Congratulations to Speaker Pelosi!!!
The beginning of the end of the madness(R) has begun. Instead of a bunch paid shills for the rich and white spite racists we have someone who represents all peoples and both sexes.
And this note to Jason Crow(D-CO). I supported you and gave you money -$400 to be exact. I did NOT do it for you to be a naysayer like the repub that you replaced. Go along and get along with leadership - at least long enough to show that you can be a decent team player. If you are good you will last and then you can stand your ground - when the issue or time is appropriate. Right now, we need some unity from us Dems in order to stop the madness that we elected you to prevent.
2
It's great that Speaker Pelosi has the gavel back in her hands. Her Greatness [Thanks, Krugman] will need it to beat her unified troops into line when the Investigate & Impeach hysteria breaks out shortly....Not that it matters, but would it trouble The Times too much to include such irrelevant things like facts when it reports on things like elections? One measly little sentence could have reported the vote totals without interrupting The Times' celebration too much...At least The Times did mention the names of the "more than a dozen", which in the real world turns out to be 15, traitors who didn't vote for Pelosi. It's good to start the hit list of deserters as The Speaker embarks on her crusade of unity, which will separate the believers from the enemy.
1
So, Nancy believes it's her job to take down the President by whatever means and obstruct anything the Reps come up with. I thought she was a member of the House of Representatives, supporting local needs of her constituents in CA. It is not for her, Dems, or even Reps to investigate or impeach Trump. The investigation into Russian collusion sits squarely with Mueller, who is spending millions of tax payer dollars and will, hopefully, come to a conclusion soon. However, Nancy Pelosi's attitude and comments remind me more of a Water's type attitude (be rich, live rich, pretend to care about the poor, and spend one's day attacking a President, or anyone that doesn't agree with her liberal, progressive agenda). Yes, she got the ACA passed in the house and told the rest of us to suck it up, wait until it's passed, and then someone can read what was signed into law. Still reeling from cost increases and poorer care as hospitals buy up all the doctor's offices and give them a quota for how to examine a patient while they pile on hospital charges that I never had before the ACA. Nope, cannot think of anything Pelosi has done that is positive except for garnering large donations from large companies that she embraces in private and shuns in public.
1
Does anyone, even conservatives, have any doubt in their hearts that Pelosi is more honest, caring, informed and intelligent than Trump?
4
The Ungracious Republicans! They cannot even stand, let alone clap to welcome Nancy Pelosi as the new Speaker of the House. But can't blame them. They are what they are because even President Obama was not spared by calling him a "liar" at the State of Union address. They are incapable of even decorum, forget about civility in our politics today. But that is the order now with a ranting President Trump to lead the way.
Congratulations Madame Speaker, Nancy Pelosi!
2
i have no doubt that Madison, Hamilton, Adams, Paine, Jefferson, et al would be appalled at the personal self-aggrandizement on display in Congress and in the White House. Platitudes in finitum, trappings of too much power everywhere, limousines, body guards, etc, etc. where is the humility? where is the elected citizen who says thank you and leaves after two terms? it is sickening to watch. and not surprisingly, these "people" end up being millionaires! For Shame!!
Are the Congress and the Congressional and White House staff people being paid during this shutdown?
If so, these people, particularly the White House staff people and the Republican staff people in Congress should be suffering with no paychecks just like all the hard-working federal employees who are being held hostage by Trump and the Republicans in Congress.
Can the NYT please report if the White House and Congressional staff people are being paid while federal employees are not?
3
I still think that the Democrats made the right choice in re-selecting her; THEN I watched the clip of Pelosi accepting the gavel -- and in her very first words, maybe even the first sentence, she promise improvement work on ... WHAT? Gun control and LGBTQ issues, etc. This is how you lose us Nancy, this is how you lose for the Democrats, and why Trump won. I voted for Hillary (holding my nose), but unless we get a more real, economics focused, Dem candidate, I may have to vote for Trump in 2020. Talk about holding my nose ...
1
1. Ms. Speaker is not running for President; she is laying out priorities for the 116th Congress
2. “Liberty and justice for all” is a top priority for all Americans—or should be. It’s the founding principle of our country. It has been applied imperfectly through the ages, but that just means we need to keep working on it; which is precisely what Ms. Speaker intends to do.
Don’t know if you’ve ever been a member of a group that’s been discriminated against in your lifetime, but I have, and I assure you it piles a ton of extra work on a person. And economic policies in an unequal society are by nature unsound.
1
I remember how outraged progressives were when McConnell said he wanted to make Obama a "one-term president". Those same people are now cheering a vulgar impeachment call. Principles that blow in the political wind are rarely taken seriously.
3
Finally, a reliable "check and balance" to the Republican freak-show that has been for the last two years!
Godspeed Ms Pelosi! The sane portion of the Electorate is behind You!
2
As President Lincoln said, “a country divided against itself cannot stand.” All political parties must come together as one America, under God, and maintain correct decency and morality for the sake of our little children and the future of our country.
Why does separation of church and state exist? Blessed be those that believe in His name: who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
There was another historic event as Nancy was sworn into the Speaker of the House. This officially ended what had to be one of the worst Speaker's terms in the history of the House. Paul Ryan slinked away into oblivion where he will be quickly forgotten. His crowning achievement during his tenure was a tax bill that will increase our national debt by about $2 trillion dollars over the next 10 years. It was a huge giveaway to corporations and the 1%. In other words, he accomplished nothing positive for the Country while Speaker. He was a complete failure and as it turns out as even a congressman. Good riddance.
3
Passing a rule that legislation be paid for with taxes or spending cuts plays into the hand of Republicans who are always against debt when Democrats are in power and always for debt when Republicans are in power. (The Party of Trump has doubled the deficit that Obama cut in half and reached ar record debt of $2 trillion yesterday.) They do this to limit the power of Democrats to spend money for political support, while they buy the support of global corporations with debt financed tax cuts.
On the other hand, borrow and spend is bad policy, enriching global banks with interest payments. Debt finance spending plays into the hand of global banks.
The left should look at tree bigger picture and demand new taxes on global corporations, especially the global banks who received $3 trillion in NET free money from the Federal Reserve over the last ten years. New money created by the Fed, through Treasury, belongs to We the People, not global banks, and we should be clawing back that $3 trillion. Half of it could be used to bring debt down to a reasonable level, and the other half should be used to convert healthcare to single payer, which gets better results for 60% of what we are already praying per citizen. (Coincidently the government already pays 60% of healthcare costs here, which means we could have better care for everyone, for what he government already spends, so individuals and businesses could ago stop paying premiums!)
the change of control in the house of representatives will hopefully provide the checks and balances that have been absent for the last two years. i think the passing of funding bills and a continuing resolution last night are positives that put some pressure on the senate and the president since they were, for the most part, agreed to already and would put the government back to work. but that might not work. the president and senate leader sound like a voice from the past - "i voted for it before i voted against it."
at the same time, the profanity used by Representative Rashida Tlaib can't be excused. i'm no fan of the president, but how are the democrats supposed to take the high road when a remark like that is made? it's counter to what michelle obama said - when they go low, we go high. i'm sure the right leaning news and politicians are going to make hay from it. it only makes compromise more difficult than it already is.
I applaud the fact that Democrats can see past the misogyny of the Right and elect Ms. Pelosi as Speaker. A powerful, respected and experienced female leader--and she did it. Nothing the Republicans and Trump hate more than a strong female leader. Brace yourself for the Pelosi attacks come election time.
1
Pelosi can push through all the budgets she wants but they are just for show, They still have to get by the Senate and Trump. Trump plays hard. Ask China, Mexico, and Canada. He promised voters he would get a wall and unlike the typical politicians, works to keep his word. He's not like Bush One who ran on "No new taxes" and then poured the taxes on us. In this shut down case of the government, Trump commented that most of the government employees who won't get a pay check are Democrats. Pelosi has choices. She could find a way to work with Trump or just spend the next two years trying to get back at him for defeating their candidate and carrying with him both houses of Congress. If Trumps gets some funding and builds a wall, it may prove to be a failure and then the Democrats can say "Told you." In a functioning congress, having a split can work to the country's best interest. It places a check on both sides. What comes out is a consensus rather than a bludgeon through bill.
1
I am usually the read and digest, but don't comment person when it comes to politics, but I am outwardly thrilled about the below...
"to require that any policy mandating new funding be accompanied with corresponding tax increases or spending cuts."
Regardless of what you believe and what you think, it is imperative that the government not spend money it doesn't have. I am floored that up until this point, large spending bills have been passed with no talk of where that money is coming from. What does that tell our citizens? That they can spend money they don't have and rack up debt. The government does it, racking up national debt, so it must be okay.
I hope that this new rules is upheld. We have checks and balances of power. Let's have checks and balances of funding and spending as well.
What the GOP is scared of is Speaker Pelosi's capability to run the House. Set aside your opinion on her political positions and focus on her ability to manage the 435 members of her organization, even if some of them will only participate after a hissy fit that makes a 4-year-old look mature. That is the capability that makes the GOP nervous. That plus the horror of being lead by a woman! Because the members of the TEA party have no interest in effectively running the government they have no one in their ranks to match her skills and manage their opposition. I expect a lot of delay of game tactics as the GOP attempts to run out the clock on Speaker Pelosi.
1
“'Let’s not waste the time,' said Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader."
This should be engraved on Mitch's tombstone. He always did find democracy a waste of time. Being forced to listen to people present opinions and facts you disagree with on topics that don't affect you personally is SUCH a drag. It's time better-spent pushing through tax breaks for his rich donors--and isn't that the whole reason he's in Washington in the first place?
2
So proud of Nancy Pelosi and the new, diverse, Congress. It seems like a breath of fresh air has swept through Washington.
I truly hope the Speaker embraces, and welcomes the young energy of the new members, and does not underestimate their influence, as Joe Crowley did in our District.
We also have a breath of fresh air in Queens, with the stench of Crowley and the Queens Machine lifted, and Ocasio-Cortez being sworn in. She brought democracy back to our District. We have not had a legitimately, democratically elected Congress person in 20 years, as Crowley "inherited" his seat in a dirty deal, and any Queens pol can tell you that his "henchmen" intimidated all viable opposition off the ballot for two decades. They underestimated Ocasio-Cortez and arrogantly ignored debates and her movement. Pelosi should not make the same mistake. The younger generation will no put up with "same old Washington", or the likes of corporate, self-serving Dems like Crowley, who corruptly used their office, courts, and more, to enrich family and friends, and planned to sit there for life They want a Washington that works for the people.
I hope Nancy Pelosi leaves a legacy of helping the younger members achieve some of their dreams, thus encouraging youth in our country to seek public office. Now our youth see a broken system. Let's show them that we are a country that can get things done - let's give them hope.
I
2
I commented earlier about Speaker Pelosi's eloquent, inclusive speech, but upon reviewing video of it find myself even more frustrated by Republicans' intransigence. Throughout her speech most GOP members sat looking down at their phones, not even pretending to listen respectfully or attentively. They do not clap even for an excerpt by their hero Ronald Reagan! When Speaker Pelosi is thanking minority leader McCarthy, he too sits and looks at his phone not even making eye contact in the minute after taking his seat. The disrespect is palpable and incredibly disheartening. Can they even try, for just a few short hours to show their willingness to forge ties and work together? As a long time high school teacher I can tell you that if my students were this disrespectful to each other during a presentation they would hear a lecture from me and lose points as poor audience members. Perhaps this is part of our problem--when people choose to emulate, support and enable a rude, vulgar, crass and mean-spirited leader like the President has shown himself to be, they soon appear to become like that themselves. Or perhaps they always were and so his behavior simply mirrors their own. (And so many of them call themselves Christians. Oh the irony!) Bipartisanship requires both sides, not merely Democrats endlessly compromising.
1
This Pelosi Congress should absolutely not be "bipartisan and unifying." Spurn Republicans make no deals. Do nothing for them. The country can take it.
Get rid of them as fast as possible, regardless of cost.
1
Did I miss something and we elected Pelosi as president this week? She's the leader of the majority party in the leser part of Congress. The Republicans control the Executive Branch, Senate, Judiciary, state Governorships, etc. A little perspective here. Don't count your chickens just yet. You'll regret it.
1
Nancy Pelosi wasted no time in discussing the impeachment and indictment of President Trump. This obviously has been on her mind and the minds of the Democrats. She cannot even enjoy her winning once again as speaker without attacking President Trump. She should be concentrating on improving the country as promised to her supporters and not going after our president.
She is sounding more like Maxine Waters and Jerrold Nadler and less like the leader she was elected to be. She should tone done this rhetoric and act like the adult in the room. If she wants to be taken seriously by the people, she should stop this impeachment talk. Do what you were elected to do and serve the people.
4
@WPLMMT
She answered questions posed to her by a journalist, and she actually answered the questions instead of trying to skirt around them. Did you listen to what she said? A very intelligent answer re impeachment, which is on many people's minds, your own included. It is a question that needed to be asked, and she answered it honestly.
12
@WPLMMT So should Donald act like an adult in the room, too?
8
Impeachment talk on the part of Democrats drove the Blue Wave in November and led directly to Ms. Speaker’s second term.
Perhaps you are comfortable with a president who lies multiple times per day, surrounds himself with corrupt advisers, is himself corrupt (cf the Trump Foundation) and is enriching himself with tax dollars via charges ranging from golf carts to office space in Trump Tower. But many of us have had more than enough of it.
17
She sounded the way a President should sound. I find her very quick and sharp and respectful to the office she holds. I look forward to watching her this year.
4
Ms. Nancy Pelosi is not only a VERY smart, courageous woman she is a true humanitarian and a fabulous leader.
WE THE PEOPLE are beyond lucky that she has served us so honorably for many years and has agreed to continue to lead us out of the quagmire the Robber Barons have us in.
Thanks to her and all the other newly elected - and veteran - lawmakers who are Socially Conscious and will work to make life better for 99.9% of Americans and average/poor people around the world.
That is the kind of United States of America most of us want.
3
Pelosi made the right noises for the NYTs and their ever hopeful desire that the defunct Mueller investigation might show some Russian involvement in Trump's maddening election. And as the neo cons spread their malign influence in the Democratic establishment one con only hope that the new class of Democrats will stop this.
I have simpler hopes—for example, I hope folks’ll learn someday that adjectives aren’t an argument.
1
Historic moment. Wonderful moment. Now Nancy, read our lips, "DO NOT FUND THAT WALL." America must not fund the lies of a president. Newspapers should keep putting before the American people that Trump said Mexico would fund the wall. Please, please do not let him change the narrative. He said Mexico would fund the wall. Without those funds, NO WALL!!!
4
McConnell, who knows quite well how to waste time and tax dollars doing nothing of substance, will now have to face the repercussions of the new Republican tax cut that causes nothing but hardship for children and the working poor.
The Republican subsidy for corporations and the wealthy cannot stand if we are to work for the common good and general welfare of ALL Americans. Passing the tax cut that significantly raised the national debt without, at the very least, any clear pathway for a major infrastructure plan, better public schools, and medical insurance cost containment is gravely irresponsible on his part.
McConnell is accountable for his wasted time at the helm of the Senate and the poor performance of his party that had control over Congress for the past two years. All we really got was a move to put more mercury in the air and particulate matter
from coal in our lungs.
3
Like her or hate her, you've got to give Pelosi credit for doing something not done in 60 years. And the grandmother of nine, has a sharp 78 year strategic mind. As her first piece of business on her first day as Speaker, after quoting Reagan, she passes two Bills that bi-partisanly fund 7/8 remaining Departments while agreeing to negotiate on DHS, and wall, funding over next 30 days. Pointing out that the seven passed Bills have already passed the Republican held Senate. Schumer should take lessons from her. Now the ball and 550,000 furloughed workers is right in Mitch McConnel's lap.
6
the newly installed House speaker, who said she would give no more than a dollar to fund what she branded “an immorality.”
Woe is all of us when even a big hunk on concrete suddenly becomes a matter of righteousness. Let the Holy War begin. Move over ISIS.
2
@John Doe
Never mind the fact that she finds something that is, essentially, an enforcement mechanism of our laws "immoral". Is she implying enforcing immigration laws is actually "immoral"? A very misguided statement.
1
I was puzzled by the reference to the color of the dress Ms. Pelosi was wearing. I do not remember references to the color of the suit or tie that males are wearing.
7
Like her or hate her, you've got to give Pelosi credit for doing something not done in 60 years. And the grandmother of nine, has a sharp 78 year strategic mind. As her first piece of business on her first day as Speaker, after quoting Reagan, she passes two Bills that bi-partisanly fund 7/8 remaining Departments while agreeing to negotiate on DHS funding, and the wall, over next 30 days. Pointing out that the seven passed Bills have already passed the Republican held Senate. Schumer should take lessons from her. Now the ball and 550,000 furloughed workers is right in Mitch McConnel's lap.
He has already said he wouldn't bring it up because the President won't sign it. The meeting at 11:30 AM at the White House should be very interesting. Trump and Mulvaney against Pelosi and a subdued Schumer.
Stay tuned.
1
It is said that Congress' power lies in its constitutional control of governments spending, the so-called power of the purse. The current attempt by the House to outwit Trump will provide dramatic proof that Congress' power has been completely dissipated by the penchant of its members to buy votes and stay in office by means of special-interest and constituent spending. Congress critters, and especially those of the Democrat subspecies (Republicans are 1% less addicted to spending other people's money than Dems), can no longer use their power of the purse to rein in a dictatorial president because withholding federal funds from being spent means withholding the substance to which they are addicted and which keeps them in office.
If the Senate and Trump don't flinch; if they defeat the House's silly attempt to force Trump's hand, rest assured that Trump will win the power struggle simply because the Dems can't refrain from spending any more than an opioid drug addict can quit cold turkey.
Because Congress is drunk on spending, the House has no power to control Trump, at least not until the next election. And if the Dems choose a tax-and-spend progressive or socialist, Trump will not only win the who-blinks-first contest, the nation will have to put up with him through 2004.
1
@Ned Nettervillethe Congress would have to be drunk and insane to vote to spend money on a wall. With the 5billion they will save when Mexico pays for the wall they can vote to spend that savings on something that will actually benefit Americans. Perhaps improvements and updates in infrastructure that would provide jobs while making roads highways and existing structures safer.
@Ned Netterville After Trump backs down you should try to rethink things. Clever wordplay (addiction) is no substitute for actual thinking.
If she really wants bi-partisan support then the Democrats have to drop identity politics and represent people. The people have as little support for the complete Democratic agenda as they do for the Republican agenda. Free healthcare, free tuition, and expanded benefits are not a financial reality without some constraint.
There is also nothing wring with the immigration laws of this country. The laws are fine, implementation is a major problem. People coming over the border illegally is a problem, especially when they include their children in the equation. We can't take in every person who doesn't like the way their country is run. That has, historically, been the impetus for revolution and change.
4
@Richard Fleishman, people, as an identity, is not good enough. Please be more specific as each is its own unique and special creation that deserves individual special celebration. Once we understand that, it’s easy to plan a party.
3
Yeah, and then we can pass out the free healthcare. Also, balloons and Trump’s tax returns.
1
Republicans still in office should tread lightly. Many fled before the ethics charges against them could be refiled, but many remain.
People like Jordan, Gaetz, Meadows, Nunes, and McConnell are almost certainly going to be swept up in the probes of the rampant criminality occurring both in the open and behind the scenes of the Republican swamp.
In addition, we the people voted for Democrats during the historic midterms in a bigger margin than any previous midterm in the nation's history. We want nothing that Republicans are offering, and the Blue Tsunami of 2018 will be more than repeated in 2020, especially if Republicans continue with their failed policies and continue to obstruct justice regarding the crime syndicate operating out of our White House
5
Pelosi is not “at the fulcrum of a bitterly divided body politic”. She is opposing an unelected Oligarchy of bonkers billionaires who run the GOP and a huge disinformation machine that defines reality for the 40% of voters glued to Fox & Friends, Trump’s tweets, and Rush Limbaugh.
13
Trump must be apoplectic that a woman — a WOMAN! — has ascended to the ranks of Speaker of the House of Representatives, a smart, articulate, visionary woman who has America's best interests at heart. He has failed at every turn, from the horrendous wall and infrastructure to the explosive deficit. Kudos to Nancy Pelosi and best wishes to her as she confronts the least-qualified person to ever occupy the White House. At long last there is a light at the end of this long, evil tunnel called the Trump administration.
6
Yes, it is historic.
But what a disappointment for the Democratic Party.
I had higher hopes for the future. I'm not so certain anymore.
2
The headline should read: "Pelosi leads House vote to reopen government. Responsibility to reopen now lies squarely with McConnell and the Senate."
7
The Republicans better pay attention. If for some reason both Trump and Pence are removed (election invalidated?) then their favorite lady will become president.
2
@farhorizons,
Dream on. My vote will never be invalidated. I voted for President Trump because I chose him over Hillary Clinton, and my vote is as good as yours. I did not colluded with anyone.
2
Having five children and umpteen grandchildren has well-equipped her to handle the baby-in-chief. You go girl!
4
The contrast between the Pelosi led House trying to legislate a "progressive" agenda and the McConnell led Senate trying to block that legislation will be powerful. Progressive legislation for the benefit of the masses (e.g. health care) always appears better than recalcitrant blockades by reactionary (aka Conservative) forces that oppose progress. McConnell is playing to Trump's base, but that may really hurt Republicans in Congress.
5
While I support and celebrate not only the election of Nancy Pelosi to Speaker of the House; and the diversity of the whole Democratic Party; they have one hell of a lot of work to do. Not the least of which is in dealing with the demagogue in the White House. I read and hear how it will be challenging for the Democrats to work with Trump; "When" will somebody start challenging Trump and the G.O.P. to grow up and work with this new Congress that the American people so powerfully voted for in great numbers in November. This is where the rubber hits the road. Trump cannot hide behind the rubber stamp G.O.P. sycophants any longer. Now we will see if Trump can be a competent leader or as I suspect is going to prove he is (and will always be) totally unfit to be President; and a disgrace to the U.S.!
4
Unfortunately the Democrats have no solutions. The economy is booming, and they have nothing to say.
2
The economy was already doing well under President Obama. And he had to spend his first term mopping up George Bush and Dick Cheney's economic mess. And the stock market performed much better under President Obama...whose family life was impeccable and whose cabinet had not a whiff of scandal. What short memories Republicans have.
