Pelosi nixes Rangel’s bill to bring back the draft (Update: Video added)
posted at 1:33 pm on November 20, 2006 by Allahpundit
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Oddly enough, the leadership of the anti-war party doesn’t think conscription is in its political interest:
Pelosi, having just concluded a meeting with incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, to discuss the Democratic agenda, said the leadership will not support the measure.
“It’s not about a draft it’s about shared sacrifice in our country,” Pelosi told reporters in her Capitol Hill office…
When asked directly if she supported the measure, Pelosi said “No. No.”
You’d think an idea floated by the incoming chairman of the Ways and Means Committee would get a few weeks of respectful consideration. I guess with the Pentagon and the Baker Commission set to recommend a modest short-term increase in U.S. troops, the Dems are in a tough enough spot that they don’t want this in the mix too. Hence the reason for the quick kill.
Or maybe there’s another reason.
Update (Ian): Video of Pelosi’s remarks:
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No confirmation yet on whether Rangel got a fish wrapped inside of his draft bill.
Kid from Brooklyn on November 20, 2006 at 1:40 PM
Yeah, that or that Rangel is nuts. This is too much fun to watch.
Pelosi’s job has become similar to that of a principal at a school for delinquents.
mesablue on November 20, 2006 at 1:42 PM
Oh come together, yeah come together…
Is it just me or is this new Democrat Controlled Congress shaping up to be very entertaining. I mean hell, who needs Reality TV when we’ve got Jackass meets West Wing on CNN every day!
jasnell on November 20, 2006 at 1:43 PM
Or …. Cruise Director for the Titanic.
fogw on November 20, 2006 at 1:44 PM
They haven’t even taken power and they’ve managed to shoot themselves in both feet, one arm and the right elbow. That’s before Alcee Hastings is dealt with. Fun stuff.
http://www.aolelectionsblog.com/2006/11/20/all-house-leadership-voted-to-impeach-hastings/
sswenviron on November 20, 2006 at 1:44 PM
RACISM!!!!
Enrique on November 20, 2006 at 1:49 PM
These guys are nuts
Drtuddle on November 20, 2006 at 1:49 PM
One pair of Pelousy’s Manolo Blahnik shoes must be pretty much ruined by having to tramp through this particular chicken coop.
RushBaby on November 20, 2006 at 1:50 PM
SO let me see the democrats havent even been in office yet and they have shot down two of their most powerful in Rangel and Murtha.
And oddly enough bout military veterans.
What happened to the party that SAID it listened to its military veterans and was hot and heavy when they spoke out against Bush ?
Who knew it was only BDS striking ! (other than us)
William Amos on November 20, 2006 at 1:53 PM
Well, she did say it was about “shared sacrifice”.
jasnell on November 20, 2006 at 1:53 PM
Make that “chic”-ken coop.
Funny comeback, jasnell!
RushBaby on November 20, 2006 at 1:54 PM
I’m embarrassed for everyone involved.
Question: How could Rangle be so far off the reservation on this?
Answer: Because he’s a lunatic.
natesnake on November 20, 2006 at 1:57 PM
I wonder how shared sacrifice will play against San Francisco values.
BTW, I just realized that I am rich because all of the policies that Pelosi is forwarding in order help the middle class (minimum wage, medicare) doesn’t do JACK SQUAT for me.
BohicaTwentyTwo on November 20, 2006 at 1:58 PM
Is the first 100 hours over yet?
natesnake on November 20, 2006 at 1:59 PM
The first of many reasoned and well-thought out policy proposals that we are going to be treated to in the next 2 years.
If only they would all be this shortlived.
Reinstitute the draft. Idiots.
Rosetta on November 20, 2006 at 2:00 PM
I’m starting to like their way of thinking. They’ll have me hooked if they expand this “shared sacrifice” concept to an all voluntary income tax policy.
Dusty on November 20, 2006 at 2:00 PM
Is it just me, or is this a grammatically incorrect mishmash that doesn’t make much sense? Are all her off the cuff comments for the next two years going to be this eloquent?
Quisp on November 20, 2006 at 2:06 PM
I’d be half as depressed, if the principal were sound.
