Nancy Pelosi

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Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi, M.C. is the Representative for the 8th Congressional District of California and is the current Speaker of the House (2007 -), succeeding J. Dennis Hastert. She is the first woman to become House Speaker. She is the eighth richest of 435 members of the House.[1]

Pelosi prides herself in "being called a liberal" and doesn't consider herself a "moderate". [2]

Politics

Ethics

Concerns over ethics in Congress played a big part in the Democratic recapture of the House of Representatives and Pelosi's ascension to the Speakership after several members of Congress were investigated, indicted or convicted for legal wrongdoing over the past year. In early 2007, Speaker Pelosi established a Special Task Force on Ethics Enforcement to explore the problem. Twenty freshmen House Democrats have asked for legislation to establish an independent ethics commission within the legislative branch to investigate future ethical lapses by fellow members.[3] Speaker Pelosi and others in the majority have resisted such a reform.[Citation Needed]

Pelosi, capitalizing on the public’s distaste for the earmarking process, pledged reform during the elections last fall. Members of Congress regularly abuse the appropriations process by earmarking public monies to fund pet projects of special interests and donors often in their own congressional districts or states. Earmarks are an area of the legislative process particularly susceptible to corruption. In may 2007 Pelosi stuck in a $25 million pork project that would benefit her rich husband, Paul Pelosi, in the Water Resources Development Act. The project involves renovating ports near four separate commercial real estate properties near owned by Paul Pelosi and will significantly boost the property values. According to disclosure forms, these properties resulted in rental income as high as $3 million in 2005 for the Pelosi’s. [4]

Boy Scouts

Nancy Pelosi tried to pass legislation making it illegal for Boy Scouts to use public facilities like schools. This move was brought on by her disapproval of the Boy Scouts not allowing homosexuals to lead the children.

Criticism

Trip to Syria

File:Pelosisyria.jpg
Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi dressed for a visit to a Mosque in Syria.

Despite strong reservations of others about interfering in sensitive international diplomatic negotiations, a federal law known as the Logan Act prohibiting private citizens from conducting foreign policy, and Bush Administration requests not to do so, Pelosi traveled to Damascus, Syria in April 2007 to meet with Syrian Ba'athist leader Bashar Assad. Pelosi indicated at a press conference that she had carried a message from the government of Israel. "Our message was President Bush’s message," Pelosi told The Associated Press in Portugal . [5] Pelosi told reporters the meeting "enabled us to communicate a message from Prime Minister Olmert".

The Israeli Prime Minister's office stated Olmert told Pelosi that Israel continued to regard Syria as "part of the axis of evil and a party encouraging terrorism in the entire Middle East." The Jerusalem Post reported sources at the Prime Minister's Office said, "Pelosi took part of the things that were said in the meeting, and used what suited her." [6]

The trip was praised by terrorists as "brave". Members of the Islamic Jihad have said Pelosi aligns to their views about terror much better than Bush and Dr. Condoleezza Rize. [7] Khaled Al-Batch, spokesman for Islamic Jihad, which along with Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades has taken responsibility for every suicide bombing in Israel for the past two years, expressed hope Pelosi and the Democratic Party will pressure Bush to create dialogue with Syria and Middle East "resistance movements" and prompt an American withdrawal from Iraq.

In the lead editorial of Thursday, April 5th, The Washington Post commented on "The Pratfall in Damascus":[1]

"HOUSE SPEAKER Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) offered an excellent demonstration yesterday of why members of Congress should not attempt to supplant the secretary of state when traveling abroad. After a meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Ms. Pelosi announced that she had delivered a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that "Israel was ready to engage in peace talks" with Syria. What's more, she added, Mr. Assad was ready to "resume the peace process" as well. Having announced this seeming diplomatic breakthrough, Ms. Pelosi suggested that her Kissingerian shuttle diplomacy was just getting started. "We expressed our interest in using our good offices in promoting peace between Israel and Syria," she said.</small>
Only one problem: The Israeli prime minister entrusted Ms. Pelosi with no such message. "What was communicated to the U.S. House Speaker does not contain any change in the policies of Israel," said a statement quickly issued by the prime minister's office. In fact, Mr. Olmert told Ms. Pelosi that "a number of Senate and House members who recently visited Damascus received the impression that despite the declarations of Bashar Assad, there is no change in the position of his country regarding a possible peace process with Israel." In other words, Ms. Pelosi not only misrepresented Israel's position but was virtually alone in failing to discern that Mr. Assad's words were mere propaganda.
Never mind that that statement is ludicrous: As any diplomat with knowledge of the region could have told Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Assad is a corrupt thug whose overriding priority at the moment is not peace with Israel but heading off U.N. charges that he orchestrated the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri. The really striking development here is the attempt by a Democratic congressional leader to substitute her own foreign policy for that of a sitting Republican president. Two weeks ago Ms. Pelosi rammed legislation through the House of Representatives that would strip Mr. Bush of his authority as commander in chief to manage troop movements in Iraq. Now she is attempting to introduce a new Middle East policy that directly conflicts with that of the president. We have found much to criticize in Mr. Bush's military strategy and regional diplomacy. But Ms. Pelosi's attempt to establish a shadow presidency is not only counterproductive, it is foolish."

