A moment for hope
T.A. Barnhart
What a great moment.
I watched C-SPAN as Nancy Pelosi took over as Speaker of the House. What a great moment, an amazing moment. A woman as leader of the body the Founders designed to be the most democratic institution in the country! In their day, democracy was more limited; the idea of a woman as Speaker seemed ridiculous, even to the most egalitarian of them.
Thank God we live in a time when democracy has grown to include almost all Americans. The idea of a woman as leader is no longer ridiculous, although the hurdles they face as they seek leadership opportunities are still ridiculously more trying than those faced by most men. But a woman is now Speaker of the House of Representatives; what an amazing place our country has finally arrived at.
"Hope, hope, that is what America is about and it is in that spirit that I was sent to Congress."And today, I thank my colleagues. By electing me speaker, you have brought us closer to the ideal of equality that is America's heritage and America's hope."
We lost the election of 2004, and so many of us were crushed by the return to power of George W Bush; we just couldn't believe the country would make such a tragic, stupid mistake. But the stupidity turned out to be the GOP's, the members of Congress who used their power to divide, rob and destroy. Some have gone to prison — others will follow — and many got dumped on their keisters in November; good riddance, Pombo, Burns and Santorum. Suddenly, Congress is being run again by the Democrats, and once again, after so many lost years, we can have hope.
"This is an historic moment ... for the Congress, and an historic moment for the women of this country. It is a moment for which we have waited over 200 years. Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights. But women weren't just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal. For our daughters and granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling. For our daughters and our granddaughters, the sky is the limit, anything is possible for them."
In the House chamber was one of the great modern women leaders of Congress, Pat Schroeder. I still remember seeing her speak in Portland in 1988; she, with Barbara Jordan, Shirley Chisholm and far too few others, led the way for Speaker Pelosi, and it was wonderful to see her there on this great day.
And how great was it to see all those kids? Lots of fussing and fidgeting and then wanting to touch and play with the Speaker's gavel. A touch of reality in a room that seems to slip into the surreal so often.
"Let us join together in the first 100 hours to make this Congress the most honest and open Congress in history — 100 hours."This openness requires respect for every voice in the Congress. As Thomas Jefferson said, 'Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.' My colleagues elected me to be Speaker of the House — the entire House. Respectful of the vision of our Founders, the expectations of our people, and the great challenges that we face, we have an obligation to reach beyond partisanship to work for all Americans.
"Let us all stand together to move our country forward, seeking common ground for the common good.
"We have made history, now let us make progress for our the America people."
I am thrilled that so much of what I hope to see change in America is in the hands of a woman. Nancy Pelosi is not my favorite Democrat; I don't think she really understands the nature of the progressive movement at the grassroots. But her life and perspective are so much different than that of the men who've preceeded her, especially Hastert, Gingrich and the long line of self-satisfied, power-encrusted men who have stood for privilege and against the needs of so many Americans. Speaker Pelosi won't fix the country single-handedly, and she'll no doubt disappoint many of us.
But, damn, on a day like this, watching the entire vote as her grandchildren clambered around her, as great Americans like John Lewist stood to voice their vote for change and history, and as John Boehner grimly handed over the Speaker's Gavel; on a day like this, I not only felt proud to be an American, but also a Democrat. And I felt something that has been woefully missing when I look to Washington, DC: hope.
A great moment indeed.
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Jan 4, '07
This absolutely a great moment in American history.
Jan 5, '07
I agree this is a moment for hope. My hope is that the Dems will use their majority to actually pass some bills which contain fair and effective solutions to the big issues confronting our country. Things like the war, universal single-payer health care, Medicare, Social Security, Even if Bush Jr. vetoes every positive and creative law the Dems pass, the Dems will have at least accomplished something and the American people can then judge the Dems on their actions not on their endless talk.
My fear is that rather than passing new bills which contain solutions to substantive problems, the Dems will prefer to use the next two years as a dress rehearsal for the 2008 presidential election. If they do that, they will further damage what little respect the American people have for the political process and, in all likelihood, in 2008 the voters will toss the Dem incumbents into the same trash heap as their Republican predecessors.
3:13 a.m.
Jan 5, '07
They'll pass bills, but I wouldn't expect to see much in the way of MAJOR legislation. After all, it won't get signed - so it doesn't make sense to do the hard slogging work to get it written. Instead, they'll do the easy short popular stuff that puts Bush between a rock and a hard place.
Jan 5, '07
Between a rock and a hard place is right where I want him. Better there than on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.
Jan 5, '07
T.A. Barnhart:
What a great moment, an amazing moment. A woman as leader of the body the Founders designed to be the most democratic institution in the country!
Bob T:
Hmmm, yet when we saw our first black female Sec of State, a big yawn was heard from the blue people. Look, first are firsts regardless of party. If they have to be certain kinds of women, or blacks, then say so.
Bob Tiernan
9:32 a.m.
