Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill
Cheer up good News
Nancy Pelosi is the most effective speaker ever
Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large
Updated 2:59 PM EST, Mon November 08, 2021
(CNN)Almost 15 years ago, Nancy Pelosi wrote her name in the history books as the first female speaker of the House.
With the House vote to approve President Joe Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure package late Friday night, Pelosi has accomplished something else: She is now, without doubt, the most effective -- and impactful speaker in the last seven decades.
That is not, in any way, a partisan statement. It is purely a reflection of Pelosi's ability to shepherd major pieces of Democratic presidents' agenda through a closely divided House, with a knowledge of her caucus -- and the buttons that need to be pushed at the exact right time -- that no one who has come before her in the job has been able to match.
"Is Nancy Pelosi the most effective Speaker of all-time? (whether you like her agenda or not)," asked Bruce Mehlman, a Republican lobbyist, in a tweet with a screengrab of the final 228-206 winning vote for Pelosi on the so-called "hard" infrastructure package.
Consider the challenge Pelosi faced with this infrastructure bill -- starting with the fact that she had only a three-seat majority, meaning that even a handful of renegade Democrats could scuttle the entire thing. Then add in the total lack of trust not only between House liberals and Senate moderates but also the decided lack of trust between House liberals and House moderates. And sprinkle it the fact that the entire bill had been at an impasse for months as both sides of the party wrangled for leverage on the broader $1.75 trillion social safety net legislation.
Cheer up good News
Nancy Pelosi is the most effective speaker ever
Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large
Updated 2:59 PM EST, Mon November 08, 2021
(CNN)Almost 15 years ago, Nancy Pelosi wrote her name in the history books as the first female speaker of the House.
With the House vote to approve President Joe Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure package late Friday night, Pelosi has accomplished something else: She is now, without doubt, the most effective -- and impactful speaker in the last seven decades.
That is not, in any way, a partisan statement. It is purely a reflection of Pelosi's ability to shepherd major pieces of Democratic presidents' agenda through a closely divided House, with a knowledge of her caucus -- and the buttons that need to be pushed at the exact right time -- that no one who has come before her in the job has been able to match.
"Is Nancy Pelosi the most effective Speaker of all-time? (whether you like her agenda or not)," asked Bruce Mehlman, a Republican lobbyist, in a tweet with a screengrab of the final 228-206 winning vote for Pelosi on the so-called "hard" infrastructure package.
Consider the challenge Pelosi faced with this infrastructure bill -- starting with the fact that she had only a three-seat majority, meaning that even a handful of renegade Democrats could scuttle the entire thing. Then add in the total lack of trust not only between House liberals and Senate moderates but also the decided lack of trust between House liberals and House moderates. And sprinkle it the fact that the entire bill had been at an impasse for months as both sides of the party wrangled for leverage on the broader $1.75 trillion social safety net legislation.
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