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Pelosi Shreds Decades Of Tradition In Demonstrating Against Trump
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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.

570 thoughts on “Pelosi Shreds Decades Of Tradition In Demonstrating Against Trump”

  1. We learned from a 2018 story that Donald Trump himself has a habit of ripping up documents after he reads them in the Oval Office, and that some poor White House staff member then has to tape the pieces together so that they will be saved as per federal record-keeping requirements.

    Speaker Pelosi’s action thus could be seen as an homage to the President.

  2. After impeaching the president on the thinnest of records while not allowing due process knowing conviction had no chance only to spit at the president, what is merely tearing up the record copy of his proffered SOU speech?

    1. Today Donald Trump will become the first President to receive a vote to convict him from a Senator of his own party — and his party’s previous presidential nominee at that!

      Bless MItt Romney for doing the right thing.

      1. “If Mitt Romney spent the same energy fighting Barack Obama as he does fighting Donald Trump, he could have won the race…” DJT

  3. Trump did not shake Pence’s hand, neither Pence nor Trump offered their hand; and Pence simply accepted the speech handed to him. Also, Pelosi offered her hand after receiving the speech, and just after Trump began turning away. It’s possible he didn’t even see it offered, but it’s also possible Trump just forgot about the handshaking, and that there is no established protocol.
    However, 2019 he did shake both Pence’s and Pelosi’s hands, with Trump offering first, as also happened in 2018 with Pence and Ryan. In 2018, he shook both their hands, then offered the speeches after reaching for them on the table in a separate action.
    The photo-op tearing up of the speech allows no misinterpretation or rationalization, was an egregious action, purposely insulting, and reveals in an instant exactly the mindset of the ‘Democratic’ Party.
    Amusing is the list of those not attending; no further comment is needed:
    Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
    Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)
    Rep. Al Green (D-TX)
    Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)
    Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
    Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)
    Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)
    Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)

  4. The impeached President using the SOTU for a MAGA rally deserves his speech ripped up. Why keep another list of lies from Trump.

    1. Because they aren’t lies. You folks on the left amuse me. It’s like watching one kid falsely accusing the other kids of doing what the first kid actually did. Then expecting everyone a liar who said that the first kid do it. It’s a wonder more of the leftist politicians aren’t in prison. Yet.

      1. “Because they aren’t lies.” Certainly, everything Trump said wasn’t a lie but he told some whoppers. He said that under his administration the US became energy independent when in fact that happened during the Obama Administration he spent half the night blasting. He said he was protecting people’s healthcare and would always make sure that pre-existing conditions were covered when he is in court doing the exact opposite. The fake surprise presentation to Rush Limbaugh of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, if I, a random citizen, knew at noon that Limbaugh was getting the medal, what are the chances Limbaugh was shocked at the news at 9:00. Off the top of my head, I could name a dozen more lies but there’s no point because you wouldn’t believe me (or any news source).

        1. Is this a lie?

          When “Crazy Abe” Lincoln issued the unconstitutional emancipation proclamation, the Naturalization Act of 1802 was in full force and effect requiring citizens to be “…free white person(s)….” which, in turn, caused the status of slaves to change from “property” to “illegal alien” requiring immediate deportation.

          What are the criteria to initiate a “cold case” prosecution?

        2. ” He said that under his administration the US became energy independent when in fact that happened during the Obama Administration he spent half the night blasting. ”

          Let’s take Enigma’s statements one at a time so we can give him a chance to correct his errors one by one.

          From the left leaning Wikipedia”

          “In total energy consumption, the US was between 86% and 91% self-sufficient in 2016.[

          “In early December 2018, it was reported that the US had turned into a net exporter of oil “last week”, thus breaking nearly 75 continuous years of dependence on foreign oil.”

          One has to be careful with what Enigma states as fact. He often gets confused.

          2. I stand corrected, Obama brought America to the brink of being “energy independent” but it didn’t happen until very early in the Trump administration. It didn’t happen because of anything Trump did and he was wrong to take credit in the way he did and blast his predecessor. Much like him taking credit for having turned around the economy which had already been growing for years under Obama, he exaggerated.
            https://apnews.com/588d1d2ed42143b6b97a25fa2b7d573e/AP-FACT-CHECK:-The-energy-boom-didn't-start-with-Trump

            1. ” it didn’t happen until very early in the Trump administration. It didn’t happen because of anything Trump did and he was wrong to take credit in the way he did and blast his predecessor.”