My favorite quote, from my favorite opposition-commenter on this board, honora:
What a sad state we’re in. The conservatives have no direction and the compass is broken. The liberals are, well, liberals.
Contrary to a troll’s claims, we do have a sense of humor on the center-right and the right, aside from jokes on racism. However, it doesn’t make me rejoyce when I seriously contemplate on the times and state we’re in. We must lead the world, no matter what, because of this.
Entelechy on November 20, 2006 at 2:10 PM
That, or the Fair Tax.
Kid from Brooklyn on November 20, 2006 at 2:10 PM
Rangel wants to reinstitute the draft and he thinks it’s the people that live in Mississippi that are retarded.
Maroon.
Rosetta on November 20, 2006 at 2:11 PM
Trouble is, we may know they’re nuts, but who else is paying attention?
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on November 20, 2006 at 2:12 PM
Politiques sans Teleprompters.
Kid from Brooklyn on November 20, 2006 at 2:13 PM
Her vindictiveness is going to come back to haunt her.
thirteen28 on November 20, 2006 at 2:13 PM
Did you just question the timing?
James on November 20, 2006 at 2:19 PM
…via a draft. And Orgasm Day? That’s about friction, not orgasms.
Pablo on November 20, 2006 at 2:21 PM
I might think the same thing if the stakes were not so high. Instead, it is most depressing to watch.
Editor on November 20, 2006 at 2:24 PM
I question the timing.
BacaDog on November 20, 2006 at 2:25 PM
I’m glad they are getting along so well. All the harmony and peace and flowers and hugs. It’s like the 60’s all over again: college protestors, Democrats screaming about a bogged down war, the draft… oh wait!… there is no draft. Oh well, he tried.
Cary on November 20, 2006 at 2:26 PM
Nope. It’s just another Rovian plot to make the Democrats look foolish by penetrating their brains with Argon-Gas-Micro-Bionic-Amphibious-Transmitter-Rays.
But come to think about it, now I do.
I QUESTION THE TIMING!
natesnake on November 20, 2006 at 2:28 PM
The vaunted ‘middle’ is taking notes. In two short weeks, we’ve had Rangel calling for the draft, the Pelosi/Murtha debacle, and now we have the Baker commission recommending an increase in troops.
Will Rahm Emmanuel do what he said he’d do and adhere to the commission’s recommendations? How will the netroots respond? I have to say that this is pretty fun theater.
Matticus Finch on November 20, 2006 at 2:28 PM
No fair BacaDog! I was questioning the timing waaaaaaay before you even considered that the timing should be questioned!
natesnake on November 20, 2006 at 2:30 PM
Sorry Natesake, I couldn’t resist!
For the record, Natesake is the official “Questioner of Timing” here.
BacaDog on November 20, 2006 at 2:34 PM
Geez…..Natesnake not Natesake. Sorry.
AP, where’s our preview button?
BacaDog on November 20, 2006 at 2:36 PM
Brings to mind an excellent political ad for 2008… show a bunch of Republican congressmen sitting in a theater, laughing and giggling while watching clips of the Democrats trying to run the country.
jasnell on November 20, 2006 at 2:37 PM
Um, how are we supposed to distinguish between the Rep & Dem congressmen?
Editor on November 20, 2006 at 2:41 PM
Thank you. That’s better.
*adjusts tin foil hat*
natesnake on November 20, 2006 at 2:42 PM
Moonbat Wars: which side will win – the moonbats or the moonbats?
Halley on November 20, 2006 at 2:42 PM
I don’t know. But I know who loses.
natesnake on November 20, 2006 at 2:43 PM
Good point Edotor. I’m not impressed by the conservatives either. The country and the world is/are in dire need of sound leadership, for survival, as we know it/them. Yet, the party goes on and the music keeps playing, like on the Titanic…Very serious and sad.
Entelechy on November 20, 2006 at 2:47 PM
Sorry Editor (I bodged your pen name :(
Entelechy on November 20, 2006 at 2:48 PM
What the hell are we going to do grandpa?
x95b10 on November 20, 2006 at 2:54 PM
Well, obviously the Rep’s are the ones sitting closest to the pages.
jasnell on November 20, 2006 at 2:56 PM
Hell no! They’ve just started winding the clock!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on November 20, 2006 at 3:20 PM
The moon is out and the bats are howlin’!!!!
