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| Pelosi: Bush 'a total failure' |
| 2008-07-18 |
| House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called President Bush "a total failure" on Thursday, among the California Democrat's harshest assessments to date of the president. I'm sure you'd make a much better president. If you were ever elected, of course. "God bless him, bless his heart, president of the United States -- a total failure, losing all credibility with the American people on the economy, on the war, on energy, you name the subject," Pelosi told CNN's Wolf Blitzer in an exclusive interview. Bless you too. Bi+ch. The comments came two days after the president sharply criticized Congress over what he described as relative inaction over the course of the legislative term. At the White House on Wednesday, Bush noted that there were only 26 legislative days left in the fiscal year and said Congress would need to pass a spending bill every other day to "get their fundamental job done." "This is not a record to be proud of, and I think the American people deserve better," Bush said. In the interview, Pelosi said the president was in no position to criticize Congress and brushed aside the criticisms as "something to talk about because he has no ideas." I say whoever has the higher approval rating gets to do the criticizing. But that's just my opinion. "For him to be challenging Congress when we are trying to sweep up after his mess over and over and over again -- at the end of the day, Congress will have passed its responsibility to pass legislation," she said. He's looking for meaningful legislation, not just legislation. But Pelosi's comments come as a new Gallup poll registers the lowest level of congressional approval among Americans in the polling organization's 30-year history of conducting that survey. That poll showed that its approval rating had reached an anemic 14 percent, while more than 70 percent of those polled said they disapproved of the job Congress is doing. The House speaker said she doesn't consider those numbers a negative referendum on the Democrats in charge, saying she thinks they stem largely from Congress' failure to end the war in Iraq. OK, you can take off the rose-colored glasses now. "Everything I see says this is about ending the war -- 'I disapprove of Congress' performance in terms of ending the war,' " she said. "In the House, we, of course, have over and over, five or six times, sent to the Senate legislation for a time certain to reduce our deployment in Iraq and bring our troops home safely, honorably and soon. We haven't been able to get it past the Senate or the president of the United States. Well then what are y'all pacing around and wringing your hands fer? Git 'er dun! "So, on the basis of that, count me among the 70-some percent," she continued. "But that is one measure. The other measure that I'm more interested in is the one that talks about what is their view of Democrats. And the generic, who do you prefer to run the country on all of these issues? We're in double digits in any poll that you can take." Can I take it that very same 'total failure' just got lucky (again) and unwittingly cornered you (again)? Is that what's got your Depends in a knot? Republican National Committee spokesman Alex Conant derided Pelosi's comments as "the sort of partisan politics that Democrats once decried and promised to change." "Rather than personally critique others, Speaker Pelosi should reconsider her own out-of-touch stance against oil exploration," he said. "With Americans paying record prices at the pump and Congress in gridlock, this is no time for the speaker to only offer personal attacks." Depends on your point of view, I suppose. In the wide-ranging interview, the entirety of which will air Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer," Pelosi also reiterated her longtime opposition to lifting a congressional ban on offshore drilling as well as opening up areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for oil exploration. Bush and congressional Republicans have pushed for those two policy changes. Pelosi has long opposed drilling offshore, a popular policy position among Californians, many of whom fear its environmental consequences along the state's coastline. But a recent CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll showed that more than 73 percent of Americans polled approved of lifting the 1981 ban, and the move holds support among many in Pelosi's own party, whose constituents are growing increasingly angry over rising gas prices. Sorry, that's not an indicator that she's interested in. She has Pelosi said the oil industry is not aggressively exploring large amounts of federal areas already leased to them and approved for drilling, including 33 million offshore acres and 68 million acres in the lower 48 states. She has sponsored legislation calling on oil companies to increase their production in those areas before they are allowed to go into the offshore areas currently banned. Has anyone let her in on the fact that everyone knows that these areas either have no oil or would take a century to develop? "Thirty-three million acres offshore are allowed for leasing," she said. "And we're saying to them, use it or lose it. You have the opportunity to drill there. When you have exhausted those remedies, then you can talk about something else." Ah, a tax increase that the little people with their little minds will never figure out! She's also calling on the