              Wrong again Enigma. Among many things Obama was against fracking, off shore drilling, drilling on national lands etc. Trump did the exact opposite and continued the effort of all those that were trying to get Obama out of the way so we could be energy independent.

              I repeat: One has to be careful with what Enigma states as fact. He often gets confused.

                1. Anonymous the Stupid, you have to learn to separate the subject of bias and the subject of fact. You don’t know the facts so you wrongfully chose bias.

                  You remain as Stupid as ever.

                  1. JT, You’ve certainly attracted some of the best and the brightest to this blog of yours (/sarc) — guys like “Allan.”

                    1. Anonymous the Stupid, are you exercising your vocal cords again?

                      If you left this blog the average IQ would rise significantly

                  2. Allan is just another big kid who lives here.

                    He’s saving the world one comment at a time. /sarc

              2. Among many things Obama was against fracking, off shore drilling, drilling on national lands etc.
                ______________________________________
                None of those things make the US more energy independent. Especially when it comes to oil. where the US is still importing more oil than it exports. And fracking shale oil is a long term energy and money loser.

                This is a good explanation of why fracking for oil is a Ponzi scheme:

                1. “the US is still importing more oil than it exports.”

                  Wrong.

                  The problem Anon is that you are factless. The mouthpiece of the left Wikipedia writes: “In early December 2018, it was reported that the US had turned into a net exporter of oil “last week”, thus breaking nearly 75 continuous years of dependence on foreign oil.”

                  The rest of your facts are similarily wrong as well. Talking points are not a substute for knowledge.

                  1. “the US is still importing more oil than it exports.”

                    Wrong.
                    ________________________________
                    According to the government figures (EIA) crude oil exports are 3.5 mbd and imports are 6.5 mbd

                    2. The discussion revolved around the statement: “In early December 2018, it was reported that the US had turned into a net exporter of oil “last week”, thus breaking nearly 75 continuous years of dependence on foreign oil.”

                      Anon, you lumped oil products together (see your inclusion of shale oil) because you aren’t sophisticated enough to recognize the details of what you are talking about. I continued to use the word oil in the way you seemed to define it. Crude oil is a subset of petroleum products. I believe, in specific, crude oil as a subset is imported to a greater extent but the exact measurements are hard to calculate as even the EIA states. However, none of that alter the date of when America achieved oil independence or the fact that Obama policies were limiting the amount of petroleum products the US was able to produce.

                      Allan: among many things Obama was against fracking, off shore drilling, drilling on national lands etc.
                      ______________________________________
                      Anon: None of those things make the US more energy independent.

                      I can’t fathom how you conclude drilling for more oil and fracking don’t make the US more energy independent.

                    3. I can’t fathom how you conclude drilling for more oil and fracking don’t make the US more energy independent.
                      _______________________________
                      Using up what little oil reserves are left as fast as possible is stupid and hardly the road to energy independence.

                      If you looked at the link I posted it explains how the economics of the U.S. Shale Oil Industry is a Ponzi scheme and will pull down the entire economy.

                      The current increased production of oil due to fracking is a net energy and net loss economic loss in many cases and soon will be in all cases.

                      Here is another analysis of this coming disaster

                      https://youtu.be/zkzQRiiN1Jw

        3. and would always make sure that pre-existing conditions were covered when he is in court doing the exact opposite.

          I see someone else here gets the Media Matters blast fax.

          2. Another “pants on fire” rating for “This is absurd x XVIII. Someone needs to fact-check her or him on a regular basis.

        4. US is the world’s largest crude oil producer now. you may not be aware of that enigma

          Saudi could probably out-produce the US if it wanted to open the spigots, but they have their own good reasons to restrict the flow that the US does not

    3. Fishy — instead of just parroting the media/Democrat talking points (full of lies! lies! lies!)…why don’t you list the lies, specifically, one by one, right here, for all of us to see and respond to? Name the specific lies and correct them listing primary sources.

      And when you’ve done that, let’s list the bold lies told by other presidents in their speeches. We can start with Barack Obama’s lies.

  5. At the end of the SOTU it became clear who the adults were in the room and who was the adolescent.

    1. Wait, do you know who the current president is and how he behaves?
      Seriously the hypocrisy.

  6. Don’t be ridiculous! Trump shreds the truth and Nancy shredded the speech. Disrespect earns disrespect!

    1. As always, the left loves to badmouth others and make false accusations. If you do not like Professor Turley’s remarks, then address him without the need to make false statements about the President. The only thing the President is guilty of is putting up with all the false narratives the left has put out there about him in order to terminate his presidency.