AAAAAAAAA-OOOOOOOOO!!!!!
BigOrangeAxe on November 20, 2006 at 3:34 PM
…then, I question the air-fuel mixture.
I have my doubts about the wheel alignment, as well, but I’ll keep them to myself.
Puritan1648 on November 20, 2006 at 3:37 PM
…is it just me, or is Charlie Rangel a slippery, smirking, self-serving, race-baiting pol with a safe-seat-until-death, a contempt for democracy, whose loyalty can only be counted on until the Democratic Party is no longer of use to advance his agenda?
…OK…just me. Vast Right-Wing Conspirator and all that….sorry….
Puritan1648 on November 20, 2006 at 3:40 PM
…more sinister…more that Mother Superior at the Magdalen Laundries. A wasted, bitter spinster overseeing the conversion from rumored profligacy to unquestioning piety by means of imposed silence, relentless and back-breaking labor, with no hope of reward.
…either that, or an Oberaufseherin at Ravensbrück….
Puritan1648 on November 20, 2006 at 3:47 PM
Pelosi was hear to say “It is President Bush’s fault Charlie is a nut. Rangel was heard to say “It is President Bush’s fault Nancy is a moonbat”
Wade on November 20, 2006 at 3:59 PM
BTY, someone the Imus show this morning wondered if Rangel was one of the original Ink Spots. Hope Kramer adds that to his show at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood.
Wade on November 20, 2006 at 4:02 PM
spit-take
urbancenturion on November 20, 2006 at 4:22 PM
BTW,
raaaaaacist
(I would have questioned the timing, but others have already taken care of that for this one.)
urbancenturion on November 20, 2006 at 4:23 PM
For the record: June 15, 2004
http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=1317
Chuck Hagel, Hillary Clinton, Charles Rangel in favor of a draft that would include:
Women and Men
no college deferements
John Kerry was also on record as for mandatory draft.
Rangel is just the front man for the Democratic Draft. Hillary Rodham Clinton supports a wildly radical draft proposal that includes this nation’s daughters as well as sons. It’s not Rangel, the lone political nutcase, he’s one of a group of Dems who want to push this. It’ll be back. Rangel will keep floating it on behalf of the radicals until they get the right signals.
naliaka on November 20, 2006 at 4:25 PM
I think we should increase the standing army up to 800,000 or a million, but thru volunteer efforts. People who are there, should want to be there, not forced to be there.
lorien1973 on November 20, 2006 at 4:36 PM
/How dare you question his patriotism? He served in the military and got a medal and everything.
LakeRuins on November 20, 2006 at 4:37 PM
Oh yeah so is the press now referring to Ms Pelosi as a moderate? You know like Ahmadinnerjacket is the moderate president of Iran.
LakeRuins on November 20, 2006 at 4:39 PM
Quisp, DreadPirate, Jasnell…close your eyes, listen…feel the love.
After the orgy of self-hate and recrimination that was the mid-term Kool-Aid fest, who could have known that the salve for our pain would be … the Democrats.
This is almost too good. Pelosi speaking in public makes GW sound positively eloquent. Rangel in charge of anything makes FEMA’s Brown look like Henry Ford.
They want to take a guy who was impeached as a Federal Judge and put him in charge of a House committee. Thank you, Lord; thank you…
Jaibones on November 20, 2006 at 6:08 PM
Is Pelosi the Skipper on a 3 hour cruise?
Marvin on November 20, 2006 at 6:11 PM
Nancy wouldn’t want the draft because all of those strapping young legal Americans working in her vineyards would have to run off to war.
Who would pick her grapes?
seejanemom on November 20, 2006 at 6:15 PM
I heard that Rangel was again pushing his Draft legislation on Fox sometime around 4:00 pm, est. today. I guess he has decided to join the Whether Men as those always cite a thing that whether it isn’t right today, and no matter whether it is right tomorrow, but when it IS right we get to listen to, “I Told You So!” Just like weather men, they know it will rain eventually.
