A cup of coffee raised in tribute to Speaker Pelosi
In the wake of Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts, health-insurance reform was widely proclaimed as a hopeless cause. As recently as January, to cite just one example of many, Washington überhack Fred Barnes was chortling that “the health care bill, ObamaCare, is dead with not the slightest prospect of resurrection.”
Nancy Pelosi accepts the speaker's gavel from John Boehner in 2007, becoming the first woman ever to hold that post.
Reading through various accounts of its resurrection, I’ve been struck by the importance of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. After the loss of Ted Kennedy’s seat, it was Pelosi who blew off White House suggestions to “go small” and seek small victories. And it was the speaker from San Francisco who instilled discipline into a notoriously undisciplined Democratic caucus and rounded up the votes needed for Sunday’s unlikely triumph.
“Just think,” she said from the House floor Sunday night, once success was assured, “we will be joining those who have established Social Security, Medicare and now, tonight, health care for all Americans.”
My favorite quote about Pelosi’s impact, culled from the New York Daily News, came from Democratic political strategist Mark Siegel:
“She’s Lyndon Johnson in a skirt. She was patient, tireless, persistent and cajoling – and she pulled off what no one else could.”
Pelosi has long been a designated “Object of Hate” for those on the right, for reasons that frankly escape me. All you had to do was flash a picture of her on the screen at a conservative political gathering and you could feel the room recoil. This historic success will no doubt cement that standing. And while the Republicans certainly will try to use health care as a lever to pry Pelosi from the speaker’s podium, they will find it almost impossible to undo the legislation itself.
So in this, National Women’s History Month, let’s raise a cup of morning coffee to Speaker Pelosi: She got it done. Let’s also take a sip in the hope that years from now, we may read about some hard-nosed male legislative leader who, fresh off a major success, is labeled “Pelosi in long pants.”
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618 comments Add your comment
Midori
March 23rd, 2010
2:16 pm
who else misses King of the Hill?
Midori
March 23rd, 2010
2:16 pm
oh goody!!
FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Birch
March 23rd, 2010
2:17 pm
Healthcare reform? Don’t praise Nancy, kill Bill!
@@
March 23rd, 2010
2:19 pm
jewcowboy:
If you were worth the salt, you’d be grilling the dems on what’s in this health care bill. You accept it on blind faith. Oooooo, it’s so good.
jewcowboy
March 23rd, 2010
2:24 pm
@@,
“You accept it on blind faith.”
I do my research thank you…
“The harder you fight to hold on to specific assumptions, the more likely there’s gold in letting go of them.” ~ John Seely Brown
HMOBama!!!!
March 23rd, 2010
2:26 pm
Obama is that rare leader who is both patient and persistent. This bill’s passage is Obama’s crossing of the Rubicon in the face of the sheer gall of the conservative’s attack against him.
One of the most remarkable feats of executive and legislative prowess in modern history.
AmVet
March 23rd, 2010
2:29 pm
“Healthcare reform? Don’t praise Nancy, kill Bill!”
Though not a fan of the film(s), regardless, that is funny.
md
March 23rd, 2010
2:30 pm
Until folks on here learn the difference between “can’t” and “won’t”, the light bulb will stay off.
md
March 23rd, 2010
2:31 pm
“One of the most remarkable feats of executive and legislative prowess in modern history.”
I think they said the same thing about the guy that designed the Titanic.
chuck
March 23rd, 2010
2:36 pm
midori, the medicare part d bill passed with I think 88 senators supporting it and about 65% of the house. Why would they need to bribe anybody?
somewhereinga
March 23rd, 2010
3:12 pm
These threads are getting old so I’ll drop a new on on you. This should get a few of you going.
Women who have abortions pay taxes too. Why shouldn’t they be allowed to use THEIR taxes to pay for THEIR abortions?
md
March 23rd, 2010
3:53 pm
“Women who have abortions pay taxes too. Why shouldn’t they be allowed to use THEIR taxes to pay for THEIR abortions?”
Might it be that the ones that need tax dollars for abortions probably don’t pay any taxes.
somewhereinga
March 23rd, 2010
4:18 pm
COnsidering how many “taxes” there are, sales tax, income tax, excise tax, gasoline tax, etc it’s had to say that there’s someone out there that “don’t pay taxes”.
md
March 23rd, 2010
4:33 pm
“COnsidering how many “taxes” there are, sales tax, income tax, excise tax, gasoline tax, etc it’s had to say that there’s someone out there that “don’t pay taxes”.”
If they are that destitute to need tax dollars for abortions, I’m guessing they already used their share.
Paulo977
March 23rd, 2010
4:52 pm
John Birch
1:51pm
HA HA …MY POINT MADE!!!
Drew
March 23rd, 2010
5:14 pm
“Apparently facts don’t inform your opinions. Of the 15% or so uninsured in our nation, the vast majority are poor, and will still be contributing nothing to their own care.”
The fact is that the law provides subsidies towards the purchase of insurance on a sliding scale – so those who cannot purchase insurance because they cannot afford the full price will nevertheless be able to contribute what they can afford and still receive health care. So like I said, those who can pay, will, to the extent that they can.
If you don’t think they’re paying enough to not get sick and die, well, I suppose you’re entitled to your opinion on that.
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