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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.
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Okay, so now it looks like Pelosi and Dems get to play the obstructionist game while they let Boehner play with her gavel and jet around all he wants. Meanwhile nothing gets done and they take away meals for wheels for the elderly and let them freeze in the winter...and this is just the beginning.
Like all the top politicians of both parties, Nancy is owned by the corporate elites and her ego is way bigger than her brain or conscience. She is not a progressive and has supported wars, death, banker giveaways, and other bad stuff forever. And it's sad if you think that a Repub will be any better. All of these folks are owned by people you will never see or meet.
The voters made their choice known. Find the door -Nancy, save us the airplane fuel and your office extravagance in San Francisco.
Witch - She will lose those items anyway since she won't be speaker, at least she had better.
OH - I just heard the postal service lost 8.5 billion last year, now there is a typical government program. I wonder how much Fed-x and UPS lost?
A little insight to the post office. Check out what top management makes starting with the wizard Potter. I'm talking perks and incentives not just salary. He has created more upper tier jobs for his buddies than any post master general in history. He is bailing this year because he helped sink the ship and he wants to cash in before the bank closes. The carrier out on the street has been beaten like a dog not unlike the middle class in general. Lots of chiefs, not enough indians. It also does not help that when ever the USPS is in the black , congress loves to siphon right off of the top with no warning. I may be a righty but I have got a lot of close friends in that union and the governent has run that organization into the wall. The dems have let thousands of injured carriers go home, no work available. It is a damned shame. There are places that fedex and ups do not deliver to. It is always the usps that makes the final delivery. They cannot refuse delivery, no matter where it is going. Those carriers earn their money and the chiefs could give a flip.
KarlStevens- So right. How do you think they get rich, from their 170,0000 salary? I am talking millions and millions when they leave.
Note she went on NPR, she wouldn't have a breathe of life on Fox. She would have been chewed up.
Yes Nancy, You need to get a clue! People were upset with you as a leader who rammed legislation through Congress against the will of the people. We do want you to leave Washington and go back to California where you came from. Perhaps you can help California run the state government. I think they have a budget issues and unemployment problems you can fix! I now have to pay $40 bucks more a month for my mentally ill son's the same health insurance he already had. So, I now not only am burdened with his insurance but I am helping to pay for someone else on top of his. Thanks a lot!
As for a national leader, we need one with vision to LEAD this country. We need someone that has the vision to MAJOR projects in place and give us the future not a defeatist social welfare state. You cannot tax this county out of trouble but you can lead it out. We should have high speed rail to each major city. We should have top of the line communications, space exploration, military R & D etc. If you think and plan success then you will likely have success.
good call! Some of the states that have the biggest financial issues are democrat controlled...California, Washington State, Oregon, Illinois.... public handouts don't work.
I think it is relatively simple. Pelosi's approval rating is as low as it gets. This means the American people do not support her. As they have said in the election, it is time for change and that includes leadership. If Democrats refuse again to support the will of the people and make her minority leader, there will be another giganic loss for Dems in the 2012 elections. I realize the minority leader's responsibilities are to work with Congress and Congressional legislation, however the minority leader's first reponsibility is to represent the people and they have spoken rather loud.
The President is right, and so is Nancy Pelosi... We can't afford to extend the Bush special tax cuts for the super wealthy! Ever since President Obama was elected, the GOP and Tea Party crowd have suddenly (and suspiciously) become aware of and concerned about spending. They have ranted endlessly about "out-of-control spending" and debt. Well, if they're so gung-ho about putting an end to it, then allowing the natural end of the Bush tax cuts program for the ultra-wealthy is a GOOD first step on this nation's road to recovery. There are many other obvious places to cut spending, namely the senseless, cash-gobbling war budget! But that is a topic for another day.
What the Republicans are saying to America is this: The GOP has a top priority, and that is to make the lives of the ultra-wealthy even more comfortable. Any personal and/or financial sacrifice is to be made by those who can afford it least: The poor, and the middle class, (what is left of it).
This kind of philosophy is seen clearly every time the Republicans in Congress vote against extending unemployment benefits to those who have lost jobs, through no fault of their own, and are struggling to make ends meet in a bad economy. It was seen clearly when the House Republicans voted against giving business loans and tax breaks to small businesses, while on the very same day, Senate Republicans voted i extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. ( Look it up if you don't believe me.)
The Republican philosophy of greed and corruption is seen clearly every time we hear members of the GOP saying we have to get rid of the minimum wage! Or Social Security. Or Medicare. Or the Department of Education. Or when John Boehner said he'd like to abolish the Office of Congressional Ethics! Ever notice it's always the programs that help the "little people", or programs that try to keep politicians honest that the Republicans are hell-bent on killing? Hmmmm.