America might actually need to reinstate the Draft if the liberals manage to pull off their cut-and-run schemes, and that will be the day when Rangel will be the King of the liberal chitstorm.
DannoJyd on November 20, 2006 at 6:49 PM
Ah gee Charlie… don’t worry about it. Use the old noodle man, there’s lots of other great bills you could introduce that every far left moonbat would love. How about socialized medicine with guaranteed FREE sex change operations? … No ? …. OK how about Medicare for all illegal aliens and their pets ? Oh…. er …. How about a three dollar increase in the gasoline tax !! …. Alright … Alright … calm down … I got it … Revocation of all private property rights to fight ahhh .. lets see ahhhh, OH … Global Warming !! Still No ? OK this is REALLY it … Confiscation of all IRA’s for …. ahhh … let’s see ….. YEAH … For The Children !! See Charlie, don’t feel bad, you can still make a difference !
/sarcasm-off
Maxx on November 20, 2006 at 6:54 PM
I’m with lorien1973 on this one, if the President held a prime time address to the nation and asked for more volunteers, he would get them.
Zorro on November 20, 2006 at 6:56 PM
WTH does that mean?
Queasy on November 20, 2006 at 7:01 PM
You nailed it Puritan !
Maxx on November 20, 2006 at 7:06 PM
Natesnake, the OFFICIAL Timing Questioner, wrote: “I QUESTION THE TIMING!”
As well you should.
Ladies and gentlemen, all these announcements mean jack snit. They ARE NOT YET IN CHARGE and won’t be until January. So, they bloviate gas, make base-appeasing nonsense and small talk, and pontificate for the cameras, because all these clowns ARE IMPORTANT PEOPLE all of a sudden — people to be taken SERIOUSLY.
What is important is what happens AFTER they control the committees and the speakership. Pelosi says that she’s against the draft and against impeachment hearings — FOR NOW, before she actually wields the gavel.
Everything can change on the first week in January when the 110th Congress is sworn in. THAT is when the ‘100 hours’ clock starts running. That is when the “screwing” of America begins.
georgej on November 20, 2006 at 7:07 PM
Excellent point as I’ve not seen Pelousy actually say that she will never support Rangel’s Bill. She may not allow it to come to the floor in the first 100 hours, and she may not allow it in the first 100 days, but she did not say that she would never support the Draft. Maybe she will support the Draft by saying it is necesary due to our Heroes no longer re-enlisting [actually caused by liberals in Congress], enlistment quotas no longer being met, and that it is all Bush’s fault. That would then give her the momentum to push for Impeachment.
I know that it sounds like fiction, but stranger things have happened in Washington.
DannoJyd on November 20, 2006 at 7:40 PM
Here is yet more proof that the Democrat majority will last exactly two years. The question is, who will replace them? I don’t see the Republicans becoming any more worthy of the position in that time.
Wolfman on November 20, 2006 at 8:31 PM
I can’t hear a word she is saying over all of those camera shutters going off.
Lothar on November 20, 2006 at 10:18 PM
At a top-secret meeting in the future majority leader’s office…
Pelosi: Here’s the play, Chuck. You’re going to reintroduce that draft bill again. The same one you trotted out in ‘04.
Rangel(gravely): But it didn’t work.
Pelosi: And it won’t now. But let’s face it, I’m really frighteningly liberal. So liberal that even the NY Times will be forced to notice it in as little as 6-12 months.
Rangel: I get it. You want me to run left with the ball so you can call me out of bounds…
Pelosi: Making me look as moderate as Hillary.
Rangel: **unintelligible** but what’s in it for me?
Pelosi: Lots and lots of TV time.
Rangel: I’m **unintelligible** there!
John on November 21, 2006 at 3:54 AM
Rangel wants to propose the draft so he can vote against it, just as did once before. He wants anti-draft protests and riots in the streets. But I have to agree with his fascism on a certain level, where he says that 2 years of compulsory service (via “tough love”) would be a therapeutic shock to the nation. Not everyone drafted would go military, but everyone would learn some discipline and manners.
laelaps on November 21, 2006 at 4:20 AM
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