Donna Brazile: Democrats Need Pelosi's Toughness

[flpoljunkie]

Democrats need Pelosi's toughness
By Donna Brazile, CNN Political Contributor

November 15, 2010

This woman, now one of fewer women in the Congress, has what it takes to stand up to an all-male Republican leadership that is intent on compromising on nothing. It's been said that people loved President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the enemies he made. The same can be said about Pelosi.

The Republican leadership in both the House and Senate is taking the nation down a dangerous road. Their strategy holds that the president must not just compromise; he must capitulate. They will not compromise on principles, they say, and it turns out everything is "on principle."

Sounds reasonable, until one realizes that the Republican position excludes any viewpoint but its own. Put to practice as a function of government, and the strategy "our way, or we will not let you govern," will seriously erode the Separation of Powers principle of the U.S. Constitution.

Believe me, the Republican leadership we will soon witness is not what the voters ordered up in November. It is going to take one very tough Democratic leader to go toe-to-toe with them in the Congress. History has called on Pelosi to do it.


http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/15/brazile.pelosi/index.html

[gateley]

1. God knows what we WOULDN'T have accomplished had she

not been in that position. I am so impressed by her, and grateful she's going to stay.

[polichick]

2. Ditto!

[applegrove]

10. +100

[Mimosa]

14. I LOVE Donna Brazile

She used to be a homey back in my early days in NOLA. :)

[gateley]

17. I'm always happy to see/hear her, too. nt

[BlueIris]

16. Yeah, no kidding.

Thank gods for Nancy Pelosi.

[AlinPA]

3. You need to edit the post's first line to spell Democrats.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Thanks! I didn't notice the typo.

[derby378]

5. And how many times has Pelosi caved in to the Republicans?

I remember too many to count. And impeachment being "off the table?" Yikes.

There have been a few times where Pelosi stood up for herself, but not many.

[flpoljunkie]

7. Is that all you got? If so, it's not much.

[gateley]

8. Who would you prefer in that position? Realistically?

[derby378]

9. Someone with a proven track record for standing up

Someone earlier mentioned Raul Grijalva. He'll do.

[boppers]

11. Raul? Oh my.

Heads would absolutely EXPLODE.

It'd be great.

[gateley]

12. Boy - I don't know who he is. How'd that happen? I'll check him out. nt

[jonathan_seer]

15. It's not very smart to choose a speaker from a swing district.

One reason why Pelosi can do what she does is she has a safe seat.

Choosing a speaker from a high risk seat that could easily change party hands like his is a recipe for utter disaster.

[fadedrose]

6. Nancy Pelosi is my favorite Democrat in any office....eom

[DemocraticPilgrim]

13. We need to clone her for the Senate too. n/t