Willie Brown: Pelosi exhibits leadership, protects colleagues

[Auggie]

Spin from columnist Willie Brown, former Speaker of the California State Assembly and San Francisco Mayor:

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, 11-15-09

I'm not talking about the merits of the bill that emerged from the House - the debate on that subject is far from over. I'm talking about Pelosi's behind-the-scenes leadership to get the job done in such a way that at-risk Democrats can still win re-election.

The pundits portrayed the 220-215 tally and 39 Democratic no votes as signs of Pelosi's weakness. What they missed was that Pelosi got her majority while letting Democrats from conservative districts off the hook. Nancy knows that the first thing on every Democratic House member's mind is getting re-elected. In turn, as speaker, her first and foremost job is to ensure they get re-elected.

She also knows that the most important vote they cast once they are re-elected will be to keep her as speaker. And if that means letting them be a Republican now and then, so be it. That's not weakness, that's politics.

LINK: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/15/BAVT1AJFK8.DTL

That's the problem, IMO. It is all about politics and re-election. We're still getting screwed in the process.

[emulatorloo]

1. Depends on the final result: "the making of sausage and the making of legislation"

“There are two things you will never wish to watch: the making of sausage and the making of legislation.”

It ain't over yet.

If the Stupak amendment is gone in the end (and I personally think it will be) then I will be happy with the results.

Much of this was political theater by the Stupakians.

They INSISTED they be given this vote - I think it was mostly GrandStanding for their fundy base.

They need to save face, so the effort to remove the language will have to be done in a way that allows that.

Then as they vote for the bill without the Stupak Amendment, they can say 'Oh well fundies, we tried. . ."

[anigbrowl]

2. You are mistaken

It is not all about politics. But it is always going to be partly about politics because that's just how people are. Some things take longer to achieve than a 2 year congressional term, so being able to think beyond the next election is important. wishing way politics is like wishing away ugliness or unhappiness. If you can't deal with that social reality then you're going to be perpetually disappointed. Sorry. Movements that offer to abolish politics in favor of one utopin unity of purpose usually end up as tyrannies. In fact, I'm suspicious of anyone who says we need to move beyond all politics because that's usually code for moving beyond any possibility of dissent or debate.