LEAVE HER ALONE. Hands Off Nancy Pelosi! - Joy-Ann Reid

[DonViejo]

LEAVE HER ALONE

Hands Off Nancy Pelosi!

Do the anti-Pelosi progressives honestly believe Republicans would stop attacking Democratic Party values if she went away, rather than choosing a new nemesis?

JOY-ANN REID
06.24.17 10:43 AM ET

If politics were a high school movie, Republicans would be the jocks and mean girls locking hapless freshmen inside their lockers and threatening to call in their rich parents if the teachers complain – plus the broke kids who are always willing to strong-arm homework for them from the nerds.

Democrats would be the student council geeks, vainly pleading with the jocks to be fair (and join student government!) And the new crop of purist “progressives” would be the emo girl who invariably throws her best friend under the bus for a chance at getting the evil cheerleaders to like her and the smarmiest guy on the football team to take her to prom. (To fill out the analogy, independents would be the upperclassmen who smoke a lot of cigarettes and only occasionally go to class, and non-voters are the kids inside the lockers.)

In the wake of four red state special election losses and her party defaulting to its usual panic mode, Nancy Pelosi is playing the role of the spurned best friend.

Pelosi made history as the first woman speaker of the House in 2006 and went on to distinguish herself as the most effective and productive speaker since Sam Rayburn led the congress that passed the civil rights and voting rights acts, Medicare and Medicaid. Yet today, many liberals, some of whom are even Democrats, want her to disappear.

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/hands-off-nancy-pelosi

[pirateshipdude]

1. Stand strong Pelosi. What she does so well. Eom.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. "and non-voters are the kids inside the lockers"

(I know it's not funny in real life but her imagery is spot on)

[Madam45for2923]

3. Donald & GOP CANNOT afford Pelosi around! Need her out before 2018.

[MontanaMama]

4. Agreed.

I equate this Pelosi hating syndrome to when something is wonky in my personal life...when that happens, I tend to go into a funk and everything seems to look darker than it actually is. It is easy to throw the baby out with the bathwater. However, as I've gotten older and a tiny bit wiser (thanks to a great therapist) I've learned to not go there. I refuse to color my entire situation with whatever one thing has gone south. It is a temporary situation. Take a deep breath.

Nancy is on our side. She's in an important leadership role and we shouldn't forsake her. Rethugs hate her with a passion...which means she's doing something right.

[MineralMan]

5. Hear! Hear!

[aikoaiko]

6. Not unexpected from Reid.

I support Nancy Pelosi in her leadership role but I also support criticizing leadership.

[Demsrule86]

16. I don't . It is why we lose.

[aikoaiko]

20. We lose being pollyannaish, too.

We have to be better. Not blind to our weaknessss and not tearing the party apart.

Criticism works.

[ismnotwasm]

31. Constructive criticism works.

As a general rule, I've seen a Metric fuckton of nonsense directed toward Pelosi.

[Demsrule86]

56. Attacking the Democratic Party drives voters away...they vote for someone else or they stay home.

The words used to attack the Democratic Party are repeated endlessly by the right and used to hurt our election chances...it is a bad idea and honestly...no true progressive would behave in this fashion...the base is loyal which is why it is called the 'base'. I would never vote for anyone without a "D" next to their name period end of story.

[aikoaiko]

69. constructive criticism v attacks can be in the ear of the beholder.

Yes, the base is loyal and the base's needs and interests must be priorities for the party.

I'm one of those registered Democrats that thinks some of the criticisms are valid and need to be discussed so that we attract more politically active lefties not in the party.

And we need to GOTV and recruit newcomers or the disenchanted from the base and help them cast their votes.

We probably differ as to what constitutes legit criticisms and "attacks" on the party,

[Demsrule86]

70. There is no such thing as constructive criticism...people hear it as Democratic Party sucks...

[aikoaiko]

72. Good luck with that strategy because you can't stop the criticism.

I should add that, Historically, groupthink does not end well for the group.

[Demsrule86]

73. Well, then I guess we will keep losing...and have every bit of progressive policy destroyed.

Support and vote for Democrats or face terrible consequences.

[aikoaiko]

75. Or we could respond to criticism instead of demanding fidelity or eff-off.

And gain more support for Democrats.

[JHan]

77. criticism without substance is the problem.

I get no substance from the Pelosi haters - NONE.