Pelosi was roundly criticized from all quarters for making the trip. The New York Post said, "the sad reality is that Pelosi is sending Assad the same message she and her Democratic colleagues in Congress have sent the terrorist insurgency in Iraq: Just wait until President Bush leaves office and a Democratic administration will hand you what you want on a platter [8] and the Philadelphia Enquirer reported Pelosi "was nuts" to visit Assad. [9] c

CordeValle Golf Club and Resort

Nancy Pelosi has one of her largest investments in a private golf development partnership called Lions Gate Limited. The Santa Clara County Planning Committee approved a plan for them to build a 275-acre golf course 30 minutes south of San Jose, but only under strict conditions. They agreed to allow 60% public usage of the course and to abide by strict environmental rules, since a number of endangered species were present in the area. The club opened in 2000 and did very well, making $250,000 for each member and $400,000 for corporations.[10]

But then the Planning Commission took at look to see if the guidelines had been followed. First of all, only about a dozen non-members had been actually able to play on the course, a far cry from 60%. CordeValle had also set up obvious anti-public rules, such as requiring people to call seventy-two hours in advance and pay close to $300 for 18 holes. Upon investigation, the Commission learned that nonmembers would be told that the club was "full" and turned away even when the club was relatively empty. There were a series of public hearings on the matter and it was concluded that Lion's Gate was in clear violation of the agreement they had made[11].

During the hearings, it was learned that Lion's Gate had also ignored many of the environmental regulations they were responsible for. The ponds that they needed to make in order to preserve two species of lizard and turtle were not built. And only one mandatory annual environmental report had been submitted in seven years[12]. In 2004, a county report complained that improperly abandoned wells and urban pollutants from the resort were causing water quality degradation in the area. [13]

In 2003, the Pelosis and the development partnership finally hired some lobbyists and put a few government employees on the pay role. This caused the commission to cave and give up their fraud investigation as long as the course agreed to host a charity golf tournament for children.[14]

Gay rights and abortion

In the 2001 San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade Pelosi marched along with long time CPUSA [15] member and gay rights pioneer Harry Hay. [16][17] A gay activist group calling itself the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), eulogized Hay as "the first to realize that the dream of equality for our community could be attained through visibility and activism".[18] An outspoken advocate of the North American Man-Boy Love Association NAMBLA, Hay regularly addressed NAMBLA conferences. NAMBLA carries published material by Hay on its website dating back to 1984. The ACLU defended NAMBLA against a $200 million lawsuit by parents of a 10 year old murder victim who claimed their sons’ killer was motivated by published material on NAMBLA’s website. [19][20] Perlosi has taken $10,000 in campaign contributions from the Human Rights Campaign. [21]

Pelosi has made special rights for homosexuals a priority in the 109th Congress. [22] Several so-called Hate Crimes bills, or gay rights advocacy measures, have been introduced into the House which, according to Michael Marcavage of Repent America, could allow a homosexual to "claim emotional damage from hearing Scripture that describes his lifestyle as an abomination. [The homosexual] can press charges against the pastor or broadcaster who merely reads the Bible in public. The 'hater' can be fined thousands of dollars and even imprisoned". [23] On National Prayer Day 2007 Pelosi scheduled a vote on an alleged "Hate Crimes Bill".

