Don't forget the fact that the house voted out all the appropriations bills - in June and July, I think, and most have at least some R votes... compared to the senate, this is really damned impressive.

Count the noses and go to vote before the snot runs ...

Pelosi might be good, and I htink she is terrific -- but a genius wouldnt a'had to give into Stupak and the Stupak coathanger brigade...

I am a big admirer of Nancy Pelosi. I can't understand it when I hear Democrats bash her. I think she is amazing. She looked beautiful in her red dress the other night as I sat in the House Gallery watching the healthcare debate and voting. She does a great job and looks good doing it. I can't believe she is 67. It was a great testament to her leadership getting those bills passed. It was a wonderful feeling when the House errupted in cheers when they got to 218 votes and then again when the gavel came down.

I'll admit I questioned the strategy of pushing the climate bill through the House before building up public support for it. But in retrospect, it's looking like a great call, especially given how the centrist Dems are a bunch of scared rabbits.

And Pelosi's adroitness on health care has been a thing of beauty. It's really hard to see how she could have gotten 218 votes for a better bill.

Can't forget Pelosi's great response when asked when she was going to take up Social Security Deform back in 2005: "Does never work for you?"

She's become one of my heroes.

She is GREAT! And Steve? When everyone talks about the 'close margin' (it IS a GOP talking point) just remember that we never KNOW how close it is. That Speaker Pelosi have Dems permission to vote against the bill to save their districts is not in doubt. We just don't know how MANY got permission...but that's not as FUN as the media proclaiming...IT WAS SO CLOSE!!! NO ROOM TO SPARE!!!

One need look no further than the chronic and grotesque displays of GOP loathing to understand her effectiveness.

jeez, where'd all these Dim congressional staffers come from???

but a genius wouldnt a'had to give into Stupak and the Stupak coathanger brigade...

1) No one called her a genius. The quote was that her decision to move on climate change as she did was "a little bit genius."

2) What would a better speaker have done about the Blue Dogs? How would that person have gotten the numbers to pass the healthcare bill? Be specific. Show your work.

Well said, shortstop.

The climate bill is much needed, we can no longer sit back and pass on the problems to the following generation.
www.goinggreenhome.com

can Reid just abdicate and let Pelosi run the Senate, too? I'd fell mcuh better about our chances.

I sometimes wish Reid paid more attention to Pelosi and learned from her how to actually run a legislative body. Granted, Pelosi doesn't have to deal with Lieberman, but keeping the Blue Dogs in line is no easy task.

I also appreciate Pelosi for one simple reason; her presence as the first woman ever to hold the post. Especially because it must drive the misogynists on the GOP side absolutely berzerk to have to call a woman "Madame Speaker."

Nancy Pelosi is da man!! Ok, da woman but you get the general idea. We could have used her on the house floor when the Republicans were shouting down female Democratic house members.

The Speaker of the House Pelosi has more guts and political savy than most of the Democrats and Harry Reid. The GOP is afraid of her. She has gotten done what President Obama asked of her. The only bad deal she made was with the Congressman from the Upper Penn. of Michigan. He went back on his word making sure that the 26 Democrats that were allowed to vote for the Right to Life ammendment also voted for the Health Care Reform Legislation. Pelosi should bring punish him and the 26 Democrats that went back on their word. The Congressman from the UP of Michigan I guess didn't want to go back to Michigan and face all of his people that doesn't have health care of a job.

Yes I agree Pelosi is totally smart and gutsy and gets things done....it's time we either got rid of the Senate or turned it into the American version of the House of Lords.

Likewise, it's hard to imagine the House trying to pass health care reform next year, when nervous lawmakers feeling that much more jittery

I wish what I'm about to say weren't so, but this is pretty clearly an issue with moving forward on any equality legislation for LGBT people. It's an issue--and of course it shouldn't be, it's about basic rights and that ought to be that--that provokes jitters and acrimony in Congress, and Congressional jitters and acrimony compound like unpaid credit card bills.

What would a better speaker have done about the Blue Dogs? How would that person have gotten the numbers to pass the healthcare bill?

Yeah, with BHO and Rahm undermining him or her at every turn?

I wouldn't call Pelosi a genius, but genius isn't what's needed when you lead a majority. No, you only need what Pelosi has: a backbone and a pair of balls that His Flaccidness Harry Reid can only fantasize about. Reid wouldn't be able to get a bill passed with 99 Democrats if the lone Republican so much as hinted he'd filibuster.