen]

65. How many "disastrous" weeks did Susan B. Anthony have

as she toured the US, speaking in churches and meeting places throughout the country to a bunch of drunken rightwing louts, demanding that women have the right to vote, divorce, property, and livelihood?

Some things never change.

[agincourt]

67. Oh Gee!!!

Let's see, some conservative Rush Limbaugh turd eating pigs from the beltway thinks Nance Pelosi sucks. My,my what a suprise. They probably go to bed crying that smirk-shit W doesn't poll at 90% anymore.