1
This religion of diversity the media subscribes to and perpetuates is tiresome.
I don't care about diverse. I care about smarts, effectiveness, and love and protection of country. And putting the interests of US citizen and voters first.
2
Thing is, those good things you list, and diversity, are not mutually exclusive.
4
@Andy Democrats are able to walk and chew gum at the same time.
Trump claims that the unpaid federal workers are all Democrats. Well, Donnie, if they aren't already, they soon will be.
18
Mrs. Pelosi rose to power only because of her politically powerful Maryland family with good connections and plenty of money.
I had to work very hard to get where I am today. She was handed her good luck on a silver platter. Call it ‘working class envy’, if you wish, but I don’t trust the judgement of an elitist and I find her rather hypocritical - her comment about her grandson wishing for dark skin was rather stupid.
She does not represent me or the million other working class American women. But I do wish her well.
3
@Luise C.
I agree. It's a shame when someone from a wealthy family who has never worked a day in their life and has no qualifications and considers a loan of one million dollars to be small then purports to champion the cause of the working class. I mean, it's possible, but unless I see her eating a bucket of fried chicken aboard a private jet there's no way I can relate to her at all.
10
@Luise C. Yeah, everyone with strong Maryland connections automatically makes it to the top of the heap. Maryland is such a power horse.
1
The Senate will not vote on the measures passed by the house to reopen the government. We can take that to the bank.
Consider Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He doesn't DO problem solvung, even when the proposal is simply to re-vote what the Senate over which he presides previously approved by a near-unanimous vote.
Mitch McConnell plays partisan games, wrapping them up in absurd rhetoric that would put late night comedy to shame. That is his skill set, the only one he possesses. As for governance, he couldn't care less.
If he cared, he would do his job and actually govern.
5
Hip hip hooray, for Pelosi and the Democrats! We are jubilant. They will lead us out of this wilderness of corruption, greed and foreign policy directed by our foes, back to a sensible government of the people, by the people, for the people. The National Republican Congressional Committee better be very careful the advertisements they are propagating, as they have supported Trump and his corrupt cabinet for two years with no oversight to ethics violations and outright illegalities. NO more. As Pelosi said, nothing will be done for purely political reasons, as the Republicans, including McConnell did to the Obama Administration, but Congress is authorized to conduct critical oversight and check/balance the power of the chief executive and his administration by our Constitution. It is time, actually way past time, as the Trump and his administration now has 17 separate investigations. Justice will be served. The day of reckoning is at hand. No more government leaders getting all they can, for as long as they can, while they can, even if the chief culprit be the President of the U.S. Those days are gone and will be forever referred to in history as the most corrupt of this republic. Not only corrupt but incompetent, as the only legislation they could manage with the majority in Congress was a tax cut for themselves and their donors (including corporations they gifted with deregulations that pollute our planet for our grandchildren).
4
Ah, we D's have done it again.
With many old the comments of support for Speaker Pelosi, it is my opinion we miss the point! And again, hand he R's their next campaign ads, and talking points.
My issue has nothing to do with Pelosi's "right" to the speakership, or what a great person and effective fighter she has been agains the R cult. Electing her to the speakership misses the point of the recent election: we MUST move away from our leaders of the past and provide new leaders in Congress, and thus thwart the R effective us of Pelosi as a liberal target.
Finally, the Democratic Party simply needs new leadership!
I submit Donald Trump's election as "Exhibit A"!
1
Here's an idea for Ms. Pelosi: Convince the president to go for the bill that separates Homeland Security by suggesting that if he isolates it, he can ask for even MORE money for a BIGGER, BETTER wall! Longer! Higher! Stronger! (If put in terms of a, well, you know, the president is bound to notice. And be flattered!) He's worried about looking foolish so if they play to his narcissism, his yowling base, and Fox News, bigger and better surely will get their approval. The result: The standoff will be over, the government will be funded, the president and his base will be mollified, and the rest of us will know (wink wink) that it doesn't matter how much money is requested, Congress never will go for it.
1
The first shot doesn’t bode well for ending partisan political grandstanding gridlock as it is aimed at appeasing the base and making the other side look bad with no hope of passing while giving plenty of fodder to the news media and political talk shows. Expect more of the same old DC politics for another two years.
1
"Representative Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan, voted for Ms. Pelosi for the “future of our children,” she said, while her own two children dabbed beside her."
A lovely coda but also a reminder that the fight is far from over. I mean, they love Saint Ronnie but would love even more to expunge from the record anything he may have said that contradicts contemporary GOP dogma. It seems that their ultimate goal is the preservation and transmission of their own birthright: the privilege that allows this nation's white Christian children to grow up to control the destinies of those who are other.
It's a pretty big prize and they are far from done fighting for it. Gird your loins and prepare for battle on all fronts. And voters: don't neglect any more midterms.
2
Nancy has the wind at her back and will show the world that you don't have to be a man to be tough. Trump has a fear of strong women and will tiptoe with Nancy. The Left is tired of being the whipping boy of The Right and is spoiling for a fight I have empathy for the workers not getting paid but this is a fight that needs to be fought. The Right has come to believe they have the right to run roughshod over the population centers of America. My hope is The Left truly realize that catering to the Rich and Powerful is no longer a winning hand. You Go, Nancy!
5
@Steven McCain Trump maybe thought it would be clear sailing after Merkel.
And in a separate comment, I truly hope that the people of Kentucky remember Senator Mitch McConnell come 2020. The people of Kentucky need to wake up and realize that you deserve better than a old goat who doesn’t care about the people of the nation, and especially the people of Kentucky. You supported a president who is doing so much harm to your state, allowing coal companies to start polluting your water and air again, killing your family and friends in the process, and you have voted that do-nothing McConnell into office over and over again. Is is responsible, along with trump, in destroying your state, shutting down the government, and trying to take away your healthcare. And that is only a small fraction of the horrible things that he has been trying to do to you. You deserve a local, state, and federal governments that is looking out for you and your family, and these republican representatives only care about corporations and the corruption they bring. Come 2020, make your voices heard that you will not stand for it anymore. Have those coal companies shuttered and new, thriving industry brought in. Companies that are not trying to kill you, your families and your friends with their pollution and the destruction of your planet that will be the nightmare for your children’s children.
6
To the refreshing Democratic House of Representatives:
Thank you for representing ALL of WE the People!
To the ladies of the House of Representatives:
You go gurls!
6
Congratulations to Nancy Pelosi, who stood up and started the counterpunching of the counterpunching president. Sour grapes to the Republicans who tried to portray her as the Satanic Demon from San Francisco, and in the process revealed themselves to be the misogynistic, head-in-the-sand resistance jerks they've barely covered up since 2016.
4
Congratulations Democrats! They pass bills that would OPEN THE GOVERNMENT! McConnell take up these bills in the Senate - it’s YOUR JIOB!
6
Finally, after two very long years, the adults have arrived back home to find their house in shambles after their babysitter in chief failed to look after the children, spent his entire time eating treats and watching TV, and then, invited some of his closest friends in to party on..It will take sometime to put the house back in order, but first, the returning parents will have to discipline their babysitter---maybe start with grounding him for a few weeks---and, make him do his homework every night.
7
The more I think about it Mrs Pelosi seems to be the writing on Donald Trumps Wall.
6
Make no mistake. Nancy Pelosi is the #1 money maker and she directs money to Congressmen/women who want it in return for their votes. Nothing new except to those who read the Times
1
The DND’s (Do Nothing Democrats) will spend all their time going after Trump and doing nothing for the country. Great! They will lose in 2020. They have no agenda except ”No”.
1
So the Democrats trying to fund government and do their jobs written into the Constitution to authorize budgets and oversee the military (which Republicans refuse to do) are now 'do nothing' compared to Republicans, who borrowed money to help the rich, increased the debt, won't investigated the corrupt administration and voted against Obamacare 50 times knowing it would get vetoed? Really?
What have they done about all the hospitals that closed in their states? What about so the Republican employers that bring the illegals in? Employers like Trump? Talk about hypocrisy.
9
This time, Nancy, bother to read the bill contents before voting to pass it so we can "see what's in it". You'll only be effective if you are informed.
1
What a great change to see the picture of Nancy Pelosi surrounded by all those children of different ethnicities and backgrounds. Such a refreshing change from seeing Trump at his rallies surrounded by nothing but White people with angry faces, jeering and mocking. When I saw the Pelosi photo, I saw the future. When I see Trump at a rally, I see the hateful past, when Whites mocked and taunted and insulted Black people who were just trying to eat at a lunch counter or go to school. I will be so relieved when the White supremacist in the White House is sent packing and our government will once again represent the true diversity that is America.
7
The gridlock begins in earnest. The only thing that was surprising was republican gridlock for the last two years.
1
Perhaps it's time for some creativity in government, so bear with me:
More Americans than anyone here is willing to admit want The Wall, and we recognize what it affords all of us in terms of national sovereignty and border security.
Under the current mutually immovable forces games in both Congress and the White House, however, even discussion about The Wall is impossible.
So here's the plan:
First: President Trump, in exchange for complete funding and complete construction of The Wall, declines to run for re-election in 2020. Suffice to say that considering his other 2016 campaign objectives, he's done much, so The Wall will be a nice going-away present. The swamp has proven virtually undrainable, but at least he gave pulling the plug a good try.
Next, the 'loyal' opposition in Congress agrees to close its time-wasting, futile efforts to impeach, indict or further harass President Trump. The Mueller inquisition, imploding under its own lack of purpose or law, goes away quietly.
In conclusion, the 2020 campaign suddenly opens up with fresh candidates, an election cycle free of venom, hate from both sides, and a real opportunity for both parties (Haley vs. Warren or other) to nominate a woman for President.
Who loses?
@JBMexico pays and Trump goes.
1
"The Mueller inquisition, imploding under its own lack of purpose or law, goes away quietly".
Yes because he hasn't found any witches in the "witch hunt"? The trumpster will be gone all right before 2020 but it won't be because of any deal made.
3
Take the plans now not only to the Senate but every US Rep should also take to every local news media possible. The plan must be heard by more than tweet followers. Sell the plan to all and discredit the wall. Get public buy in to forget the wall.
Keep the message simple. Voting is a deserved and precious freedom in the UnitedStates, and it must be fair. It must be that every citizen has equal access to equal voting systems for national elections. The case built should be a case of straightforward fairness.
At the same time, reiterate the preposterousness of the wall. Can 5 billion actually build a perfectly contiguous wall, prevent tunnels underneath and really be even modestly effective? Surely schools could use the bucks more than a silly monument to Trump.
3
She's smart, shrewd, a tough cookie, and a good planner. She's a steadying hand on the wheel. After this current crisis is overcome, I hope she will mentor a few potential successors, guide them to leadership positions, and then retire to enjoy other aspects of life as well.
3
I love how smart a strategist she is showing herself to be from the outset, surrounded by the future of America.
If Trump wants to pull off a campaign stunt with his wall rhetoric, he should either get a loan from Deutsche Bank (guaranteed by Russians, which he's done at least twice before when it comes to Trump's loans from Deutsche Bank) or get Mitch McConnell to pay for it.
7
@Jbugko
To clarify: Mitch McConnell should pay for it out of his own pocket.
Or he can seek more PAC money from Russia to pay for Trump's wall (either one, i.e., Trump OR Mitch).
"Pelosi Rises to Speaker, Firing First Shot With Vote to Reopen Government" (web home page link)
Please stop with the unnecessary gun language. There are so any other ways to say this using without "firing first shot".
9
Nancy makes Italian American women proud.
She learned “ the art of the deal”
from her dad and mom
Two classic deal makers.
Good honest hardworking
Nancy needs all the help she can muster from the media and the sleeping senate abuse victims.
Somebody tell those senators it is OK !!!!!
Mitch and don can’t hurt you anymore.
Leave the dark side and come into the light.
“A strong woman stands up for herself and everybody else too”
10
The NYSE celebrated the return of Nancy Pelosi by dropping 660 points . . .
3
There’s a lunar eclipse next week; also her fault. Best bang the gongs till the dragon leaves, eh?
6
@G. Andy Dancer THat is one way to see it as she is still not running the Country the stock Exchange is driven by Trump.....
2
May God Bless and Keep Queen P! Long may she reign!
4
"The late-night, nearly party-line votes on reopening the government began a pattern in an era of divided control, with a Democratic House passing legislation that has no chance of being signed by the Republican president, and the Republican Senate running interference to protect Mr. Trump."
What you are not saying, and should be in the above... is that the bill that Trump Toady McConnell won't allow the vote on is the same one that they Republicans passed unanimously before the real rulers (Limbaugh, Coulter, Ingraham) told Trump he couldn't sign it.
12
How our current presidential administration works:
CABINBOY: "Sir, we have a problem... the rudder isn't working and we're unable to steer..."
CAPTAIN: "Shoot the First Mate..."
CABINBOY: "Excellent, sir... that should solve the problem..."
8
No no no no no!
People are suffering! Hear them, see them, speak to that suffering, and first do something to alleviate that suffering.
First pieces of legislation should be infrastructure (jobs!) and health care (it’s obvious).
Once the House Democrats move these two important pieces of legislation on to the senate THEN take up voting rights and other issues.
First things first or people won’t trust you.
Our elections have been attacked. The Republicans have piled attacks on voting rights on top of that, and both parties have been gerrymandering. We have a Prez who’s got sketchy loans to about nineteen different foreign governments with whom he’s been cutting even sketchier deals, and won’t come clean about his finances.
Seems to me that “first,” is right about where this belongs.
1
@Cody
How convenient it must be for you to not mention the 800,000 workers getting shafted by Trump's campaign that he expects us to fund for him.
If Trump wants to run this presidency like a campaign on behalf of his neo-nazis, birthers, and KKK fans, he should do it with campaign funds.
Or another loan from Deutsche Bank (guaranteed by Russians, like the other ones he's obtained from that Bank).
Better yet, let Mitch McConnell pay for it.
What I don't trust is how you failed to mention working people in the public sector not getting paid.
2
@Jbugko
You make some valid points about first steps to take. I do take issue with your comment about Federal workers. As a retired Fed with 38 years of service I went through many of these polically motivated furloughs (or at times was essential and worked without pay) and got paid every time. I’m confident that the currently effected 800k Federal workers will get paid as well. I’m more concerned about the tens of millions of folks who don’t have decent jobs, period, and are having increasing difficulty accessing health care with all of the Republican efforts to repeal, replace and/or seriously damage the ACA.
McConnell is reprising his behaviour towards Obama...refusing to cooperate with anything that does not go along with his hard right wing agenda. His face looks very unhealthy: his skin is shiney and red. I do not believe it is TV makeup. I sure prefer our Canadian parliamentary system to your non functional system.
4
You can bet, with Trump showing up in that late-afternoon 'quasi-press-conference' to let his 'base' know, to re-affirm for them, he'll never let a woman, any woman, let alone Nancy Pelosi, grab the stage from beneath his feet without a fight,
Trump's been informed his poll numbers, according to the grand Poo-Bah of Polls, Nate Silver's '538' Poll, he's slipped mightily amongst 'Likely Voters'.
There is now a glaring 11 point difference between his UnFavorability and Favorability rating, an increase of more than 5 points since November 27, 2018.
And forget those'rust-belt' types who foolishly thought he had their best interests in mind when he made all those silly promises to get their old, outdated jobs back.
The difference is those voters who took a chance on Trump believing he'd surround himself with a Cabinet filled with savvy types who could navigate and chart those waters he knew nothing about. Well, we all know he surrounded himself with a bunch of dummies he could push around.
And now he's circling his one wagon, his own, and beginning to look pathetic in the process. The end is coming and he knows it.
11
“You don’t applaud for Ronald Reagan?” Brilliant Nancy just brilliant. Throw it right back in their morally corrupt faces.
“There is no joy in Mudville” aka GOP
10
Say it with me boys and girls. First step investigate. Second step impeach. Third step imprison Donald J. Trump. See Trump supporters it easy as 1,2, and 3.
3
I wish I had a grandma like Nancy!
2
Our wish for every kid. A grandma like Nancy. Love this comment. Thank you!
MIMA
any politician, republican or democrat, using the term "immorality" is a hypocrite of the highest order. For a very long time now, Congress has been the largest collection of corrupt, self-serving liars ever seated together in one building. "What should I say to get me re-elected?" is the only concern these people have.
1
Any question now why republicans were so opposed and tried so desperately to smear Nancy Pelosi ahead of the 2018 midterms?
6
We finally have someone (Pelosi) in a position of power in the congress who is willing and capable of playing our nitwit president like a fiddle. For 2 years, only foreigners (Putin, Xi, Kim, MbS, etc) have been playing our nitwit president. Ryan and McConnell were complicit. Ryan got out while the getting was good. McConnell is not as clever, and is in for a bumpy ride.
Seeing Trump taken down by a woman will be beyond ironic, leaning toward majestic. -Barking Doggerel
5
Trump and four of his billionaire friends could easily fund $5 billion for his precious TrumpWall — ending this foolish shutdown. If the Wall is the physical legacy he craves, let him buy it himself — or make one of his famous “deals” so Mexico can pay for it.
These United States could better use that $5 billion to pay down the deficit Trump helped increase — not to build Trump’s Folly!
5
@WestHartfordguy I rather recommend Trump building his own Pyramid.
2
100 years from the year Women finally got the right to vote
5
Perhaps you could remind Senator Mike Lee and Minority Leader McCarthy that the House was open and voting tonight! They were tweeting and spouting on Fox that the Dems has gone home.
5
Finally someone willing to punch Trump right on the nose without fear from the bully. Thank you Nancy, keep up the good work. Time to get those stuck in the mud white boys out of Congress. Time to make our country great again. Keep on leading the way.
7
Remember the Seinfeld joke, where George realizes he possesses an ability to get you stuck on him? Co..stanza.
Pelosi.
I predict Nancy Pelosi will become a national hero in her current re-elected speakership. She will expose Trump for the weak buffoon he is.
4
Same old same old!
1
@J L S But not same caliber and gender.
1
Not a fan of Nancy.....but on Day 1 of the 116th Congress she has shown amazing backbone. Hope she stays smart and doesn’t let up on the gas pedal.
6
It is ironic that your Trumaloony govt.shutdown is a creation of your government. It is in essence a partial general strike. General strikes are illegal.in Canada because in the Winnipeg General Strike of 15 May 1919 to 25 June 1919 people died. I think it is conceivable that people could die in Trump's self induced fiasco
1
What a spectacular shot of all those children surrounding Pelosi for the oath. I wish the kids in those detention camps could’ve joined them.
3
Brilliant move to have the kids come up. After all that's what it's all about. The kids, the future, the health of the planet for them. A picture is worth a thousand words and to see those little ones of many ethnicities up there was very moving and a blow to narrow mindedness and hate.
7
Democratic freshman Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, you're first impression was a bust.
Vote for the Democrat, vote for the Republican but don't vote Present. That was a cowardly move, a move that accomplished nothing for your district, your state or the country.
2
I'm sure even Trump can understand one simple fact: Nancy's base is much, much bigger than Donald's teeny tiny base. Game on.
4
A woman's place is not in the home but in the HOUSE!!!
8
I don’t think many people are going to forget that White House scene and how Pelosi made trump play the fool and completely outfoxed him. Time for payback for all women against trump.
6
The words of her daughter today are prescient. "She'll cut your head off." Nothing about her is anything other than a pure grab for power.
1
The mantra for Pelosi should be, "Investigate, Impeach, and Imprison Donald J. Trump.
4
@damon walton
The GOP is praying for this exact thing. Progressives are always the last to know.
Any government shutdown is a act of cowardice and failure. What deal is there to he made with this pathetic „President“? A deal to dig him out of his hole? The country is being led on by a cowardly bully and a weak and arrogant self-serving „wiley tactician“. The currency situation, three shutdowns into this presidency, shows that this President has failed the country, made a mockery of the oath he took and reveals just what a miserable individual he really is. Mitchell McConnell is on the way to surpassng him. Ditto the Republican Party members who support them. The responsibility for the misery and risk they have created lies entirely with them. And serves as a measure of how Republicans have miserably failed their country. Is that what Senators were voted in for? Republican Senators who continue to play party politics instead of acting immediately to restore law and order and working with the House majority for the good of the nation and in the interest of citizens should be stripped of office.
3
How refreshing to see women and people of color being sworn in to serve as Representatives in the US House. We will never have fair or rational governance until our legislators look like the beautiful diversity that is this country. Old white men have sold the majority of Americans out for far, far too many years to be left in power and the nation must move forward or die.
I do find it interesting that the latest gang of demented Republicans won't even stand behind the words of their demigod Ronald Regan. I thought that he was a retrograde imbecile but now even he is starting to look pretty good in comparison to the current crop of Republicans in government.
6
As a disenfranchised, hard core democrat I demand to see one indictment a week come down the pipe for our bloviator in cheif. Get er done Nancy!
3
This may come as a shock, but Congress cannot issue indictments.
3
We have our woman president. It's Nancy Pelosi.
4
Nancy is beautiful. Let's hope that she can change the terrible lack of health care in this country. It's a shame that Kroger employees have to work one year before they can be eligible for health care. When I get laid off, who is going to help me with my cold, my Flu, my bronchitis, my broken leg, my broken thumb? Who is looking out for us? No one. Hopefully we can get Obama Care back soon. I want to have my own business but I can't because my spouse owns his own company and I have a full time job. But if I get laid off we are in big trouble. This is what I have a hard time dealing with. Lack of health care! If you are a creative person and want to run your own business, then you're out of luck....the other insurance companies are going to charge you a lot of money. Maybe your revenues cannot afford that healthcare for you and your employees. What gives?
4
I didn't think Pelosi should be speaker again until I saw her stand up to trump, made me proud to be a DEM. Senator Mitch McConnell is the really bad guy in the room. As the leader of the Senate he only plans to bring bills to the floor that trump approves of to protect his felloe GOP Senators from voting. Doesn't sound like that's representing the American people!
12
Congratulations to Nancy Pelosi, our speaker of the house and all of my fellow Democrats. It is time to get busy, end the government shutdown, health care for all, climate, and education. Go Nancy!!
6
what a picture!!! on one side a joyful colourful enthusiastic hopeful crowd of all ages genders and races on the other a grey group of cheerless liveless stagnant elderly men who cannot even bring themselves to give applause to their new speaker and collegues...
