This morning I have a column in the Hill newspaper on my reaction to the disgraceful conduct of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and various Democratic members at the State of the Union address last night. As I tweeted during the address, her conduct tore up more than a speech, but decades of tradition and left any semblance of civility in tatters on the House floor.
Forty-four years ago, I walked on to the floor of the House of Representatives as a new Democratic 15-year-old page from Chicago. I stood and marveled at the beehive of activity on the floor in the People’s House. I can still remember that moment because it forged a bond and reverence that has never weakened for me. As a Democratic leadership page during the speakership of Tip O’Neill, I watched some of the most passionate and important debates of the generation from the Neutron Bomb to civil rights legislation to sweeping national park bills. The country was deeply divided, but both parties maintained the tradition of civility and decorum. I was struck how members, even in the heat of furious debates, would not attack each other by name and followed rigid principles of decorum. They understood that they were the custodians of this institution and bore a duty to strengthen and pass along those traditions to the next generation.
That is why I was (and remain) so offended by this display. I believe that President Trump himself is worthy of criticism for not shaking the hand of Pelosi. I also did not approve of aspects of his speech, including bestowing the Medal of Freedom on Rush Limbaugh in the gallery like a reality show surprise scene. There was much to object to in the address, but presidents often make comments that enrage or irritate speakers.
However, none of that excuses Pelosi. At that moment, she represents the House as an institution — both Republicans and Democrats. Instead, she decided to become little more than a partisan troll from an elevated position. The protests of the Democratic members also reached a new low for the House. Pelosi did not gavel out the protest. She seemed to join it.
It was the tradition of the House that a speaker must remain in stone-faced neutrality no matter what comes off that podium. The tradition ended last night with one of the more shameful and inglorious moments of the House in its history. Rather than wait until she left the floor, she decided to demonstrate against the President as part of the State of the Union and from the Speaker’s chair. That made it a statement not of Pelosi but of the House.
For those of us who truly love the House as an institution, it was one of the lowest moments to unfold on the floor. That is why I argue in the Hill that, if Pelosi does not apologize and agree to honor the principle of neutrality and civility at the State of the Union, she should resign as speaker.
No wonder Turley is so conflicted – when will he realize that the DEMOCRAT PARTY has LEFT HIM? And there’s NOTHING wrong with presenting Mr. Limbaugh in the presence of his enemies – it was meant more to honor the work he’s done for the ones who APPRECIATE it! I guess Turley didn’t have an issue with PRESIDENT TRUMP not shaking VP Pence’s hand! Turley reminds me of a guy who tries to play BOTH sides. He needs to do some soul searching!!
Pelosi’s moment in time was dishonorable to WE THE PEOPLE of the United States (NOT her political affiliation), the protocol of government, and to the HOUSE of Congress which she represents.In an instant the “honorable House” crumbled. YES, indeed she should be forced to resign as Speaker since she has chosen NOT to abide by the priciples of her duties!!
You present proprietary conduct as an obligation of “them” to “you”. Where did “you” get your pass from?
— (Were) those the Articles of Impeachment Nancy was ripping up #PelosiTantrum
https://cnsnews.com/article/national/susan-jones/trump-retweets-pelositantrum-were-those-articles-impeachment-nancy-was
No, That would be Mitch at around 4pm today.
This quote “her conduct tore up more than a speech, but decades of tradition”
if you believe we have a non traditional president who doesn’t do things according to tradition or norms, and says he dosen’t have to be “presidential ” why are you complaining about Nancy Pelosi tearing up decades of tradition. She is learning how to be a non traditional speaker from Trump a non traditional president
OT…”member berries”: Does anyone remember Syria? Does Turley?
I ask because there’s a lot happening there and I don’t see *any* follow on posts from the Prof after his bout of hysteria over the Kurds not too long ago. The Kurds are fine(there was no massacre), and The Turks are in a well defined contained area around the Northern border. The Russians played a key role in containing Turkey and their proxy forces.
Now, the Syrian Army is on the march. They are rolling through Idlib province- the last bastion of jihadi(al Qaeda and HTS) controlled land in Syria where they had been previously protected by the West(US, Turkey, SA, etc). Turkey is trying to stand in the way leading to the shelling and killing of soldiers on either side, but they appear to be backing down again due to pressure from Russia.
