'Regrets is not what I do': Pelosi defends her comment about four House women

[BeyondGeography]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday she has “no regrets about anything” after a swipe at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other freshman congresswomen’s following in a New York Times article.

Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, or “The Squad,” voted against a bill that aimed to provide emergency funding at the border. Pelosi told the NYT Saturday the four newer members “have their public whatever and their Twitter world,” but “they’re four people and that’s how many votes they got.”

Pelosi stood by her comments Wednesday, saying she doesn’t “do” regrets.

“I have no regrets about anything,” Pelosi told reporters after being asked if she was worried about her remarks dividing Democrats, The Washington Post reported. “Regrets is not what I do.”

More at https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/regrets-is-not-what-i-do-pelosi-defends-her-comments-about-four-house-women/2019/07/10/df49af82-a320-11e9-a767-d7ab84aef3e9_story.html?utm_term=.cec73a6c7e47

[leftstreet]

1. ugh. tone deaf

"twitter world?"

"regrets is not what I do?"

just ugh

[RelativelyJones]

4. Nope. Music to my ears

[leftstreet]

12. Maybe not to that annoying 'public whatever' n/t

[BeyondGeography]

9. +1

Someone should put her shovel away.

[zipplewrath]

13. Not what I do

May not be, but the people affected by your mistakes probably do. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. The more powerful you are, the more people affected by your mistakes.

[LanternWaste]

14. Much as the anti-solidarity statements which started this whole thing.

Of which, Pelosi merely responded to.

Ugh, indeed.

[cwydro]

33. Wow, that's a lot of prepositions in that second "sentence."

Turned around: “Pelosi merely responded to of which.”

Oh lordie me!

[highplainsdem]

2. Good for Pelosi.

[Horizens]

3. Yes, Good for Pelosi

Lest everyone forgets.

During Pelosi’s two years as Speaker (2009 – 2010), the House passed the following legislation.

Obamacare w/ public option
Dodd-Frank
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay
Econ stimulus
Don't ask, don't tell repeal
Dream act
Cap-and-trade
CHIP reauthorization
Employee Free Choice Act
Fair sentencing act
Disclose act
Food Safety Modernization Act
Hate Crimes Prevention Act
Student Aid Act
Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights

In 2010, both AFSCME President, Gerald W. McEntee and Norman Ornstein, a congressional scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute ranked her as one of the most successful, consequential Speakers in U.S history. More recently, President Obama, Barney Frank and historian Michael Beschloss have expressed the same point.

[Horizens]

6. Lest We Forget II

The “Blue Wave” was no accident. As titular head of the Democratic Party, Pelosi planned and implemented the strategy that turned 41 seats from red to blue in the 2018 mid-terms. She also raised over 125 million for congressional candidates – a staggering sum by any measure.

More votes (roughly 60 million) were cast for Democratic candidates than were EVER cast for ANY political party in a mid term election. That’s 15 million more votes than the roughly 45 million cast for Republican candidates in 2018 – the second most votes cast for a political party in a mid term election.

"There's not any precedent for an opposition party coming this close to matching the president's vote total from 2 years earlier." (Nate Silver)

[zipplewrath]

11. So in 2010?

If you credit her for the blue wave, what responsibility does she have for 2010? How about the dismal condition of the DNC when Hillary had to come in and fiscally restore it before the 2016 race?

[LanternWaste]

15. Whaboutism exemplified.

Very accurately exemplified. Yet soon I predict, to be justified as something other than what it is.

[zipplewrath]

17. Just looking for consistency

I didn't really blame her much for 2010, it was really more Obama and his administrations handling of the ACA, combined with alot of racism. But I also only give her limited credit for the blue wave. She did her part and raised alot of money. But it was as much a reaction to how HRC was treated, the Russian mess, and Trump himself that brought us the blue wave.

[Horizens]

24. Rubbish

Nancy Pelosi is/was not on the DNC Committee.

[emmaverybo]

5. Good. She does not want to further the back and forth, but stands by her remarks.

[Demsrule86]

7. Good for Pelosi...

I can't believe this group thought they could get something better from Repugs.

[ripcord]

23. Not only wouldn't they have got a better deal

But likely there would have been no relief and that would have been unconscionable. If people need to blame someone blame the Senate Democrats who handed the Republicans a bipartisan bill to tout.

[Me.]

27. Precisely

[Me.]

10. Good

[shanny]

16. Why on earth did Pelosi pick this public fight

and why is she doubling down? Seems stupid to me and we know she is smart and savvy. I don't get it.

[GeorgeGist]

18. She wants to win the Trump-wing ...

of the Democratic party?