Marc Sheppard of American Thinker has asked how can,

"one of the most outspoken advocates for unrestricted abortion in Congress -- with a perfect 100% rating from the radical pro-abortion group NARAL, -- maintain a straight face when declaring a concern for children? How can you vote NO to making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime (Lacy and Conner’s Law - H.R.1997) and pretend to care about infants? How does anyone who voted against restricting interstate transport of minors for the purpose of abortion (H.R 748) or outlawing the barbaric infanticide which is partial birth abortion (H.R 3660) seriously proclaim that anything she does is “about children”. [24]

Zinfandel Lane

According to opensecrets.org, nearly half of Pelosi's assets are tied up in a Napa County, California vineyard called Zinfandel Lane. Capitolnews.com has reported Pelosi only employs non-union laborers and does not provide health coverage for her workers. In addition, it is believed illegal aliens have been exploited by Pelosi on the work farm, as well as a general question surrounding paying a basic livable wage for many of societies most vulnerable.[25]

Quotations

"The gavel of the speaker of the House is in the hands of special interests, and now it will be in the hands of America's children." -- January 4, 2007.[26]


See also

References

  1. opensecrets.org
  2. Michael Crowley, "Follow the Leader," New Republic, November 25, 2002.
  3. Alexander Bolton, Dems press Pelosi for ethics panel, The Hill, April 19, 2007.
  4. Pelosi’s Waterworks, Stephen Spruiell, National Review Online, May 9, 2007.
  5. Pelosi: I Carried Bush's Message To Syria Apr 7 2007.
  6. PMO: Pelosi did not carry any message from Israel to Assad, Yoav Stern and Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondents and AP, 5 April 2007.
  7. Terrorists endorse Pelosi's 'good policy of dialogue', Aaron Klein, Israel News, 04.05.07. "Palestinian terror group members call US House speaker's visit to Damascus 'brave' and hope for talks with Iran; ‘I think the Democratic Party can do things the best,’ Islamic Jihad member says"
  8. Nancy's Nonsense, New York Post, 3 April 2007.
  9. Claudia Rosett, Pelosi was nuts to visit with Assad, Philadelphia Enquirer, Thu, Apr. 05, 2007.
  10. Barry Witt, "Cordevalle club not living up to 60 percent language," San Jose Mercury News Jan. 10, 2002.
  11. Barry Witt, "CordeValle Update," San Jose Mercury News, May 8, 2003.
  12. Barry Witt, "What to do on CordeValle; open it up to the public, or open up it's wallet", San Jose Mercury News, August 7, 2003
  13. File 5950-68-28-94P, Lions Gate Limited Partnership Staff Report, San Jose Planning Commission, August 5, 2004, and November 4, 2004 (same file name)
  14. Barry Witt, "Help for CordeValle," San Jose Mercury News, June 13, 2003.
  15. The Boston Phoenix, The real Harry Hay, Michael Bronski, October 31 - November 7, 2002.
  16. The American Spectator Special Report, When Nancy Met Harry, Jeffrey Lord, 10/5/2006.
  17. The San Fransisco Chronicle, Official Guide & Program Parade Lineup, page SP - 14, June 22, 2001.
  18. Human Rights Campaign Mourns the Death of Gay Rights Pioneer Harry Hay, Press Release, Oct. 24, 2002.
  19. Deroy Murdock, No Boy Scouts: The ACLU defends NAMBLA, National Review Online, February 27, 2004.
  20. Curley Vs. NAMBLA
  21. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Top Contributors
  22. Concerned Women for America, Homosexual Bills Top House Speaker Pelosi’s List, January 10, 2007.
  23. Christian belief a 'hate crime' under plan, WorldNetDaily, March 3, 2007.
  24. Marc Sheppard, Pelosi: God Bless the Child that’s not at Home, January 14, 2007.
  25. Does Pelosi’s Non-Union Vineyard Use Illegal Aliens?Monday 30 October 2006.
  26. Marc Sheppard, Pelosi: God Bless the Child that’s not at Home, January 14, 2007. "one of the most outspoken advocates for unrestricted abortion in Congress -- with a perfect 100% rating from the radical pro-abortion group NARAL, -- maintain a straight face when declaring a concern for children? How can you vote NO to making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime (Lacy and Conner’s Law - H.R.1997) and pretend to care about infants? How does anyone who voted against restricting interstate transport of minors for the purpose of abortion (H.R 748) or outlawing the barbaric infanticide which is partial birth abortion (H.R 3660) seriously proclaim that anything she does is “about children,”

External links