Nancy Pelosi: Sky is the limit
That the American polity in general and American politics in particular is more mature than many other parts of the world is a fact few can deny. This maturity manifests itself time and again. The occasion of Nancy Pelosi taking the speakership of the U.S. House of Representatives was such an occasion.
Nancy Pelosi became the first female speaker of the House who grabbed the gavel yesterday. She opened the 110th Congress with a beaming smile and a crowd of grandkids at her feet. I was more amazed at the way she spoke at the occasion and the outgoing leader of the house congratulating her and promising her the full cooperation. As the one who is accustomed to see bickering and heartburn each time there is a change in guard in the government or some unexpected results in elections, this smooth flow of political common sense left me amazed to say the least.
Everyone knew how Republicans tested defeat in the recent Congressional elections and forced President George W. Bush and his ilk to rethink their aggressive endeavors towards Irak. So it was widely expected that this tussle would reflect in the proceedings of the house. Though it is too early to guess whether that anticipation will come true or not, the start of the proceedings did not betray any inclination of that sort of the thing. The message Pelosi gave to her countrymen was more worthwhile enough.
"For these children, our children, and for all of America's children, the House will come to order," she said, "For our daughters and our granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling," said Pelosi (D-California.) "For our daughters and our granddaughters now, the sky is the limit," was her statement.
The promised era of bipartisanship began warmly, with former Majority Leader John Boehner calling the moment "historic" as he gave Pelosi the gavel and a hug. "My fellow Americans, whether you're a Republican, a Democrat or an independent, today is a cause for celebration," said Boehner (R-Ohio).
The new session also marked the first day back for Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is set to to push the limit Pelosi mentioned all the way to the White House. Glowing at the Democrats' takeover, the New York senator said her priority was making sure they do a good job. Mrs. Clinton also said it's up to the new Congress to show America it can work together. "We'll see now whether we can do it," she said.
Pelosi, even as she committed again to the most-open Congress in history, emphasized she'll move ahead swiftly on the Democrats' agenda - in the first 100 hours. That means there would be little time to involve Republicans. "Congress doesn't have two years or 200 days," Pelosi said.
I was more perplexed with the words while she issued a guised warning to President Bush on Iraq. Though in a low note voice that message was clear for Mr. Bush: Stay away from Iraq.
"It is the responsibility of the President to articulate a new plan for Iraq that makes it clear to the Iraqis that they must defend their own streets," were her exact words.
Ms Pelosi is one of 86 women set to serve in this Congress - the highest number in US history - although the institution remains overwhelmingly male. This is what BBC has to say in her profile : Mrs Pelosi succeeded Richard Gephardt, who stepped down after 13 years as House leader following his party's setbacks in the mid-term elections. A congresswoman from San Francisco, Mrs Pelosi had public commitments of support from more than half the House Democrats to beat off the challenges from Harold Ford and Marcy Kaptur. Her election brings a leading liberal voice to the leadership of the Democrats in the House.
She has pledged to take a more aggressive line in stressing her party's differences with the Republicans. During the mid-term elections and the congressional vote on the Iraqi war powers resolution, she opposed President Bush's policy, unlike many of her Democratic colleagues.
She fought the battle to become House leader from the strong position of Democratic whip in the House of Representatives, and enjoyed strong support from women members, liberals and the large number of representatives from her home state of California.
Nancy Pelosi became the first female speaker of the House who grabbed the gavel yesterday. She opened the 110th Congress with a beaming smile and a crowd of grandkids at her feet. I was more amazed at the way she spoke at the occasion and the outgoing leader of the house congratulating her and promising her the full cooperation. As the one who is accustomed to see bickering and heartburn each time there is a change in guard in the government or some unexpected results in elections, this smooth flow of political common sense left me amazed to say the least.
Everyone knew how Republicans tested defeat in the recent Congressional elections and forced President George W. Bush and his ilk to rethink their aggressive endeavors towards Irak. So it was widely expected that this tussle would reflect in the proceedings of the house. Though it is too early to guess whether that anticipation will come true or not, the start of the proceedings did not betray any inclination of that sort of the thing. The message Pelosi gave to her countrymen was more worthwhile enough.
"For these children, our children, and for all of America's children, the House will come to order," she said, "For our daughters and our granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling," said Pelosi (D-California.) "For our daughters and our granddaughters now, the sky is the limit," was her statement.
The promised era of bipartisanship began warmly, with former Majority Leader John Boehner calling the moment "historic" as he gave Pelosi the gavel and a hug. "My fellow Americans, whether you're a Republican, a Democrat or an independent, today is a cause for celebration," said Boehner (R-Ohio).
The new session also marked the first day back for Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is set to to push the limit Pelosi mentioned all the way to the White House. Glowing at the Democrats' takeover, the New York senator said her priority was making sure they do a good job. Mrs. Clinton also said it's up to the new Congress to show America it can work together. "We'll see now whether we can do it," she said.
Pelosi, even as she committed again to the most-open Congress in history, emphasized she'll move ahead swiftly on the Democrats' agenda - in the first 100 hours. That means there would be little time to involve Republicans. "Congress doesn't have two years or 200 days," Pelosi said.
I was more perplexed with the words while she issued a guised warning to President Bush on Iraq. Though in a low note voice that message was clear for Mr. Bush: Stay away from Iraq.
"It is the responsibility of the President to articulate a new plan for Iraq that makes it clear to the Iraqis that they must defend their own streets," were her exact words.
Ms Pelosi is one of 86 women set to serve in this Congress - the highest number in US history - although the institution remains overwhelmingly male. This is what BBC has to say in her profile : Mrs Pelosi succeeded Richard Gephardt, who stepped down after 13 years as House leader following his party's setbacks in the mid-term elections. A congresswoman from San Francisco, Mrs Pelosi had public commitments of support from more than half the House Democrats to beat off the challenges from Harold Ford and Marcy Kaptur. Her election brings a leading liberal voice to the leadership of the Democrats in the House.
She has pledged to take a more aggressive line in stressing her party's differences with the Republicans. During the mid-term elections and the congressional vote on the Iraqi war powers resolution, she opposed President Bush's policy, unlike many of her Democratic colleagues.
She fought the battle to become House leader from the strong position of Democratic whip in the House of Representatives, and enjoyed strong support from women members, liberals and the large number of representatives from her home state of California.
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