Pelosi says she would drain GOP 'swamp'

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Franklin Roosevelt had his first hundred days.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is thinking 100 hours, time enough, she says, to begin to "drain the swamp" after more than a decade of Republican rule.

Pelosi says she would drain GOP 'swamp'

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special CorrespondentFri Oct 6, 1:58 AM ET

Franklin Roosevelt had his first hundred days.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is thinking 100 hours, time enough, she says, to begin to "drain the swamp" after more than a decade of Republican rule.

As in the first 100 hours the House meets after Democrats -- in her fondest wish -- win control in the Nov. 7 midterm elections and Pelosi takes the gavel as the first Madam Speaker in history.

Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."

Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.

Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds -- "I hope with a veto-proof majority," she added in an Associated Press interview Thursday.

All the days after that: "Pay as you go," meaning no increasing the deficit, whether the issue is middle class tax relief, health care or some other priority.

To do that, she said, Bush-era tax cuts would have to be rolled back for those above "a certain level." She mentioned annual incomes of $250,000 or $300,000 a year and higher, and said tax rates for those individuals might revert to those of the Clinton era. Details will have to be worked out, she emphasized.

"We believe in the marketplace," Pelosi said of Democrats, then drew a contrast with Republicans. "They have only rewarded wealth, not work."

"We must share the benefits of our wealth" beyond the privileged few, she added.

Pelosi, 66, has been a leader of the House Democrats since 2002. But her political apprenticeship dates to childhood, when her father was mayor of Baltimore.

Now, her political base is about as liberal as it gets, San Francisco. It's a fact that Republicans love to emphasize to voters who might want to visit, but not feel comfortable living there.

Republicans find her an attractive political target, and recently said she would try to "cut-and-run" from Iraq while "launching bitter partisan investigations" of the Bush administration, possibly including impeachment hearings.

A grandmother five times over, Pelosi pops chocolates, shuns coffee and flashes her wit. Asked what offices should would occupy if in the Capitol if she becomes speaker, she laughed. "I'll have any suite I want."

She would, too.

"If the election were held today we'd be successful," Pelosi predicted, claiming that her party's prospects are expanding as the campaign enters its final month. "So many other races are emerging right now," she said.

Democrats must gain 15 seats to regain the majority they lost in 1994, and have candidates in competitive races for 30 or so Republican-held seats, according to strategists in both parties. By contrast, only about a handful of Democratic-controlled seats appear ripe for possible Republican takeover.

Democrats have a pamphlet that lists all their promises and have run through several slogans in the past year or so as they test campaign messages. In recent days, Pelosi said, their prospects have improved by the discovery that former Republican Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record) of Florida had sent sexually explicit computer messages to teenage male pages.

Not long before sitting down for a lunchtime interview, she turned down a suggestion from Speaker Dennis Hastert that they jointly appoint former FBI Director Louie Freeh to recommend improvements in the page program.

"That was about protecting their majority" rather than the pages, she said dismissively.

Instead, she wants to put Hastert and other Republicans under oath and make them say what they knew of Foley's actions, when they learned it and what they did to stop him.

The potential for political gain is clear to her.

"It's an opportunity for growth among women" for the Democrats, she said. "They don't always vote and this could be a motivation."

With married women, in particular, it's a huge issue, she added.

Among older voters, too.

"If there's an ethical issue, seniors take a hike" and abandon politicians they blame, she said.

"If we hold onto seniors we win the election."

[7960]

OMG I feel like I'm in 5th grade, running for class officer.

"And I would make recess 3 hours, and I'd tell the cafeteria to serve chicken patties every day, and I'd make teachers not give any homework, and I'd make school start an hour later and get out an hour earlier, and I'd make summer vacation 3 weeks longer................"

She's throwing darts all over the place hoping to hit every issue possible, hoping that each individual latches onto whatever piece he cares about and ignores the rest that's going to negatively affect him.

I just realized I should make political commercials.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by 7960

OMG I feel like I'm in 5th grade, running for class officer.

"And I would make recess 3 hours, and I'd tell the cafeteria to serve chicken patties every day, and I'd make teachers not give any homework, and I'd make school start an hour later and get out an hour earlier, and I'd make summer vacation 3 weeks longer................"

She's throwing darts all over the place hoping to hit every issue possible, hoping that each individual latches onto whatever piece he cares about and ignores the rest that's going to negatively affect him.

I just realized I should make political commercials.

why dont you?

[7960]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

why dont you?

because to make a living at it I'd have to sell my soul and I'd rather slit my wrists than help 90% of the candidates out there get elected........

[DosEquis]

I can say that i agree with a good portion of what she said.

espcially the lobbyist/legislation thing and the "pay as you go"

[7960]

Originally Posted by DosEquis

I can say that i agree with a good portion of what she said.

espcially the lobbyist/legislation thing and the "pay as you go"

I didn't comment on anything she said. My comment was that it seems like she's making promises to anyone and everyone.......it's possible some (or maybe even all) of what she said is a good idea. Exactly how much is realistic?

[Phantom]

She can pass all she wants but most of this crap will just get the veto

[DosEquis]

Originally Posted by Phantom

She can pass all she wants but most of this crap will just get the veto

yes but they can get around that if they have majority and they are all on board. I have a feeling even with a 15 seat majority thought they will have issues with people like Ben Nelson. He is registered democrat but has voted with the president 80+% of the time. I think he is a better republican than Chuck Hagel.

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by DosEquis

yes but they can get around that if they have majority and they are all on board. I have a feeling even with a 15 seat majority thought they will have issues with people like Ben Nelson. He is registered democrat but has voted with the president 80+% of the time. I think he is a better republican than Chuck Hagel.

I think those guys often see what way the wind is blowing when they vote.

[7960]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

I think those guys often see what way the wind is blowing when they vote.

or they're voting their conscience instead of their party

[motivez]

Originally Posted by 7960

or they're voting their conscience instead of their party

Politicians with a conscience, eh? A novel idea.

[DosEquis]

Originally Posted by 7960

or they're voting their conscience instead of their party

If Ben Nelson is voting his conscience or the direction the wind is blowing, either way i do not agree with him as it stands right now... other than immigration.

The horrible alternative is Pete Ricketts, who is the republican running against him. When commericials are on arguing who is more republican it gets quite scary.

Its like

<ricketts commercial>Ben Nelson and the Kerry kennedy liberals get control...
<nelson commercial>Nelson voted for president bush's tax cuts and was called a 'senator i can work with"

<nelson commercial>I want tough border security, ricketts would have voted for amnesty.

[7960]

Originally Posted by motivez

Politicians with a conscience, eh? A novel idea.

it's happened

but to say he's seeing which way the wind blows before he votes isn't exactly accurate. The dems can have him replaced if they want so he's sort of going out on a limb by voting conservative

[DosEquis]

Originally Posted by 7960

it's happened

but to say he's seeing which way the wind blows before he votes isn't exactly accurate. The dems can have him replaced if they want so he's sort of going out on a limb by voting conservative

Well... in this state... good luck replacing him with another democrat