[aikoaiko]

78. Yes, I get that but some of the mildest criticism has been framed as "attacks" and "destructive"

Even Pelosi can be criticized.

[Demsrule86]

80. Right and maybe we should hold a lottery to decide what criticism to respond to because everyone

has an opinion or may an election on for criticisms...Democrats need to take seriously...and mean while no one will vote for a party their own members say sucks.

[aikoaiko]

81. Yeah, a lottery, that's the ticket!

Seriously, we can respond well to reasonable criticism.

[YCHDT]

49. I don't support bashing leadership with unfair criticism

[janterry]

7. On PBS Newshour

Shields and Brooks said one of the ways that she has maintained power was to thwart leadership roles for people she felt would be disloyal to her.

I was sorry to hear this. I would want her to promote people that were good for the job.

Power is power and politics is still a bit of a game - and she has been, over the years, a good player.

They also said, btw, that she was very good at reigning in her caucus and that she had brought in a lot of money over the years (they gave out high compliments). But that criticism is one that I'll also remember.

[bermudat]

13. So two men say something about Pelosi and its taken as gospel truth?

Repugnantcans wouldn't give a rat's ass about anything a Democrat
had to say about them, but on a supposedly democratic forum
some here are wringing their hands. Don't listen to the GOP.

[janterry]

32. Shields is a democrat

The show hosts a discussion (editorial style) between a republican and a democrat. Brooks is the republican.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

15. The one I'll

remember is Mark Shield saying that she was the most effective Speaker in his lifetime.

[janterry]

30. And he's been there throughout all of it

Sometimes, when I'm listening to him, he can almost seem pedantic. But when he gets down to the point, I'm always reminded that he's been there and really knows the government - from the inside.

I like him.

[Hekate]

36. Howard Dean, too

[George II]

68. And Dean said it this week several times.

[Demsrule86]

17. People who are disloyal will not be good at the job.

[janterry]

29. I'm not sure this is accurate

I suppose it could be - and it's clearly one style. Certainly when Pelosi rose to power, women in a leadership position might have had to employ this strategy (men, too!). But she really rose to a great height, as one of the first - and most powerful - women in the government.

But I think there are other ways she could have approached this. I think of other great legislators who have been able to bring diverse folks into their 'administration' (if you will),

I guess - I'd be comfortable saying that in the time that she rose to power, it was something that worked. I would not say that there weren't other choices, however.

[Demsrule86]

55. A good speaker has to have loyalty...because his/her job is to hammer the other side and you have

to hold your caucus and not have fellow Democrats stab you in the back. The four disloyal congress folks should pay a price for their behavior, and I bet they will. Ryan is my guy, and I called his office and told him to knock it off...we donate to his campaign monthly...and we won't if he continues.To be fair, I think he feels his seat is endangered as Ohio went for Trump...but don't put your personal issues above the country. We need to talk about health care as one voice and not attack effective Democratic leaders...the GOP got rid of Tip O'neil too back in the day ...very effective speaker. I loathe Democrats who attack the party publicly.

[EffieBlack]

45. You're pretty impressionable

[betsuni]

51. That's a polite way to put it.

[betsuni]

50. When was that? I just watched the June 23 Shields and Brooks and they didn't say anything

about Pelosi thwarting leadership roles. Said she raised a lot of money and was responsible for passing ACA.

[all american girl]

8. I'm tired of people going after strong women...

We see you...Hillary wasn't good enough because, as a woman, had to play the game.
Now they are going after Nancy because republicans don't like her.
Kamal Harris, Elizabeth Warren, anuity Maxine...dudes (Bernie) aren't too old, but women are....we live longer.

This is nothing but those on the left and all the right going after women.

WE SEE YOU!!!!

[SCantiGOP]

10. Is this a sexist just "going after women"?

“We need leadership change,” New York Democratic Rep. Kathleen Rice told CNN outside the House chamber. “It’s time for Nancy Pelosi to go, and the entire leadership team.”

[m-lekktor]

14. no. it's the default talking point for those who have nothing else.

they hope to bully and shame people into backing off but it won't work.

[Demsrule86]

18. Seriously? that newbie is most likely going to lose...and that is too bad.

She has only herself to blame.

[all american girl]

21. No, it's not sexist to go after women, but when it's only women...that is sexism

and as a woman...we see it all the time. Nancy has kept everyone together...that"s people who know how to work. The young ones have the right to bring everyone to the plate, but its's us old fools who know how it works...taking her away means the republicans will win...

