Comments on: Nancy Pelosi Makes History And Now Comes The Toughest Part http://themoderatevoice.com/10082/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:27:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: DBK http://themoderatevoice.com/10082/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/comment-page-1/#comment-41435 DBK Fri, 05 Jan 2007 16:24:42 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/2007/01/05/uncategorized/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/#comment-41435 Last night, on C-Span, it became very apparent that there was a new sheriff in town as Rush Holt (D-NJ-12) and Jay Inslee (D-WA-1) debated energy policy at length. They proposed taking away the tax and cash subsidies currently given to America's most profitable companies (the oil and gas industries) and moving the money into research on new, sustainable, renewable, clean energy. Inslee even mentioned two companies that are leaders and innovators in the field (and neither of them is located in Washington state). Holt made the compelling point that America can either be the world's leader in this area and sell the technology to the rest of the world or it can be a follower and buy it from other countries. In all, the most refreshing thing was seeing a real discussion about energy policy that wasn't about how we have to give as much money as possible to the country's biggest, most profitable corporations and make them bigger and more profitable. This illustrates the sea change in DC. For the time being, at least, expect to see Congress making an attempt to clean up the mess of the last six years and serve the people. That will change as soon as the power has been there long enough to be corrupted, of course, and that won't take terribly long as I see it, but it's nice for now. Last night, on C-Span, it became very apparent that there was a new sheriff in town as Rush Holt (D-NJ-12) and Jay Inslee (D-WA-1) debated energy policy at length. They proposed taking away the tax and cash subsidies currently given to America’s most profitable companies (the oil and gas industries) and moving the money into research on new, sustainable, renewable, clean energy. Inslee even mentioned two companies that are leaders and innovators in the field (and neither of them is located in Washington state). Holt made the compelling point that America can either be the world’s leader in this area and sell the technology to the rest of the world or it can be a follower and buy it from other countries. In all, the most refreshing thing was seeing a real discussion about energy policy that wasn’t about how we have to give as much money as possible to the country’s biggest, most profitable corporations and make them bigger and more profitable. This illustrates the sea change in DC.

For the time being, at least, expect to see Congress making an attempt to clean up the mess of the last six years and serve the people. That will change as soon as the power has been there long enough to be corrupted, of course, and that won’t take terribly long as I see it, but it’s nice for now.

]]> By: Chuck Prez http://themoderatevoice.com/10082/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/comment-page-1/#comment-41434 Chuck Prez Fri, 05 Jan 2007 16:23:18 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/2007/01/05/uncategorized/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/#comment-41434 ...she's 66? I didn't know that. …she’s 66? I didn’t know that.

]]> By: Kim Ritter http://themoderatevoice.com/10082/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/comment-page-1/#comment-41422 Kim Ritter Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:22:03 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/2007/01/05/uncategorized/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/#comment-41422 I agree- if they are too bold, they will be accused of overreaching, and misreading the voters' intent to advance their liberal agenda. If they are moderate, they will be accused of lacking the political will to make the deep systemic changes that are needed. I think Pelosi won't be afraid to rock the boat in the House, but can't say the same for Harry Reid in the Senate. My hope is that they hold Bush's feet to the fire on Iraq, and not act like Republican-lite in their new bipartisan spirit of comity. I agree- if they are too bold, they will be accused of overreaching, and misreading the voters’ intent to advance their liberal agenda. If they are moderate, they will be accused of lacking the political will to make the deep systemic changes that are needed. I think Pelosi won’t be afraid to rock the boat in the House, but can’t say the same for Harry Reid in the Senate. My hope is that they hold Bush’s feet to the fire on Iraq, and not act like Republican-lite in their new bipartisan spirit of comity.

]]> By: SFB http://themoderatevoice.com/10082/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/comment-page-1/#comment-41420 SFB Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:11:09 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/2007/01/05/uncategorized/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/#comment-41420 Every new Congress gets a honymoon. Speaker Pelosi will have a lot of challenges, not least of all will be keeping her party moderated to the center. I wish her well, but it is much too soon to be cheering about anything. I'll wait till the session is over before I issue a report card. I do think, though, that the Democrats are going to have to be very careful to avoid the appearance of 'meet the new boss, same as the old boss,' and since they campoaigned hard on being inclusive and open to minority party involvement, they will have to put up or shut up. Locking the Republicans out of the first 100 hours may be smart, but it might also be another fumble like supporting Murtha, etc. And there is way too much corruption overlooked by both parties. Jefferson may have been re-eelected by his constiuents, but that doesn't mean that he's leadership material. Every new Congress gets a honymoon. Speaker Pelosi will have a lot of challenges, not least of all will be keeping her party moderated to the center. I wish her well, but it is much too soon to be cheering about anything. I’ll wait till the session is over before I issue a report card. I do think, though, that the Democrats are going to have to be very careful to avoid the appearance of ‘meet the new boss, same as the old boss,’ and since they campoaigned hard on being inclusive and open to minority party involvement, they will have to put up or shut up. Locking the Republicans out of the first 100 hours may be smart, but it might also be another fumble like supporting Murtha, etc. And there is way too much corruption overlooked by both parties. Jefferson may have been re-eelected by his constiuents, but that doesn’t mean that he’s leadership material.

]]> By: Kim Ritter http://themoderatevoice.com/10082/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/comment-page-1/#comment-41411 Kim Ritter Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:19:47 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/2007/01/05/uncategorized/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/#comment-41411 I think the Dems are worried that the GOP will use their generosity of spirit and obstruct the legislation of the 100 Hours. They do not want to be tagged with the same label of "Do Nothing Congress" that attached itself to the 109th Congress. Afterwards, I think they will institute open discussion in committee. I think the Dems are worried that the GOP will use their generosity of spirit and obstruct the legislation of the 100 Hours. They do not want to be tagged with the same label of “Do Nothing Congress” that attached itself to the 109th Congress. Afterwards, I think they will institute open discussion in committee.

]]> By: Paul Silver http://themoderatevoice.com/10082/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/comment-page-1/#comment-41404 Paul Silver Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:01:51 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/2007/01/05/uncategorized/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/#comment-41404 I got choked up watching the peaceful transition of power on C-SPAN. But I don't completely understand why the first 100 hour agenda is being pushed without open discussion and amendments. Isn't there a way to entertain GOP amendments and then let the Dem majority simply vote them down? I was hoping for a more bi-partisan beginning. Does anyone have an informed explanation? I got choked up watching the peaceful transition of power on C-SPAN.
But I don’t completely understand why the first 100 hour agenda is being pushed without open discussion and amendments. Isn’t there a way to entertain GOP amendments and then let the Dem majority simply vote them down? I was hoping for a more bi-partisan beginning. Does anyone have an informed explanation?

]]> By: Michael van der Galien http://themoderatevoice.com/10082/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/comment-page-1/#comment-41382 Michael van der Galien Fri, 05 Jan 2007 08:44:57 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/2007/01/05/uncategorized/nancy-peolsi-makes-history-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/#comment-41382 A great step for women indeed Joe. Pelosi has broken through the glass ceiling as I believe it is called. A great step for women indeed Joe. Pelosi has broken through the glass ceiling as I believe it is called.

]]>