president to release 10 percent of the more than 700 million barrels of oil housed in the country's Strategic Petroleum Reserve. No way. We're going to need it all to make Vaseline here pretty soon if the Donks don't stop pandering to their myriad conflicted constituents, who band together and pay handsomely for the Dems to pimp their otherwise hopeless causes. Bush said Tuesday that he is against any release from the reserve, saying that stash is for emergencies only. He also disputed that it would have any effect on lowering gas prices. For God's sake, this is an emergency if there ever was one! The Donks need some kind of cover before it's too late! "What we are saying is, Mr. President, free our oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve," Pelosi said. "We're saying, let's take 10 percent of that, which has been paid for by the American taxpayer, and use that to put on the market so that we increase supply, reduce price." She'll never get it, but don't tell her that. Or she'll call you a failure, too. "And when the price comes down, we can buy back the oil at a lower price, put it in the SPR, use the spread for renewable energy resources." Prices would be lower today but higher tomorrow. I remember some Donks whining recently that the price of oil was higher than it should be because the country was topping off its stragegic reserves. Pick one, Donks. The House speaker has faced heavy criticism from House Republican leader John Boehner, who is leading a congressional delegation to ANWR this weekend and has said Pelosi's action does not adequately address the problem. Don't forget to bring your digital camera with you and bring back lots of pictures of caribou and beautiful landscapes. Everybody loves a good congressional slideshow! He's also said Pelosi is leading the moderate faction of her party "off a cliff" by refusing to allow a vote in the House on offshore drilling. Moderate? Good one! "Just because John Boehner, who is |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #11 Maybe you were busy stretching your face out like a NY times editorial page, but I believe you forgot something in this hunt for failure, YOU are IT Pelosi. The only reason this President has to deal with your partys screwups is because we like to switch parties constantly - not that you are better, just that you represent the ignorance of the populace and intellectual bulwark of this here roman empire. It is only done to ensure history repeats itself. If there were no manual in how to treat talking monkeys like yourself, you would be cutting peoples heads off like the Mayans. I have a simple warning for you miss hotel bride, forget your ideology, fix problems, and shut your damn mouth. You work for ME. I have at my disposal too much power to listen to your nonsense at this time. OUR country is in trouble and you are sitting there with your oil investments up your ass. As well as $59 million capitol you plan to flee with after you screw the nation out of it's life blood. I marked you miles away. You are not a failure, you are an abomination to America. A total Abomination. |
| Posted by: Newc 2008-07-18 15:38 |
| #10 US People: "Congress A Total Failure" |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2008-07-18 14:34 |
| #9 ... she's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's eyes. When she comes at ya, doesn't seem to be living... |
| Posted by: Quint of Amity 2008-07-18 14:24 |
| #8 Pelosi has converted my lifelong Democratic mother to a registered Republican, wanting to know how we can impeach her! She gets so upset over her arrogant blather and the impact on poor Americans impeding viable legislation has that she can't sleep at night. Can I sue her if she has a heart attack? |
| Posted by: Danielle 2008-07-18 11:31 |
| #7 Out of deference to the ladies that read and post here at RB, I'll not write the epithet that sprang to mind when I read the headline of this posting. Chalk it up to a rare instance of civility on my part. |
| Posted by: MarkZ 2008-07-18 11:27 |
| #6 But Pelosi's comments come as a new Gallup poll registers the lowest level of congressional approval among Americans in the polling organization's 30-year history of conducting that survey. The House speaker said she doesn't consider those numbers a negative referendum on the Democrats in charge, saying she thinks they stem largely from Congress' failure to end the war in Iraq. Sure, honey. You keep telling yourself that. But it appears that not even CNN is buying your bullshit. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-07-18 10:48 |
| #5 And this total failure has let you, San Fran Nan, around by the nose on war funding, FISA, etc. So where does that put you and your "We will get this done" do-nothing congress? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-07-18 10:01 |
| #4 Spoken by the leader of the least popular and least ethical congress evah! |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-07-18 09:49 |
| #3 she will block any vote to allow lifting the ban Just let her keep talking. November is just a couple months away. I hope to god she holds out at least that long. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-07-18 09:14 |
| #2 I say whoever has the higher approval rating gets to do the criticizing. But that's just my opinion. Word. |
| Posted by: Raj 2008-07-18 08:43 |
| #1 Said the woman presiding over a Congress with approval ratings hovering around dead. |
| Posted by: Grenter, Protector of the Geats 2008-07-18 08:40 |