9
Democrats must not waste time with impeachment; they must deliver some benefits for all Americans: on healthcare, infrastructure, middle class tax benefits, DACA. Otherwise the Rupukes will say they are the party of vengeance.
2
Well, as usual, the Times couldn’t write an article about Congress without mentioning their star, AOC. Meanwhile, the real work will get done quietly behind the scenes. Good luck to Speaker Pelosi and her caucus. Let’s hope the Republicans can set aside their misogyny for legitimate opposition when considering legislation for the nation in the people’s house.
2
Thanks for publishing the names of Dem opponents of Speaker Pelosi. Now I will know who not to support when the inevitable requests for $$ start to come in.
3
Mitch McConnell, the stage is yours.
Simply put, you have the option to either:
1) Fund government for a year - except for Homeland Security - for a year according to a plan previously approved by unanimous acclimation by both parties; or'
2) Continue to shut down numerous departments of government to satisfy Donald Trump and his single-issue, fundamentalist base.
Will you be wise, and give a great speech? Or will you turn away and mumble incoherently in lock step with the uninformed, knee-jerk, pure Trump base?
9
Her election just proves that money and power can buy you anything. One does not have to be intelligent, being rich is enough.....she bought it with promises and wheeling and dealing.
1
@MaryMary I have to say, it worked for Trump.
2
@MaryMary
In the end, progressives are easily appeased. As long as you "stand up to Trump" you can be all those other things they normally despise in politicians.
I've begun to think this should be called the McConnell shutdown. He has abdicated his constitutionsl responsibility as a Senator to be part of the Checks and Balances system vis a vis the President. The Senator is behaving more like a party leader than a member of the Senate. He should do his duty or be voted out next election. Or maybe the Dems should start by impeaching him.
8
Nancy who? What do I care? After John Boehner and Paul Ryan I'm starting to miss Newt Gingrich. At least Newt had a spine. Nancy may not be a progressive saint, but if she's a vertebrate of some sort then I'll be happy.
2
@Ian Carvin Newt may have had a spine but less ethics and decency than almost any other member of Congress. In a class by himself.
3
My hope is that some of the Republicans in the House realize that they owe the RNC and the GOP nothing . But they owe their Country to live up to their Oath of Office that requires them to vote in the best interest of the Citizens, not their Party.
I know that is a big hope, but surely some of them have a conscience and a heart.
I also hope that a few of the Republican Senators decide that they have a duty to the Government Employees to fund the Government, not to Mitch McConnell or Trump. Both of these characters, who lack character, deserve to be removed from office. They have, on purpose, put the financial and mental well being of these Government Employees in jeopardy, because of a WALL that has been proven will not keep Illegal Immigrants out of the Country. It seems as if both McConnell and trump forgot that Mexico is going to pay for the wall
They need to stop the farce and start doing what they swore to do. That is Govern for all, not for the few Ideologues.
McConnell and Trump cannot be gone to soon.
4
[[Pelosi Rises to Speaker, Firing First Shots in Era of Divided Government]]
I suppose theres no hope that the phrase "Era of Divided Government" will be retired any time soon.
It's a lazy and cliche phrase at this point that it's meaningless.
2
Old, shrill and out of touch......are we expected to believe that Pelosi is the BEST the democrats could find for the position? There's not a single person we could have given the position to?
As usual, no change,just more of the same.
Look for continued gridlock and no progress.
Gee whizzz...
2
Pelosi can surround herself with children till the cows come home. It doesn't change the fact that she is a very old woman, near 80, and a relic of failed democrats past. Her bitter, confrontational style is ineffective. Trump will play her like a puppet. Her leadership is tepid and plodding at best. The democrats had a chance to infuse some fresh air in to their stagnant, musty party. Instead of looking for new fresh leadership like a Kathleen Rice from NY, they chose the same tired old path. Too bad.
2
@Steve
Using youth as a prop was a very clever move for someone born in 1940. Gender tends to dazzle too. All in all, a beautiful PR stunt.
She already caved on not having Medicare for all. Get rid of her.
I bet you cannot even define the term correctly.
2
Congratulations Madame Speaker. I'm sure you will do a terrific job for the country.
So happy to have Paul Ryan out of Congress - what a disgrace to the job - accomplished little beyond cutting taxes for the wealthy, will probably get a rich payoff that that one. I guess we should be glad he was too incompetent to destroy SS and Medicare/Medicaid - also on his agenda.
8
Republicans need to write trump. We elected these people to represent us not Trump and what he wants. A rubber stamp is tyranny. Why bother having a house and senate or do you choose tyranny? Get the government back in operation. Stop choosing tyranny. We are saying No, respect that. He can negotiate for his wall after.
3
Back to business as usual. The Democrats had a chance to insert some new blood and went for the same old system that lost them the presidency.When will there party wake up? They won the house and then put in a career politician to run them. Sad
“... formally award her the gavel she gave up in 2011.”
The gavel is not hers to “give up”: she lost it when Republicans became the majority party in the House. Let’s be clear, please.
1
I cannot say I am a fan of Nancy Pelosi, I believe she is nothing more than a out-of-touch extremely wealthy woman who cannot be trusted, but at least she has experience and the bills she wishes to introduce are bills I fully support and are much needed. If they don’t pass both the House and Senate and signed by frump you should completely see, even if you are a republican, that republican lawmakers and that person sitting in our White House don’t care about the people and what the people want. You should plainly see that they are corrupt and fully support corruption, unfair-and should be-illegal gerrymandering, voter suppression and fraud, and taking healthcare from people who truly need it.
And when it comes to this continuing government shutdown frump, the senate, and his supporters have to know that 5.6 billion dollars for a wall is ridiculous and a complete waste of taxpayer funds and not supported by the vast majority of the population. Put it to a vote by the people and see if the majority wish to have their money spent on a WALL. Most illegal immigration does not occur by people just walking on across the boarder, it happens in many other ways such as tunnels, truck transportation, boats and other means. The people that are trying to sneak across are the very poor and usually get caught. If you ask the Boarder Patrol Agents they will tell you they need more technology, drones, and personnel, and a better way of processing those trying to enter legally, not a wall.
3
The contrast of images out of the House and White House yesterday were quite telling. There was Speaker Pelosi surrounded by people of all sorts; women, children, folks of different races and religions - a true melting pot, emblematic of this country's fantastic diversity. And then there was the scowling face of Donald Trump, surrounded by a bunch of bald white men. None of them looked very happy, as if they all somehow realized they are already on the losing side.
6
@John from PA
Truly a picture is worth a thousand words.
2
Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell doesn’t have the guts or leadership ability to do the right thing and end the shutdown. Pelosi will drive the agenda. McConnell is scared of Trump and the weakest Senate majority leader ever. He will lose his re-election if this keeps up.
5
The GOP the party of the no vote all need to be rounded up like they are doing to the women and children immigrants and send them on a boat to any island in any ocean. They are trouble makers and time to impeach and check Trumps bank records for off shore accounts he and his family have. They probably owe millions for taxes. Paul Manafort had 33 off shore accounts how I bet they have more.
4
If Trump wants a wall between Mexico and USA, I have the best plan for him. It’s a win-win-win plan. Trump is a builder. He says he knows everything about construction and building. Let him put up his own Trump organization’s money to build a wall with a very beautiful gate. Then for each Mexican that comes through the beautiful gate, he can charge the Mexican a fee or a toll. Trump can then keep the toll he collects, though he’ll have to pay tax on that to the US government. We will throw in a kicker to entice Trump to build the wall with his money. We will give him a preferential (lower) tax rate for the first 10 years for the toll he collects. This way the US gets a wall, the Mexicans get to pay for it and Trump gets a lifetime annuity (income) from the project. It’s called a win-win-win plan!! Now let’s open up the government!!
1
@Anupam T
Very funny and Brilliant.
2
Finally Nancy Pelosi got to sworn in once again as the Speaker. I'm so glad and excited.
She's a level-headed leader. I believe her first order of business ought to be one way or another, whatever it takes, to reopen the government. It's plain dumb to insist on not funding for the "wall."
There are so many issues to be obstinate, but not for this stupid semantics, of not funding for the wall & only for border-security.
One other important issue here: Drop the citizenship clause. A comprehensive immigration reform to save nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants from constant apprehension, even anguish. It's again irrational to be insistent on "path to citizenship." 90+% don't care about citizenship.
She will be the undoing of Trump. He will be gone in 6 months.
3
I hope the Democratic Congress support the peace process on the Korean peninsula. let's show the world that the nuke can't win the peace.
2
Pelosi is a one-woman rallying cry for the Republican party. We are about to see just how insane the Democrats really are.
1
@Robert Insane Robert? You must be joking. Insane is what is occurring in the Oval Office for the past two years. Let the Republicans cry all they want. It's about time this president was held accountable.
2
The Vendetta Agenda is rolling forth. There will be no House leadership on doing what’s right for all citizens. 2019 & 2020 will merely be two years of Trump crucifixion.
1
Nancy Pelosi and is going to beat the stuffing out of Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell the next two years.
4
Just heard this on cable news from Lynn Sweet, Chicago SunTimes - "Nancy is playing chess and Trump is playing checkers."
3
@mercedes
If I had a dollar for every time someone underestimated Trump, I could retire.
@AACNY
So, you can either wait for the Mueller investigation to release its findings, or you can retire now because any way you look at it, he's the one who'll bring about his own demise.
Revenge politics is now underway. The good of the nation is secondary to the Democrat’s unshakable goal of crucifying Trump - at any price.
While this conservative is growing increasingly frustrated with Trump, I have no interest in the Democrat’s vendetta agenda. It will be damaging to the nation and ultimately destructive to the Democrat Party. Electing vindictive & demented geriatric home candidates in combination with Che acolytes is no way to run our once-free republic.
1
As a European, I'm glad to see that some checks are now in place on President Ego. I also hope that the American government can be re-opened, possibly by passing the following resolution:
“This house approves the release of $5 billion for the construction of a border wall, if President Trump and the President of Mexico first publically and jointly agree that Mexico will unilaterally pay the $5 billion to the US Treasury for this project, in accordance with the campaign pledges made in the 2016 Presidential election.“
Over to you, Donald.
5
@Steve As an American, I would prefer Europeans withdraw from comment on internal national politics. There is something extremely offensive about a region of people who are in continual "sanctimonious criticism" of a "foreign benefactor nation" that has been the greatest source of their security in the many recent decades. Withdrawal from NATO could possibly not come soon enough.
Congratulations to Nancy Pelosi and to all the newly elected members of the House of Representatives.
Now the House and Senate need to work together to reopen the government ASAP. The Wall is Trump's boondoggle of his own making; it deserves to be addressed separately.
3
Based on Pelosi's statements: We got a war going on between the White House and Congress that has the potential of going to the streets in real terms--hopefully.
They do hate Trump for beating Hillary's 93% chance for the Oval Offices and sitting in Bill's old chair, but does DNC Politburo ambition for power transcend stability within the polis? Seems so.
Not sure Americans voted for a civil war so much as chaos and dislocation in the deep-swamp. Trump has done more than advertised. Got another two years to do more, too.
2
The last two years have shown us what House leadership ISN'T. Now we will see what House leadership IS.
2
During the last election cycle the GOP mounted an attack on Pelosi for one major reason. They knew that her leadership skills would dampen their power in the House of Representatives. But the lies do not help and she was elected. She also realized that their was opposition to her leadership in her own party. The younger Representatives wanted change but none were prepared to seek the position in which she had experience in. She fully realized where they were coming from and made a deal that after four years she would exit that position. She's a great leader and Trump has much to fear from her.
3
As the most powerful woman ever in the USA Nancy Pelosi should be very how she uses her power and popularity. Our separation of powers is resulting in gridlock. As this article says, all the spending bills that congress passed sans the funding for border security will be dead on arrival in senate due to the power struggle in Washington. All elected members should work together and not ignore each others supporters as they after all are Americans.
We the people should have national referendum on issues that are so contentious and handled poorly resulting in shut downs and work without pay. The 800,000 government workers affected by the shut down are truly pawns and if this go on much longer they are martyrs because they continue to work without pay for extended periods of times because too much power is delegated to congress.
2
I'd have thought both political parties would agree to a border wall as the 5 billion Trump wants is only the equivalent cost of one month in Afghanistan for USA troops. A nation without borders is not a sovereign nation at all. Also, if the Democrats don't alter their stance on this there's no way they'll get back in next election as they'll be seen as lawless and disorderly and not obeying the rule of law by enforcing it with a wall. Everyone needs boundaries.
1
@CK
Fighting the wall is a losing battle for the democrats, because most Americans support tougher immigration enforcement. They are also barking up the wrong tree with impeachment, which a majority of the country doesn't support.
So far the progressives have already pushed Nancy Pelosi in a direction away from mainstream Americans on 2 issues, and it's only the first week.
1
Congratulations to the House for an inspiring day. And to Representative Pelosi for her leadership! We need this.
3
Republican pundits are laughing because the House "end the shutdown" legislation may be DOA at the Senate and Trump has already come out saying he won;t sign it.
Well the laugh is on them.
Republicans in the Senate had passed this same legislation where all but the Department of Homeland Security would be funded. By doing this, a majority of government functions while lawmakers meet to reach an agreement on remaining sections of the budget.
So the PR campaign that precede and follow the Senate rejecting this bill will be damaging to both to the GOP. It will make them look like they could have and did pass funding legislation at the end of 2018 but won't do that no on January 3rd when Pelosi took over as House Speaker.
Bad optics will bite Trump and the Senate for shutting down all government over Trump wanting $5 billion for his useless wall. Keep in mind that Trump and the GOP had no qualms raising the military budget from $702 billion to $787 billion.
Obstructionists are all the GOP has now that Dems hold the House.
2
Again, repeal George Bush's expansion of daylight savings time, which has been endangering (even causing scores of deaths per year) young students forced to commute to school in the dark, where they perform like the sleep-deprived zombies this schedule reduces them to. On every level this expansion of DST has been a complete disaster that failed even to provide the economic gains (it has caused losses) it was enacted to create.
Natural biological rhythms are severely disturbed, causing mental and physiological injury to millions.
This should be the first (no reason why it shouldn't be bipartisan) item of business, for the sake not only of physical and mental health (and in many cases, literal survival), but productivity as well. Only inertia has prevented correction of this obvious mistake (near total consensus across professional mental health, medical, and educational and economic policy communities) until now.
1
Fortunately, I seem to have exaggerated the number of such fatalities during early morning commutes.
However, the numbers are still significant, and just a few deaths is clearly too many.
No matter how the problem is examined, the virtually non-existent advantages (with the exception of some after-school sports teams having some more daylight for their practices and games) clearly outweigh the disadvantages of Bush's 2004 expansion of DST (by about 1 month total per year). Even better, bring back DST clock changes to their LBJ schedules, far, far less of the year altered from the superior natural pattern.
So, every single Democrat in both the House and the Senate has now voted to fund the government.
2
This article fails to report that the bills passed by the US House on January 4, 2019 were the exact bills passed unanimously by voice vote in the US Senate - by ALL Republican Senators - on approximately December 19, 2018. These bills were put on the Senate floor by Senator McConnell, not by some rogue legislator. Senator McConnell now is reportedly refusing to put before the Senate the same bills passed by the Senate only a few weeks earlier only because they were passed by the House & apparently rejected by President Trump.
These are important facts, because they indicate the instability in the GOP that threatens the United States. The usual 'both-side-ism' of the New York Times fails its readers repeatedly, but does so with a remarkably pro-Trump flourish in this report.
4
Over and over again, well meaning democrats make the same mistake when they try to reconcile with misanthropes like McConnell & Trump. It can't be done and every time Ds try, they lose control of congress and the oligarchs take over again.
America needs health care, reduced defense spending, better support for vets, education, all out war against Climate Change and too much more. You cannot make manifest change while trying to reeducate Trump & McConnell.
Follow Patton's advice: "It's better to fight for something in life than to die for nothing."
2
Well, well, well. We now have a House of Representatives considerably more reflective of the great and wonderful assortment of the American people. That is a remarkable, if not yet complete, accomplishment. It was done with votes and brains and hearts and bravery, not with guns and hate speech, not by fomenting fear and loathing with lies and corruption.
Perhaps the Republican minority, the Senate, and most especially the Supreme Court should take a better look at their new colleagues in Washington, all of them Americans and all of them patriots, and re-discover that freedom and equality are the rights of every single one of us--blue collar, white collar, poor and rich, white, black, Asian, Hispanic, woman, man, gay, transgender, Muslim, Christian, Jew, the old and the young. Perhaps the Republican minority and the Senate should find common ground with their colleagues, to learn to respect and value equally all Americans, not just the rich and powerful. You ain't nothing without us and it's high time you gave us the respect we deserve.
Yea America!
2
Nancy Pelosi demonstrated to the world, in her very first day of office, that she is the anti-Trump! She surrounded herself with children of all colors for her swearing in. Her grandaughter stood proudly beside her, raising her right hand in unison with her grandma. Ms. Pelosi was positively beaming, while she promised to address climate change for the sake of our children and grandchildren. And then she held a vote to reopen our government! And what did Trump accomplish today in comparison -- well, he told a few more whoppers to the nation.
2
Pelosi is right about the wall, but there is the risk that people will identify the Democrats as the party of open borders. The Democrats need to frame this debate differently. To make it abundantly clear not just that Trump's wall is a silly thing to spend money on, but also that they will not tolerate the uses of illegal immigration for wage-suppression purposes. Instead of attacking poor people and snatching away their children, focus on those who exploit them. Starting with Trump properties.
1
@ S North
When you fight every border enforcement measure, politically and legally, no one is going to buy the argument that you are strong on border enforcement. All the narratives in the world won't change the reality that people see on the ground, and what they see are lawsuits, sanctuary cities and encouragement of illegal immigration.
Don't you just love women? First you get that stiff who quotes Reagan. Oy with the poodles already. I remember when Reagan administration closed veteran & public mental health institutions. The DAY, in 1980. Suddenly, people living on the streets of DC.
A conman is not a good man.
Nothing trickled down.
Research proves we don't think about suffering we don't see. Hence the story about Scrooge. This isn't new, neither is the con.
The difference between the two was telling. Mr hairdo was all schmooze with his conman speech, then you get Pelosi up there, invites the kids, parents them, chuckling, multitasking, isn't afraid to ask questions, rolls a little glad handling speech off the cuff at Mr Hairdo, then gives her speech, skips a few pages, doesn't forget to point out it's the 100th year women have the right to vote - then gets sworn in and swears in everyone else, with a bit more parenting in between!
Because women have more complex neural networks, and they are more likely to be purpose driven, not image driven, and make room for things to get real.
It time for things to get real. I am tired of seeing other people miss out on the America I got to grow up in, with great schools. Boys, they need to play instruments and work with their hands, so they don't turn into hairdos. I mean women too, but men get extra weird without direct learning experiences.
And I'm ready to embrace change to save the humans. It'll be great for the economy. Innovation is how we redistribute wealth.
2
Remember how Trump promised us a million times that Mexico would pay for the wall? Now, Trump is shutting down our government to force us Americans to pay for his useless, easily hacked wall. Trump/GOP gave ultra wealthy a $1.5 trillion deficit ballooning tax cut, and now Trump/GOP wants us to pay our hard earned money for his useless wall. Unless you’re ultra wealthy, why would anyone in his/her sane mind support Trump/GOP?
2
A good day.
And I hope Trump is scared. By a good woman who has true American values, which Trump does not.
3
There are many in Canada who have waited for this day to applaud Nancy Pelosi. If one looks around the global horizon, it would seem that the mantle of democratic values that animated Angela Merkel will now pass on to Nancy Pelosi.
It would be easy to succumb to the threats of the president and his blackmailing backers and give the Wall to the Republicans and Trump's base. But that would be an abdication of values and an affront to Latin Americans who are so deeply embedded into American society - not as drug paddlers and rapists, but as valuable contributors to society and the economy.
Every decent person will lament the plight of the 800,000 Federal employees. Their pain is real, and Democrats feel it too. But the Democrats should prove to them in time that their sacrifice was worth it.
Nobody will lament the sense of looking foolish that Trump cites as his opposition to the Democrats' new bills to reopen the Government.
There are so many reasons to impeach Trump that it would be exhausting just to recount them. But one catchall category is his absolute refusal to honor his pledge to "faithfully execute the laws of the United States." Maybe he thought the word "execute" meant "to kill." No, it means to "carry out" and not feet first. His refusal to sign legislation paying for operation of the federal government, his primary obligation, is a clear example. HE is the enemy of the people. He has done everything in his power to prevent the execution of laws protecting the environment and the "full faith and credit of the United States. He has refused to honor treaties and has done everything in his power to subvert our alliances. Instead of doing his duty by aggressively investigating Russian subversion of our political system, he has campaigned aggressively against the loyal investigators and lied repeatedly about their efforts. He has aided and comforted the enemy of the expense of the United States. He has clearly and obviously accepted bribes -- politely called "emoluments" -- from foreign princes by operating his real estate empire from the Oval Office. The corruption and crime is so massive and malignant that we might never recover. For the love of God, Speaker Pelosi, don't take impeachment off the table!
1
Today I have a little more hope than yesterday.
3
Has anyone counted the government shutdowns over the years and how many of those were during a Republican administration? or recessions, or bank failures,or anything financially malevolent to this country? Those in charge of money are the worst money managers.
And little republican, you keep voting them back in. Amazing.
1
Tonight, the House passed bills to reopen 6 of the 7 areas of government which are currently shut down due to Trump's (and Sean Hannity's and Rush Limbaugh's and Anne Coulter's and FOX and Friends') demand that AMERICANS (not the promised Mexican government) shell out $5 billion for his "beautiful," racist border wall before he/they are willing to reopen the government. Seven Republicans joined the Democratic majority to pass these bills.
In addition, the House passed a continuing resolution to fund the 7th department (Homeland Security) until February 8th so that debate on Trump's racist wall can continue. Five Republicans joined the Democrats in passing the continuing resolution.
Now those bills and the resolution move to the Senate which, is overseen by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican. As was his mission when President Obama was in office (block EVERYTHING Obama set out to do), Mitch will now refuse to act on anything that the Democratic House and Speaker Pelosi send to him.
Democrats MUST hold firm in refusing Trump his wall. And the news media MUST stop falling for all of Trump's attention-grabbing tricks and tweets. Instead, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer should be out in front of TV cameras every single day talking about the substance of the bills the House is passing and about the complete failure of the Republican Senate to do its job on behalf of the American citizenry.