[LakeArenal]

51. Is that a thing?

[Nevermypresident]

19. She never makes a mistake?

Did she talk one on one with the "offenders" in her caucus 1st before going public with Dowd?

If she really wanted to shut down the "back and forth", she could have responded "no comment".

In my book, that's not an exemplary example of leadership.

Like it or not, this young generation is here to stay, IMO, and the old guard needs to understand that and find a way to work with them. (I am old BTW.) I don't agree with all their POV's but I sure as hell like their passion.

[shanny]

61. agree 100%

[BeyondGeography]

20. Unforced errors

The Dowd interview...I'm still trying to figure out what her goal was there. She could have sent a message without mocking some of the brightest young stars of the party. Not only did she not do that, she's continuing to stick it to them. They might behave in the short-term but so what. None of this was necessary in the first place.

[cwydro]

34. I know. I read the Dowd piece, and I thought Pelosi came off a little flippant.

Dismissive, actually. I didn’t see the need for that.

[RelativelyJones]

22. She didn't. "The Squad" just doesn't realize clapback goes both ways.

[Me.]

29. She Didn't

It began with the squad's discontent with the way the vote went and she was responding to their criticism in a way that was not only mild but factual. A reminder that they aren't the powerhouse they suppose they are. Maybe someday but not now and Rep. Pocan calling the moderates Child Abusers is unnecessary and unhelpful.

[shanny]

39. In public was not smart or "politic"

[Me.]

41. That Was Exactly THe Place This Time

to let the 'Squad know how serious she was. She knows what she is doing and when, where to do it. And she didn't it while being factual and without calling them names or using nasty appellations.

And here's a question I have for them...the horror has been going on at the border for quite a while now and they are so concerned last week was their first trip there?

[shanny]

43. here's a question I have: is Maureen Dowd the appropriate venue

for ANY communication with colleagues?

[BeyondGeography]

49. Dowd makes her living by sticking it to the Dems

Usually she has to use third parties or anonymous sources. This time she got it straight from the top.

[shanny]

50. yep.. my point exactly

[Skittles]

35. it is indeed very stupid

[TheCowsCameHome]

21. I wish she had been a candidate for president

at some time in the past.

She really has her act together.

[question everything]

25. Pelosi will be remembered as a great leader and a strategist

while AOC et al...

The reason while AOC et al can get headlines is because they are not part of the majority that.... Pelosi brought about.

[Horizens]

26. Accomplished Leader vs Do Nothings

The US House passed hundreds of pieces of legislation since January. 48 of them major bills (listed below).

Pelosi has accomplished this despite having to deal with a small minority of members who have accomplished nothing.

Health care
1. HR 259 — Medicaid Extenders Act of 2019
2. House Resolution 271 — Condemning the Trump Administration’s Legal Campaign to Take Away Americans’ Health Care
3. HR 986 — Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019
4. HR 987 — Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act
5. HR 1520, the Purple Book Continuity Act (bill aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs)
6. HR 1503, the Orange Book Transparency Act of 2019 (bill aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs)
Civil rights
1. HR 1 — For the People Act of 2019
2. HR 5 — Equality Act
3. HR 7 — Paycheck Fairness Act
4. HR 124 — Expressing opposition to banning service in the Armed Forces by openly transgender individuals
Gun control
1. HR 8 — Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019
2. HR 1112 — Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019
Environment
1. HR 9 — Climate Action Now Act
2. HR 1331 — Local Water Protection Act
3. S 47 — National Resources Management Act
4. HR 2578 — National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act of 2019
Military/foreign affairs
1. HR 840 — Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act
2. HJ Res. 37 — Directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress
3. SJ Res. 7 — To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress
4. HR 31 — Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019
5. HJ Res. 30 — Disapproving the President’s proposal to take an action relating to the application of certain sanctions with respect to the Russian Federation
Mueller report
1. H.Con.Res. 24 — Expressing the sense of Congress that the report of Special Counsel Mueller should be made available to the public and to Congress.
Other legislation
1. HR 1585 — Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019
2. HR 1500 — Consumers First Act
3. HR 1994 — SECURE Act
4. HR 1644 — Save the Internet Act of 2019
5. HR 2157 — Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019
6. HR 269 — Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019
7. HR 251 — Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act
8. S 24 — Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019
9. HR 430 — TANF Extension Act of 2019
10. Concurring in the Senate Amendments to HR 251 — Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard Program Extension Act
11. HR 790 — Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019
12. HJ Res. 46 — Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019
13. H Res. 183 — Condemning anti-Semitism as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values and aspirations that define the people of the United States and condemning anti-Muslim discrimination and bigotry against minorities as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contrary to the values and aspirations of the United States, as amended
14. H Res. 194 — Rule Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1644 and H.R. 2021
15. HR 2480 — Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
16. HR 375 — To amend the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 to reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian Tribes (also known as the “Carcieri Fix”)
Votes to end the government shutdown
1. HR 21 — Making appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes
2. HJ Res. 1 — Making further continuing appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2019, and for other purposes
3. HR 265 — Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019
4. HR 267 — Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019
5. HR 266 — Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019
6. HR 268 — Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 (Disaster Supplemental and short-term continuing resolution through Feb. 8)
7. HR 264 — Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act
8. HJ Res. 28 — Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019 (Short-term continuing resolution through Feb. 28)
9. HR 648 — Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Six conferenced bills minibus)
10. HJ Res. 31 — Making further continuing appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2019 (Short-term homeland continuing resolution through Feb. 28)
11. Conference Report to Accompany HJ Res 31 – Making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes

