Protesters Building Large "Buddha" Outside Pelosi's House

[kpete]

Protesters Building Large "Buddha" Outside Pelosi's House
Roll Call | October 10, 2007
From Roll Call's Heard on the Hill:

One might think it would be great to have Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as a neighbor (imagine the block parties!). But the Speaker apparently is not making herself popular in her high-dollar 'hood, telling reporters on Tuesday that protesters have taken up residence outside her house and are driving the natives wild.

"I've had four or five months of people sitting outside my home, going into my garden in San Francisco and angering my neighbors," Pelosi said at a gathering sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.

Pelosi added that the squatters have engaged in decidedly non-neighborly behavior like hanging their clothes from the trees; moving in sofas, chairs and other "permanent living facilities"; and, oddly, building a large Buddha on the sidewalk in front of her home. "You can just imagine my neighbors' reactions to all of this," she said. "And if they were poor, and they were sleeping on my sidewalk, they'd be arrested for loitering, but because they have 'impeach Bush' across their chest, it's the First Amendment."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/10/protesters-building-large_n_67826.html

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. She wanted the job.

[LynneSin]

18. SHE wanted the job - not her next door neighbors

I have no problem with the protest but these folks should be considerate of the neighbors who don't want to be a part of this

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

25. Maybe Nancy Pelosi should be more considerate of her neighbors.

Either by moving, resigning, or doing her job.

[LittleClarkie]

37. Since when has the job ever included Buddahs in front of one's house

and laundry hanging from the trees.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

40. Since 1787.

when the Constitution granted the right of citizens to redress the government over grievances.

[EVDebs]

2. Building a 'Permanent Base' in front of her SF digs ?

If the U.S. is ultimately leaving Iraq, why is the military building 'permanent' bases?
http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/bases.htm

'As Iraqis Stand Up, We Will Stand Down,' Bush Tells Nation
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=16277

Dems aiding and abetting BushCo's lies and deceptions will result in a permanant stain on the reputations of those "leaders" who think they deserve a place in JFK's Profiles In Courage just because they were born into Democratic brahmin family.

[LittleClarkie]

38. Democratic brahmin family?

What does that mean? You think she's from an old rich family? I didn't know the name Pelosi was so prestigious.

[Deep13]

3. Why Buddha?

:shrug:

[FiveGoodMen]

28. One 'religious' figure that seemed to prefer peace?

[Deep13]

30. Ah. Of course. Maybe they should make a statue of Paul Wellstone too. n/t

[FiveGoodMen]

31. That would suit me just fine.

[democrat2thecore]

4. Nancy gets a taste of power and forgets the people -nt

[Donnachaidh]

5. perhaps if you'd done what they were telling you to do, Ninny

Guess that Speaker job ain't what you thought it would be, huh? :sarcasm:

[Squatch]

6. Britney Spears was photographed doing what?!?!

Wait...wrong thread.

[Bitwit1234]

7. I think this crap is so ridiculous

people are correct in saying that the democrats pull their party apart by jumping all over themselves.

If these protesters want to do something why in the S.O.B. hell aren't they sitting in front of Mitch McConnell house, his office and following him up and down the street. That little piece of human excrement is what is causing the blockage in the senate. The house passes the bills, McConnell the feeler blocks them. If the people in this country were so damn upset why in the hell didn't the vote for more democratic senators so we wouldn't have to put up with this shit.

Can Pelosi single handedly vote for everything these protesters want. IT IS NOT THE HOUSE........IT IS THE SENATE. PROTEST THE REPUBLICANS THERE.

[EVDebs]

10. Funding bills originate in the HOUSE. No war appropriation bill, no veto

Obey's got it right. Start there.

Related post,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2014443

Dems in the House need to climb aboard ! Pass the word

BTW, is Nancy Pelosi's name on this list from the above link by now ? It would be nice if it was....

[onenote]

29. ever hear of a discharge petition?

[EVDebs]

35. They are rare and would embarrass the Dem leadership but expose the GOP for wanting the war to go on

"The modern discharge petition requires the signature of an absolute majority of House members (218 members)...

Discharge petitions are rare. A successful discharge petition embarrasses the leadership; as such, members of the majority party are hesitant to support something that would make the Speaker and their own leaders look bad. (Naturally, the minority party will often support discharge petitions precisely to embarrass the leadership.) Furthermore, since the signers of a petition are not private, majority party members are pressured not to sign, and open themselves up to retribution from the leadership should they disobey.<7>"

Discharge Petition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discharge_petition

BTW, Dennis Kucinich must know this too, but has, like Rep David Obey, suddenly found the courage to embarrass the Pelosi leadership

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2014161

Godspeed, Rep Kucinich !

[onenote]

36. yes its rare, but if all the repubs that want the approp voted on

together with the blue dogs that wanted to vote on it put together a discharge petition, it would succeed. So, in the end, the result is the same -- Pelosi can't really keep the bill from coming up for a vote.

[EVDebs]

39. You've got to take a chance in life sometime, onenote, this is the time

As a brave conservative once said, the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do NOTHING (Edmund Burke).

