Nancy Pelosi: Two Heartbeats Away

(CBS)  If the Democrats win a majority of seats in the House of Representatives on Nov. 7, the next Speaker of the House will almost certainly be Nancy Pelosi. She would be the first woman Speaker and second in the line of succession - just two heartbeats away from the presidency.

The 66-year-old congresswoman from San Francisco has represented one of the most liberal districts in the country for nearly 20 years. Since she was elected Democratic leader of the house four years ago, she has been happy to push other members of Congress to the microphones to speak for the party. But now she says – her time has come.

More front and center lately, she has been the point person, for instance, in the party's attacks about the page scandal. As correspondent Lesley Stahl reports, she keeps promising that if she becomes Speaker, she would bring civility back to Washington: just not now.

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Pelosi has called her Republican colleagues "immoral" and "corrupt," and has said they're running a criminal enterprise.

"I mean, you're one of the reasons we have to restore civility in the first place," Stahl remarks.

"Well actually, when I called them those names, I was being gentle," Pelosi says. "There are much worse things I could've said about them."

Oh really? It's hard to imagine.

Here is what she said about the president's handling of Hurricane Katrina: "The president said he's going to lead the investigation into what went wrong. He need look only in the mirror, for starters."

"But if you're Speaker, I'm wondering – how you'll work with him. I mean, here are some of the things – only some of the things you have called him, 'an incompetent leader,'" Stahl says. "You said, 'In fact, he's not a leader. He's a person who has no judgment.'"

"That's right," Pelosi says.

"It even stings to hear it now. I mean, obviously, the two of you are bound to get along just great," Stahl replies, laughing.

"You know, we're professionals. We're professionals. You could go through a long list of things his surrogates have said about me. I know they have to do what they have to do, and they know I have to do what I have to do. And what I have to do is make a distinction in the public that's between the Democrats and the Republicans in order to win," Pelosi says. "This isn't personal."

"It sounds personal," Stahl remarks.

"This isn't personal," Pelosi says.

"He's "incompetent", he's…," Stahl continues.

"Well, I think he is," Pelosi states.

"Well, that's personal," Stahl points out.

"Well, I'm sorry, that's his problem," Pelosi replies.

"How does this raise the level of civility?" Stahl asks.

"Well, this is a – well – we're in a political debate here. We didn't come here to have a tea party together, and toss a coin to see who would win on an issue," Pelosi says. "I have very thick skin, I don't care what they say about me."

And she needs that thick skin. She's being used for target practice.

GOP ads have labeled her "liberal Democrat Nancy Pelosi." One Republican ad says "she'll reward illegal aliens with welfare, food-stamps, and free education. How do we stop her?"

Republicans including the president go after her saying if she's Speaker, it'll mean a weaker military, pampering of terrorists, and higher taxes.

"When we lowered the taxes for families with children, she voted against it. And when we put the death tax on the road to extinction, she voted against it. Time and again, when she had an opportunity to show her love for tax cuts, she has voted 'no,'" President Bush has said of Pelosi.

Pelosi doubts the attacks will work since most Americans have no idea who she is. Besides, at the urging of her colleagues, she has downplayed her pro-abortion rights, anti-gun positions since becoming leader, instead promoting more centrist issues like raising the minimum wage and energy independence.

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[janeymcgreev]

BlondMadison,

Thanks so much. Actually I am laughing hysterically at all of the Dem Dummy kool-aid swillers and Schicklgruber enthusiasts who rant and rave and spew Bush-hate and call Nance and Hil "cuties" (better get the vomit bag) that it is pretty refreshing when one can really point out the cosmetic AND THE Character flaws of their heroes and heroines. Including Sister Pelosi. She'd be laughable if she wasn't so sickening.

[rachael42]

The 60 minutes interview with Pelosi was all fluff. Why didn't you talk about how she voted 18 times against banning partial birth abortion or how she was the number one obstructionist in the hystory of the senate. It seems to me that cbs is afraid of the democrats. Americans need to do some homework to find out how these politicians are voting and what they are actually doing. They only care about politics and power whether they are republicans or democrats.By the way I am independant.