1
Democrats assuming House leadership is a major sea change in the political spectrum in DC.
I love people who complain about politicians and about how they are "all the same." No they aren't. Just like with any group, you have skilled people, corrupt people, lazy people, honorable people.
Government is a necessary piece of how we live, and it's been around for a while, folks. And it's not going away any time soon. We have seen the incredible damage a "disrupter" can do to the fabric of our country. I don't know about you, but I have had enough of that kind of destructive logic.
The Republicans have controlled the House and Senate for the past 8 years. Even a blind person could see the damage that rule has cost the nation, except of course, if you're part of that elite 1% wealth group.
But most of us are not. I was taken by one of the government workers who was laid off during this latest Trump debacle who said that his "rainy day fund" had already been depleted, and that was after only 9 days. This is how most Americans live.
For this moderate Democrat, I eagerly await what Speaker Pelosi, Rep. Schiff and other democrats will do to hold Donald Trump accountable. Probably for the very first time in his life. It's about time.
3
A vote to reopen government on their own terms which will never even reach the Senate floor is nothing but a political stunt which we can expect to see a lot more of from the Democrats. Why do the Democrats always fall short? I think their time is up as a viable national party. They should stick to the locals, the big cities and the corrupt state governments where they are firmly entrenched. Corruption is their strongest suit.
So trump shuts down the government over a wall that he deems to be very important to the safety of America.One that he promised in his campaign that Mexico would pay for. Why then did he not shut down the government when he had control of the entire government two years ago? This as many have said is nothing but a political stunt. I give the republicans in the Senate about two to three weeks before enough of them cave and open the government.
1
I feel like I finally exhaled today. Thankful.
Nancy Pelosi is not fooling anyone when she claims to be taking action to open government. She knows that any deal has to include funding for some kind of barrier. Her grandstanding about not giving Trump more than $1 may appease her angry anti-Trump base, but it's just intransigence to everyone else.
While I didn't find the Republicans particularly fiscally responsible the last 2 years I think it is ominous that as soon as Nancy Pelosi becomes speaker again, there is a measure to more easily raise the national debt. There is no doubt in my mind that she is a "tax and spend liberal-" one that our country can no longer afford.
@Accordian
As you very well know, it is the Republican party that is "tax-and-spend." Only instead of using taxing to spend on public services (like infrastructure and public schools and consumer safety), the Republicans steal taxes from middle-class Americans to give tax breaks to their corporate billionaire friends -- and most of those corporations are owned in part or whole by foreign companies. How is that American or responsible?
2
She embraces and celebrates intractable divisiveness just like Trump. What a joy!
100 women out of 435...less than a quarter when it is 44% in Sweden, 40% in Argentina or 53% in Bolivia...there is a long way to go USA. We are in 2019!
1
A famous quote of Zora Neale Hurston comes to my mind at this time... “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”
The following years may be challenging and trying but witnessing Nancy Pelosi accept the leadership of the House and viewing the sea of vibrant and diverse representatives seated for the first time in the chambers filled me with hope... hope that WE THE PEOPLE have survived the past 2 years and are moving on to years that will cultivate answers... Answers that embrace and protect humanity, empathy, the environment and destroy and diminish greed, racism and misogyny.
1
Today was the first day I have felt optimistic since 11/7/18.
It will be a long hard fight, but most worthwhile things are.
Experience matters.
Intelligence matters.
Truth matters.
Decency matters.
And now, most importantly, Mueller's investigation report will be made public when completed.
I am hoping it includes Pence, as well as Trump.
Wouldn't it be something if Trump's time in the Oval Office winds up giving America it's 1st woman President - Pelosi?
1
"Let's not waste the time," McConnell says, regarding allowing the Senate to do its job, reach across aisles and work with one another to govern for the common good.
Since when did the democratic process become a "waste of time"? Shame on Senator McConnell! He does not deserve to be reelected in 2020.
3
Nancy pelosi has over stepped her bounds not everybody agrees about her not giving Mr Trump the five billion he ask for for his big beautiful wall he will veto Mr Trump you are the most powerful man in the country now you do what you campaign for not to let pelosi take over Congress is a hot mess now as it were back when.signed the watchman.
Trump is spending so much time pandering to his base, he's not seeing his TRUMP SHUTDOWN is turning into a TRUMP RECESSION. It's getting bad.
1
Gosh, Mr. President -- you've had TWO YEARS -- with a Republican-controlled Congress! -- and you couldn't make / keep US safe in all of those two years?
So, now, it's up to the Dems?
I seem to remember, you Promised to Make Mexico Pay for it? Whatever happened to Making Mexico pay for it?
And now, you take it out on those (and their families) working for our Government.
Un-believable.
3
The best news we've had in two years.
If the Republican led Senate refuses to take up this bill - it’s the Republican shutdown, pure and simple.
1
Yet another life appointment. And to the fund-raiser-in-chief, the master (or should I say mistress) of legal bribery (well, legal by the current supreme court standard, whereby money equals speech). But she isn't Trump, then we must celebrate. How low have we fallen.
1
So these “border agents” supporting DJT at a political event never heard of the Hatch Act? Where is the Office of Government Ethics?
Regarding: 'flanked by border agents who echoed his message' is a falsehood. He was mainly flanked by his right wing crony organizations that represent some of the BP agent members. No different then their version of the Chamber of Commerce for the border control agents. It was a freak show for a man who doesn't take Q&A's in the press room like past presidents have while espousing the need for a wall because of the thousands of criminals crossing daily. It was a cheap stunt like the poster made sitting in front of him with his 'acting' cabinet espousing his greatness.
This is the America to love and to be proud of!
1
Exciting! Go Nancy! Go Demos!
Such a critical point in our nation!
1
I watched the House event on CSPAN and my heart warmed and swelled with pride and love of my country. This was a picture of the real America in "the people's house." Faces of every color. Women and men. Young and old. A Speaker of the House who is a mother and grandmother sharing her moment of personal victory with a gaggle of children on the dias and taking the oath on their behalf. There was only one down moment for me. Republican conference leader Liz Cheney used her time in the spotlight to make the tired old anti-government case on behalf of the rich, greedy, and well-connected who benefit most from Republican policies. It is good to know that she and her colleagues in the House, at least, will have no power now to do harm.
87
The reform measures were excellent, except for PAYGO which is bad politics and bad policy. That the Republicans ignored the stipulations in current legislation is not reason to vote for a bill..
The adage that "politics is who gets what where and when" is gospel in times of crisis. PAYGO is an impediment to moving monies in such times, e.g., the Puerto Rico hurricane, a sharp economic recession or a real security threat like 9/11.
I wish the House well. It and the judiciary are the major institutional impediments to Trump's Mussolini Project.
13
Nancy Pelosi is absolutely correct to grasp that the decision as to whether to indict Donald Trump will rest with a judge and jury's evaluation of whether or not severe criminal actions took place under Trump before and during his assumption of this presidency.
The DOJ's opinion as to whether or not they have the "power to indict" has always been wrongly framed. The decision to indict is the power of the judiciary, which truly is a separate branch of government, even though Trump and the GOP are trying to make that otherwise.
We are ultimately a nation of and by our laws. Trump will be held accountable to them. Fully.
Mueller's burden is simply to present the facts to grand juries and judges, and the same holds true for other DOJ prosecutors - but they are neither the jury or the judges - and it is here where the power to decide on the merits of charges and indictments truly resides.
Great to see Nancy Pelosi make today a New Morning in America. Let's make America America Again- seeing all those new legislators with idealism in their eyes from such diverse backgrounds was a proud and refreshing moment from a dark two years.
42
@jwp-nyc Nancy is just sitting on a fence. But that is what passes for leadership today in the House. Paul Ryan did it too.
Hurrah for the right, white, and blue! The best day since the 2016 election. There is finally hope that the ideals of the Founding Fathers will be lived up to. My great grandparents who came here in the 1880s would heartily agree!
22
Only campaign finance reform will save the Senate & the House.
Otherwise they are bought and sold no matter which party.
I pray that the voters will wise up and demand that campaign contributions and lobbying money be completely banned. We can give each candidate a million dollars to spend on their campaign, and limit the campaign time like Europe and Canada do. I pray that the voters will wise up. Otherwise, these elected officials do not work for the voters. Their government pay is Microscopic compared to what they get in Campaign money. Voters need to use simple arithmetic here.
17
@Will Hogan
the last time the USA passed campaign finance reform the law was thrown out by the supreme court for being unconstitutional because it violated the first amendment.
Trump had two years and a Republican majority in Congress, during which he could have handled this. He single-handedly undercut all the negotiation work the Republicans did with the Democrats. It's up to McConnell to either bring him in line or bear the responsibility of a dysfunctional Senate and White House.
For the good of the nation, it is time to examine whether Trump is capable of governing at all.
42
I would say that for the sake of the nation it is time to determine whether Mitch McConnell is capable of serving our country over his mega donors. There is no evidence he is.
3
Congratulations, Madame Speaker Pelosi, one of my heroes, an iron fist in a velvet glove. I am in awe of your capacity for commitment to the objectives you set. It gives me hope and comfort to see you hold the gavel. The battle is joined.
34
Loved Ms. Pelosi's reminder to the Senate today about there being "coequal branches of government". I cannot imagine Paul Ryan ever saying that.
36
A duel perfection arises for constitutionalists, libertarians, and conservatives: the acrid cloud occupying the House will never add one friend to Democrat progessive-socialist thinking but will galvanize the Right to actually go vote for a change. Meanwhile, a divided gov't promises to spend less borrowed money.
As with this picture, the House is once again full of children.
1
@L'osservatore
Perhaps you've misunderstood the scene. These are children OF the lawmakers. These children do not make the laws, though they clearly offer inspiration.
The only child trying to make laws is the one in the White House.
1
Seriously - "a house divided will spend less money"?!? Did you miss the Republican-controlled House, Senate and Executive branch when they passed the UNFUNDED tax cut last year that is rapidly increasing the national debt by the billions???
3
And pray tell what did the last house accomplish with the same petulant and whiny man in the WH? Please remember they have had the majority for 2 years. What have they accomplished? Please, children.
1
I am not sure why Mr. Krugman celebrates a logjam in the House that will assure that nothing gets done for the next two years. There are always some bipartisan issues and Pelosi seems to have vowed that there be no progress on any of them. Hurrah for getting nothing done.
3
And what have they accomplished in the last 2 years with a majority across the board? Hurrah for being of the same party and accomplishing absolutely nothing of significance. The 1% got their tax cut. What about the other 99% of the country? What about a new replacement for Obamacare if they hate it so much? Have they passed any bills to work on the roads and bridges? What about NK? What exactly are you bellyaching about when the last 2 years have been wasted? Half his staff is headed to jail or quitting. I’ve seen less turnover at my local subway than the WH has had in the last 2 years. But Pelosi is the issue? Is it wet or dry? The sand your head is stuck in?
1
@michjas
The Democratic Party is undergoing a shift leftward by progressives. They actually believe the country wants nothing more than to impeach Trump. They also believe the border shouldn't be enforced as evidenced by their fighting every single measure to do so.
This is very good for the GOP because the country repeatedly rejects this on a national level, and Trump will have a lot of material to work with.
Um, because it beats the last 18 months of poorly-braked looniness all hollow, and Krugman didn’t write this?
1
Does the Congressional Leadership fund realize TRUMP promoted her as the competent choice? The right and left pushed to get her in there. Those in the middle were found out on an island alone.
2
The Democrats in the house pass continuing resolutions to fund the government that Mitch McConnell voted for just before the shutdown.
Now it isn't enough because Trump said so.
McConnell has his orders. It is Trump's Party not McConnells and McConnell will do whatever the President wants.
It is a Republican shutdown. McConnell now owns it as much as the President does. And least Trump has the ability to stand for what he believes in, while McConnell tries to pass what should be his responsibility to pass laws onto others.
If McConnell doesn't want to be part of the process, he should resign from the Senate, because to pass a budget is his job in the most basic way possible. The Same goes to every other Republican who thinks that legislation rests in the executive branch and that they are just Trump's rubber stamp.
16
@Edward Brennan Trump does not "have the ability to stand for what he beieves in." He was going to sign the continuing resolution until Anne Coulter and Laura Ingraham turned on him! Trump believes in nothing, except maybe himself. And he cannot live without adulation from the people at Fox.
1
The chess game is this: the Democrats, now in control of the House, have passed a bill to reopen the shuttered parts of the federal government. The bill contains no money for Trump's wall. Trump has said he will not sign any funding bill that doesn't contain money for his wall. The Democrats know they cannot cave in to Trump's hostage-taking, because if they do, then Trump will take some piece of the government hostage every time he doesn't get his way. There are clearly enough votes in the Senate to pass a funding bill with no money for the wall, but McConnell refuses to bring a bill to the floor because he's afraid doing so will make several of the Republican senators vulnerable in the next election. A couple of Republican senators have now gone on record saying the Senate needs to vote. However, even if McConnell relented and a funding bill passed the Senate, Trump would veto the bill, in which case 2/3 of the Senate and the House would be needed to override the veto. I don't see enough votes in either chamber to override Trump's veto. This means Republican Senator Richard Shelby is probably correct: that the shutdown is going to last for a very long time.
In short, the maniac in the WH is going to fulfill Steve Bannon's most heartfelt wish: to bring the "Administrative State" to its knees -- to a point at which it may never fully recover.
16
@ALB "This means Republican Senator Richard Shelby is probably correct: that the shutdown is going to last for a very long time."
Let's hope not, because there are millions of low income Americans who will probably not receive February's food stamps or Section 8 rent subsidies. Try adding these two dismal possibilities to all the unpaid federal workers and the trash and human feces piling up in certain national parks. It's most interesting to note that the partial shutdown affects more than one federal department where the Republicans would love to cut benefits such as subsidized housing, SNAP, etc. The shutdown grows crueler each day.
@SixofOne I think that is not a bug, it's a feature. It's occurred to me that maybe the plan is to drive the car into a wall at 100 hundred miles an hour, because the right wing expects it will be able to pick up the pieces. I suspect the Brexit leadership is thinking the same thing.
For them, winning means getting everything, even if there is nothing left but ashes. But it will be their ashes.
The mission of the new Democratic House must be to send bills to the Republican Senate that show Americans what can be done when Democrats take back the Senate and the Oval Office. It is critical that they craft and aggressively promote a major healthcare bill, not just an Obamacare patch. Do not write it with any compromise and any hope for Republican votes because there will be none in either the House or Senate. Just do what needs to be done for the American people, once and for all.
9
Our Congress should and must be the first branch of government, not a rubber stamp of cowed old men for the President regardless of character or party. Electing Pelosi hopefully will begin to reverse this trend.
13
Gee, if Mitch McConnell won't even bring the spending bills to a floor vote, it may be time for Senate Republicans to elect a new Majority Leader who Will fulfill the duties of the position.
23
Now having passed the bills to open the government, the house should adjourn and representatives go back to their constituencies and help the struggling government employees. They can comeback to Washington, once Trump is willing to sign the bills to open the government without funding for wall.
1
The Workers who hung the sign had names. This is important.
Of less importance is the idea that one of the equal bodies of the American Government could choose to not vote (ignore) another equal member of the Government.
2
Here’s my Nancy Pelosi moment:
It was around 11 p.m. Hawaii time on the day President George H.W. Bush was brought to lie in state in the Capitol rotunda. The family, leaders and dignitaries, including Rep. Pelosi, had left hours ago, and members of the public had been filing past. Before I went to bed, I wondered who might be there at 4 a.m. Eastern Time, so I turned to C-SPAN.
As might be expected, hardly anyone was there. A few people would trickle in, but the footsteps of the military honor guard echoed loudly during rotation. Suddenly there was a flurry of sound and the overhead cam switched to a floor-level one.
It was Rep. Pelosi, looking fresh and I guessed showing up for work. She went only part of the way in, made the sign of the cross, stayed a moment, and then left.
I had read about the long hours Ms. Pelosi was capable of putting in, so I thought, well, this is why she’s going to be House Speaker. But I was more impressed that she took the time to go, when probably few would notice. I don’t know her feelings about President Bush, but I thought at a minimum it showed a profound personal respect for the presidency and for the institutions of government in our democracy.
I wish her all the best.
36
After listening to the Speaker's speech I once again felt proud to be an American. Good Luck to the new Congress.
20
Whenever there is a shutdown, all members of Congress should have their pay stopped, with no opportunity to be given backpay when government reopens. This may help them to feel some of the effects their actions have on other people. It amazes me that those charged with making people's lives better are so comfortable with making things worse - but always for others, as they are sheltered from the devastating impact of their squabbling.
18
Give Trump his 5 billion for the wall as it's only what the USA spends over a short period of time for keeping troops in Afghanistan. If you give Trump the 5 billion for his wall it will show that you're willing to work with the Republicans to secure borders. If you don't then you're playing right into his hands as that's why the Democrats lost the last election; too much time spent on focusing on refugees and migrants and open borders and not enough time spent on making America great again.
2
@CK: Perhaps you don't know that last year the Democrats offered Donald Trump $20-25 billion for his wall. This offer was turned down. Now he's trying to negotiate for $5.6 billion. Trump is not so good with the negotiating. All this is is posturing. The wall would be years before even being started because of lawsuits over eminent domain, or problems with terrain, and so forth. Even Trump knows this wall won't be built. He is just feeding his base.
He couldn't even get funding for his wall to pass during a Republican held Congress. Democrats would be fools to cave to him here. They know that they were elected to provide the checks and balances the Constitution requires. Democrats also know that the wall is wildly unpopular with the public. The house flipped because of Donald Trump. Democrats need to represent the people who sent them there.
@CK
I hear your point, but "The Wall" has become a symbol of something much greater. Like misguided efforts (dying children separated from parents) and broken promises (Mexico will pay for the wall!).
Trump must acknowledge that words and actions matter, certainly from a man who would be President.
The republicans just lost the house. The citizens of this country made their choices. Their president is about to get investigated. I don’t think it’s the Dems who need to cower in fear right now.
1
This is where the rubber meets the road -- Americans will now have the chance to see just how seriously this president takes the plight of those federal government workers who have either been "furloughed", or forced to work without a paycheck while he and the members of Congress continued to get paid.
10
@N. Smith - and not just them but also all the 'customers' of their work whose issues are now on hold.
From the Washington Post, Pelosi's retort to McConnell's stated position that the Senate will not consider anything the President won't sign:
"Did they not hear about the coequal branch of government, and that we the Congress send the president legislation and he can choose to sign or not?”
Touché.
16
I was never a big fan of Pelosi's, but when I consider the fact that she is now so close to the presidency, all I can say is that if Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence were to evaporate together as soon as possible, this country, and the rest of the world, would be much, much better off.
22
Regarding the diversity of the incoming Democratic representatives, I find myself wanting to stand back a bit and ponder this moment.
I know much has been written about this, but I do not think we should ever forget the simple fact of the case we are facing here in the US.
One of our major political parties is composed top to bottom of mostly white men, with a smattering of white women. The other party has a different tent, with people of many different ethnic and racial backgrounds, and women are not at all uncommon.
This is the basic fact that just simply astounds me, and its implications about our nation are troubling. It seems we are boiling our politics down to the primal level.
But only one party is pointing the way toward a future fellowship of peoples. The other party is basically trying to turn the all-boys club into a fort.
Forts are very obsolete. Like walls.
20
I think this moment, as captured in this image, is one of the most beautiful of the current political era. Let's move forward with determination and optimism -- and no stinking wall.
12
Mitch McConnell keeps saying that he won’t bring any bills to the floor that the president won’t sign, but that isn’t the only way legislation can be enacted. He could, of course bring bills that fund Homeland Security separately from the other closed agencies, fund HS for one month (but without wall financing), and let members of the Senate vote their conscience. Trump likely would not sign, but if the pressure to open government, combined with political heat Republicans will face for supporting a childish bully becomes great enough, enough Republicans may find that joining Democrats to override a veto is in their best interests, as well as the interest of the country.
3
From here on our voices must be heard often and loud. All of the representatives who ran and won. Speak out so loud and often that your voices drowned out Trumps’. Speak up for all of us who you promised you would change the course of this country. The Democratic Party is not just one women. Everyone together you know this is what it takes. Be loud, speak out often, be brave and be strong. God bless you and all.
3
Federal workers have done anything to cause shutdowns so to penalize them is similar to blackmailing the opposing political party.
We need a LAW that punishes everyone involved in any governmental shutdown and that means the president and every member of the House and Senate.
One possibility exists to get the Senate to back Pelosi's efforts to end the government shutdown:
Dems should circulate an emergency bill that would cut off all House and Senate members' salaries and benefits for as long as there is a government shutdown. Any shutdown that lasts more than 2 weeks would cause the entire Congress to lose 4 weeks of pay and benefits; more than 3 weeks, lose 6 weeks of pay and benefits, etc.
Hit them where it hurts and they might not be so amenable to "agree" with that clueless individual who currently sits in the oval office.
The tough part is getting both Repubs and Dems to do something with Integrity and against their own pecuniary interests for a change instead of always tossing you-know-what on the worker bees.
5
Today is the first day I’ve felt hopeful since Nov 8, 2016! Go Nancy go!!!!
12
Contrast Nancy Pelosi with Mitch McConnell. She got right to work. She shepard a bill to reopen government through the House. According to our Constitution it should now go to the Senate for a vote. However, McConnell said the Senate will not vote on it unless the President agrees to sign it. So, he has invalidated the function of the Senate, turning over control of the Senate to the President. McConnell has made Republican Senators toadies of the President. McConnell serves at the pleasure of the Republican caucus. So, make no mistake, Republican Senators are voting against the House bill to reopen government. They will regret that. They are gambling, solely for political purposes, with the lives of Americans. They are playing a losing hand. The stakes will only grow bigger as people run out of food stamps and go hungry, as federal employees can't pay their bills, as people can't fly, etc. How will Republican Senators react when people lose their houses, go hungry, go without drugs and medical care they cannot pay for? What will they do when there are food riots in the streets? They will fold when pressure becomes too great. But they will have lost much more by then.
11
@B
Considering one of her first acts was to sign a bill everyone knew wouldn't become law, I'd say Speaker Pelosi is going to have a hard time matching the GOP's prison reform and opioid bills, both significant but receiving scant attention because, well, Trump.
@AACNY Patience That bill with few substantive changes - and no funding for a wall - will pass and be signed by the President.