I'm shocked that Republicans are so open, and frankly, stupid about announing their greed and corruption. This kind of behavior is political suicide.
All I can say is, the GOP better hang onto their collective hats. The Democratic landslide is coming again in 2012. We're going to clean-sweep the right-wing filth out of our government and finally get on with the business of healing this country, and progressing in a positive direction.
yeah! I want more government assistance for myself, less or not taxes and free healthcare - someone else can pay for it!!!! What's that - there's no one who can pay for it? You mean...I.....have.....to....pay....taxes?!?!?! WHAT!!! How can that be I have rose colored glasses and in my college econ class they said this would work....
tax cuts for some and not others is called DISCRIMINATION. We claim to not stand for it, but it seems OK to discriminate here eh?! Hmmm interesting...jealous maybe?
sorry Jen but obama and his cronies experimented with socialism for 2 years and the american people flat rejected it. just as they rejected carter in the 70s. your democrats are on their way out and will be gone for a long time, so get used to it.
So you're saying you WANT DISCRIMINATION as long as it favors the wealthy. The wealthy have always received amazing tax breaks that the poor and middle class will never get. The Bush program gave EXTRA cuts to people in the top 2% income bracket. (And I seriously doubt you're in there, buddy.)
The Bush program had a natural life span, and was designed, by Republicans, to END this year. Now that the gravy train is coming to a halt all that right-wing talk about reigning in out-of-control spending and debt is right out the window, because these things don't apply if you're one of the elite ruling class. And that's fair, right?! You sicken me.
And while we're on the topic of taxes, why is it ok to be exempt from payroll taxes for anything earned above $97,000 a year? Why should the wealthiest Americans get to say... I don't have to pay taxes after a certain level of income! Talk about discrimination!
And all this talk of government assistance with "somebody else paying for it"... that "somebody else" would be US, you moron. Workers pay into Workman's Comp., pay Unemployment taxes, pay into Social Security, AND pay regular income taxes (as well as state & local taxes). Asking to get something for our tax money isn't asking for a handout.
Do you really think it is fitting that Warren Buffett's secretaries should pay more taxes than Warren Buffett himself? I don't, and neither does he! This is the kind of unfair advantage the ultra-rich have been enjoying for far too long. http://www.truth-out.org/tax-system-favors-wealth-over-work64768
By the way, how much are they paying you to sit here and shill for the GOP? Some of us have real jobs. I have to get back to mine.
not in the top 2%, but in the top 5% per my accountant as I looked and gasped at my tax bill last year - like I said happy to pay my fair share though. You say I want discrimination as long as it favors the wealthy, or is it you want discrimination as long as it benefits lower income individuals? Seems you are OK with discrimination as long as it sticks it to people who have worked hard and long to get where they are in life - as long as someone else can prosper off their work. A little skewed to me - but then again, it's my point of view that I, unlike 52% of this country, pay my taxes to be able to voice and vote :) If you're this passionate about the tax issue, and if it's even remotely true that $700 billion will be added to our deficit - why are you not screaming about the fact that the IRS (government) is letting over half of the country off on paying it's tax bill? How many billions, actually make that trillions due to the sheer volume of people, are we missing as a result of that? And if my logic is correct, that fact alone points to the fact that if you rely on only a few to shoulder the heaviest burden, the system cannot and will not support itself. :) I'm working off logical solutions, you are making points about Warren Buffett (do you converse with regularly to know what he does with his money?) and use biased news sources for your data - I can point you to tons of sites that are highly opinionated and claim all kinds of 'facts'. And lastly thank you for calling me a "moron" you've only furthered my point that all liberals can do at the end of the day is name call - classy move that really let's people know you are submitting your point from a fact based platform - because when you do so you eliminate the need for name calling and such - which, with your name calling - tells me you're platform is an emotional one not grounded in fact. Sorry you are so angry - glad you can call people names on the internet - you are a truly big person. :) One last fact blower for you - when you're over $97K a year the taxes don't stop - not sure where you got that one from - I can attest to you, personally, that is far from accurate/true/reality. Just sayin...have a nice week or at least try to be civil :)
I do like how you end or at least mention in every response on this site with someone being a paid republican plant - good lord you are paranoid aren't you? And the 'i've got to go back to work' comment is classic - again appreciate the comment - glad I'm my own boss so I can call my own shots - I remember when I was in your shoes working for someone else and decided someday I would work for myself. Grabbed my own bootstraps, worked my butt off saving and giving up things all my friends had to have to be cool and made myself decidedly uncool, but in the process I was able to leave working for someone else and become my own boss. I've never gone back and each and everyday I work hard to make sure I don't have to go back to work for someone else. It's stressful just about each day as I have no one else if I'm sick, I don't have 'paid vacation days', I don't get to have 'paternity time paid', I don't have a retirement group of fund or 401K to invest in, I don't get any reprise if a client 'fires me', I don't get unemployment if things don't work out. So call it what you want, but to get to where you want to go you have to want it, sacrifice for it and then work hard everyday to keep it. Hope you can get there someday.