Right now in this country the evil men ARE in charge and are hiding behind Nancy's skirts.

[hootinholler]

42. Maybe not but she can make them do it! n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. How do you know they are NOT outside McConnell's house?

I know that here where I live in Kansas we protest in front of Pat Roberts office every week and we have yet to get media attention. But when our Democratic congressman had 2 protesters at one of his appearances it was all over the news. We had a march a few weeks ago and stopped in front of Sam Brownback's office but no media was there to report that to their readers and viewers.

I also know for a fact that the anti-war community was all over the republicans and regularly protested and lobbied them to not start the war and then once it started, to end it. I believe the media also ignored these actions. But when the Dems took Congress and protesters started lobbying them, the media couldn't wait to cover that story.

So I will bet you there are indeed protesters at McConell's office and perhaps at his house too but no media think it is a story worth covering.

[Tesha]

15. Funny, I thought all appropriations bills originated in the House.

'Guess I misunderstood that part of the Constitution.

Tesha

[roody]

33. Where does he live?

These protestors live in Northern California.

[AndyA]

8. The should make the Buddha pee red.

It could symbolize the blood of our dead troops in the Bush/GOP war that Pelosi is so fond of.

If she didn't like it, she COULD put a stop to it. She just has to do it. No funding bills get to the floor, except the one to redeploy the troops home and end the war. That's it. War over. Troops home.

[Cleita]

9. How about instead of Buddha, a box type monument with the parts of

the Constitution that address impeachment and how only Congress can declare war?

Also, on edit: Too bad all those rich people are having their bliss disrupted. I would like to see all of SF homeless camp out on their lawns as well until they get off their asses and do something about it. Maybe the homeless should carry signs too and they won't be run off so easily.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

11. That seems more appropriate. eom

[ixion]

12. All you have to do is move forward with impeachment, Nance...

do your job, and the people you work for will be happy.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Bingo!

[stellanoir]

16. Her compassion for the tragic plight of homeless

is utterly soul stirring. . .in that she has none.

[bigtree]

22. really?

Pelosi Announces Nearly $17 Million to Combat Homelessness in San Francisco

January 26, 2005

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today announced nearly $17 million in funding from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide permanent housing, transitional housing, and support services for homeless people and families in San Francisco.

"These critical funds will provide more than 600 units of permanent housing for chronically homeless families," Pelosi said. "In addition, the funds preserve core services to homeless individuals and families living in San Francisco."

This year's award amount is an increase of nearly $1 million from last year's award amount. This funding is part of HUD's nationally competitive McKinney-Vento Targeted Homeless Assistance grant program. The Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance initiatives fund transitional housing, permanent housing and other support services for homeless families.

The funds for San Francisco were awarded to 50 renewal projects and one new rental assistance project located at the Folsom/Dore Apartments, which will provide 20 units of housing to chronically homeless families coping with mental health issues, substance abuse, and/or HIV/AIDS.

Below is a complete listing of funded projects:

Citizen's Housing, Folsom/Dore Apartments, $1,309,920
Compass Community Services, Connecting Point/Holy Family, $475,843
Community Housing Partnership, Iroquois Residence, $174,989
Episcopal Community Services, CHEFS Program, $146,902
Swords to Plowshares, Transitional Living for Chronically Homeless Veterans, $258,471
Golden Gate Community Inc., Oak Street House, $146,082
Community Housing Partnership, Supportive Housing Employment Collaborative, $141,317
Private Industry Council, Homeless Employment Collaborative, $1,060,899
Salvation Army, Harbor House, $449,412
Larkin Street Youth Services, Avenues to Independence, $344,576
Northern California Service League, Cameo House, $323,274
SFNetwork Ministries, SafeHouse, $76,228
Bar Association of SF, Legal Services, $398,225
Hamilton Family Center, Transitional Housing, $417,082
Goodwill Industries, SF Training Partnership, $301,027
Department of Human Services, Integrated Services Network, $1,303,278
St. Vincent de Paul, Brennan House, $144,380
Catholic Charities CYO, Richmond Hills, $157,550
Swords to Plowshares, Transitional Housing, $282,594
Swords to Plowshares, Veterans Academy, $395,319
Progress Foundation, Ashbury House, $386,749
Catholic Charities CYO, Guerrero House, $121,089
Compass Community Services, Clara House, $320,782
Treasure Island Homeless Development Initiative, Treasure Island Integrated Services, $407,728
Department of Human Services, Medical/Detox, $477,958
Catholic Charities CYO, Treasure Island, $287,117
Catholic Charities CYO, Leland House, $151,506
United Council of Human Services, Bayview Multi-Service Center, $118,879
Baker Places, Odyssey House, $ 11,308
Arriba Juntos, HomeWORC, $ 87,551
Catholic Charities CYO, Positive Match, $198,922
Chemical Awareness and Treatment Services, A Woman's Place, $371,343
Hamilton Family Center, AfterCare Program, $198,917
Catholic Charities CYO, Childcare Voucher, $567,520
Hamilton Family Center, Dudley Apartments, $260,678
Housing Services Affiliate of Bernal Heights, Monterey Blvd, $30,869
Larkin Street Youth Services, The LOFT, $55,587
Young Community Developers, Homeless Employment Labor Program, $131,683
Mission Housing Development Corp, Juan Pifarre, $61,596
Housing Services Affiliate of Bernal Heights, Hazel Betsey (studios), $72,000
Housing Services Affiliate of Bernal Heights, Monterey Blvd, $70,152
Tenant and Owners Develop Corp (TODCO), The KNOX, $162,000
Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp, Franciscan Towers, $472,212
Catholic Charities CYO, Scattered Sites, $742,176
WAC/Jelani/Iris, Tenant Based Rental Assistance, $591,048
Mission Housing Development Corp, South Park, $135,000
Conard House, El Dorado/Midori, $180,000
Cecil Williams Glide Community House, Glide, $264,000
Housing Services Affiliate of Bernal Heights, Hazel Betsey (1-br), $44,244
Episcopal Community Services, Canon Kip, $720,000
Tenderloin Housing Clinic, Cadillac/111 Taylor/380 Eddy Street, $810,000