    1. he votes for impeachment of Trump because he’s an oligarch and he doesn’t like Trump advancing the people’s agenda

      Romney is just the sort of malingering saboteur who plagues the effort at national renewal lead by the President

      1. Mr. Kurtz, I think Mark Steyn said it well today that all the presidential losers, Al Gore, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton II, suffer an overwhelming psychological shock and go into some sort of denial and decompensation mode which manifests as unusual and strange behavior they would not normally exhibit.

  9. Pingback: Jonathan Turley Says Nancy Pelosi Must Resign After Disgraceful Conduct Last Night: “Shameful and inglorious” - Politico Daily News

  10. Mr. Turley thank you for expressing this so eloquently. I feel exactly the same way, and I too observed the decorum in the past. Today the lack of self control among our elected officials is appalling. It is discomforting and sets a bad example for future generations.

  11. Civility is not the strong suit of the left. Typically one can think of the left being civil when they aren’t engaged in Antifa type violence or the antics noted by Professor Turley.

      1. Chris, I would like to hear your words of wisdom. Maybe you can help us out and tell us where I went wrong. I expect not. I would not be displeased by a well thought out explanation.

  12. Stoned-faced neutrality??? You haven’t been watching her sit behind a Republican president during the SOTU speeches for very long then. She did the distracting movements all the way back to GW. I believe she does them on purpose. Kinda like Biden did during his debates with Paul Ryan. It seems to be a tactic of Democrats–an immature one at that.

    Well, I covered her face with some sticky notes last night because I wasn’t going to let her this time. The sticky notes were actually very effective.

    1. I believe she does them on purpose.

      Nope. She’s nearly 80. See Palsi blither.

  13. I fail to see why anyone is upset.

    We still have our 2nd Amendment and I am carrying today my Glock, as usual. I see no problem whatsoever

    1. Where’s your Cannon?

      Concord/Lexington had Cannons. A friend of mine has cannons today by only under govt permit. There wasn’t a permit needed before!

      Where’s your full auto machine gun.

      Where’s your tank?

      Where’s your aircraft carrier?

      Pre gun control azzhole you could have had all those less the a hundred years ago.

      A lot of people would be in shock, saying no one needs thoses, to which I would say have you seen how these govt made Bio/Chem weapons are rolling out?

      1. Oops typo,

        If not but for gun control azzholes then you could still have all those weapons/weapon systems that everyone could have less then a 100 yrs ago.

        Commie/Nazi Sen Chris Dodd’s dad brought back from Nazi Germany Hitler’s gun control policies, changed a few words & got it passed….

  14. I’m sorry but this country is truly at a new low with our checks and balances gone. Our politicians care only for remaining in office and lining their pockets. Most do not represent the American people. Look at the polls on healthcare, climate change, and hearing from witnesses in the impeachment trial – Congress doesn’t.

    We have a despot in the office of the President. If you want Nancy Pelosi to resign, fine. Then so should Donald Trump for his lack of respect and neutrality. He holds our highest office and should be held to the highest standards. To only demand Nancy Pelosi resign appears sexist and makes you appear to be a Turley “Trumpette”

    2. he’s no despot or you wouldnt be typing this stuff. your free speech is your own proof against your own proposition

      even James Carville is mocking the failed Democrat leadership because “they don’t want to have a border?” normal people don’t like that. they’re totally out of touch!

  15. Pingback: Jonathan Turley says partisan troll Nancy Pelosi needs to apologize or step down as House Speaker – World News

  16. What happened to civility when GOP Rep Joe Wilson yelled out to President Obama “you lie” during President Obama’s State of the Union address? Republicans shrugged and moved on. There is no civility in the Republican Party. But an abundance of self serving hypocrisy.

    1. Joe Wilson was one of hundreds, NOT the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, in line for the Presidency. Furthermore, Pelosi forced him to apologize or face censure. So what’s your point? That you don’t know what you’re talking about?

  18. Mr. Turley is right on, it seems that more and more the Democratic Party is becoming the party of “children.” We, as a country< are now in the 4th year of their temper tantrum because we elected an outsider over witch they had no control!

    1. You mean you elected a manchild who has an ego made of glass. May be the most infantile politician in history. It’s just a shame Pelosi stopped to his level.

      1. Anonymous:

        Any proof of anything you said is appreciated. Or do you do remote diagnoses?

        Hint: The “it’s obvious” argument only works on kids.