[calimary]

28. Me too.

Nancy Pelosi has taken shit just for being Nancy Pelosi.

Anybody remember when she was Speaker, and AS Speaker, she was given access to a jet whenever she went home to her district. AS the Speaker of the House. I believe it was some sort of military jet. One assigned to the Speaker of the House - whoever that Speaker might be. And the CONS groused and complained and whined and sniveled about it.

Well, fuck them! She was SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. And ANYBODY in that job is THIRD IN LINE to the Presidency. ANYBODY who's Speaker of the House gets that. Because ANYBODY who is Speaker of the House is two heartbeats away from the Presidency and needs protection and security. It goes with the job.

And in Nancy Pelosi's case, she had to fly home because she lives in California but her job was/is in Washington DC. It's not a driver's commute by any stretch of the imagination. But there were some assholes who groused about why she deserved a special plane. WHEN she was Speaker of the House.

NOBODY complained when any other Speaker of the House got that designated plane perk for when they went home from DC to their districts. I'm in my 60s and I don't remember that EVER happening, from ANYBODY in either party. NOBODY ever begrudged perks like that for any of the men who've held that job. But they sure gave HER shit for it.

Therefore, I'm sorry, but it's kinda hard NOT to view this as sexist.

[betsuni]

43. +1

[The Wielding Truth]

52. It's another attack on democracy. There is a bad anti democratic movement in this country that

must be fought tooth and nail. This is the struggle between our civil society of equal justice and the power of propaganda to usurp our respect for human rights, compassion and commitment to mutual support to uplift every soul to create a better union here in the USA.
calimary. I wish we could make everyone aware and active against the danger of this movement to destroy the promise of a free world with equal promise for all.

Nancy works hard for our cause. Thank you for standing with her, too. They truly wish to dismantle the system of government that protects us all from the injustice of the will of a powerful few.

[calimary]

71. And how, The Wielding Truth!

We MUST try to make everybody aware and active. Just imagine if we had all our forces out there, VOTING? What if everybody turned up and used their power and their voice? There are more of us than there are of the other tribe. We are literally invincible - but only IF we get off our asses and vote!!! We can't even dream of winning if we don't even bother to show up - for whatever lame-ass excuse is presented.

And I just see gobs and gobs of sexism:

This smack talk against Nancy Pelosi.
The silencing of Elizabeth Warren (and yet she persisted. DEAL with it).
The repeated interruption of Kamala Harris. TWO weeks in a row, TWO different hearings in a row.
The constant grousing against Susan Rice. Blame her for EVERYTHING, for Pete's Sake.
The silencing of Sally Yates. Tell 'em something they don't like because it's your job to tell the truth, and BOOM, you're fired.
The disgusting abuse, disrespect, and flat-out racist insults thrown at Michelle Obama - ragging about her hair when she wore it natural; likening her to Angela Davis in a derogatory way, etc.
The mean-spirited attacks on then-adolescent Chelsea Clinton (limbaugh repeatedly referred to her as the "White House dog&quot .
And of course EVERYTHING done to, said against, and lied about Hillary.

Every time an affront was leveled against Kamala Harris at both those hearings, I found myself mumbling "you better mind your manners and watch your ass, dude. She's liable to be PRESIDENT someday."

And yes, Nancy Pelosi was a remarkably effective Speaker. She never brought anything up to a vote unless she knew it would pass. Never had embarrassments handed to her by repeated miscalculations like John Boehner did, or like Paul Ryan does. She got stuff done and ran that House like a military commander. NOTHING got past her or snuck up on her. And she got the Affordable Care Act DONE. Period. End of story.

[smirkymonkey]

37. +1000

[dlk]

9. The Attacks on Pelosi are Based in Misogyny

After the recent special election losses, too many of the disgruntled went looking for a woman to take it out on and Pelosi was their chosen target. The increasing levels of overt misogyny in our political process are based on ignorance and outdated mores. They serve no positive purpose and must stop. The idea is to evolve and move forward toward even further enlightenment, not race backward into the darkness.

[krawhitham]

27. Yes they are, but it's working

[greymattermom]

38. Not exactly

Karen Handel must have mentioned Nancy Pelosi at least 6 times in her debate with Jon Ossoff. To Georgians she stands for California values. Whatever that is but gay marriage, hippies, etc.