Do you know why the Dems lost the housebecause the were punks most especially the so-call blue dogs Dems who were giving in to the republicans and I am very happy most of the so-call Blue dogs Dems lost. Nancy Pelosi is the best speaker this nation ever had.
Hows the Kool Aide
mike - i now know how obama got elected
Hey Mike do you think she should have read the bill before passing it? Or maybe that was someone else's job.
oh yea dont forget the statement Pelosi made! That an unemployment check was the best way to curb unemployment. LMAO
two years of useless legislation, non job creation - majority of the stimulus went to government agencies to extend their budgets - so let's not confuse job salvation with job creation folks as we are seeing the budgets run out nothing has changed and they are now looking at fresh rounds of layoffs - you would have thought these various agencies would have figured out a way to address some of their issues and create a plan of action. Nope. Again, I could be president and pass and push things through all day long and tell people "look how productive I am" but if all I'm doing is building mounds of dirt, does the production matter or is the OUTCOME more important? Quality over quantity anyone? :)
Cheers.
Poor Nancy, Using her "State Radio" NPR to Cry some tears. Still hasn't gotten over the fact that she was rejected handily. Get ready to handle over the gavel babe. Your time is up!
"....effective in fighting special interests..." "...effective..." Puhleease - There are Democrats that don't like her.
there can not be, past or future, any politician so stupid. the dingbat can barely put a sentence together. and they call palin dumb? sorry, must be something else, because pelosilini is the definition of dumb.
Shes over medicated ..... and on Kool Aide
Obamas solution to excessive spending.... a world wide trip and a new agency to protect online info. The trip is fruitless and if you dont want it viewed dont put it in the public domain... nope we need an agency @ millions per year for that and millions per day to go revisit his childhood home in Muslim Indonesia.... I thought he was American??? Guess he forgot the lie!!
let's first get her out of office, and then we will read her resume
The devil can't attack nobody. I say this to mean that Republicans when after Nency Pelosi because she was very successful in getting the job done n the best speaker so far in this nation's history. For the Republicans let see if no to everything can govern the House and not to forget corruption and ethics violations will increase as Republicans take the House.
Sooooo you believe that Nancy is still trying to find the plug that will drain the swamp?
Maby Charlie Rangels fat arse is plugging up the swamp drain. HAR, HAR
Rather than a tax break, the better solution would be--if you make $1.00 you pay tax of $.05. The government would receive more tax money, get rid of the IRS, and close tax loopholes for the rich. I guess that would be too simple!!!!!!!!!!
.
Whatcha thinkin?
I flat out LOVE Nancy Pelosi. She will go down in history as an American hero who fought tirelessly to save the American people from the oppression of the rich and powerful. The facts are all on the democrats side, republicans haven't a leg to stand on. The republican leaders aren't stupid, they know exactly what they are doing which is the bidding of their rich corporate masters. Tax cuts do NOT drive hiring, demand for product creates hiring. Any successful business owner with integrity will tell you that, as will any economist who isn't bought and paid for like the republican party is.
This woman is still the most dangerous person in America. You can take all of her claims of trying to be bipartisan and put it down the comode. She is demeaning, elitist, and egotistic. And to think this person is only 2 heart beats awat from the presidency. Scary, very scary.
Bitter
Incompetent
Terrible
Catty &
Hateful
"We have to pass this to see what's in it" "People aren't upset with me because of what I did, they are upset because I didn't do it quick enough" Talk about disconnected from the real world, I suppose what she said may make since in the land of fruits and nuts.
Go ahead witch, RUN!!! makes everything easier to Dump emperor Obama comes 2012 (whether you run or not its not important, the DUDE's is DONE. I'd vote for my cat for president before I vote for him
I want to hear and read in detail the repubes plans on issues and their purposed course of action. Talk is cheap
Right now the plan is to stop the car before the Dems drive over the cliff. Change coarse and concentrate on putting people back to work.
Haven't heard that from the dems in two years, get in line.
One final question for the Witch!!! how is she going to fly to Calf, from now on? Using a rocket powered BROOM?