Pelosi: "Tattoo the practices of big insurance, big oil, big banks and the rest” onto GOP

[jefferson_dem]

It’s Time for Democrats to Attack, Pelosi Says
By JOHN HARWOOD

If Washington normally blends the business of government with electoral politics, this week signifies a turn toward an unalloyed electoral brawl.

Democratic Congressional leaders have sent members home without resolving their greatest outstanding disagreement with Republicans, over the Bush tax cuts due to expire at year’s end. After months on the defensive as Republicans surged in the polls, Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls it time for Democrats to attack.

“You have to understand what fighters our members are,” Ms. Pelosi told a group of columnists late last week. Indeed, she ascribed the Democrats’ political travails to their refusal to “play patty-cake” with powerful economic interests as they pursued a health care overhaul, new regulations for the financial industry and energy legislation capping carbon emissions.

“Now our challenge is to tattoo the practices of big insurance, big oil, big banks and the rest” onto Republican opponents, Ms. Pelosi said. “And our members feel very good about doing that.”

<SNIP>

“If we don’t win, they will try to unravel this,” she said. “Members don’t have to go out and defend the entire — every chapter and verse of the health care bill. But they have to tell people what is at stake in terms of the reforms that people understand.”

Unlike the president, Ms. Pelosi has not tried to turn Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House minority leader, into the face of the Republican opposition. She referred to that strategy as a “freelance” maneuver by the White House that she had not initiated.

Yet she insisted that she didn’t mind efforts to take aim at her; Republicans may be raising campaign funds through their “fire Pelosi” appeals, but “so am I,” she said. Nor, with her speakership on the line, does she object to Democrats in conservative districts appealing to their constituents by criticizing her.

“I say go for it,” Ms. Pelosi said. She would counsel those vulnerable Democrats, “Just win your election.”

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/its-time-for-democrats-to-attack-pelosi-says/?ref=politics

[Telly Savalas]

1. Telly: "Fucking govern"

When a political party that holds the White House and large majorities in both legislative chambers invokes "stick it to the Man" rhetoric, it's really obnoxious. When you're in that position you are the Man, so use the power you have and quit pointing fingers at others.

[uponit7771]

2. hard to do such without enough in senate to control votes, GOP filibusters EVERYTHING now. If Reid..

...had half a brain he'd change the rules but the reason I think Angle is running against him is because the GOP wants Reid in office