Ironic that you cite prison reform as an accomplishment of Republicans. It was bottled up by McConnell, just as this budget bill is, until it had overwhelming support, just as the budget bill will have when Republicans accept that they are playing a losing hand.
OK, let me get this straight.....
On Day One of the first Obama administration McConnell publicly stated his top goal was to stop anything/everything Obama did.
Knowing the futility of that act, did he then consider it a 'waste of time', or did he cynically manipulate it to his political advantage. Answer: the latter.
That he now entirely dismisses a House of Representatives no longer controlled by the GOP suggests he is more comfortable with dictatorship than with democracy.
17
@dmckj
All those complaints about how bad it was to work against Obama were obviously empty. The same people blaming the GOP because they "wouldn't let" Obama achieve anything are now championing impeachment and stonewalling. Somehow now it's acceptable.
Talk about empty rhetoric and values that sway wildly in the political winds.
1
Brilliant GOP political strategy: Republicans vs. the United States of America, the only national government we have. (Sarcasm Alert for those on the right who remain lost)
6
I'm ebullient, and an independent. Nancy Pelosi is exactly the right person for this position at this time. And, she can handle the Presidency if it should come to that.
Actually, hope it does.
102
She’s been Speaker forever. You think a new day has dawned?
1
I breathed a sigh of relief today to see a group of sane, reasonable individuals in the 116th Congress who truly reflect America and are interested in working for us, the American people. Republicans who oppose health care for all, legislation to combat climate change, infrastructure initiatives, voting rights, equal rights for all Americans, and a fair tax code gave the same tired speeches. Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are hitting the ground running and give us hope that the real majority in America will, in fact, prevail in the long run, but there is much hard work ahead.
73
I'd like to see the House cast a vote every day to approve funding to reopen the government, and let the bills pile up on McConnell's desk while he refuses to let them come to the Senate floor.
How many times was it that the GOP-controlled House bragged about voting to repeal Obamacare?
127
@Joel Great, great idea for the house to pass a daily bill to reopen the government!
1
@Joel- they bragged about repealing The ACA, and then actually voted, and Failed, a record 70 times!!
1
@Joel
Something approaching 100 I believe....
1
What an uplifting and refreshing picture of Nancy Pelosi surrounded by all the diversity and glee surrounding her. Sure beats looking at Trump the Grump and his cadre of blundering self-serving misfits. Maybe, just maybe for the first time in two years the sun shines through the clouds brightening the faces of these children and hopefully inspiring the newly minted members of congress to represent their constituents and truly instill hope and belief in our damaged government. Post tenebras lux.
80
It's now pretty easy for the House to pass legislation to make it even more obvious that the vast lot of republicans are deplorable trump enablers. It's a start. Hopefully it'll help a few more Americans wake up, including many journalists who have spent the last two years normalizing the WH occupier.
65
I think will be unhinged more than ever when Nancy Pelosi creates oversight stop to his extremely damaging actions. It’s tough to have a President who has no empathy and he also appears to have serious unaddressed mental health issues.
32
@Javaforce Also her great weapon of strength is a detailed understanding of your constitution, the law and the workings of government. Which Trump doesn't have.
Maybe the second time around will be a charmer. The first time around, she helped push healthcare for people who need it.
However, this time is different. The world has gone mad, because of Donald Trump.
If this nonsense doesn’t encourage people to vote, I don’t know what will.
32
Good for her. She worked hard for that Speakership.
31
On to the process of removing Trump and then, Pence, his yes man, who is complicit up to his eyebrows.
And then, oh glorious irony! Nancy Pelosi will ascend to the presidency and we will have a woman, both skilled and adept at the business of running the country, who is both compassionate and caring, in that Oval Office!!
And the world will respect us again and our allies will be comforted and reassured that America is a steadfast and loyal ally.
And Putin can eat crow for the rest of his days.
51
wow Susan, I hadn't thought of that, but I LIKE IT!
President Pelosi...sounds just and right.
Think I'm not alone, when I say I will sleep easier tonight...for 1st time since Nov8 2016
Thanks Susan...Thanks Nancy!!!
Dear Democratic House Majority Party:
Now please do something besides ripping & reacting to Trump. He’s yesterday. Make yourselves America’s future.
Hopefully,
An Expatriate
31
@Lewis Sternberg
They are in a seriously misguided time warp. First, they think Americans will be fooled by their passing bills that have no chance of being enacted. Second, they want nothing more than to make Trump a one-term president and have no clue that this may not be what the country wants.
The democrats are going to need all they help they can get.
Ms. Pelosi is third in line to the Presidency, not second.
18
Eric, you are incorrect. Trump is the President, Pence is next also known as first in line and House speaker Pelosi is after that also known as second in line.
You don’t count Trump because he is President.
9
As Trump is President he is not in line. That makes Pence first. Pelosi second.
1
@Eric
President > Vice President > Speaker of the House
Thus, second in line.
1
I am a raging, militant liberal. I think Clinton, Clinton, Obama, and Pelosi are right of center conservatives. Most Democrats are conservative. I think the average Republican today is a fascist criminal... Everybody please, stop telling Pelosi she needs to move left. It won't work. Worse, it will backfire. Answering the Republican right wing extremism with a solid move to the left by Democrats in power will make too many people think Trump and Republicans were telling the truth about Democrats. I'm not saying to not move left. I'm saying move left to the center. After several more elections with moderate gains we can fix the damage to our democracy so that the people's voices are heard. If you try to do it all at once it will not work. Let Republicans be the one to make that mistake. They are well down that path.
30
She used the word ‘bipartisan.’
Praise be.
18
Even the Koch Brothers are celebrating someone to check the anti-business president. His trade failings are destroying the Koch Brothers business modeling.
10
Trump's NAFTA bill will now have to be passed by the Democratic House. I suggest one of the changes to that bill should be that the tariffs imposed on Canada's steel and aluminium ( english spelling) be removed.
15
@jwgibbs nope trumps NAFTA bill is treaty and only needs approval from the senate. try reading the constitution.
ttfn
I think it is good to have a strong woman up against the cowardly Republicans. Let the country once again be represented by those who care.
The end.
39
For an old girl, she sure has a fresh bloom of spring about her!
GO Nancy!
33
Love.
Checks and Balances.
19
To R. The electoral choice is not between extreme right and extreme left. It is between Trumpism (which is not conservatism but populist extremism) and the center left. That Trump is no conservative should not need explanation. That the electorate just voted center left is substantiated by where the Democrats flipped the House on Trump — in the formerly Republican suburbs, where moderate Democrats decisively won against both moderate and conservative Republicans. Why did moderate and conservative Republicans both lose? Because they blindly and cowardly acquiesced to every Trump move, no matter how undisciplined, dangerous, or just downright stupid. The last and next elections are not about extreme right vs extreme left. The are a battle over normalcy and decency verses Trumpism. I hope that Trumpism is defeated in the primaries so we can then have a real choice of liberalism vs conservatism ... but that is another discussion.
12
@KJ
"I hope that Trumpism is defeated in the primaries . . ."
There is absolutely zero chance of that happening in the primaries. Have you seen a typical Republican primary voter? They vote for the most extreme candidate ala Donald J. Trump. Moderate Republicans are extinct because of the Republican primary voter who gets his or her marching orders from Limbaugh or Coulter.
@KJ To KJ, from the Sanctuary City in my native state-i.e. Chicago. Thank you for that misaligned diatribe. A suggestion, take a trip down state. View the devastation reeked by the previous Administrations. (Quad-Cities is a perfect example.) It is like you have crossed the Berlin Wall during the time of the Cold War. Illinois side in complete devastation. Cross the Mississippi River to Iowa, moderate prosperity. (The best the Upper Midwest presently offers.) This is the legacy of American liberalism in the last five decades. State of Illinois, a caricature of a "Banana Republic".
It is the beginning of a great day for America...Thank you speaker Pelosi for your strong leadership, knowledge, integrity, and decency....You are sweeping away the cobb webs of fear and hatred that have accumulated over the last two years...Long my you run!
27
Seeing the assumption of Bolsonaro in Brazil and the regimes with fascist attitudes that we have in Europe (Italy, Hungary), seeing Ms. Pelosi in such a high responsibility is a ray of hope.
30
Fantastic to have Nancy Pelosi! Wonderful to have a political leader who is for the success of all Americans. Sorry that I didn't pick up on the "hot pink dress". Way to go Nancy!
13
So far no real ideas from any House Democrat for legislation to actually move our country forward in a reasonable and progressive manner. Instead, a litany of threats to investigate Trump for everything and anything, including who rents hotel rooms from the Trump organization. Pelosi was only elected Speaker by three votes, hardly a mandate, and nary a mention of the fact that Pelosi was the Speaker the last time our country went over the economic cliff. Perhaps instead of spending time launching endless investigations of Trump, submitting articles of impeachment, and debating whether a sitting President can be indicted (it would seem prudent to hear what Mueller finally determines before spending time on those matters, not even considering whether Pence is a person we really want in the Oval Office), the Democrats should set forth a clear legislative agenda of how they are going to improve the lives of average Americans.
5
Except for the proposals they put out on campaign finance, gerrymandering, infrastructure, immigration and health over a month ago, of course.
It’s not like Pelosi kept it secret or something...
4
So much wrong here, don't know where to start:
1. The first bill introduced is to reopen the government which Trump has petulantly shut down.
2. You say Pelosi winning by three votes is 'hardly a mandate'. So what's your view on the mandate when one has lost by 3 million votes?
3. Democrats are not talking about impeachment, unless you are getting your information from right wing propaganda sources.
4. How are the following for real ideas: affordable health care, affordable college, leading the charge against climate change, investment in infrastructure, to name a few.
9
There were plenty of deals offered by the new Dem House. Read up and come back when you have the facts.
2
Nancy Pelosi gets elected and hits the ground running, unlike anyone else, any of those who naively believed they could seamlessly replace Ms. Pelosi as Speaker. Thank the stars common sense prevailed.
46
I sat between Speaker Pelosi and Governor Brown at a Covered California rally in 2013. She was stunning: mint green pant suit, matching necklace and gravity defying grey pumps. Governor Brown was wearing a suit. I’m a woman and like many other women, I notice color and what other women are wearing. I don’t think reporting her wardrobe takes away from her fortitude! Lighten up people!
Proud to have been her constituent for many years.
20
@Roswell DeLorean Why didn't you mention what colour Gov. Brown was wearing. It is unnecessary and demeaning to comment on women's clothes unless they in a role when the clothes are the thing.
I thought it worth noting. Deb Haaland, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were not the only ones whose clothes were meant to send a message. Nancy Pelosi did not choose to wear pink by accident.
Congrats to Speaker Pelosi. As a lifelong Dem with absolutely no preference as to the gender of our party leadership, I am glad we have a shrewd and experienced Speaker to take on the demagogue in the White House. I hope Speaker Pelosi will be judged by two metrics: how well she manages to contain Trump and continued control of the House in 2020. My guess is they go hand in hand. Thereafter, I hope she manages to help prepare our next generation of leadership — regardless of gender, race, religion, etc. Always with the goal of a “more perfect Union”.
36
Time for Pelosi to call Coulter, Limbaugh, and the Fox and Friends crowd to testify before Congress. If Trump and McConnell are going to use these ‘experts’ for Advise and Consent, might as well have them get grilled by the House. Would be a fruitful exercise.
39
Would like to see Nancy Pelosi do better for taxpayers. Let’s not forget it was her staff trying to get more private jets on the taxpayer dollar for their commute to California a few years back.
Democrats or Republicans- these old politicians think they’re entitled and all the romance of the moment aside - Pelosi is part of the swamp.
PS - I voted Democratic.
6
I am not a fan of hers, but I have to admit I am breathing a deep sigh of relief right now. I think America just works better with divided government. It denies wins to the extremists on both sides.
13
I don't know what it is about New York Times
writing lately, it has gotten more partisan and odd.
Mrs. Pelosi is there to serve all of us,
not just Democrats, not just, whomever it is,
that is diverse, though rather odd when we are told
there is no such thing as "Race" we are reminded
of there being a diversity of races by the Times, daily.
Personally I think Mrs. Pelosi should be at home spending
time with her grandchildren and allowing a younger
generation their time in the Sun, but if the nation wants
to be run by Baby Boomers that is its choice.
5
@John Brown Fact check: the Baby Boom generation was born post-WWII, between 1946 and 1964. Nancy Pelosi was born in 1940.
10
@Joel
That makes it even more sad.
Baby Boomers need to step aside
and those older than Baby Boomers
should be tending their gardens and
grandchildren.
3
Even worse. She is completely out of touch with anything outside the Beltway, including her own district.
2
If there was a like button I would like this story. I there was a love button I'd go for that too.
16
I read all the enthusiastic comments here and I have to laugh. Pelosi is a part of the problem in DC. And while I voted Democratic this last election, I don’t have any illusions about her solving anything.
3
Well, back to the future and another long, painful decline of what was once a vibrant and strong Democratic Party. So sad to see lemmings follow this "leader" off the cliff. Again. But as they say, follow the money.
2
You know, a small thing like sitting in mixed company - Democrats commingled with Republicans - could probably do worlds of good to break down the partisan rancor in the House.
6
She fights. If she didn't love the House, and San Francisco, she would have become a brilliant President. She's done that for someone else. Let's see her do it again.
24
The Democratic dissenters will not receive my support in any future elections. It is the unity of Republicans that has allowed them to foist their agenda on the rest of us. Preliminary skirmishing and jostling for advantage is fine and healthy, but standing against Pelosi in front of the nation after an historic win that she helped to engineer is shameful.
17
Time to start working to recruit, fund and support D Senate and House candidates for 2020 and end the circus act for good. Pelosi did a great job with 2018 candidates.
10
A sclerotic leadership leading a caucus that lists more heavily to the Left than any in recent memory. I can see the Speaker being blackmailed by her radicals into all sorts of poorly thought out moves. Herding cats would be easier.
2
Exciting day for democracy. We voters who care about diversity are waiting to support you again.
10
If Pelosi wants to serve America, focus on removing Trump from office and don't worry about bipartisanship. During Trump's press conference, he was "rambling" which is a condition we often see at mental health clinics. Patients who are unable to focus on any specific thought, exhibit this behavior. By changing subjects frequently, they attempt to appear informed but it's nothing more than jumbled thoughts randomly tossed together.
Trump belongs in therapy, not the WH. It's incredible that our system is so dysfunctional we allow this unstable man to have his finger on the nuclear button.
25
Are you a patient at multiple mental health clinics?
I had tears in my eyes as a watched Nancy Pelosi's address to the House, thinking how far we have come. She wasn't afraid to look pretty, didn't play down her femininity, was clearly a woman and a mother, and smiled while she delivered a beautiful, calm, intelligent speech.
She holds her position as Speaker of the House as an unapologetic equal, speaking to her equals.
28
Political euphoria will end to reality. Democrats, as presently constructed, will be the recipients of a calamitous loss in 2020. Do not misconstrue what has occurred. Democratic control of the House in the 2018 election is a Pyrrhic victory. The American electorate, given the choice between the extreme right and extreme left, will always veer to the right. Political battle lines have been drawn. The discussion, in hope of compromise, has now ended.
3
@R
Trump will now have a very attractive foil. Not a day will go by that he won't remind the country how leftward the party is moving.
@R Extreme left? Are you kidding? The Democrats are centre left at best, most actually to the right of centre. They still champion free market capitalism, just not the GOP's cruelly selfish Winner Take All variety.
Believing that everyone should benefit from the free market, not just the obscenely wealthy, is hardly a stepping stone to collectivisation.
Remember, the most 'socialist' idea the democrats have implemented is the Affordable Care Act, a system based on purchasing private health insurance! This might seem like an experiment in scary communism for a nation as ludicrously conservative as the US, but it's a pretty tame middle-of-the-road attempt at universal health care.
The extreme right is lead by a lunatic. If your prediction comes to pass, this is the end of the USA.
This was a great day for woman to celebrate the 100th anniversary of gaining the right to vote.The first ever woman Speaker of the House was elected for a second time and the new members of Congress had the largest number of women ever.This is significant-I can remember when I could count on one hand the number of women in government!
96
Someday will actually be proud of peoples accomplishments as a function of what they so, not who they are.
5
Congratulations to Nancy Pelosi on returning to the Speakership and to the American voters who made this possible with historic turnout in the 2018 midterms. Voter turnout was about 47% in November leading to a substantial victory over the Trump Republicans by nearly 9 million votes. Imagine the political disaster awaiting Republicans when turnout reaches 60% in 2020.
52
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate. It is not realistic to overly celebrate Speaker Pelosi and the new majority House of Representatives as the obstructionist shadow of Mitch McConnell and his cohorts looms on the horizon?
One should not continue to count on just Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski for crucial swing votes in the U.S. Senate as it considers legislation that Democrats will unanimously oppose.
It would be cause to celebrate if there were other non partisan senatorial deciders like Cory Gardner, Mitt Romney and maybe even Martha McSally. Will any of these senators ever find the courage of John McCain to cast their votes for the people over party?
19
We need a wall around Congress and a wall around the White House to keep America safe.
17
Congratulations to Ms Pelosi, re-elected Speaker of the House in turbulent times; this, when we have a willful idiot in the White House, ready and willing to sign republican age-old whims (i.e. cuttong taxes for their wealthy donors)...except opening the government (now in shut-down mode) until he gets his way (he won't!) to build 'the wall', an odious hysteric and demagogic move of his, an onerous expense the people of these United States is loath to do. Ms Pelosi's job will, no doubt, be gargantuan in scope as long as the vulgar bully in- chief remains, along with the obstructionist in-chief McConnell. Still, radical changes are being proposed, to clean up the rot and corruption in the political system, including G.O.P.'s maneuvers to block voters from the voting booth, gerrymandering, etc. And further, instill the need for honest, and responsible work, to restore the trust in democratic institutions. In addition to showing results in governance, Trump's malevolence must be stopped, by impeachment if necessary, as he has become a true "bull in a china shop".
25
I have to trust that Pelosi will live up to the promise entrusted to her.
15
Nearly 500 comments in, I'm surely not the only one to ask:
really, did we need the 'hot pink dress' reference?
Unless male Speakers typically get full suit (usually) & shirt & tie descriptions ... Nancy's wardrobe selection for the day is unimportant.
61
@jazz one I loved the tweet (don’t know who did it) saying “Paul Ryan wore a suit made from the flesh of poor people.”
2
Wow, quite the hagiographic description of the woman who helped lead the Democrats to defeat year after year after year, until people figured they HAD to vote Democratic because of that clown in the White House.
It’s quite a change from the Times’ hit pieces on Warren and Sanders this week.
One thing you can say for Republicans, when a leader fails, they get rid of them.... they don’t let dead wood clutter up the leadership, hanging around for the better part of a decade until they can declare victory when the cards finally fall their way. Which may be why Republicans can manage to win when only a minority of Americans agree with them.
Anyway, looking forward to 2020. Democrats haven’t really changed much, so let’s hope more people are repulsed by Trump than were in 2016.
Yay Democrats!
6
Wear a hot pink dress and it will be mentioned.
If Paul Ryan wore a hot pink suit, you can bet it would have been mentioned.
The complaints that Pelosi’s fashion choice was mentioned in the article are eye roll inducing.
23
As Pelosi's daughter said, "She'd cut your head off before you even know it." Pelosi must have done quite a bit of blackmailing, especially of the freshmen, to force those against her to vote her in this session. What an absolutely disgusting hypocrite this woman is. I believe the Democrat over-reach will backfire on her and her party which has been celebrating its smallest mid-term win in quite some time with vile and vicious threats against the President and the Republicans. They won't succeed.
7
The new Dems against Pelosi did NOT vote for her. You can easily google that.
“Following her election, Ms. Pelosi, wearing a hot pink dress, ascended to the marble dais in the center of the House chamber with Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the incoming Republican leader, who handed her the wooden gavel.”
Was McCarthy looking stylish in a blue bespoke suit?
24
What a wonderful breath of fresh air & optimism such a contrast to the negativity that Trump introduced even in his inauguration speech. And Speaker Pelosi inviting all those children up--then reminding us that she was accepting on behalf of ALL our children (who will be breathing air and paying for the deficit long after we elders are gone.) Just wonderful!
40
Recycled leader equal old politics. I do not thing anything will happen out of this. We need to have new leadership not a recycled old one. I will continue to vote for a third party until we get new faces and new ideas.
6
I think we make Mr Benjamin Franklin of "we gave you a Republic if you can keep it" very proud.
This tableau of America at large in the House is what exactly the Founders hoped it would be when they created this bicameral Congress.
James Madison in Federalist 39 said this:"The House of Representatives will derive its powers from the people of America."
Looking at photos - James Madison would also be very proud.
My most favorite president, John Adams has one of his quotes engraved on a mantle piece of the White House. The only quotation in the People's House.
To parphrase it:
" May none but Honest and Wise Men (and women) ever rule under This Roof."
All wonderful for our country.
We all need to be proud of America.
17
The Founders certainly did not envision women and African-Americans in charge. Their’s was a world of privileged white men.
1
Only the Democrats stood and applauded when Nancy Pelosi said that our government must work for all Americans, not just special interest groups. Not one Republican stood or applauded. They all sat as if made of stone.
This footage should be used in the Democrats' 2020 campaign commercials. It'll prove to Trump supporters and people who vote Republican against their own interests exactly who the GOP works for.
105
Let the new Congress folks have their moments in the sun and let's hope they will grow into their roles. I think they will. And let's also hope that they can parley the idea for the necessity of the experience and gamesmanship that Nancy Pelosi possesses back to their districts because a lot of them got elected saying they would completely shake things up.
Things don't need to be shaken and broken so much as they need to be stirred and tended - except for the need to make this President and the enabling Republicans pay for their plunder.
15
So sad! Nothing's going to change. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves?
7
@Guido
Because progressives' principles are only skin deep. The same behavior they abhor in their political foes is celebrated when it suits them. Consider their indignation when they believed McConnell wanted to make Obama a one-term president. Now they celebrate wanting to impeach a president, and they see nothing hypocritical or contradictory in this stance.
Trump is intractable on his $5.6 billion border wall demand. A complete border wall is an utter myth, like Harvey the Rabbit. The property for the wall needs to be obtained. That means years of negotiation. Until then, no money should be spent on fencing or walls. None.