  19. I often wonder how low Trump has to go to offend his disciples, and I now include you as one of them, Turley. There is still no answer to this question. Chronic, habitual lying, grandstanding, abuse of power, cheating to “win” an election–these don’t matter. Some of the biggest whoppers last night were:

    1. Claiming he will protect pre-existing conditions. TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION FILED A LAWSUIT AND IS ACTIVELY LITIGATING TO STRIKE DOWN THIS PART OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. Trump has no replacement.

    2. Claiming he would sign a bill to lower prescription drugs, prompting Democrats to stand up and hold up 3 fingers: House Bill 3 was passed ages ago, which accomplishes this very thing. It sits on McConnell’s desk, because McConnell has the power to prevent anything passed by Democrats from becoming law, so he and other lying Republicans can call Democrats “do-nothing”.

    3. Lies about the economy and his alleged accomplishments: job growth was higher under Obama; the economy grew more under JFK, Obama and Jimmy Carter; real wages–i.e., as adjusted for inflation, rose 0.6% under Trunp but 1.1% under Obama; the GDP under Obama was the same as under Trump. The current economy is an extension of the turn-around started by Obama, who inherited the worst economy since the Great Depression. Trump lies when he claims that the economy he inherited was bad. It was booming, but it has flattened under Trump. Manufacturing is not going up as Trump claims, either. In fact in the last 5 months, manufacturing has been steadily declining. The economy is not bad, but certainly not setting any records, as Trump claims, and he has little to nothing to do with it Obama put our economy on a positive trajectory that is flattening out.

    4. UMCA, the NAFTA replacement, which is not dramatically different form NAFTA. Trump gave no credit to Nancy Pelosi, who demanded, and got changes to protect the rights and safety of workers, but yet Trump brags about doing good things for blue collar workers. Pelosi would not have allowed UMCA to be passed without protecting these workers, but it’s all about Trump.

    So, Turley, you are offended that Nancy Pelosi tore in half the speech delivered by Trump, because it offends the decorum of the chamber, but you aren’t at all offended by:

    1, The fact that Trump went ahead with his vainglory campaign commercial while under impeachment for abuse of power and trying to get a foreign government to smear Joe Biden, whom polls show as beating Trump.

    2. That Trump refused to shake Nancy Pelosi’s extended hand.

    3. That Trump shamelessly pandered to black voters in view of the fact that he is a rabid racist himself, referring to African countries, and Haiti as “sh**hole” countries, that he entered into a consent decree to resolve charges of racial discrimination in housing, and has lied about the outcome of the lawsuit, claiming he “won”. He also refers to Mexicans as “vermin, rapists, murderers, criminals and breeders”. His performance last evening included:

    a. Trotting out a 100 year old Tuskeegee Airman. How could he try to leverage this man’s dignity and contributions to this county, given his racism and the fact that Trump was such a coward that he lied to avoid military service?

    b. Trotting out a 4th grade black child with her single mother in some feeble attempt to convince voters that he cares about the plight of such people, and also to support vouchers.

    c. The Border Patrol agent was Hispanic. Doesn’t he know what Trump has said about people sharing his heritage?

    4. Speaking of shameless pandering, how about the Jerry Springer-esq. reunion of the service member with his family? How sad that this family was used as a political campaign prop. What about awarding Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Limbaugh pretending to be surprised? The award had been announced at 2:30 that afternoon, and no President has ever used the SOTU as an occasion to do this. Limbaugh is another person, the mere sight of whom is disgusting.

    5. Then, there’s the prematurely born girl, using her survival as some pathetic effort to oppose abortion or maybe even take credit for the advancements in perinatology. Third-trimester abortions are lied about and exaggerated by Republicans all of the time. They are extremely rare, illegal in most states, and are almost always done because the mother is seriously ill and may not survive deliver, or the fetus is so malformed that it has no chance of life and would only suffer before dying in a matter of hours or days. Nevertheless, it gives the puxxygrabber a chance to pander to Evangelicals.

    6. Trotting out the family of some murder victim who was allegedly killed by an illegal who was released from a “sanctuary city” after being charged with, but not convicted of some crime. He was not convicted of the first crime, much less the second. This entire little scenario creates the false illusion that illegals are running amok, committing crimes, but most murders, rapes and serious crimes are committed by native-born Americans, not illegals, and not even immigrants. It is a lie based on racism.

    7. Trump actually mentioned the names of various Americans who have earned respect, and even mentioned Abraham Lincoln. How repulsive that a chronic habitual liar and narcissist dare invoke the names of Americans who earned respect, who don’t stand for cheating, misogyny, mendacity, racism, xenophobia and arrogance.

