Is it just me, or has Nancy Pelosi improved significantly?

[backscatter712]

Don't get me wrong - she's no Barack Obama.

And I still haven't forgiven her for her failure to even allow an impeachment of George W. Bush to be considered.

But lately, she's been doing quite a bit better.

Notice how the stimulus bill cruised through the House - sure not a single Republican voted for it, but she got most of the Blue Dogs on board, and the bill sailed through - sure, a little overloaded, but that's kind of the point - she knew that the Senate was going to strip some of it out, so she started with a highball.

That seems to be a pattern, and will be seen even more, since she and House Democratic leadership have fixed the motion-to-recommit rules that the Republicans have been abusing to block legislation. Note how the auto bailout fell into the same pattern - it cruised through the House, got filibustered in the Senate.

Every single Republican voted against the stimulus bill, but it didn't even slow it down.

In other words, Boehner is powerless. He can whine, and he can moan, but he doesn't get any levers of significance in the Beltway.

It's in the Senate where things get fucked up. Clearly, Harry Reid doesn't have his shit together - he should have been in the back-rooms and gotten Nelson and the other Senate Blue Dogs on board before this whole pissing contest, so all he had to do was lean on Snowe and Collins and give them tasty earmarks in exchange for cloture. For Reid, that's an EPIC FAIL. He had to do lots of last minute negotiation with both the Blue Dogs and Snowe and Collins, and they ganged together and got Reid to give away the store.

Back to the House, Pelosi is still doing the right thing and condemning all the axing of things like Head Start, education infrastructure and so on. So far, she's been doing significantly better than she has in the past.

[MadHound]

1. It's just you

Nancy is the same as she ever was, part of the problem and certainly not part of the solution.

[tom_paine]

5. You may be right overall, MadHound, but the question is, has she improved lately?

I am one of Nancy Pelosi's biggest detractors, that's for sure.

But I am in agreement with the OP. Credit where credit is due.

Have I done a 180, and now adore her? HELL NO!

But she HAS improved a little from her abject horribleness, and any little bit helps.

She came out firmly and publicly and said, basically, "FUCK bipartisanship. We don't need them and we won."

I was stunned. NANCY said this?

Again, words alone are NOTHING, but as the OP stated, she has matched them with some actions.

Again, the question is not whether we give "job approval" of Nancy Pelosi. My vote would still be no and she'd need a lot more weeks like the last couple before I will believe that this is a genuine change and a decrease in her capitulating to Bushies.

But has she improved since Obama took office? I agree with the OP, she HAS.

If I have bashed the shit out of Nancy Pelosi in the past for what she has done, then she damned well deserves dsome praise if she improves and shows some damned spine.

And right now, she is showing more spine than ol' needle-dick Reid.

Just calling it like I see it, just like I did in other post where I have flamethrown on ol' nancy with blistering rants.

[DJ13]

2. X2.... Its just you

[Skittles]

3. it's just you

she fucking sucks

[tom_paine]

7. Respectfully disagree, Skit. And you KNOW how much I despise Nancy's spinelessness.

See post #5 , and just think about what I said, even if you don't agree.

You know that on most things Nancy since Jan. 2007, I am right alongside you, BOO-ing as loud as anyone.

But fair is fair, as I said in my other post.

We may agree to disagree, skittles, my tough-ass dear cyber-friend, but may we always remain pals.

:hi: :hug:

[Skittles]

9. the fact that she waited this long

just makes me despise her more

[tom_paine]

11. Well, I'll never be a big fan of hers, but we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

Better late than never, though I will certainly not view her as courageous.

But if she continues to display some spine and do her fucking job, better late than never.

I understand and respect your feelings. Her performance from Jan. 2007 - Jan. 2009 was pretty much a deriliction of duty to the American People. I agree with you to the degree that I am not sure such conduct can ever be forgiven.

But she has improved. And from your comment "the fact that she waited this long" suggests you also believe she as improved recently, but despise her anyway. Though I would never dream of putting words in your mouth, Skittles, so if I have misinterpreted what you believe, then SOUND OFF, TROOP!

And here's one more :hug: and some :loveya: for these stressful times that don't look to be getting better anytime soon. We can all use more of that.

[Webster Green]

4. You..

She's nuts.

[nevergiveup]

6. I don't think there is any doubt

she has improved significantly but you are not going to hear about it much on DU. There has been a Pelosi hate-fest going on here for some time. Harry Reid is a different story in my opinion. The guy has zero leadership capabilities and is a terrible burden for Democrats and Obama. I really have little hope for him.

[tom_paine]

10. Nicely said, nevergiveup. From my other posts, you can see we agree.

I dislike Nancy as much as anyone, but the truth is the truth, y'know.

You said There has been a Pelosi hate-fest going on here for some time. Harry Reid is a different story in my opinion. The guy has zero leadership capabilities and is a terrible burden for Democrats and Obama. I really have little hope for him.

I couldn't have said it any better.

I think I want to psoe this question as a poll and get a larger sense of DU's feelings.

But I think you are right. People are so hatin' on Nancy, that even when she does something legitimately OK, people are going to bash her.

I guess I was so caught up with it, considering all the legitimate reasons she has given us to feel as we do, that now I feel a little like Wile E.Coyote with his feet moving but the cliff is 100 yards behind him and he's dangling in mid-air.

Yikes...

[backscatter712]

8. For those who say "It's just you."

I'm not saying she's great. She's still got a long way to go.

But she has improved.

[ColbertWatcher]

12. She did say that the bill would not pass until Presidents' Day.

Looks like she got that right.