Step by step, the Assad government is putting Syria back together again. Follow the action here:
https://syria.liveuamap.com
“I wasn’t sure if she was ripping up the speech or ripping up the Constitution.”
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/pelosi-shredded-after-tearing-sotu-speech-offers-lame-excuse
To criticize the President for not shaking Pelosi’s hand is to say “I haven’t watched the video”. You will see President Trump hand VP Pence a folder with the speech, no handshake. Then the President hands Pelosi a folder with the speech, as he starts to turn back to the podium, she sticks out her hand. There’s a good chance he didn’t see it, or saw it after he’d committed to turning. Turning back to shake her hand (IF he saw it) would be asking a bit much for a President who has been harassed and called every name in the book since September. Remember her words: “He will be impeached forever”. Of course that’s not true – once acquitted, he WAS impeached but does not remain so. Remember the survivor pens even after calling it a solemn, prayerful occasion. Remember her final statement “We will not accept his acquittal. Now tell me that’s a hand the President should shake.
If someone who impeached me wanted to shake my hand they would also get air. btw he did not shake Pence’s hand either.
Jonathan, do you believe that Pelosi committed a federal crime in tearing up the speech?
She probably did. If the copy of the speech she received had an original signature of President Trump, then the destruction of that document is governed by official records retention statutes.
I was just getting ready to say that!
She demonstrated two parts of her anti American anti Constitutionalist attitude as the leader of the regressive liberal Comrades. One she is not a true citizen and two the House needs to be brought under the impeachment laws starting with Comrade Pelosi.
Why wait on our military to uphold their oath of office. Citizens can to it by supporting our Constitutional Republic by voting No or Against anything offered anyone offered by the foreign ideology aliens of the left.
We provided as a group 40% of the legal votes in 2016 no reason not to make that 51 percent plus and drive them out out out.
Then if needed our military can pick up the pieces.
Hopefully, next year Pelosi will no longer be a member of the House of Representatives. At the very least, she will not be speaker, and if ANY democrats have any respect, she will not be minority leader.
Republicans would love to have her continue her feckless leadership over a fractured political party just as much as Green Bay Packer fans loved having Jay Cutler QB for the Bears as many years as possible.
America is in a condition of hysteria, incoherence, chaos, anarchy and rebellion.
President Abraham Lincoln seized power, neutralized the legislative and judicial branches and ruled by executive order and proclamation to “Save the Union.”
President Donald Trump must now seize power, neutralize the legislative and judicial branches and rule by executive order and proclamation to “Save the Republic.”
Thank you sir for your honesty. It gives me hope that a true come back of the Democratic party is possible. God Bless you.
Ha! Ha! It is not possible, Barbie!
Hear, hear! Democrats like Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee!!!
Given your longstanding love for norms of behavior, I think I must have just missed the post where you called on Trump to resign.
To all of the sweet, tolerant, morally superior leftists out there:
Please spare us the posturing and outrage at the “politics of Trump”. Trump is not the cause of today’s Balkanization, (nor was Barack Obama for that matter). Trump is merely the symptom, an expression of the outrage of millions of ordinary Americans who have seen their country change morally, demographically, legally, etc. And he is only the beginning.
I know there are millions of leftists who sincerely believe that once the evil orange man is gone, we continue on the glorious road to the multicultural utopia. Nope, not happening, try Brazil (on steroids) with its racial, ethnic and economic divisions.
But don’t worry leftists, in another 20 years you will get your hate speech laws, gun control and open borders with goodies for all. And people who express what I just have will be hunted down and arrested.
antonio
antonio said it
and the rule in balkanization is do what you need to do to survive
remember that guys
it doesn’t need to come to that however, the Democrat party could select better leadership and bring it back from the brink
I wont hold my breath however
Pelosi. Get out of the people’s house, NOW!
That move cost the Dems votes. It’s as simple as that.
As bad as the dems want to see Trump out or there they insist on doing everything in their power to ensure his reelection in ’20. I hope to vote for him again in ’24!
I totally agree that she should resign in addition to an apology to the President, her party and the country.
Jonathan, I would love to see you publish a book on the history of decorum, civility, and tradition in the House and the White House. How many chapters would be dedicated to Nancy Pelosi? How many to Trump?