16
Democrats take control.... and incoming Ways and Means chairman Richard Neal doesn’t want to request Trump’s tax returns, as he could easily do, in order to not appear “too partisan”.
WTELF? There’s only massive evidence of all kinds of possible financial blackmail, financial impropriety, financial fraud - and he thinks it’s wrong to get the data and start investigating? I hope this isn't the start of more soft Democrats trying to pretend again that Republicans will be reasonable if only we are.
Pelosi has a great set of plans, but this is really weird that someone that high up would do that.
8
Now can everyone finally please stop saying she wouldn't, couldn't, shouldn't say/do anything about the govt. shutdown because she "didn't have the votes" to become Speaker"?
9
The Democrats of today are America from of all walks of life. The Republicans are the party of White men and the women who are dependent on their incomes. That is not my opinion, it's my observation. If the GOP wants to be seen differently, it's going to have to change.
25
Congratulations Congresswoman Pelosi. We need your leadership to move our country forward in more humane way.
22
Really sad state of affairs- will the Country ever be able to come together as One again?
3
“Come on, kids!” Ms. Pelosi invited the children and grandchildren on the floor of the House to surround her as she took the oath of office. . . “I now call the House to order on behalf of all of America’s children,” Ms. Pelosi said after she was sworn in.
I'm not a big fan of Mrs. Pelosi. I still miss Tip O'Neill. But I have to be honest - I LOVE how she invited children and surrounded herself by them as she made called the "House to order on behalf of all America's children". The only comment better than that was her call "Come on kids!"
Please don't vilify me, but after all of these years, it took a woman to recognize, engage and make OUR kids part of the process. Apparently, there are actions behind her words.
Well done Madam Speaker.
84
@Marge Keller
She also did it the first time she became speaker, and it made every woman I know cry, regardless of their politics.
11
@marge Keller-totally agree that the invitation to children to join the celebration of swearing in of House Members was classy and thoughtful-children will never forget that moment.
11
@Marge Keller
Exactly right Marge Keller,because the future belongs to the children but we adults have a job to do to see to it that we leave the best possible world to them. This will not come through (blank) but through people like Nancy Pelosi.
2
I shed tears of joy today as this gutsy 78-year-old Italian-American woman, with strong, fearless and brilliant parents, demonstrated her tenacity against her naysayers - especially the naysayer-in-chief who is naive enough and hubris-engorged enough to take her on. Now if only a Hollywood media mogul would build a TV series featuring Italian-American role models - male or female - instead of perpetuating the myth that they are all mercurial fashion designers, hyperbolic opera stars or mafiosi.
23
The Vice President is second in line to the presidency. The Speaker of the House is third in line.
8
@ALB
That would make the President first "in line" to succeed the President. Does that sound right to you?
6
The vice president is 1st in line not 2nd. If the president becomes incapacitated, etc it is the vp who is sworn in. Hence, 1st in line. The speaker of the house is next or 2nd.
7
NYT, we can look at the pictures if we think that the color of women's clothes is relevant. I'd say the same for men's clothes, but you never feel necessary to describe them.
33
So how IS Rob Ford’s brother dressing these days? Same baggy grey suit?
4
@Robert I don't look at his pictures. :)
Isn’t it the third in line for the presidency?
13
The VP would be first in line. The president is already president, so he is not “in line” for the position. Therefore speaker is second in line.
19
No. It's second. The Vice President is first.
8
@Neil Siegel - It's scary how many Americans are unable to count to three.
Dear New York Times;
Re: AP Style For Professional Journalists/She Wore Hot-Pink
"AP Style holds that women should receive the same treatment as men in all areas of coverage. Physical descriptions, sexist references, demeaning stereotypes and condescending phrases should not be used
Use the same standards for men and women in deciding whether to include specific mention of personal appearance."
https://writingexplained.org/ap-style/ap-style-women
18
I can check, but pretty sure the AP is not agin descriptions of physical reality. Honestly, is this the best you guys got?
4
@Robert
No, AP isn't against descriptions of physical reality. But- you did not read what I copied from the style book. What I posted clearly states
"use the same standards for men and women in deciding whether to include specific mention of personal appearance." There has never been any mention of Paul Ryan's attire or Mitch McConnell's or any of the males sworn in today.
Is there some ambiguity in that statement?
@Candlewick - What gave you the idea that The New York Times follows AP style guidelines? The NYT has its own style guide.
1
Second in line to be presidency? Great. Nancy Pelosi may be the first female president of the US after all. I have been waiting for that day since Truman left the White House. If that happens who will be the speaker? Ocasio-Cortez?
8
@Mclean4
Third, after the Vice President.
2
Second in line. The VP is first in line and the Speaker is second.
1
@matty in the event that both potus and VP are dead at once.
As the Republicans want it, I will also contact my representative who failed to vote for Pelosi to tell him how disappointed I am at his naive short-sightedness in doing so. She is a great leader and can do what no newbie possibly could in that position. We would be beyond stupid to fall into the trap set by the GOP to turn on the person best suited to lead us out of the Trumpian wilderness.
The GOP demonizes Pelosi for a very, very good reason: they fear her. She is a match for McConnell, and he will hate dealing with her. She is more than a match for Trump, and he will be apoplectic. That alone is reason enough for her to be in charge.
Go Nancy!
141
thank you!
16
Lucky to have her!
30
In the Broadway musical eventually to be made, the second act should end with a spectacular number echoing "Hello Dolly" and "Mame" as congresspeople salute Speaker Pelosi walking up to the podium. As it dies down, she and Leader McConnell are off to one side and she sings the coda "what'cha going to do, Mitch (if he's a crook)" with the unforgettable chorus of "has he took you, rooked you, cooked you? How have you been hooked, Mitch?"
11
The new Dem members have to grow up and fast - really, get over themselves - our nation hangs in the balance. The only way to counteract Republican unity is with Democratic unity.
26
Not true Only works in one party states like Russia
Healthier this way
2
Very impressive! A fine lady. Just what the country needs. Smart, effective, organized and the essence of American values and principles. Makes Democrats proud and Republicans scared.
49
I would not be supporting Ms. Pelosi as Speaker if somebody else was the President. But with Trump at helm, this country needs Pelosi’s leadership and skills more than ever.
22
I am a Canadian and today's events reconfirmed that as much as I love the USA I prefer Trump to the Democrats. Canada needs to understand that our future lies elsewhere and neither the Trumpists nor the Democrats share our values. We live on a small imperilled planet and the lack of understanding in the USA makes the Democrats even more dangerous than the Republicans who we know are not our friends. It matters not whether the Democrats or Republicans end Nafta, America First is a danger to human life and the action needed is not on America's agenda.
4
@Montreal Moe
I don't think I can convey my despair. I lived in America I understand the affection Americans hold for there country, I think my love for America is as strong as most. I am back home I returned to a country I did not know for over a decade and understood what Americans do not know. We are what may be the most different nations on the planet. I now understand neighbours who have not returned to the USA of their birth in 50 years. Just across that imaginary line the world is a different place.
4
I think the article’s comparison of Ms Pelosi to a “fulcrum” is misplaced. If Trump is on one end of the lever (functioning as the “force”) and Ms Pelosi is his opposite (functioning as the “resistance”) then she would be on the other end of the lever balanced by a “fulcrum”.
2
I have never been a Pelosi fan. I have never voted for the Democrat until 2016. I am a conservative who is allergic to identity politics and gender, "inclusion", and equality ideology.
Yet, here I am, fervently hoping that Pelosi and the house can bring this populist El Presidente we have in the White house to heel. We, as a country, need them to succeed.
I am happy to argue over the "normal" issues and values once this threat to our republic is mitigated. But right now, we must focus on this one urgent crisis - MAGA ideology and its cancerous figurehead.
Be smart, be focused, keep your eye on the prize, unite with all who find what's happening unacceptable. Set the doctrinal differences aside. I have.
35
Welcome to the sanity of the real world
It is honestly refreshing to have you as a partner in defending our nation’s values
15
@Vizitei - Democrats aren't about identity politics, they simply demand that everyone be treated equally.
6
@DR
As long as the they're not conservative, Christian, pro-life, etc., right? Then all "equality" bets are off.
Unintentionally, she skips 2 pages of her speech and nobody notices.
Says everything about her and her supporters.
They need someone else as a frontman.
12
@True Observer
Pelosi can be a real ditz. Sometimes her words are so garbled it's hard to make out her point. That said, she's clearly got all her marbles when it comes to seeking power.
Imagine what a Pelosi not being whipped by an extreme leftwing would have been able to accomplish? There would have been great progress. Alas, that was not to be.
it's a great start to end the corruption and madness of our present gov't, but the dems also need to take the senate and executive branch for this nightmare to end. The senate, corrupt as they currently are, will block everything the house will try to do. We need a new blue tsunami on November 6, 2020. We did in 2018, we need to do it again in 2020. But yes, this is an excellent start to the new year.
15
2018 was Trumps Battle of the Bulge. He lost. The drive to Antwerp failed and the Eastern Front denuded of troops will see the end of the Trump Administration. Muller? Muller?
8
One small step for Democrats, a giant leap for Womenkind! Congratulations Ms. Pelosi, let's show the country how women can lead. Congratulations to all the amazing women elected to represent our progressive thinking! You embody Hope in this country.
27
Can someone answer this question about the role and position of the Speaker in the US House of Representatives.
In the original British Parliamentary system, and in Canada and perhaps other countries of this tradition, the Speaker must be scrupulously impartial in every respect. Even though the individual was elected as a member of the Conservative, Liberal or New Democratic Party (in Canada's case), once they assume the Speaker's Chair, they say or do nothing with any kind of partisanship, except break a tie.
In the US system, the Speaker is a kind of party leader, I believe.
When did the role of the US House Speaker diverge from the British tradition of impartiality? And why?
DAR
No one thought to ask this question for the last 8 years. Why did this just occur to you now?
7
@Sean Cunningham
Because I watched the partisanship surrounding the new Speaker and compared it to the very opposite here.
When do you think I should have asked the question?
I put it to an American History professor at Simon Fraser University, and even he didn't know.
1
Congratulations to Nancy Pelosi and the newly elected Democratic majority in the House. I am thrilled at the diversity of the new members and especially thrilled at all the women and that have stepped up to serve. Please keep the big picture in mind as you work with Speaker Pelosi to get good policy enacted that will help the people of this Country to live happy productive lives. You will need to be united to work with the Senate and Trump. Ms. Pelosi will be an excellent leader because she will stay focused on what can be accomplished.
29
"A hot pink dress" ?? Come on, NYT. Do better. Be best.
21
"...and she wore a hot-pink dress..."
I guess this piece inadvertently missed NYT "Style" section??
18
@Candlewick I went crazy when I saw this!
8
Fantastic. Nancy Pelosi has taken on Trump and will continue to do her best to bring him down.
22
A ray of sunshine has broken through the clouds! There is light at the end of the tunnel! I'm so encouraged by the new House members and their diversity that truly represents our country. And there is a woman at the forefront, leading the way. Hallelujah!
24
From your northern body may I say I feel a HUGE sigh of relief! It won't be perfect, there will be bumps along the way, but finally some humanity re enters US politics. Let the oversight of a cruel, corrupt and contemptible begin!
38
Finally, a speaker who stands for something. Who will do something. Anything, even if a mistake is better than the paralyzed inaction of the spineless toothless Ryan.
27
"Following her election, Ms. Pelosi, wearing a hot pink dress, ascended to the marble dais in the center of the House chamber with Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the incoming Republican leader, who handed her the wooden gavel." I'm disappointed that this article addressed what Pelosi was wearing but not McCarthy. Does it matter what she wore? If it matters what she wore then doesn't it matter what he wore?
23
@Katie in Phoenix won't Pelosi's hot pink dress clash with Trump's broad , bright red never-ending tie? What's going to happen when she wears her brilliant emerald - green dress ? Will it make Trump colour blind?
2
America, you can now sleep better, we have Nancy Pelosi driving the sanity bus now.
28
When the dust settles around the wreckage of the Trump administration, don't be too surprised if Speaker Pelosi also winds up becoming the first female President...
15
“Her handling”
Journalism and integrity are so dead.
4
She always has that, "I can't find my car keys.." expression.
9
@Aaron - No, Aaron, that’s Donald Trump. And not only can he not find his car keys, he always blames other people for the fact that he can’t find them.
23
@Aaron
She is a muddled mess at times. As if her sentences are jumbled and truncated before they pass her lips. There's a point in there but it gets lost on its way out.
Congratulations to USA. Democracy prevails.
22
Oh happy day!
15
Being third in line to the presidency makes Nancy Pelosi the highest ranking official who actually has moral authority. Trump never had any and Pence squandered his by becoming Trump's yes man. For my money, Pelosi just became President in the sense that on any difficult political issue--climate change, immigration, guns, trade--she is the person who, for the next 2 years, speaks for the majority of Americans.
41
Praise for Nancy Pelosi. Let's end the Republican attempt to make Nancy Pelosi a villain. She is a woman who has raised a family, worked as a nurse, has given much of her time and energy to government for the people of this country. Unlike so many who try to vilify her, she has no skeletons or scandals in the closet. She was an easy target for white male Republicans because she is a woman. Stand up for her and don't let them win.
55
@Zoned
She also, regardless of anybody's idealogy, had been one of the most effective speakers since women could vote, and is on track to be historically great.
12
For two years we have watched our legislative bodies be nothing more than a subsidiary of Trump, Inc along with the requisite rubber stamps. We watched as former Speaker Ryan smile at us from his lofty perch and rush through his, and his BFF Trump's signature tax cut scam. We watch Ryan, et al, do their best to form those "death panels" that another GOP has-been babbled about so many years ago through the efforts of Ryan to gut or eliminate the ACA.
For the past two years many of us yearned for a check on Trump, for the House and Senate, to rein in a loose and broken cannon to no avail (many will argue that Obama enjoyed a majority in both houses and the people were run roughshod due to those majorities. Perhaps, but, pales in comparison to the charlatan from Queens).
McConnell will attempt to block every bill brought forth from the House, simply to appease Trump.
But, as long as Pelosi puts forth a good effort to demonstrate that her leadership, and the Democrats, place their interests before party.
Lastly, such a diverse group of Representatives. When will we see this on the other side of the aisle. Please be quick, I'm turning 70 and really want to see the GOP accept people who are not white, male, and morons in the house.
13
I find Nancy's election as speaker of the House to be a strong positive and one of the few in the past two years. We need some relief from all the madness. Thanks, Nancy, for taking the helm when our country is in chaos. I wish you strength and grace .......for what lies ahead.
20
If things go poorly for the Trump administration, I’d be happy to have a President Pelosi.
31
Some in this forum have taken issue with the fact that Pelossi is 78, Schummer is 72, Bernie Sanders is in his high 70's, while ignoring the fact that Don the Con (yes, that fellow in the WH masquerading as President) is 72.
The fact is that chronological age is not necessary indicative of mental deterioration, unless there are prior existing cognitive deficits, mental illness, personality disorders, dementia, or pervassive health issues that interfere with functioning. The proof is in the pudding, is it not? Bernie Sanders led a very vigorous, exhausting campaign, holding many debates, staying focussed and proving to be a tireless and articulate campaigner. No need to say much about Nancy 's gifts -- experienced, intelligent, articulate, vibrant, a formidable negotiator and skilled legislator who can hold the party together. In contrast, the much younger occupant of the WH can barely express any thoughts even in the primitive language at a 5 year old level, rambles on, can't stayed focussed , has a volatile temper and engages in constant internal contradictions and inconsistencies within the same speech confussing wishful thinking for facts. I've read that he has operated and behaved this way all his life. I'll take a Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden or Nancy Pelossi any day over a younger but morose Dick Perry (who couldn't remember the name of the Departments he was going to eliminate) or any of the other grifters and opportunists who hold court to Trump.
23
It should be extremely interesting to watch what Nancy Pelosi does. She is now a pivotal figure in a complex political dance with our disaster President and his supporters. She will have extremely tricky decisions to make, and the spin-meisters will have a field day with every move she makes. She will be pilloried (certainly not for the first time). She will be misunderstood by people from all ends of the political spectrum.
Be prepared to find her choices puzzling, but set aside your final judgement until we see the end result: what happens with Trump's presidency and how much damage is done to our democratic institutions.
Ms. Pelosi could contribute to the meltdown of our Constitutional model, or she could be one of the most important players involved in preserving it. There may be very little significant accomplished from a legislation point of view, but if she can do the right things to prevent our system from blowing itself apart under the influcence of Trumpism, she will go down in history as a major heroine.
I don't know if we should impeach or not. I don't know how hard Trump's tail should be twisted. I don't know what kind of "deal" can be done to get him out of Washington without wrecking the entire world. But that's your brief, Nancy: tie him in subtle knots, perhaps, to save us from him. You know you'll get flack from every corner as you do it, but that's the job you just signed up for. A few years down the road, maybe some of us will thank you!
15
This was the first step to correct the Great Mistake of 2016.
26
Her speech was great - full of vision for what is possible.
17
Go get 'em, Nancy!!
24
To the Democrats who voted against Nancy Pelosi for Speaker: you cannot beat someone with no one. Get focused on your real adversaries in the White house and in the Senate. Start by leading on issues like climate change, expanding health care coverage, voter suppression, the ballooning military budget, strengthening Social Security, a living wage and the crumbling infrastructure. Discover your leaders by advancing your causes and initiating proper oversight in an Administration that has run amuck for two years. Get to work with a united Party.
35
Trump has been blinded to the fact that when he lost the House of Representatives, he suffered a colossal political disaster. Probably fatal.
13
I'm hoping that in the next 4 years, Nancy Pelosi will groom her successor, whomever that may be, to follow in her footsteps as the intelligent and savvy leader as she is. I am so relieved and grateful that Ms. Pelosi will be a force in the House until then, and hopefully beyond.
18
Tough task: How do Speaker Pelosi and Democrats in the House and Senate best highlight the lying, corruption and selfish greed of President Pathological and his Republican supplicants and sycophants -- without appearing obstructionist? How do they act on our nation's behalf when obstruction of Trump and HIS Republicans is the required position of patriotism?
7
Congratulations Speaker Pelosi!! You are perfect for this job and those who wanted you out of power like Seth Moulton will soon be voted out by his Constituents!!
19
And the color of her dress is important, why?
16
I came here to say this as well.
6
@Elizabeth Sullivan for people like me---i thought it was orange. thanks for asking 'why'?
4
I love Nancy Pelosi and wish her luck, good health and courage!
35
Today I have hope
36
Karma!
11
Who cares what she's wearing. I don't care what Paul Ryan wears; I don't care what Mitch McConnell wears. I don't care what Nikki Haley wears. For Goddsakes...has the #metoo movement not knocked on your door yet. Improve your standards.
29
Hear, hear, ASL.
Who cares what she wears?
7
@ASL
I kinda care.
4
The photos accompanying this piece showed what people wore. That should have taken care of the couture.
2
Congratulations and best of luck. Many will caution you against "over-reach"--keep in mind who you are dealing with, the King of over-reach, a man who thinks its OK paying off porn stars/mistresses during a Presidential campaign, lies about it, then goes on lying through his teeth every minute of every day and somehow thinks that, just because he's President for a moment, that he'll get away with all of it. For anyone who hasn't been paying attention, that's "over-reach."
14
What happened to Pence? The NYT has declared Pelosi second in line. A great idea!
9
Pence is first in line. Rules of succession.
8
Pence is first in line to be president which makes Pelosi 2nd in line.
7
Trump is already president... Pence is the only person in line before Pelosi. Therefore, second.
6
You go girl...!!!
17
Hot pink dress. Really? When will the Times learn?
14
Good thing you let all those copy editors go. Uh, third in line.
3
@David Becker - Trump isn't in line, so she is second to Pence.
22
For the first time in my life, I see a House of Representatives that reflects me and the diversity I see in my community. I am moved, inspired and hopeful that this new reality will translate into more thoughtful laws that truly benefit the people the legislators represent.
And I am hopeful that one day, the Senate will also reflect me and my community.
Congratulations to Speaker Pelosi and the newly sworn representatives. Godspeed.
85
@Proud Texan
Vision and competence are more important than diversity. If you really want diversity, try Japan or South Korea. Nonetheless, this a trial run for the newbies. Reelection campaign has already begun for most.
3
Congratulations Nancy! Very much looking forward to your tenure! A better person couldn't have come along at a better time at the crest of this blue wave.
I and I'm sure many many others will be eagerly watching your multifaceted skillset go to town!
29
Dear Nancy, love you, love your gavel, love your love of color. You carry on Harry Reid's legacy--tough and smart, sticking up for those of us who had extenuating circumstances in our lives but who kept on slugging.
Good luck to you and to all Americans. C'mon, you guys. Let's keep doing the best we can.
27
I'm not easily prone to tears and don't consider myself sentimental, but her calling on all children, not just her grandchildren, to come to the podium while she took the oath brought tears to my eyes. To me, that gesture speaks volumes to the type of person she is.
Carry on, Speaker
76
@acj
Well, we agree on something at least. We were both in tears when she took the podium.
2
And look at all those children. The rainbow is here.
14
Now for follow-through. Investigation and probative evidence prior to impeachment. Decisions made devoid of impulse. Agenda prioritizing truth above all else. Humanity over greed. Purpose derived from principles. Leadership styles that we want our children to emulate. Pride in our democracy.
19
I could care less what Pelosi is wearing. How degrading. If it was a man would you write, "wearing a blue suit and green tie"?
11
Think things will be different? Think again. Both parties, Dem and Rep, are DOA as of 11/08/2016. Republicans have proved that over the past two years. Democrats are about to prove that over the next two years.
3
You mention what Pelosi was wearing (for what reason, heaven knows), but you fail to mention what McCarthy was wearing. Why the sexism?
18
It is poetic that a woman will take Trump down.
And then will America be great again.
48
Many of us older Democrats who think it is time to pass the gavel to a younger woman or man, could also celebrate with sincerity today the re-ascension of Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The culmination of Speaker Pelosi’s remarkable career will come when she demonstrates to the country how a good Democrat works with colleagues across the aisle to accomplish important things for the nation. She has done it before, and she will do it again.
In the meantime, the Republican sycophants who blindly follow an out-of-control Donald Trump are about to learn an important lesson.
30
Jeesh from the article it makes it seem like the NYT believes Pelosi is better than Mother Teresa. Welcome to the next 2 years of NOTHING getting done. She will do a good job of having nothing be accomplished, which unfortunately is the best situation we can hope for in this reality. Ugh.