• HR1 - For the People Act
• HR5 - The Equality Act
• HR6 - Dreamers & TPS
• HR7 - Paycheck Fairness Act
• HR8 - Gun Violence Prevention
• HR9 - Climate Action
• HR1644 - Save the Internet Act
• HR1585 - Violence Against Women Act
• 10 unnamed bills lowering healthcare / Rx drug costs.

[BeyondGeography]

30. This session will be remembered for something and it ain't those bills

[Horizens]

32. HA!

Those bills will be the driving force come the 2020 House election. The Dems will let the electorate know what they've done and what the republican (senate in particular) opposed.

[ProfessorPlum]

36. right. because we are so good at messaging

[Horizens]

37. Messaging

Overall, the Dems do a poor job messaging. But their health care message was major factor in the 2018 Blue Wave.

[stillcool]

28. I think it's great...those 4 members..

have wonderful strong, young voices. They have the passion, the brains, the personalities...they only need the know-how. Speak, but listen. Class has begun.

[mcar]

31. I stand with Speaker Pelosi

[Me.]

38. Right

and if the so-called Squad wants to dish it out they better be prepared for the consequences. As Nancy said, we won't be Okay with that.

[shanny]

40. Pfft

The "squad" weren't the ones who started this public brouhaha.

[Me.]

42. In Fact They Were, The Moment They Didn't Get THeir Way With The Vote

[shanny]

44. in fact they weren't. Maureen Dowd? Really?

[Me.]

45. Yes, Yes, Maureen Dowd, Maureen Dowd

and not a peep from the young innocents before that...

Maureen Dowd was her response to them.

And yes really.

[shanny]

46. your slip is showing

[Me.]

53. You Wish

a response means you answer back to what is being said. They got the point and I doubt they will be so injudicious in the future.

[shanny]

58. I don't think you know them any better than you know me

which is not at all

[Me.]

59. How Would You Know That?

Right...you don't

[shanny]

60. that must have been why I said "i don't think" instead of "I know"

nice try on the straw man

[Me.]

62. Says You

as she proves me right

[mcar]

56. Cute

[shanny]

57. thank you

[BeyondGeography]

63. I have to share this one with you

from Charles Pierce:

It takes a rare kind of something to excoriate the media about pushing the Dems In Disarray narrative in the same story in which you rip the four most visible young members of your own caucus. This piece is a violation of two major rules governing modern American politics.

1) Don't pick unnecessary fights with your own people, especially in the public prints. The press is not your friend, nor is it supposed to be.

2) At a time of national political crisis, under no circumstances give an interview to Maureen Dowd.

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a28322801/nancy-pelosi-mitch-mcconnell-democrats-border-bill/

[Nevermypresident]

64. +1

[shanny]

66. luv me that Charles Pierce

thanks for posting this!

[Baclava]

67. Sounds like she has a litter of new pups about to be neutered n/t

[Me.]

68. Your Sig Would Be Good For Nancy

[Crunchy Frog]

47. My 79 year old mother just told me she was furious at Pelosi over this.

I think she's behaving pretty much as I would expect, and she hasn't lost any points with me because she didn't have any to lose.

[BeyondGeography]

48. Hooray for Mom

Nothing better than a righteously pissed off Mom.

[CentralMass]

52. I regret that the Orange Anus appears to stand a chance of winning re-election.

[Stargleamer]

54. Yes, and after Trump steals another election

she'll have no regrets about not having ever instigated impeachment hearings when she could have. Regrets is not what she does.

I think her SF constituents deserved better. Not instigating impeachment hearings now represents a colossal failure of nerve.

[budkin]

71. Agreed

I just don't understand this.

[Loki Liesmith]

55. Lol awesome

Love it.

[SouthernProgressive]

65. My one real point of confidence.

Nancy Pelosi as our house leader.

Keep up the good work, Pelosi.

[budkin]

70. What is her damage?

WHY is she doing this?