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Subscribe to RSSIn an interview with NPR, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talked about tax cuts, moving forward from an unsuccessful election, and why she’s running for minority leader.
On main reasons for running as minority leader:
Pelosi: I’m running to put together the strongest plan to work with the Republicans to solve problems. The biggest problem is unemployment. I hope we can work together to create jobs. And I do so with the overwhelming support of my caucus, not the unanimous support.
The Republicans have demonized you. How do you prevent that from hurting your party more than it already has?
Pelosi: Well, let me say this – when you say “more than it already has” – the reason the election results are what they are is because we have 9.5 percent unemployment in our country. We didn’t lose the election because of me. In any circumstance, when you have 9.5 percent unemployment, any party that cannot turn that into political gain should hang up the gloves, I said that before the election. The reason they had to try to take me down is because I’ve been effective in fighting the special interests in Washington, D.C. I’m also the most significant attractor of support for the Democrats. So I’m not looking back on this. They asked me to run, I’m running, and, again, our members understand that they made me a target because I’m effective.
On extending Bush-era tax cuts:
Pelosi: The position that we have, and which is the position that the president has put forth, is that everybody should get a tax cut in our country. The problem comes when you give an additional tax cut to the wealthiest 2 percent that will heap $700 billion in debt onto our children and our grandchildren.
What about a temporary extension?
Well, our position in the House has been that we support the tax cuts for everyone, but not an additional tax cut at the high end. It’s too costly. Those tax cuts have been in effect for a very long time. They did not create jobs. In fact, with the tax cuts that President Obama had in the recovery package, we have now 10 straight months of private sector job growth. So from day one, President Obama and this Congress have been job creators, at the same time giving tax cuts to the middle class, which do create jobs.
Is there an advantage to being less visible in the minority?
Pelosi: This isn’t about – it isn’t about me. Maybe the Republicans will take a course of action that will solve problems. God bless them if they do. But maybe they will pursue what they have said, which is to privatize Social Security, to make Medicare a voucher, to resist our initiatives. So it’s – the opportunity that is there is to have clarity. Maybe they will be more eloquent in defining themselves than we could have ever been in defining them.
Listen to the full interview here.
Leave a Comment:
Too bad she's gonna have ta give up that big ole jet for a broom with a kick-start! Seriously, that woman has major issues. She is such a bad rescuer she will create "victims" to rescue, and such a control freak that she doesn't believe in anyone owning anything without her approval. How many gallons of jet fuel and fumes between DC and Cali because of her?
you guys are fixated on the jet so much. how many times did the previous peaker use it, how much was the cost? or are these facts that dont fit your agenda.
Hell Jim, if you could explain to me what a peaker is maybe I'd answer your question. Is that somebody that is at the pinnacle of their trip?
Pelosi wants to work with the Republicans ,after shutting them out of any imput into any of the bills. She is nutty as a fruitcake. She has California with a 25 Billion dollar Budget crisis and is whinning about the Deficit commission cuts?
Ah, "grasshopper" you have learned well from your false prophet Glenn Beck. Guilt by association: She lives in California, which has a budget crises, therefore she is inept with budgets. You don't suppose cause and effect would be a better line of reasoning and blame California's situation on the Governator?
As for the other comment, now who was it that advertises she isn't a witch? Perhaps this would be the kettle and pot argument. (The creation of victims part was funny though.)
True, only bad witches are ugly. I saw Pelosi melt! How did she return? That is the burning question before us.
The witch says "It's not about her"?????? She is just like her worthless socialist boss, a true narcissist. I seem to remember her carrying that big gavel across the grounds after jamming health care down our throats, having to wade thru crowds of American Citizens protesting here decision. And it's not about her???She is a true liberal witch addicted to lying to our faces. And the voters said loud and clear what they think of her and her kind. Like any politician, she does not want to face up to it. I say to conservatives - DON'T BACK DOWN AN INCH FROM THIS WITCH. Do the people's business, not hers.
Pelosi wants to work with the Republicans ,after shutting them out of any imput into any of the bills. She is nutty as a fruitcake. She has California with a 25 Billion dollar Budget crisis and is whinning about the Deficit commission cuts?