5
Perhaps the GOP could step back and view our present situation through a historical prism. They might consider that this might be a good point in history to put more emphasis on governing and less on fighting. Our government is designed run via compromise...not a dirty word...and those true leaders and patriots (on both sides) who understand that should step up.
5
@Frank While I agree with the sentiment about this being a "good point in history to put more emphasis on governing and less on fighting." Democrats won't do that.
Democrats are moving decisively towards commencing impeaching proceedings against President Trump. There is nothing about governing in impeachment proceedings. Pure partisan politics.
2
@F1Driver Surely, impeachment can be political. Pelosi today said that this would be the wrong course to follow. If the Special Counsel's report shows impeachable offenses (which I do not think will be the case), then there is an affirmative duty to go through the administrative process. The country cannot waste time and money on a show trial. There is too much to be done.
2
@Frank
Ryan did what? Gave away the store, and.......
"Following her election, Ms. Pelosi, wearing a hot pink dress, ascended to the marble dais in the center of the House chamber with Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the incoming Republican leader, who handed her the wooden gavel."
What was Rep. McCarthy wearing? Inquiring Style Editors evreywhere want to know :(
8
Great article, but one comment bugged me: the reporter (a woman) writes that "Following her election, Ms. Pelosi, wearing a hot pink dress, ascended to the marble dais " What exactly is the purpose of mentioning the color of Ms. Pelosi's dress? Would the situation have been any different if she had been wearing a green, black, blue or white dress? What color suit and tie was Paul Ryan wearing when he became speaker? Or John Boehner? Does anyone know? Of course not! Why is this information deemed important when the officeholder is a woman?
15
(Corrected:) Start with something relatively noncontroversial & capable of garnering bipartisan support, yet nevertheless helping to expose obvious bad will on the part of stubborn or spiteful opponents: IMMEDIATELY REPEAL GEORGE W. BUSH'S EXPANSION OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME OF 2004, AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER.
George Bush expanded DST by about a month, wreaking havoc not only on the natural sleep cycle, but on the commuting conditions of hundreds of thousands of young students now compelled to begin their days in the dark or minimal daylight. This hazing-like abuse of their biological rhythms traumatizes them mentally & physically, rendering them zombies at school, & grievously endangers (probably causing scores of deaths a year) them during their commutes in the dark, when they are less visible, & they & drivers are vastly, severely less alert.
DST also, by pushing back nightfall, deprives kids, adolescents & others of true "evening hours" to unwind, a psychological necessity. This results in pushing sleep times back (and severe loss of needed sleep), and pressure to extend daylight activities to exhausting levels, exacerbating the perpetual exhaustion of our youth.
Reduce DST immediately, to either pre-Bush (even better, LBJ) levels. This abuse (becoming more invisible as folks forget its artificiality) must stop. Every year the deaths & suffering adds up, & research confirms instead of economic gains (the whole, discredited rationale), the change causes severe losses.
6
It was such a pleasure to see Nancy Pelosi being interviewed on the "Today" show this morning. Finally, an alternative to morning after morning of Trump.
8
It must be hard to give up power.
3
I’m glad we have an adult running things now ... I’m not Nancy’s biggest fan, but come on ... let’s just be professional and proceed, which I think she can do.
6
Congratulations Speaker Pelosi. Now Donald Trump has to start addressing you as Speaker and not Nancy. If he does, you can call him Don then tell him to sit down and be quiet!
16
I am delighted that Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
It is Nancy Pelosi who is in large part responsible for shepherding the Affordable Health Care Act from a concept into a law that has enabled thirty million Americans to have medical insurance and for all 330 million Americans not being denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions.
It is Nancy Pelosi who has ensured that laws that benefit the poor and middle class, the elderly and infirmed, and those entering our world are in place and that those who are forgotten are no longer left behind.
It is Nancy Pelosi who backed laws protecting our environment and the safety of our workplaces.
It is sad that so the so called progressives who are more into slogans than actual accomplishments wanted to deny her the speakership.
Most importantly, I hope that this an impetus to have several different female mayors, congresswomen, senators, and governors declare their candidacy for President in 2020. The Republicans had 17 candidates in 2016 of which one was a woman. My hope is that at least half of the many Democrats who may decide to run for President are women.
Lastly, I would love to see that it is a woman who helps bring about the removal from office of the man currently occupying the White House who neither respects women, the poor and middle class, minorities and immigrants, and who has destroyed our civility, our environment, and America's place in the world.
29
I'm happy we have control of the House now. But I'm still reserving judgment regarding Pelosi's (and Schumer's) ability to represent the interests of the party. In the past bith have both been too conciliatory and naive, and both are terrible public speakers who cower in a fight. We need tough, clear-thinking and clear-speaking leaders. If past is prologue then Pelosi will do what she had always done and shrink under pressure. I hope I'm proven wrong.
3
@Misplaced Modifier Pelosi is not a camera hog like Trump; he just held a presser that was a nothingburger. Look at results; Pelosi got the ACA passed and many other important things. She single handedly told Trump NO to his wall and stood her ground. Ray Sipe
22
@Misplaced Modifier
You're not referring to the Nancy Pelosi who stood up to her own party in putting the impeachment of the second Bush off the table? When did she shrink under pressure?
Who herded her delegation through the economic calamity that faced the world in late 2008?
2
This event on January 3, 2019 is like the Cannonball Adderley Jazz Album "Things are getting better".
7
At last, checks and balances have returned to the United States federal government.
39
What is top on her agenda? Other than blocking everything...
8
@Jerome
To laugh at Trump and Trump's fans' futile attempts at wit.
Never mind. I just did that myself.
8
@Jerome - Try listening to her.
15
@Jerome
I believe passing a spending resolution to re-open the government is top on her agenda. Whereupon it goes to the Senate, and Mitch McConnell, who's got tons of experience at "blocking everything".
19
Democrats need new leadership.
Pelosi is a skilled and effective politician and parliamentarian. She has a strong track record of results. She is experienced. She is intelligent. She can be ruthless (while always smiling). She can manage the Democratic vote in the House. She still has those skills. She is a better Speaker than either Boehner or Ryan - two ineffective Speakers with Ryan worse.
She knows how to deal with Trump - as best as any rationale person can deal with the insanity that is Trump (I don’t mean to imply Trump is mentally ill or insane - that’s an insult to the mentally unwell and even the insane; Trump is just a viscous, nasty, vulgar person - more mobster and con artist than anything else).
So while I want new leaders, having the seasoned and skilled Pelosi is probably best as we take on Trump.
I am glad that she limited her term to 4 years. We will have her needed leadership for the critical period until 2020 - when Democrats must regain Presidency, Senate, hold House and make gains in state/local elections. But she is recognizing that there is a time in the near future for her to gracefully move on (something a once capable but corporatist Feinstein failed to see; something a once deeply admired and extraordinary Ginsburg failed to see as she morphed into the embarrassing celebrity Notorious RBG and we pray that she does not die in the next 2 years).
I hope Pelosi prepares the next generation of younger leaders and leaves on a high note in 2022.
17
@MC While I admire RBG, I have lost some respect for her decision not to resign in 2012, when Barack Obama was re-elected. She would have enabled him to secure a progressive/moderate seat. Unlike 2016, when McConnell refused to consider Merrick Garland, 2012 had a different landscape.
I actually view RBG’s decision to stay on the bench as selfish. I wish her good health for many years, but feel she did not look at all the issues.
Nancy Pelosi is not in a lifetime position. There is a succession line in the Democratic party for Speaker, so her age is not a problem. She is as formidable as RBG, and as far as we kmow, she is in good health.
Go NDP Nancy D.Pelosi!!
9
Nice to see the Democrats get some new blood in the leadership position.I do not think either party understands the American people.
7
That may be because “the American people” is far too broad and diverse a category to be understood. And not for nothing, but the members of the Democratic and Republican parties are “American people”, same as the rest of us.
Saying ‘they don’t understand us’ is tantamount to saying ‘we don’t understand ourselves’. Which, come to think of it, strikes me as an accurate assessment...
3
@Sean Mulligan
I don't think the American people understand government or civic responsibility.
4
It seems as if the Democrats indeed learned nothing. Nancy Pelosi's re-election as House Speaker does not bode well. It makes the Democrats seem stuck and intransigent. Was there no one else, no one else with the skills and gravitas from the multitude of elected members that could have filled-in the position?
As for the newly elected members, being the first this and the first that, bringing their children with them and wearing particular religious clothing...that might be a positive symbolism and welcome change in the decorum of the place, but that doesn't equal substance and skill.
The political system is still corrupt, swamped in money and besieged by lobbyists and special interest groups. While the Republicans still control the Senate, White House and increasingly the courts.
The newbies amongst the Representatives need to prove themselves. The people are in desperate need of democratic representation and good governance. They need leaders who can articulate a clear vision for the future with practical achievable goals. Not more platitudes, infighting, paralysis and over-the-top obsession with impeaching Trump.
Race, ethnicity, religion, gender or whatever else, while important up to a point to the identity of several of the new members of Congress and the constituencies they represent do not equal skill, talent and vision. That comes from hard work, commitment and perseverance.
4
@loco73
"Was there no one else, no one else with the skills and gravitas from the multitude of elected members that could have filled-in the position?"
You don't need to share her politics to appreciate her political brilliance; one of its aspects is that she doesn't go around bragging about it.
Another: just consider how difficult it is to achieve the Speakership--if anything requires politics, it would be working one's own delegation.
But also consider that she knows as much about the process of legislation as anyone alive. That kind of institutional knowledge will be invaluable to the freshpeople as they start their careers.
After all, can't everybody agree that functioning government is a good thing?
5
Finally, the grownups have arrived. Until today Congress had totally abdicated their role as a co-equal branch of government. Watching Paul Ryan fold like a broken kite was pathetic and sad. Not that I ever thought he was up to his hype but he couldn't resist sinking to the bottom of the swamp. Nancy Pelosi will no doubt bring out the Republican flame throwers, without Hillary Clinton as their arch enemy and designer of their failures, their base will no doubt switch their wrath, without ever thinking about why.
There won't be miracles but few are as qualified as Ms. Pelosi in getting things done. It might be nice to wish for new leadership but in these troubled times experience matters a lot more.
30
What’s different now from the last time she held the gavel is that a woman got this close to the only higher office in the land...and fell short. She now carries that burden too, in a sense, the hopes of millions of women (and men) that women leaders will be categorically different than their male counterparts and can bring change to the current state of affairs. Not too much pressure.
1
There is much to do... and now the madness begins to end.
Welcome back, Madam Speaker!!!
49
@MC
Beg to differ, the madness is just beginning.
4
Let’s compromise and simply agree that “the madness is likely to continue unabated.” :-)
3
Voters elected Dems to see government work again. Digging in doesn't help the country. Negotiating does. That goes for both sides.
10
I couldn’t agree more!
I feel like both sides have forgotten the reality of living in a democracy. It’s messy, and you can’t be precious about everything all the time.
I feel like all the pragmatists have left Congress. McCain was a great example of this. I disagreed with him on many things, but I admired his ability to reach across the aisle and to compromise and important times. I think it shows maturity to be able to do it the way he did.
It’s important to have lofty goals and ideals but a pragmatist is who I want representing me in Congress. They are the real change agents. It feels like so much of current politics (maybe all of it) is just grandstanding.
Both sides will have to honestly negotiate and in good faith too. I do feel like the Democrats don’t do this enough.
But with a mercurial president who pulls out of agreed-upon deals and does a 180 on his position at the last minute, I fear that Democrats who may otherwise be willing to negotiate will dig in instead, because they can’t trust the president will keep his word.
2
It is impossible to negotiate with a lunatic who is more influenced by the likes of Limbaugh and Coulter.
Republicans need to develop some courage and oust the pretender.
Like her or not, Nancy Pelosi is a smart savvy politician. She kept candidates on the Democratic side focused during the mid-terms and warned them not to be drawn in by Trump's fearmongering about "caravans", etc. and to focus instead on things like ACA.
25
I thought younger would be better. I now recognize “skill” as the most important function in dealing with the rabid dog in the White House. Trump will be made to look worse through his dealing with Pelosi. Bring him down Mrs. Pelosi, hard!
138
@DENOTE MORDANT
Thank you for realizing and admitting to the truth of the old saying, "It takes an old cat to catch an old rat."
Yes, experience is everything in this game. We cannot afford the luxury of having a "younger" figure learning the ropes on a job with a huge learning curve. Save that one for a time when we are in a safe harbor.
14
@DENOTE MORDANT Pelosi herself said it best: T has a very thin skin, and hers is very thick. He can't best her in an argument, the danger is that he'll find other ways to impose his will.
1
We will see much more from Pelosi than we imagine. She is earnest in her public service, she is pragmatic, and yet she will not give in to authoritarian, shamefully racist notions of how to run this country. No wall.
Speaker Pelosi can be trusted. Imagine that...TRUSTED. Shame on the Republicans and short-sighted Dems who do not care to pay attention to PUBLIC SERVANT PELOSI. Smart women are needed, and we are apparently willing to put up with misogyny, conscious and unconscious, to get the job done. Go Speaker Pelosi!
57
@J. M. Sorrell This old white guy agrees with you. And it would be great if your first sentence shows to be as true as the others.
3
It's so nice that the reporter here got all the snark notes in from republican fundraising letters. I guess you had to print that to make this piece look balanced. I'm convinced the Times will never learn and our country is worse off for it. Printing the mindless drivel of money-grubbing PAC's does nothing to advance our national dialogue.
9
At long last a ray of sunshine dawns from the general vicinity of the WH.
It is the light of democracy and Pelosi is its standard bearer.
Thanks to all who voted in a House of Democrats.
Here's to the honor, respect, common sense, and rule of law they will value for the benefit of the American people.
29
Go Nancy! You rock girlfriend!
22
Congratulations Ms. Pelosi. I look forward to watching you make fools out of trump and the republicans.
17
@Daisy
Hmmm I was actually hoping she would help the country.
1
Th Republicans put their own feet in their mouths.
3
@Jerome
That would help the country.
5
Pelosi is not a good listener, respectful of diversity of ideas or a deal maker. Her confrontational style and blind leftist ideology will help swing the nation further to the right as it did a few years ago.
History repeats.
8
@Appu Nair
Care to supply some evidence for your conclusions? Did you notice her ability to bring the doubters aboard to vote her into the speakership again? Were you watching when she garnered the votes for the ACA? Or are you simply blaming her for something she tried to prevent?
17
@WCMADDOG
ACA is an example of 'vast left wing conspiracy.'
If she is for workers, she will cut a deal with the President by giving him the much needed wall and end the Pelosi-Schumer shutdown of the government.
I feel much relief with Nancy at the helm! Congratulations Speaker Pelosi!!
29
In the current political environment, may Speaker Pelosi's term be above reproach to restore our faith in our leaders and representatives.
11
I am fine with Pelosi as speaker, due to her experience, but I am most excited the Democrats have power in Congress. Who knows how far they will take it, but after two years of Trump doing whatever he wanted, for the most part, I am once again encouraged. It will be a battle to stop the GOP from taking advantage of average Americans, so hopefully, these rookies know what they are in for.
11
It's good to have Speaker Pelosi. But who's next in line? It's vitally important to groom the next generation of leaders too.
11
The new Congress: uniquely unique and very American! Yay! Congratulations to all of us, from sea to shining sea!
10
Congratulations Speaker Pelosi .....
No one deserves to be speaker other than you. Thank you for all the years you have served this (always) great nation.
14
Such a relief and such a great role model for women. She can handle the Presidency, should it come to that. Paul Ryan could not.
27
Welcome back and many many congratulations, Speaker Pelosi. May the collective 116th Congress be successful at driving forward laws that benefit all Americans. PS - The photograph of you and your grand-kids is amazing..!!
12
It is appalling to see the republicans sit on their hands when Speaker Pelosi quotes Ronald Reagan. Have they sunk so far in the Trump swamp that they can no longer appreciate their former saint? What a bunch of sore losers. Lets only hope the country will be saved when the Senate and Presidency become Democrats too and sanity and true patriotism is restored.
18
Unmentioned in this article is Kevin McCarthy’s deplorable threat. In his speech introducing Pelosi as Speaker he spoke words of reconciliation and bipartisanship, but his conclusion laid the lie to both. He said there was one thing on which Republicans will not compromise and that is they will never give up personal freedom in exchange for government control. That had to be music to the ears of every libertarian because libertarians think all government action is an exercise of control that deprives citizens of personal freedoms. McCarthy could just as easily and more honestly said that he will oppose Pelosi on everything Democrats want but will happily engage in bipartisanship when Democrats agree to do what Republicans want. McCarthy is a liar and a phony. Expect nearly every action of the House in this Congress to have no Republican support.
22
@M.i. Estner Democrats have had no Republican support for ten years, maybe longer. They'll manage. Nancy Pelosi knows the tricks, too, and with subpoena power the truth will begin to come out and let the American people decide. Kevin McCarthy is reduced to hot air.
9
I have grown in appreciation of Nancy Pelosi. I always thought she was intelligent and articulate, in a way that still makes sense to the regular folk, like Elizabeth Warren and Michelle Obama. t is an uncommon quality among Democrats, somehow. But the way she has agreed to meet the demands f the younger generation of Democrats and set her own term limits tells me she sees the big, big picture. She knows her expertise is needed in these perilous times, but she also knows she must move on at the appropriate time. That is impressive. She is also a woman It is time women took power. The inevitable violence exerted men in all aspects of life has led the world to terrible wars, inequalities, sex abuse and injustices of all kinds. We need to visualize a new government by women.
12
"Following her election, Ms. Pelosi, wearing a hot pink dress, ascended to the marble dais in the center of the House chamber with Representative Kevin McCarthy of California..."
Are you kidding?! What color was McCarthy's suit, shirt, tie? Did his socks match?
31
I'm sure the veteran Journalists at NY Times read that and cringed as well.
1
I am at work, so I had to fast track through the video. This is the first pleasant and light moment in politics in a very long time: Speaker Pelosi calling all those children and stating "on behalf of all American children" was awesome.
Congratulations to her and to all the women representing their constituents!
12
A click of the ruby slippers sent the level of sophistication in Washington up! Facts are in and getting attention. Policy is discussed on twitter. Congress is more transparent, its process explained. Its diverse voices have widened. Media sees this growth as a fight, a division. It’s not. It’s new harmony, a new process and structure, new vision, a national vision. With goals and numbers and facts.
Fact, Speaker Pelosi effected a comeback after an eight year gap as Democrats lost the White House. Now her House is the most diverse, widely dispersed Representatives in America’s history. Many of whom took seats from Republican incumbents, including every seat in the Republican stalwart Orange County, CA, a early haven for conspiracist, anti-communist groups.
Today’s conservatives embrace Russia! American diplomacy and troop withdrawals follow Russia’s template to a tailored tee!
But Pelosi is smart, she sees the whole field; her father a Baltimore mayor, taught her to see politics as local, build collaborative leadership. She embraced legislation. Now she has troops on every flank.
She began by reminding the nation of the constitution, article one, it establishes the Congress/the House; she is second in succession to the Presidency. Her House picked up 40 Democratic seats. Add state elections, Americans voted for Democrats and their common issues of healthcare, wages, debt, housing, justice. And where did Trump celebrate the religious rites of Christmas?
10
There is a certain delight in thinking that an intelligent woman from San Francisco will lead Congress as an effective counterbalance to the excesses and nepotism of the Trump administration. Call it schadenfreude but I have been beaming all day!
15
I cried when I saw Pelosi call ALL the children up to the dais. A mother’s instinct I would say. This is our moment. This time is critical to bring our country back to a normal state. The answer my friend is in the magic words: health care, education, climate change and respect for all. How to pay for it-less money for space and more for our country. When our concerns are taken care of, our roads are fixed, and ALL children go to good schools and are safe there then MAYBE we start funding space programs. Space will always be there. We can’t honestly say that!
Thank you Dems in congress. Now go lead the way. Now time to get to work!
24
Ms. Stein, where is the money coming from to pay for all this good? Ms. Pelosi like a good grandma should tell all these children and the nation times are tough and they will get tougher.
Thomas, do not doubt what can be done. There is money in our government. New voices with a vision that works for all. The House will clean house and get rid of the grifters that have been in place for two years or until they get in trouble. They leave and new grifters come in to destroy that which they should protect. Heads will roll. Income tax filings of past years will be revealed. This is the moment to bring our country back to “normal.” Where elected officials can speak in sentences, know how to spell and do their job honestly. We can and will do it.
1
@Californiaman
Excuse me, but I believe the government is shut down. She’s held the gavel now for a few hours on her first day and you are giving her credit for shutting the government down for 12 (that’s soon to be 13 days for those who can’t add)- wow that is effective. Glad I voted for the Dems.
15
Congratulation Speaker Pelosi for creating history one more time. It is amazing though how on the very first day when the country needs all its energy and understanding to align with the new thrust the democratic controlled House is proposing for a superior and effective mandate for the country as a whole, to solve our government shut-down problem, for instance, we face instead an unnecessary road block from Rep. Brad Sherman (D – CA) planning to re-introduce articles of impeachment on the first day if he can.
Mr. Sherman, Sir! Can you please wait till the Special Counsel has the opportunity to finish his task without which we may not even know whether the President had ever committed an impeachable offence? Why are we in a hurry? There are hundreds of things we need to focus on right now – the most important one on that list is the government shut-down issue – and, yet, we are wasting our time on a trivial thing, whose time has yet to come.
Best wishes to the winners
please remember that half of the American people are conservative and deserve to be heard also.
3
@obumme
The Horror!!!
How dare you say anything kind about the “enemy.”
1
@obummer
Please remember that the conservative minority in this country is already well represented in this country courtesy of the Senate, the Electoral College, and gerrymandering.
14
@obummer - We hear you, the lies, the hate speech, the bigotry.
Now we're going to go about the business of governing for the benefit of everyone by focusing on things like infrastructure, health care, the environment etc.
8
Madam Pelosi has raised five children. She's not distracted by the childish one in the White House... she has no time to watch or coddle someone holding their breath and turning green. She's known for getting things done. I feel hope today. God Bless Madam Pelosi and the 116th Congress.
28
Great day in the history of the US. We are ALL so fortunate to have Nancy Pelosi as Speaker. Things are looking UP!
