Posted by Frank James at 8:13 am CST
The Washington Post has a story today about the four-day celebration House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi has planned to mark the historic moment in January when she takes up the House gavel and becomes the first woman speaker in the nation's history.
As the story relates, the festivities will include Pelosi's returning to the working-class Baltimore neighborhood she grew up in where a street will be named in her honor.
She will also attend Catholic mass at her collegiate alma mater and be honored at an Italian embassy dinner in Washington at which Tony Bennett is expected serenade her with "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Pelosi is a San Francisco Democrat, of course, something House Republicans tried to tar her with during the recent campaign.
The story's subtext is the question of whether a four-day celebration isn't really a bit over-the-top. The story suggests that Pelosi's planned celebration is closer to a presidential inauguration than what former incoming speakers typically have done.
While the Democrats in the story say the celebration's justified given the history that's being made and the need for Pelosi to define herself and her party for the American people, Republican political consultant Mike Murphy unloads on her with the kind of colorful quote that makes a reporter's heart jump.
"What? No fireworks?" he said. "I'm glad they canceled the tickertape parade. They probably couldn't find biodegradable tickertape and a hybrid convertible."
Despite Murphy's snarky comments, it can be argued that Pelosi's planned events aren't excessive given the nature of the moment. Pelosi, after all, is the first woman head of the House in the 217 years Congress has existed.
Also, House Democrats are in a partying mood after 12 years of being out of power in the House.
Republicans, of course, will have their chance to party again, maybe as soon as 2008.
So party on, Madame Speaker-elect.
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Comments
Uggg.
I wish they'd focus more on legislating and less on partying. Let's not lose focus.
The Democrats need to show that the adults are back in charge of the house.
Posted by: Tony | December 22, 2006 9:03 AM
Nancy,party,party.Then get to work.
To all the Swampers, their family and friends.
Have a safe,healthy and very Merry Christmas.
The Loon.
Posted by: Raving Loon | December 22, 2006 9:36 AM
This Veteran has his invite in his hands and is going to Rock Washington again. Yes John D , Paulo she sent me my invite for putting out the veterans convoy. Five Parties to go too. Three days and nights in Washington hell ya
Posted by: Dale Peters | December 22, 2006 9:38 AM
I hope they're going to have a good time..troops in Iraq aren't.....right,Dale Peters???
**** Or ****
Can't they just cancel this stuff till the war is over???
Have a good time Bella Pelosi....
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | December 22, 2006 9:45 AM
I can't help but agree that this is all a bit much. We're not coronating a queen. And I think people are tired of grandstanding and hoopla from politicians -- we've gotten too much of that from the murderer-in-a-flightsuit. It's time to get to work -- leave the partying to the drunk in the Whitehouse.
Of course, the Republicans can't help but show their true color$$$. Would it be a bad thing if they had biodegradable tickertape and a hybrid convertible for the (not-happening) parade? Unlike so-called "conversatives" (what a misnomer!), left wing environmentalists care about "conserving" the enviroment and have a vision for the world that extends beyond the next steak and potatoes lunch.
Posted by: a blinkin | December 22, 2006 9:53 AM
It's OK to celebrate history in the making. However when she goes back to work, Pelosi has to show more sense than the decision she made earlier to support Murtha for a house leadership position. Murtha has a poor record in ethics and too simpistic of a stand on Iraq.
Posted by: Jeff L. | December 22, 2006 9:55 AM
Oh thanks for proving your hypocrisy Dale and false contentions of being a "Republican." Geez, all you lame-brain Lefties were whining and crying about the White House party the other night and how dare they party when military lives are in danger and some are dying or being wounded.
But here is a 4-day party of Doll Eyes Pelosi, and you hypocritical, lying Lefties are all for that.
What losers!!
Posted by: John D | December 22, 2006 9:59 AM
Got Ya wanted to see if you would say a word if I said I was going. You Right wingers got trapped. Now are you going to say a word about Bush party's while troops are in harms way.
Posted by: Dale Peters | December 22, 2006 10:07 AM
I know this is a blog, probably written on the fly, but it is still a newspaper article and should have correct grammar and punctuation. "Speaker's" in the last line of paragraph four should not have an apostrophe. It is a plural form, not possessive.
Posted by: John | December 22, 2006 10:43 AM
This is being blown out of proportion. It's mostly going to churches and her home town where they are renaming a street after her. This congress is going to get more done than the last in the firs month of the session and if they don't I will be the first one to criticize them on the very steps on the capitol building!
Posted by: Grant | December 22, 2006 10:55 AM
The * real * "100 hour plan" of the Democrats is finally, truthfully unveiled... and it has nothing to do with governance.
In a way, I'm kinda glad that the Democrats won this election. After them being out of power the last 12 years, it's obvious that the US people forgot how horrible of a party the DNC really is. A couple of years of this garbage should be all that's necessary for the US public to wake up to the mistake they made in voting these bozos into House/Senate power.
Posted by: Darryn | December 22, 2006 11:25 AM
Democratic elites are always trying to portray themselves as being for the little guy, the average American. Instead of swearing Pelosi in as the new speaker and proceeding on with the agenda they touted during the elections, they throw a four-day bash. What was it that Pelosi wanted to get done in the first 100 hours? Check out donkeytipping.com for more.
Posted by: the donkey | December 22, 2006 11:45 AM
Since when is having a street named after you considered "partying"? I guess Frank James lives by the old saying "don't let the facts get in the way of a good story" or swiftboating of the Speaker-elect.
Posted by: Patrick | December 22, 2006 11:49 AM
Is this Speaker's plan a Democratic plan?
Is this the plan John Kerry had in 2004?
Posted by: GM | December 22, 2006 12:34 PM
Paulo Silvio Mussolini,
Speaker Nancy is mixing it up with Tony Bennett at the Italian Embassy.
You two have a lot in common.
Posted by: Bubba | December 22, 2006 12:37 PM
A brief dignified party would be fine, but four days is excessive and totally inapropriate at this time. By all means hold a party when you pass TOUGH legislation on ETHICS!!
Michael Golding
Posted by: Michael Golding | December 22, 2006 1:45 PM
As the child of Italian immigrants, a woman, and a person who has spent the last 30 years working toward providing equal educational opportunities for all of America's children, I for one am as proud as I can be of Speaker Pelosi. She is an articulate, intelligent, elegant woman who is a role model for women and immigrants and to everyone comitted to ensuring that the USA is a country of hope, not hypocrisy.
There is nothing the politics of personal destruction and the Rovians can do to change the pride and hope that Speaker Pelosi inspires in people like me. This is an historic moment and it is ours.
Posted by: Angela B. | December 23, 2006 3:12 PM