I remember her saying 'Bush is the dumbest man I've ever met'... what goes around comes around Nancy and you have to be up there with one of the dumbest, most clueless women I've ever seen. Also, you Nancy and Obama and the media still don't get it. The American public were unhappy with the economy, but it was what you, Reid and Obama have done to this country thus far that has cost you the elections.
Isn't it amazing how Democrat politicians and news media miss that point, Jumbag?
Hubby needs more graft sent to his Samoan company. 1 vinyard is not enough. She only has backbone when she's got the power and couldn't care less what the public wants. Now, it's I want to work with everyone cause I want my jets back. Please keep her as the face of the democrats. We need a split congress to protect us from both parties.
She is absolutely on some kind of Kool Aid.
That phrase is SO worn out. Please come up with something new.
She is absolutely ordering extra mushrooms on her pizza. Does that qualify as new?
Hee-hee! Rage on! We'll be a socialist country whether she's there or not. We have been for a LONG time. Look the damned word up for once!
If we're anything, we are a plutocracy. And if the far-right had their way, we'd be a fascist theocracy.
True did you know that Pluto lost its "planet" status. Try explaining that one to your kids as you take down that ninth little plastic ball hanging from the ceiling in the craft room! I was pretty crazy about Pluto, lord of the underworld. Pretty creepy stuff when you think about it. If we had our way we would hold hands with our brothers and sisters from the left and sing dancing in the moonlight. It's not to late. Join us.
Yer feelin all brotherly today jimmy. That Tax the rich thing everybody is yellin about has me a little peeved at the lefties today.
Jed, just a little chatter on the sqawk box brother. Gaining a little altitude and ranging targets. If I could keep my wife off of me about putting up the Christmas tree, I would have been able to push the red button on the stick a couple of times.
Good luck with that my friend. Ain't lookin forward ta those chores myself. I'm gonna drop a few anti-lib rounds this eve.
Pelosi is very good at her job, and she is tough. When a man, like Tom "The Hammer" DeLay is effective, well that's different because he's a man, and he's a Republican (schoolyard bully), and that's respected. Hillary Clinton, and perhaps even Sarah Palin (grizzly mama) are demonized in the same way.
For example, if you praise Pelosi's push for "Pay-Go" the first criticism is that it requires taxation. Hate to break it to you, but we can't just cut spending. Most of all piddly stuff like ear marks (pork) that is so minimal as to be a joke--a sad joke that Republicans are wasting time bickering about it. And as posted above, it is the "red" states (with exception perhaps of Texas) that rely on these funds the most.
One statement Pelosi made that I question is whether taxes for the middle class created jobs. Tax cuts don't create jobs, no matter who benefits. However, it is true that the middle class and working poor will spend their tax savings, which stimulates the economy. The richest 2% invest their money, and if they spend on a yacht, for example, it's not enough volume to stimulate the economy.
We need construction (infrastructure spending) and more money in the pockets of the middle class to boost basic supply and demand. And we need to reduce the debt, which won't happen by cutting spending alone. If the Teapublican Something for Nothing Crowd insists on tax cuts for the richest 2%, we do need a Pay Go program in which they must find a way to pay for these cuts. Otherwise, the deficit will continue to skyrocket and things will get worse.
Pelosi wants to work with the Republicans ,after shutting them out of any imput into any of the bills. She is nutty as a fruitcake. She has California with a 25 Billion dollar Budget crisis and is whinning about the Deficit commission cuts?
Ah, "grasshopper" you have learned well from your false prophet Glenn Beck. Guilt by association: She lives in California, which has a budget crises, therefore she is inept with budgets. You don't suppose cause and effect would be a better line of reasoning and blame California's situation on the Governator?
What an ego. She will never accept that she is a most reviled person. She and Obama are so wrapped up in their own self adoration and elitism, that they think the reason they lost so badly is that the poor stupid public is not smart enough to be given the vote. Let's hope the Democrats are stupid enough to keep her on. The Republicans will be laughing all the way to the polls next presidential election.