Jan 5, '07
Condi wasn't the first woman Scty of State, of course; that was Democrat Madeline Albright, named by Bill Clinton. she wasn't the first African-American SoS; that was Powell. her appointment was a hybrid first, which would have been a great achievement had she not by the time she became SoS become such a horrible human being. she helped build the lie that was Operation Enduring Deathmarch; she toadyed on oil Boards of Directors, helping make possible the invasion to ensure enduring oil profits. yes, this is political, but her politics are so heinous, so soaked in the blood of American troops and Iraqi civilians, i have no idea what i could possibly celebrate about her.
Powell sold his soul when he went before the UN and told his lies. Rice has no soul to sell. she has sacrified it to Dubya years ago; she lives to serve his will and nothing more.
Jan 5, '07
t.a. barnhart:
Condi wasn't the first woman Scty of State, of course; that was Democrat Madeline Albright, named by Bill Clinton. she wasn't the first African-American SoS; that was Powell.
Bob T:
I never said she was either of those two. Here's what I wrote: "yet when we saw our first black female Sec of State".
Bob Tiernan
Jan 5, '07
Yes, but full equality will not be with us until we have the first left-handed anarcho-lesbian black Secretary of State.
Jan 5, '07
Bob T.:
The historical significance of an event such as Nancy Pelosi's election as Speaker is the admission of a minority to offices of power which they had always been denied. Ms. Rice did not achieve that, but something more like the Moon missions after Apollo 11: admirable but not headline-grabbing.
If it is your intention to accuse T. A. of hailing Speaker Pelosi's achievement only as a partisan triumph, then say so.
Jan 6, '07
Bickford talks about the historical significance of Pelosi's accomplishment. It is a fact that it is yet to be seen what her real accomplishments will be. Furthermore, women in government have proven to be every bit as venal as men (Clinton springs to mind).
On this score, I think I am in agreement with Kari's view: They'll pass bills, but I wouldn't expect to see much in the way of MAJOR legislation. Even the probable success of the first "100 hours" agenda will owe a lot more to the political environment in which many Republicans are looking for the chance make some political hay in support of popular measures than anything else.
I venture to say the response of the U.S. Congress to this ominous development, if it is true, will be determine the future of our democracy:
Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2535310,00.html
because that will not be about passing bills, it will be about exhibiting genuine leadership to save our society and perhaps the world community. Something that has been in short supply on both sides of the political aisle since the 1980 election.
Anyone want to predict how Democrats and Republicans will respond (i.e. just how deafening their silence will be in the coming weeks)?
Jan 7, '07
Nice way to snuff "A moment for hope". No hope for political logic.
Jan 7, '07
It is fitting that one of the organizers of the SF Dem. national convention (derided by Republicans as "those SF Democrats" as if there were something wrong with anyone at the opposing convention) became the first woman Speaker of the House. Many of us who remember Geraldine Ferraro as the first VP nominee are thrilled there is now a woman Speaker. Having seen Speaker Pelosi on Face the Nation today, I think the House is in good hands--a person of substance and someone who does well on national television.
From what I have seen, there are women across the political spectrum who are thrilled that the "marble ceiling" has been broken. But there seem to be some men with the attitude, "what's the big deal?!".
I suspect the women who are grinning from ear to ear about the new Speaker will remember who those men are who can't understand why we are thrilled. And that the next time any of those men speak publicly, the women who are thrilled at the new Speaker might take whatever they say "with a grain of salt".
Which is why I was pleasantly surprised by Minority Leader Boehner. He handled the situation better than past behavior could have predicted.
Jan 8, '07
Ed Bickford:
The historical significance of an event such as Nancy Pelosi's election as Speaker is the admission of a minority to offices of power which they had always been denied. Ms. Rice did not achieve that, but something more like the Moon missions after Apollo 11: admirable but not headline-grabbing.
Bob T:
Unless, say, Cynthia "Sluggo" McKinney had been appointed Sec of State. Besides, I doubt that females had been "denied" the Speaker position for the past X-number of decades -- it was more of a case of first needing to see women in office and staying there until they were high on the seniority list.
Ed Bickford:
If it is your intention to accuse T. A. of hailing Speaker Pelosi's achievement only as a partisan triumph, then say so.
Bob T:
No, I don't say that he's hailing it as a partisan achievement, but that he doesn't notice similar firsts if an "R" follows the name. Look, I'm not big on this BS, but one thing I've noticed is that, say, in the Bush I Admin when there was an emergency four-person discussion about the latest in the crumbling Warsaw Pact or USSR itself, two blacks were in the group of four: Colin Powell and Condi Rice. They were there because they had qualifications for the job (as opposed to, say, had Ron Brown been Clinton's Nat'l Security Advisor). We didn't hear Bush or other Repubs saying, "Hey, look at us -- we have blacvk people in important positions!". They were just there, with little or no fanfare on that regard. That's eqality -- when no big deal is made. Of course, the Dems made a deal for another reason -- those two were off the plantation.
Bob Tiernan
Jan 8, '07
LT:
Many of us who remember Geraldine Ferraro as the first VP nominee
Bob T:
Of a major party. By the way, the first woman to receive anElectoral College vote is Oregon's very own Tonie Nathan (Libertarian Party, 1972).
<h2>Bob Tiernan</h2>