[athena]

48. What makes you think a woman can't be sexist?

A woman can be sexist and can momentarily benefit from sexism by joining up with other sexists to attack another woman.

Too many people still don't get that sexism is a disease in our society. We're all infected with it as a result of being brought up in this society, regardless of our gender. The only difference between sexists and feminists is that the latter choose consciously to fight their sexist tendencies, whereas the former either accept it unconsciously or revel in it consciously.

[dawg]

82. But I like gay marriage and hippies.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

76. Yup

[SHRED]

11. Many on our side forget

They forget the real enemy and get off on ideological battles within our party.
They love airing this in public.

[Demsrule86]

19. This really hurts the Democratic Party...all the GOP were chiming in...the Dems who

did this should be ashamed. I told my guy Ryan that several times.

[OregonBlue]

12. The truth is that Trump is scared to death of her. She has to go.

[Cary]

22. This is part of what I have been saying about the radical left

There is no satisfying them and it's disturbingly similar to the radical right. They are subversive.

And considering how similar my goals are with radical leftists it's quite disconcerting, which is of course exactly what radical leftists want. Radical leftists want to demoralize me and people like me, for no good reason. The radical left sows discord and discontent and they don't mind taking up radical right lies and smears.

[tomp]

58. equating the radical right with the "radical left" is dastardly.

there is NO comparison between the radical right and the "radical left." opposition to the neoliberal wing of the democratic party for more progressive politics is NOTHING like the radical right's fascism.

[Cary]

59. I see

But calling me "neoliberal" isn't "dastardly."

[tomp]

60. i don't think so. nt

[Cary]

61. I adhere to modern mainstream neoclassical synthesis salt water

You probably don't even know what that is. I'm sure you're equally unaware of the real definition of "neoliberal."

I'd call your name calling dastardly, among other things.

[JCinNYC]

74. then you should think again. n/t

[George II]

66. .....

[Cary]

67. Ha!

I've been outed!

[George II]

62. Not true. Haven't you ever seen this?

[7962]

63. Its actually spot on. Like it or not.

They may want different outcomes, but they are the same in that they have no problem calling for violence, no compromise, totally shutting out anyone who is different from them, name calling, etc.

[Cary]

64. I think so

[samnsara]

23. AMEN!!

[Phoenix61]

24. Agreed!

Her job is to keep the Dems together and she is very, very good at that. I agree we need to run younger candidates and that seems to be happening. But, getting rid of someone who has experience in fighting and winning in the middle of this nightmare is just plain stupid.

[dchill]

25. K&R.

[NBachers]

26. Every single word of Joy-Ann Reid's column is spot-on. I'd love to see her in office some day.

I stand with Nancy Pelosi. I'm lucky to live in Nancy Pelosi's district. I get a thrill every time I have the privilege of voting for her.

[Gothmog]

33. I love AMJOY

[stonecutter357]

34. K&R

[Hekate]

35. Spot on

[Cha]

39. Thank you, Joy, for speaking out

for Nancy!

[Thinkingabout]

40. Weak men are not capable of handling the fact Nancy Pelosi is a very strong woman who knows

her job. We need Nancy Pelosi more than she needs us.

[Tarheel_Dem]

41. Needless to say, I agree with Joy. n/t

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

42. This "Glorious Leader" talk is getting really weird

[betsuni]

44. Say the magic words "Nancy Pelosi" and watch Republicans' conditioned response

of scrunching up their faces and getting sputtering mad. They are well trained. Used to be just Republicans, that is.

[EffieBlack]

46. And we respond with "OMG, she makes Repubs scrunch up their faces! We need to replace her!"

"We have to get a leader who doesn't make them scrunch up their faces and THEN we'll win!!!"

Idiocy.

[betsuni]

47. Yup.

[oasis]

53. ImWithPelosi......and Joy.

[Progressive dog]

54. Thank you

That should be read by those Democrats who want to appease Republicans instead of fighting back.

[democratisphere]

57. Divided We Fail. United We Have A Snowball's Chance In Hell of winning!

[alphafemale]

65. So sick of people thinking grown women need padding from life.

I'm pretty sure she's fine and isn't crying herself to sleep.

[northoftheborder]

79. They've always attacked Pelosi, in-between ...

the times when Hillary Clinton was on the radar. Now that they do not have her to kick around any more, they've gone back to Pelosi. If she was gone, they would pick the next most powerful female - maybe Feinstein, or other smart women senators.