We, the people of the United States of America, are ready for a principled Speaker of the House

[babylonsister]

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/analysis/233

We, the people of the United States of America, are ready for a principled Speaker of the House
Submitted by BuzzFlash on Mon, 12/10/2007 - 4:16pm. Analysis

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
by Chad Rubel

Dear Madame Speaker:

I made my first trip ever to your city about a week ago. San Francisco is an incredibly gorgeous city, and I had a marvelous time.

While riding the 28 MUNI bus down Lombard Street on the way to the Golden Gate Bridge, I saw painted on the side of a building words of thanks to you, Speaker of the House. I thought, "Wow! I am in the city where the Speaker of the House is from."

The only other time where that happened is going through Marietta, Georgia in 1995 when Newt was at the helm. My reaction then was much, much different.

When I saw those words along Lombard Street, I started to wonder about the people you represent, and whether you truly do represent their views. Now, yes, sometimes Representatives do reach into their own conscience, often at the risk of not being re-elected.

I confess I did no polls nor asked hundreds of your constituents where they stood on Iraq or impeachment. But signs that I saw and the spirit I observed in San Francisco would have led me to believe they want impeachment and want us out of Iraq.

But the truth is that you aren't just a Representative from San Francisco. You have a higher calling: Speaker of the House. This is an important task.

We have criticized the Republicans when they were in charge of the House that the Speaker's office was partisan, the "majority of the majority." The way Gingrich and Dennis Hastert ran the place diminished the role of the Speaker.

But with the Democrats back in charge, and with the notoriety of the first female Speaker in the history of the United States, there was hope that the high honor of the role could be re-established.

No one figures we would see a return to the days of Henry Clay or even Sam Rayburn, not in this cautious political climate. But a reflection of Tip O'Neill could have been in the cards.

Ms. Pelosi, Madame Speaker, you have a higher responsibility than being House Minority Leader (your previous position) or Representative from San Francisco. You are the Speaker of the House of those who represent us, the people's house, the House of Representatives.

This isn't about your political career or how many seats the Democrats might gain in 2008. You have certain requirements to perform necessary duties beyond the political realm, regardless of party affiliation. And certain an absolute necessity that you rise beyond names such as Gingrich and Hastert.

So when you push to fund Iraq or refuse to place impeachment "on the table," you are going against your constituents. No, not those in San Francisco, but the people of the United States for whom you are the Speaker of their House.

And while you have the prerogative to vote your conscience and go against those wishes, your reasons must be toward a higher principle, such as liberty, freedom, or justice. Clearly, Madame Speaker, your choices don't reflect a higher calling, at least none that we can see.

So we, as your true constituents, ask you Madame Speaker to perform the duties of the Speaker of the House and live up to your Constitutional requirements and, almost as important, not limit yourself to Democratic Party goals. And oh, by the way, you might just find that observing these higher principles and showing high ethical leadership can sharply increase the chances of goals being met and surpassed.

We, the people of the United States of America, are ready for a principled Speaker of the House. Will you be that Speaker?

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

[sagetea]

1. Wow, Thanks

I wish I could rec. cause I would.

[babylonsister]

2. Well, thank you for reading, and welcome to DU, Waiting to exhale!

:hi: Good handle; lots of us are waiting, waiting, waiting... x(