Did Nancy Pelosi's Speech Sink the Bailout?

Bailout Bill

Dear Speaker Pelosi,

You are unfit to be the speaker of the House and you should resign. You give lip service to bipartisanism but your speech to the house was extrely partisan which is not the role of a speaker. Get the facts straight. Former Democratic President Clinton pressured banks to give subprime loans to poorer people and he was a great advocate of the free market along with the Ferderal Reserve Chairman Greenspan. President Bush is also to blame with his free market mentality with non regulation of the banks. However, the Democrats were in charge of both houses of Congress the last two years and did nothing. So there is plenty of blame to go around. Only 12 votes needed to be changed to get the bill passed. While Representative Barney Franks did much to have the bill passed, there were 37 Democrats on the House Banking Committee and 12 Democrats voted against the bill.

I noticed tonight that both Senator Dodd and Senator Obama praised many people (Democrats and Republicans) but your name was conspiculously absent. I think that you were being sent a subtle message by your own party and that you are on a certain list that is not complimentary.

Also while I was going through your web sites I noticed that your PAC gave $100,000 to your husband's firm. You should resign alone for being such a hypocrite. People like you don't deserve to be in the House much less being its spokesman. Ceasar's wife needs to be above suspicion and you are not.

Frederic W. Haeussler of FL @ Oct 01, 2008 23:00:00 PM

Ms. Pelosi - what she had to say

There is much truth in what Ms. Pelosi has to say, but I recognize that Republicans are not entirely to blame for the current credit crisis. Most, if not all, on Capitol Hill are quilty of taking money from corporations with shady accounting practices (e.g. Enron) and institutions like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that lobby with an agenda. Statistics confirm that the inequity in the distribution of wealth in the U.S. is greater than any other industrial nation in the world, but the real problem is human nature, particularly greed. I find it amazing that a country that somewhat arrogantly espouses its Judeo-Christian values, with ideals embracing compassion and giving, supports a corporate culture with a historical addiction for cheap labor and an immoral lust for wealth and power. But, if greed is the downfall of unbridled Capitalism than too, sloth is the curse of Socialism.

I ask that my Jewish brothers and sisters, particularly my sisters, seriously consider the meaning of 'gimel' and 'gemul' this holiday season. I hail Nancy Pelosi for her passion. Only when women unite and collectively impregnate the minds of men will a new world order be born.

T. Osman of NC @ Oct 01, 2008 20:21:34 PM

Clearly, the bailout process will affect only the hard working people in a negative way. It is sad that in the 21st century we have to bail out companies that get themselves in their own mess. How about taking responsability? Isn't that what our parents teach us.

Another example of corruption and greed. Accroding to the LA Times, Alan H. Fishman joined Washington Mutual as Chief Executive Officer. After 17 work days, he is eligible for $19.1 million in compensation. Article was posted September 26, 2008.

So to Ms Pelosi, you are correct. There are no regulations.

J of NJ @ Oct 01, 2008 16:11:46 PM

bad form

It's just poor form.

Cathy of SC @ Oct 01, 2008 12:51:33 PM

When will it end?

It's pretty easy to tell who are the Democrats and who are the Republicans reading these comments. There are good points to be made on both sides. Having watched Speaker Pelosi's remarks, I would have to say that she really should have known better than to say what she did when she did. You don't tell your neighbor you think he's an idiot just before you ask to borrow his lawn mower, that's just common sense. Regardless of who caused this crisis (and there is plenty of blame to go around, in my opinion), the focus should have been and should be on what to do about it. Speaker Pelosi should have been citing the reasons why the members should approve the measure, and lauding the bi-partisan effort if goal was to get it passed.

As to whether it was appropriate for members to decide their vote based on Pelosi's remarks, well, I can actually see both sides. If a member thought this was the right action, then he or she should have voted for it. However, if they were on the fence, I can certainly understand how Pelosi's rant would have been interpreted as a dismissal of the cooperation being asked for to get the bill passed. It would have seemed that she didn't think she really needed, or even wanted, their votes. In that case, I'd have voted my conscience.

The silver lining in all of this is that there is now an opportunity to go back and do this right, or at least better. Any bill hammered out over a period of a week is going to be pretty imperfect -- I can't help but believe that the next version will be improved over the one that got voted down.

DP of MI @ Sep 30, 2008 21:34:21 PM

Throw the bums out

Joel, you have issues with old people and women, its OK, its not your fault.

Mike of OH @ Sep 30, 2008 21:33:01 PM

Joel from WA, I am sure it took you a really long time to come up with your speal. Maybe not, it sounds like you recite this crap in your sleep. By the way, if you think that one man created this mess we are in, you are sorely mistaken. Its all of them-Democrats and Republicans, politicans have been playing a very dangerous game for a long time. All at our expense, I mean the taxpayer and common person. If you think Obama can single handedly take on the entire system you really do live in the clouds. What needs to happen is people VOTE and do the research and look at all our elected officials not just the president. Becasue guess what, one man did not do this- Greed and lack of moral obligation did.

Amy of OH @ Sep 30, 2008 21:26:42 PM

Pelosi's Remarks

Pelosi's remarks about the failures of the Bush Administration and the conservative Republicans did not serve the nation well. This is political grand standing when cooperation is imperative. This is the very thing that gives Congress such a dismal approval rating. No wonder people feel they are voting for the lesser of two evils.

John Nerison of ID @ Sep 30, 2008 21:25:56 PM