Well, some things do never change, so much hate. Nancy Pelosi is effective, I will give her that. I hate her policies but as a politician, she pushed through the President's agenda and she was very effective. I don't appreciate having the health care rammed through when the majority of Americans DID NOT want it. There should have been some listening to the constituents there and there wasn't. That really and the economy was what this election was about. Nancy is the face of health care and that is why she was demonized. Those are just my thoughts, trying to be objective and not spew any hate.
On an average of polls, Americans have been split about 50/50 on health care, and many who are against it wanted it to go further.
On an average of polls, about 65% of Americans do not want tax cuts to be extended for the richest 2%. So, now that Republicans have control of congress, will you feel they are jamming things down our throats, or is that just a sound bite that applies to Dems?
Jeanne, did you use invisible ink?
Pelosi is incredible . . . she has no idea just how bad she has screwed up everything. Unfortunately, all of her congressional leftist buddies are as loony as she is.
Please do not make me repeat myself. The eye in the sky does not approve of it.
Speaker Pelosi's last two sentences sum up our congressional reality nicely"
She;s 1005 correct!
Has anyone who still has job looked at their share of next year's health care costs and benefits, deductibles, etc. ?
The new legislation has made health care costs much more affordable for the middle class. Ha ha.
Maybe she lead the most productive Congress of all time, but what did they produce? You can run a fertilizer producing factory and be the best at it, but it's still sh*t.
Pelosi needs to go. Away. Now.
Pelosi shut out any chance for bipartisanship and is wasting tax payer money with private jets and $18k a month offices. Harry Reid cost us the best chance for immigration reform by going back on his word. And they had been in power for four years, not two. This is why the democrats lost. The Republicans haven't been better. . .
Isn't it going to be interesting to see if the new Speaker will decline the use of Air Force aircraft to fly him to and from his congressionsl district?
I mean the Republicans and Tea Baggers have been railing about how Speaker Pelosi was abusing her position as Speaker (and second in line of succession under the 25th Amendment). She hasn't done anything that Dennis Hastert didn't do as Speaker, but for some reason the Repub-bagggers had no problem with Hastert's use of Air Force resources.
If the Republicans aren't a bunch of two-faced phonies, we'll expect Boehner to fly coach - as the right-wingers have insisted Pelosi do.
Wanna bet on whether Boehner goes for that?
well, Dennis only started after 9/11. . .and Boehner has already asked for and received permission to fly commercial. so your post is already obsolete. Much like nancy!
Matha, you truly have NO IDEA how the economy works. the unemployment rate was going up to 10% no matter what Party was in power. Your pres bush made sure of that. The rest of your 1st gradwe rant was right out of republican's playbook. You truly have nothing to add to the discussion so please crawl back under tyhe rock you, palin, bachmann and bonerhead came from! LOL
Wow, does anyone think independently of FOX and Rush Limbaugh?
Thanks Madam Speaker for a job well done. The record legislative achievements is for the record book. A testament of CHANGE we can believe in. We, the middle class will be back in 2012. Let's hope these obstructionists will get to work and do something 'bout job creation. Their obsession with Obama one-term presidency smack on mental disorder. I hope they, the obstructionists will not vote "NO" to their own proposals as we saw in the past 2 years.
Planning on voting for hillary in 2012? Obie is out! The liberal agenda is over.
With the Obama changes to the economy, can you tell me just who is the middle class today? At what earnings rate does it begin and at what value does it end?
and will the black minority guy win the minorityminority leadership position in the Dem House, or will he be asked to sit in the back of the bus by the rich white guy, or by the rich white women who wants to continue her control?
Plastic Nancy is so out of touch with the real world she should donate her body to science.
Out of touch? Out of touch?!!! Get off your damn couch and turn off FOX Noise for a while. Let's talk out of touch. The man you adore, "tan man" Boehner, that country clubbin, can't get enough golfing on the tax payer dime Boehner is so out of touch he wouldn't know middle class America if it stood in front of him and slapped him right in his smug face!
Please let her run - far away from California and politics. There should be an 'age limit' on politicians the same way there is in some companies. Some of these fools tottering around in DC should not be there working on the problems of the country. Did I say working? Sorry! Messing up the problems of the country.