15
I love that Nancy Pelosi brings the children up around her as she takes the oath of office and I love seeing the way she interacts with all of them. It touches my heart. As a grandmother I recognize her genuine love of them. May that love sustain and guide her as Speaker of the House.
13
Finally a ray of hope! Congratulations to our new speaker, you do California proud. I hope and pray that she tutors and shares her skills with this incoming class of freshman representatives.
18
Lets see if it works out for those, that out of pure hatred ( and against their own benefit ), voted for a Democratic majority.
Right now most Americans are living better and safer than they were three years ago.
Cannot be disputed.
Of course since the beginning of man some folks are left behind. Less now than 3 years ago.
You guys and girls know that.
Yes elections have consequences...let see what happens.
Good luck to the haters.
5
@Joe Paper - Yes I voted out of hatred. I hate ignorance, bigotry, sexism, greed and dishonesty. Why don't you?
16
@Joe Paper: Yes, it can be disputed. I am not living better and safer than I was three years ago, nor is anyone I know. I assure you IT IS to my benefit to have Trump and the Republicans gone.
10
@Joe Paper, could not disagree more with your statement. My stocks have been decimated, infrastructure has not been touched, crimes against humanity at our borders, our allies have been insulted, our enemies emboldened and the President of the United States is more than likely a traitor and a felon. Good luck with trying to sell that as "success" when most of us are horrified.
8
That lofty speech from Kevin McCarthy about the fair representation and the value of debates... Dude, your party policies over the last 10 years have upheld neither. Please sit down and come back when you have something truthful and valuable to add to the conversation.
52
You know how we revere Notorious RBG? Well I revere Nancy Pelosi. I think she is the bomb and then some.
She makes me happy. She gives me hope. She is the antidote to all of the Trump news that most hurt me. She is the best thing the Democratic Party has and I hope they recognize it and start acting like it.
61
I trust that Nancy Pelosi will give all she’s got to bring sanity to one government,
11
A ridiculous amount of hero worship going on here. Can't decide if it's funny or sad.
8
Better than worshipping the babbling fool in the whitehouse but soon to be the big house!
12
Pelosi & Schumer should call up Robert Caro and ask him what LBJ would do under these circumstances.
1
@Johnny dangerous
What makes you think they haven't done it already?
The President is not in line to become President.
He is the President.
Vice President is the first in line
Speaker is second in line
Think of the deli counter.
The customer being waited on is not in line.
The next customer is the first in line.
3
Great to see the gavel back in the hands of a Speaker who knows how to get things done. The freshman class will learn to craft legislation under a master.
22
Imagine that. After all of the dissension the Times reported about not more than a couple weeks ago. I guess they have to write something.
Congratulations to Speaker Pelosi, and congratulations to America for finally having an ethical professional at the head of one of the houses of Congress.
We should be grateful to Speaker Pelosi for all that she has done over the years to make the country a better place.
And we should, we must if we love our nation, support her in the critical role of bringing order to the chaos engendered by Republican traitors.
10
All I’m reminded of—now that Nancy Pelosi is back in the saddle—is the title of a Lou Rawls song: “Your Good Thing Is About To End (dedicated to Donald Trump).
9
Love that song--Bonnie Raitt has a great version of it too. Take a listen!
" Elected ? " Come on, now pull my other leg.
DNC party discipline on display.
As a former democrat, and one who was reased to be a good Communist, I easily recognize partiinost' . And it is not something I would wish on even someone I despise.
6
WHY? With all the issues that need to be dealt with do we need to waste precious time with a .... Pelosi family photo.
7
"Ms. Pelosi, wearing a hot pink dress, ascended to the marble dais in the center of the House chamber with Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the incoming Republican leader, who handed her the wooden gavel."
What was McCarthy wearing? Or for that matter, how many times did the Times comment on the sartorial choices of Paul Ryan?
Very retro, New York Times. And very much in keeping with the way in which you've traditionally covered woman politicians (especially Democrats).
78
@Vin Men in these situations never wear anything but boring suits and ties so there is nothing noteworthy to report about, but your point is still valid.
4
@Tiny Tim Oh, I don't know, maybe we would like to know of the sartorial splendor of their ties, or their socks - over the calves or not - or is that a wide lapel or is it a bespoke suit? Let's level that playing field..... ;)
4
@Vin That is a good point, but I think Ms. Pelosi was saying something with that particular dress: 'I'm here, I will not be ignored. Deal with it.'
10
She's not just the 1st female Speaker and highest ranking elected woman, but at 78 is tied with Sam Rayburn of Texas, for being the oldest Speaker. He was elected Speaker for the 10th and final time at age 78, in 1961.
3
Julie Hirschfeld Davis, why characterize President Trump as "Combative"? If anything, it is Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer who are combative. You have an underlying tone that is far to bias, but then again, you work for the NY Times.
7
@Kho - Trump brags about wanting to assault people. That's pretty combative.
13
@DR In what context did he say that if at all?
1
@Kho: Watch his rallies where he is always exhorting people to violence. He bragged that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose supporters, didn't he? P.S. You are at least the fourth Trump supporter in the last couple of days to use the word "bias", instead of "biased", as it should be. Did you all go to Trump University?
6
Congratulations Speaker Pelosi!
15
MADAM SPEAKER!
15
Mr. Trump. As of today, things just got a lot worse for you and your corrupt cabal of miscreants, traitors and thieves.
At the end of the day, justice, honor and integrity will out.
You are a blight on this country and her people.
12
Hope those Democratic defectors enjoy their seats in Siberia.
All hail Queen Nancy! Long may she reign!
4
Nicde touch Pelosi brigning children up with her for Oath of Office. After all, their future is at stake..........
7
Nancy Pelosi is an experienced,respected and intelligent member of Congress. I'm glad that I have such strong women working for my state. There's been a lot of older men aging in place in government and not doing even a small percentage of what Pelosi has. It feels that with a big influx of women, we can hope for a more energized and cooperative spirit in the government.
8
The democrats under Pelosi have been the highest paid politicians to fail their base.
To get back to zero will require at least six months of no compromises.
3
Trump's Republican Party has been a glaring example of weak and dystopian American leadership that none of us ever dreamed we would witness in our lifetime. Today, I know Lady Liberty's crown is back on straight again with Pelosi's victory as Speaker. As a new and energized majority, the Democratic Congress gives me great hope and energy to keep volunteering to keep the American dream moving forward for every, single one of us.
23
This is great day. At last, a potent foil for Trump, one who is much, much smarter than him and has much more political experience than him. Nancy, expose him for the liar that he is. The truth hurts. Go Nancy go!!!!! Don't back down. No wall.
15
keep the government closed!!
Let’s impeach Trump and Pence, and Pelosi will be our president until 2020/Biden Beto.
7
Sanders Klobuchar!
@Eric no Sanders or Clinton. Something fresh and strong.
1
@Sam
still don't understand how impeachment works, do you?
I suppose we're going back to shuttling her family back and forth to California. Shouldn't she tear down the wall around her compound since she doesn't believe in walls?
5
..but Trump shuttling back and forth to Mar-a-Lago is perfectly fine.
10
@Jackson - Whatever you may think of Nancy Pelosi, she’s not the problem this country is facing right now. That very large, very mentally ill problem is residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and is presiding over a partial government shutdown fueled by his wall-induced petty temper tantrum. People aren’t getting paid because of his nonsense and I have a bigger problem with that than I do Nancy Pelosi being elected speaker. Hopefully she’ll stand up to Trump and the garbage he’s spewing that is having an immediate, serious, and profound impact on people’s lives, because God knows Paul Ryan and the rest of the Republican sycophants weren’t doing it.
10
Second in Line to the Presidency? FAKE NEWS! The Vice president is Second in line. The Speaker is 3rd in line.
1
Trump is president, Pence is first in line, and Pelosi is (yes) second in line.
8
@Joe Smith The VP is 1st in line, the Speaker is 2nd.
7
Godspeed HR1.
5
All I have to say is this--we can trust Nancy not to bring a knife to the gunfight.
12
After the ineffective Weeper of the House aka John Boehner and the phony Squeaker of the House aka Paul Ryan it is nice to have a real Speaker of House aka Nancy Pelosi.
26
Good for Republicans, she lost the house last she had the job.
1
Go get him, Nancy!
12
Time to turn the Senate BLUE!!!
12
Not only a Democrat, but a woman. And not only a woman, but one who is unafraid. Trump's worst nightmare.
88
Nancy would make a great President if Pence & Trump get impeached.
18
Hip, hip, hooray for Nancy Pelosi!
10
Great, another Uber wealthy politician takes the helm. Net worth $200 million plus? She and her wealthy banker husband are yet another example of what is wrong with our country.
10
@Born In The Bronx
Yeah, beats Trump into a cocked hat. She has never been corrupt.
Why not split us into factions to ensure permanent Trumpmania!
11
@Susan Anderson
Seriously? You don't think they have enjoyed all the same real estate tricks Trump has used? That's how the super wealthy roll.
3
Take care of the 23 million undocumented living in the shadows! DACA TPS! Don’t forget these little ones who are vulnerable in our society!
3
@Dan This needs to be priority #1! Get people on the tax rolls and social security rolls. That would help save social security and help our tax situation. Legalization of everyone like Reagan did is the right thing to do.
2
Trump: oh she's powerful, but a woman.
Pelosi: good luck donald!
8
Thank God the cavalry is here.
8
Welcome back, Speaker Pelosi!!!
11
Congratulations, Speaker of the United States House of Representative, Nancy Pelosi!! As third in line to the presidency, let us hope that--through the hard work of the Democratic House and the perseverance of our Federal Judiciary--you ascend to that role within the next two years. And sooner rather than later, please. BTW--NO WALL, not now, not ever, no deal. Trump MUST be soundly defeated in his racist and anti-American endeavor. Period.
6
With apologies to Eddie Murphy - 'there's a new sheriff in town, and her name is Ms. Nancy Pelosi. Ya'll be cool...'
8
Welcome back, Speaker Nancy Pelosi! Now, let's herd some cats!
10
I hope that she is absolutely as vicious with Trump as McConnell is gutless.
11
@Dan Thomas
No, we don't need more viciousness in our country, we need wisdom, prudence, truthfulness, perseverance. The whole country needs to move up to a higher state of consciousness. I pray for this.
3
@Eleanor Celentano - I agree that we need more of what you propose, but Donald Trump only speaks and understands one language, and it's not a civil one; rather, it's one of down-and-out mean toughness. The man is a bully and a jerk, and he is only going to respect someone who pushes back, with force and, if necessary, viciousness. There's only one way to handle Trump, and that's with something akin to tough derision. It's not the way we'd like to be with most people, but Trump isn't most people and, until our country rids itself of him, we need to deal with him like the loose-cannon maniac that he is and probably always has been. This isn't an occasion for niceness and civility. We need to wrest our country back from this thug and we need someone who can help us do it and do it properly. God knows that person wasn't vindictive Mitch McConnell or wimpy Paul Ryan.
3
@Lindsay K,
You might be reassured about Speaker Pelosi's toughness, or at least interested, if you read up on Baltimore politics in the era during which her father and brother ran the city.
Changing the Senate is next! Vote "blue" in 2020.
5
The best scenario would be a scandal that takes out both POOTUS and VP, thereby making Nancy Pelosi the first female POTUS.
9
Go Nancy ,
You are even more important than 2020 Presidential nominee and even the democratic president.
4
Congratulations, Speaker Pelosi! Go Get 'Em.
6
I appreciate having the Democrats in power but I wish the anti-Pelosi faction had negotiated harder. Oy vey. 1,460 days and counting. That's plenty of time for Democrats to regret Pelosi a second time.
4
@Andy
They didn't regret her the first time...otherwise she wouldn't have been their leader since.
I say good for Nancy Pelosi, a woman who is comfortable with power and breathes new meaning into compromise and include and never take your eye of the ball. I am so glad the newcomers didn't oust her because yes change is often good but wisdom and experience carry a lot. Now, I just hope that Speaker Pelosi will not let that irritant in the White House prevent her from reaching an accord to get our federal government back to work as a lot of people are being hurt. There is many positive things that can be said for border security -- being done sensibly. One last thing to Speaker Pelosi: You go girl!
8
It will be better if she doesn’t care what people think. Just do the right thing.
7
Congrats to Pelosi and congrats to the voters responsible for putting her there!
But I for one will continue to push Dems away from corporate-friendly politics and towards Progressive issues like single payer/Medicare for all, income inequality, a national living wage, minority and LGBT rights, union rights, education, infrastructure, gun control, increased corporate taxes, overturn Citizens United, and the Green New Deal.... and that's just for starters.
Don't let Dems deviate from these goals this time. Defeating Trump *cannot* be the only focus point. Dems must learn to walk while chewing gum. If they aren't going to fight for what's been taken from us, if Dems don't work improve our lives, then what good are they for in the long run?
3
I was just watching Pelosi and the others being sworn in. There is a wonderful irony in the diversity of the new members. They are all the types of persons that Trump railed at--American Indians, Blacks, Women, LBGT's, Hispanics, Muslim.. It's amazing. . Maybe we should thank Trump. If he hadn't been so shamelessly bigoted, all of these worthy people wouldn't have been angered enough to run for office.
19
Kudos to the new speaker. Just one question, NY Times- Why was it important to comment on the color of her dress? Does it really matter in this story? If the speaker were a man would you be commenting on the color of his tie or suit? As I read the story, this jumped right out.
8
With Nancy Pelosi taking the reins of Speaker, this has been a happy day for many of us. This is an exciting day that follows the historic election of 2018. Onward!
7
Congratultions Nancy! I look forward to better healthcare, cleaner environment, immigration reform, fiscal responsibility, ethical government...
4
I can’t remember a politician getting as much fawning media coverage as Pelosi has gotten since her speakership was put in doubt
Whoever is working her image and press behind the scenes gets an A plus
5
Pelosi has recently won me over. Trump is no match for her. She's smarter and tougher than he is and she knows how to get things done.
9
With the departure of James Mattis Nancy Pelosi with assume the mantle of being "the adult in the room."
7
Did she finally find out what's in the ACA?
4
@Midwest Josh - Yep and so did millions of other people who are quite happy with it.
I know someone who is alive because of it.
6
Sadly, instead of reaching across the aisle and working with the President and Republicans to get things done for the American people, the Speaker will solely be focused on getting Trump. If you haven't noticed, the speaker is quite a bizarre person. Is this the best we have?
5
@P McGrath: First of all, you don't know that to be true. Secondly, why is Pelosi "quite a bizarre person"? Thirdly, the Republicans blocked everything Obama tried to do for years, including refusing to even have hearings on Merrick Garland, his nominee to the Supreme Court, so please don't bring up "reaching across the aisle". Hypocrite.
7
Soon to be President Pelosi, I hope, if this country is saved.
6
I contributed to Mikki Sherrill's campaign. Forget that for the future. Can I get it back?
HR 1 — the GOP-approved McConnell Appropriations Act, sent right back to Senator McConnell for his re-endorsement!
Revenge—like champagne—remains a dish best served cold.
5
She’s third in line to the presidency, not second
2
Guess who made the following remark today on the floor of the Senate---"We know that the Senate with a Republican majority is fertile soil for big, bipartisan accomplishments." I assume Mitch was speaking with a straight face. If he gets his way, that act will endure as the most significant accomplishment of the 116th Congress.
2
Next in line for the Oval Office after 45 and Pence!
4
Nancy has the experience and legislative skills needed in these troubling times. Few can deal with the Senate Majority Leader or a demented President as competently. For those Freshman voting against her she had no declared opposition really besides showboating what were you thinking?
Here's my headline for today:
"Elderly Woman Succeeds at Work Over Objections of Liberals"
I find it interesting that the left in my beloved Democratic Party are 100% for women, against sexism and discrimination (including age discrimination, which is not talked about nearly enough), yet when it comes to Ms. Pelosi, all that is out the window.
Liberals always talk about supporting women, yet in 2016 they were anti-woman and pro-white guy. Really odd. For whatever reason, when it's a woman they disagree with it's all about the merits. "We disagree with her on policy!" Yet when I - a white male - disagree with a woman, I'm a sexist, mysoginist pig.
Why is that?
2
@Mike
You haven't been paying attention. We're all for her. The noise is coming from the trollverse, mostly Republicans, underoccupied young men, fascists, and Putin's cyber army.
12
I don't agree with her leadership. I am not an "under occupied young man, fascist, troll or part of Putin's army". There are legitimate concerns and valid criticisms to Pelosi's leadership, especially given her prior tenure as House Speaker.
It is that kind of smug dismissal of any opposing views, the tarring and feathering done blindly and without any discernment, that oftentimes loses the left and progressive side support from the mainstream voters they need in order to win elections and by extension be able to govern.
If you only speak to your own constituency or group or community, then you haven't learned anything from the past two years. After all don't Democrats and the progressive left want to be different from the Republicans and the alt right?!
Simply being on the left or a progressive is not a virtue nor a qualification. The Democrats must now govern for the broadest possible swath of the American public and society. They cannot afford to be this tone deaf or narrow minded.
2
First graph: "second in line to the presidency"? Mike Pence may think differently....
1
Mr. Trump's biggest fear has been realized today: He now faces an intelligent woman with power and one who has no patience for his bluster.
10
Oh, yay, the democrats just don't know when to say goodbye.....
Let's run Warren to really cap it off.
Trumps second term coming up next....
4
Congratulations Speaker Pelosi! Now let the investigations begin...
2
Does this mean the House transition is NP-Complete?
This will be Reagan vs. Tip O'Neill Part II. Buckle up.
Time to issue a few hundred subpoenas into Donald Trump’s use of Mar-a-Lago as a winter White House, his frequent golf trips, constant lying, use of the foundation while still being President, tax returns. What else?
6
Republicans tried to demonize her and some democrats bought the idea, but she is a true professional. And yes, she will be a devil of consternation to president Trump.
10
Can't wait to see her sitting behind trump at the SOTU
10
@mancuroc
...she's probably already practicing her straight face.
It's a new day!
Despite Republican cheating and intransigeance, the tiniest of windows has opened on behalf of my great country, with a great patriot at the helm of the House of Representatives.
All praise and appreciation to the stalwart wisdom of an older woman. Ageism and sexism be damned!
53
MADAME SPEAKER!
How sweet it sounds.
108
I enjoyed the irony that the Republican Russia friendly party had chosen Representative "McCarthy" as their candidate. It's a play on Congressional history. Senator McCarthy of long ago railed against Communism in America. Republicans can't shake their history of letting Russia get away with controlling American politics and minds of citizens. Why am I the only one with no power harping on those facts?
4
Listening to Ms. Pelosi's acceptance speech has given me a renewed hope that the dark and evil times of republican control and an unfit, vile fraud acting as president, is about to end. The democrats were elected to congress to stop the horror of this fraudulent presidency, and his sycophantic enablers in the republican senate and congress. Go get 'em. No mercy, no quarter.
14
I'm glad the Democrats, in the end, did not fall for the fearmongering that because Pelosi was so often used as a Republican boogeyman, we should not elect her. That would have been stupid, refusing to pick the person they clearly fear the most. She's capable and talented, and gets things done.
Best of luck Pelosi.
31
We need to be more aggressive towards the rich who are steeling from the poor. They pay no taxes and take from everyone. Nancy is rich and protects the rich. She is a fraud who doesn't support those in need. I hope she supports the New Democratic socialists that have the courage to redistribute the wealth.
3
Congratulations AGAIN, Madame Speaker.
It is now time to REALLY Make America Great Again. Its used to be, before Trump. Everything that you have proposed in your address today is absolutely necessary. It is time to marginalize the 300+ pound narcissistic sociopath and put him and his acolytes in a place where they can no longer harm this country. THEY do not represent the best interests of the people of this country and they have set us on a path of destruction.
Use your powers wisely and with compassion. This is one of the great teaching moments of history and what you do will affect millions of Americans for generations.
Make your tenure a good and powerful one and don't let The Dotard get away with any of his narcissistic sociopathic crimes: NO WALL (but great security for ALL borders), repair of critical infrastructure, elimination of the Electoral College, accountability of the Executive for all crimes, FAIR trade, environmental protection and HONESTY in government. That's just for starters.
All of our children will thank you!
12
Congratulations to Nancy Pelosi, Condolences to Donald Trump who will now have to deal with someone smarter,tougher,and more clever than himself.
7
Democrats have less than two years to earn the nations admiration. I suggest long hours and working weekends. You can rest later. There is simply too much that needs to be accomplished.
Take to the podiums and abandon politically correct dignity and tell the American people like it is. It's tough out here and no time for having tea and crumpets.
Stop that wall so good Christian Hispanics have an opportunity to be here and we can leave if Trump gets worse.
3
So there they go with the impeachment proceedings. It's going to be an interesting year. Democrats will take all their fury towards impeachment proceedings culminating in nothing.
Allow me to correct this sentence: Ms. Pelosi’s insistence on refusing to protect the U.S. - Mexican border has come to embody the lack of immigration policies that will run headlong into President’s Trump’s supporters.
4
"for centuries"? The point could be solidly made without exaggeration -- we're not even to 2.5 centuries yet. I was struck by Ms. Pelosi's initials of N.D.P. which so easily translate to "New Democratic Party".
2
Trump has met his match not in being bombastic but in legislating and handling a school yard bully running roughshod over a spineless GOP terrified of Trump's rabid base and fact free nasty tweets. Ms. Pelosi please lead the charge to rein in this threat to our democracy using facts and truth to do so. Congrats!
7
One of her handsome grandsons might be a future President and/or Senators.
You know why Republicans hate Pelosi so much? She has demonstrated herself to be an extremely effective lawmaker and Speaker. Looking forward to House investigations of not only Trump, but his cabinet — particularly DeVos, Mnuchin, Wheeler, ex-Secretary/Administrators Zinke and Pruitt, etc.
22
@Five Oaks
Plus, they think they can intimidate a woman with that kind of behavior. They're still mired in 1950s thinking about gender roles.
5
Congrats! Age 78 is no barrier for her! And age 77 is no barrier for someone to run for President!
2
The past two years made me feel quite "dissatisfied" with this country for allowing the disgusting Trump in the WH door. Today, with Pelosi back as Speaker and 3rd in line to the Presidency, I feel a wee bit more sanguine that, maybe, we might recover our dignity.
6
"...an increasingly combative President Trump."
Combative? Or increasingly unmoored?
7