TOTAL SF AWARD AMOUNT: $ 16,817,982

http://www.house.gov/pelosi/press/releases/Jan05/SFHomeless012605.html


07/12/2007
Pelosi: Housing Bill a Critical Step in Addressing Nation’s Affordable Housing Crisis

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on H.R. 1851, the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2007, sponsored by Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California. The House is expected to pass the bill on the House floor this evening.

“Housing is a fundamental human need, but as federal housing initiatives have shrunk and the cost of housing has soared in recent years, more Americans have found themselves without a roof over their heads. As the minimum wage stagnated over the past 10 years under the Republican-led Congress, the gap between families’ earnings and the cost of housing has grown larger.

“Many working families pay more than half their income for rent or live in substandard rental housing. Too many low-income Americans – many of them disabled, veterans, elderly, or children – have been forced into substandard housing, homeless shelters, and onto the street.

“Democrats are narrowing this terrible gap from both directions. Overcoming stiff opposition from the Bush Administration, Congress passed an increase in the minimum wage, and on July 24, millions of hard-working Americans will receive a pay raise for the first time in a decade.

“Today’s legislation will provide housing for 100,000 families over the next five years, in addition to the close to 2 million households already served by Section 8. The bill will improve the efficiency of the initiative, encourage self-sufficiency for low-income families, promote homeownership, and ensure that vouchers can be used to create new affordable housing developments for seniors, disabled, and homeless people.

“In the funding bill for the current fiscal year – which the Republicans failed to finish last year – the Democratic Congress significantly increased funding for Section 8. The House has also passed legislation to restore housing in the areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We plan to take up legislation to establish an Affordable Housing Trust Fund that will build or preserve 1.5 million units of affordable housing over the next 10 years.

“We must not leave our fellow Americans out in the cold, or out in insufferable heat either. People without housing have great challenges obtaining employment, food, education, and so many other basic necessities that most Americans take for granted. We must address the affordable housing crisis, and this bill is a critical step in the right direction.”

http://speaker.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=0246

[stellanoir]

26. well good for her

that approach was not reflected in that statement though.

[bigtree]

34. no, it bordered on fascism

we all say things in frustration . . .

[nashville_brook]

27. going over the list, it looks like Pelosi got $1 million under the faith-based initiative...

which is great -- lemons into lemonade.

unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact that she's not responding well to pressure from antiwar dems. it's too bad she made this (homeless) comparison, but i think it's a measure of how effective the antiwar movement is, in delivering their message.

[cornmak]

17. "And if they were poor?"

<i>"And if they were poor, and they were sleeping on my sidewalk, they'd be arrested for loitering, but because they have 'impeach Bush' across their chest, it's the First Amendment."</i>


Her comment there leaves just me speechless. I really thought that this woman had more compassion than that.

Yeah Nancy, sure wouldn't want those less fortunate people dirtying up your backyard. It would be so nice to just sweep them out of sight and soon out of mind.

[lateo]

19. Well, Nancy.

These are the people you work for and right now they aren't real happy with you.

[mondo joe]

20. The story seems very odd to me. I don't understand - for example - where

is the Buddha placed? On her property? On the property of others? On the street or sidewalk?

[The Stranger]

21. THE BUDDHA IS ON THE TABLE!

Karma is going to be a bitch.

[Totally Committed]

23. Oh, boo-effing-hoo....

Do your job, and impeach those bastards and maybe they'll go away.

:nopity:

TC

[Manifestor_of_Light]

24. We need a picture of the Buddha!

Sounds cool to me. Buddha represents non-violence.

[Pastiche423]

32. Which District of SF does she live in?

Does she also live in Pacific Heights like DiFi?

[Mrs. Overall]

41. Dianne Feinstein also lives in a wealthy section of San Francisco--I wonder if some of her corporate

stances have brought out protestors in her neighborhood.