    8. Worst of all, this person kept mentioning God. I kept waiting for the lightning bolt. He has no religious faith. Everything he does is for personal vainglory, which is a sin. He constantly lies and abuses others. This was truly blasphemy.

    So, Turley, forgive me if I can’t ever take you seriously again. Your criticism of Nancy Pelosi for tearing in half Trump’s speech, considering that it was full of lies and his abuse of the occasion of the State of the Union as an opportunity for political pandering and grandstanding is truly shocking.

    1. OK Natch thanks for the list. Since you don’t take Turley seriously, can we please get a promise you wont come back?

      share your wisdom – such as it is– with others! the internet’s a big place.

      1. From Sirach, Ch. 1:

        26 If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments,
        and the Lord will bestow her upon you;

        27 For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline;
        faithfulness and humility are his delight.

        28 Do not disobey the fear of the Lord,*
        do not approach it with duplicity of heart.

        29 Do not be a hypocrite before others;
        over your lips keep watch.

        30 Do not exalt yourself lest you fall
        and bring dishonor upon yourself;
        For then the Lord will reveal your secrets
        and cast you down in the midst of the assembly.
        Because you did not approach the fear of the Lord,
        and your heart was full of deceit.

        If yesterday’s campaign rally masquerading as a SOTU does not constitute the height of hypocrisy, then whatever could? How on earth could Mikey Pence sit there, clapping and sometimes giving a standing ovation to such a pathetic liar and claim to be a man of faith?

        Kurtz: have you facts to counter those I cited above? If so, where are they?

        1. Here is what the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops says about the passage with the asterisk:

          * [1:28–30] Attempting to serve the Lord with duplicity of heart is hypocrisy and self-exaltation, deserving of public disgrace.

    2. Is there anything more doltish in a “free” society than ordering a “free enterprise” insurance company to pay for problems, disasters and debacles BEFORE the insurance policy is written; before its product is negotiated with the customer?

      Insurance is coverage for unknown and unknowable future events based on general actuarial calculations which ultimately allow a margin for profit.

      “Coverage” for pre-existing conditions is nothing but highway robbery (technically theft).

      That’s what communists do. That’s what communists specialize in. Violent highway robbery.

      Did those two-headed twins born sharing a body have “pre-existing conditions” coverage? Which insurance company was forced to cover that even before they were born and their condition known?

      Free people need to grasp the difference between free market, free enterprise insurance industry operations and honorable and noble, voluntary charity. One needs to know the duty and burden of family. People must adapt to the outcomes of freedom. Freedom does not adapt to people, dictatorship does.

      In a free America, owners of insurance companies and consumers are free. In a free America, government does not engage in dictatorship and insurance policies are negotiated between issuers and insured – no force is involved or constitutional.

      1. George,

        When you have time put some more thought into this topic, pre-existing conditions, etc.

        For example, is there some industry/Chem/Bio/smelter/ company, etc. responsible for those 2 head babies?

        Think Round Up weed killer. The truth was out there decades ago & it took the courts that long to admit it was the Round Up that caused those cancers.

        It’s just the same as if Monsanto knowingly took their car & ran over the guy next door.

        Anyway, I don’t think your position is as clear as you think.

        Insur Co’s could be the middlemen bridge to take care of these issues?

    3. natacha:

      I think you missed a “that” for a “which” when you retyped your talking points from the cable from Chateau Soros this am.

    6. Natacha says: “The current economy is an extension of the turn-around started by Obama…” and it was booming under Obama? Wrong! And please stop with your bs talking points Natacha. Turn off Rachel Madcow too. She’s hurting your brain.

      PS what do you call countries whose toilets consist of a hole in the ground that you squat over? he was factually correct. and he said it in a private meeting.

  20. The people throwing hissy fits here are not just the Speaker. They are people threatened, and embarrassed, by the candidacies of Trump and Sanders and include people in the RNC, DNC and media. The fact that those two candidacies are viable shows a lack of institutional control by the beltway crowd and an ignorance by them of the country in general.

    Perhaps if Trump and Sanders are on the ballot in November, we might get some semblance of a substantive debate on some issues instead of two candidates from supposedly divergent political parties who use rhetoric and partisanship to claim they are different as opposed to two sides of the same coin.

    Although even in that case I would have my doubts. The match-up would be framed as a Conservative versus a Socialist — terms that don’t fit either one of them. Trump is no Conservative. Look at his spending in general and his deficit spending. I’m not convinced Sanders would outspend him.

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