[blondmadison]

"JaneyMcGreev"

What a mouth! My Gawd! Your "comments" are entertaining if nothing else!! Do you practice at this or is this off the cuff? I've been laughing for five minutes.

Okay--Nancy Pelosi? I watched 60 Minutes too. She's another politician. George W. would be good for ANYONE to run against! He's ripe for the picking. As in, pick off vine, throw in bucket, feed to pigs and ostriches.

[blondmadison]

JaneyMcGreev

[artdecogodde]

I watched the interview on Sunday. I was infuriated by a great deal of it. Mostly by CBS's editing and interviewing choices. I found them to be poor in the extreme. No one cares that Nancy Pelosi eats two pork chops on a stick at a rally. No one cares that Nancy Pelosi wears Armani. Why focus on these non-issues when actual reporting and interviewing could have been shown. This is a sad day for journalism. I seriously doubt that CBS would have included those tidbits in an interview from a prominent male politician-because they simply do not matter. CBS-I am disappointed-very disappointed.

[proudvet27]

Reading some of the pro-Republican comments on this site reminds me of just what the new Republican slogan is: "Tell an untruth long enough and people start to believe it."
Much of the comments on here have been nothing but trash, untruths, and character assassination of Nancy Pelosi.
Whatever became of public service in this countruy? Does anyone remember Republicans like Barry Goldwater and other solid conservatives or liberals attacking each other in such a personal way? Why do some people insist on writing such untruths and wonder why we object?
Nancy Pelosi is not Satan or one of his angels? She is a nice mother and grandmother who has devoted much of her life to public service and most of her stands are for the average working American. Anyone who opposes the Iraq war is not a traitor; in my opinion they are good patriotic Americans.
And don't tell me how much of a hero George Bush is. What war did he ever fight in? He used the Texas Air National Guard to get out of going to Vietnam and never even completed his commitment in that unit. Anyone without his political pull would have been drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam. And none of the other leaders of his administration pushing this war down our throats ever spent one minute in a uniform defending this country.
And anyone who tells me how smart President Bush is brings into question their own intelligence.
Could go on for hours about this issue but have to leave. More later

[janeymcgreev]

brantl,

thanks for your hate spew. Bush and Cheney War Criminals, nice. And just what does that make you, little goosestepping schicklgruber-loving pissant?

Must admit I get a kick out of the sewer rats who besmirch a President because he is smarter and has more courage than they will ever have in their miserable, flea-speckled lives. The ones whose own experiences cause them to admire a draft dodging pervert who couldn't even stay loyal to the doggy he picked for his wife, or the howdy doody clone, the Hamas candidate who could demonstrate lack of cojones when it came to ragpickers but knew how to give those who disagreed with him that steely blue stare. The guy who loved the KKK, then became a nice Southern boy.

And look at the rest. The Gay boys from Massachusetts, the killer from Chappaquidick, the traitor who unlike Benedict Arnold never won a battle in his life. Not to mention the Kleagle from West Virginny or the Victicrats Sharpton, Jesse and Obama. Or the hypocritical harassers like Boxer and her twin, Plastic Princess Pelosi.

You want to take about War Criminals, brantl? You've got plenty of them IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY including the guy who got us involved in the Middle East mess - Arafat's bosom buddy and the peanut candidate from Hamas. If Iran ever drops a nuke on us, the peanut farmer should be tried by court-martial - and found guilty.

[lalingle]

Lesley Stahl used her time to talk about who buys Rep. Pelosi's cloths --- I can't imagine her asking Speaker Hastert such questions. Pelosi maintains order in a very difficult situation and does it with political savy, intelligence and style. She has also had the "balls" to make some difficult decisions about committee assignments.

[carlosglz-2009]

I feel Lesley Stahl's interview of Nancy Pelosi was extremely biased and unbalanced. It seemed that every question was a subtle attack on Ms. Pelosi's abilities and platform. I'd like to see what kind of questions would be asked of President Bush in a similiar interview. After all, don't forget that big media were huge cheerleaders in the lead up to the Iraq war, and now they're trying to hide it in every way they can.

[huskerarmy]

Great post ajrule1.