Cheers As Pelosi Smashes 'Marble Ceiling'

House Speaker, 2nd In Line To Presidency, Celebrates The Moment

(AP)  Swept into the most powerful political job ever held by a U.S. woman, Nancy Pelosi embarked on a jubilant victory lap with children and grandchildren in tow and a soundtrack by Tony Bennett: "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."

The crooner performed his signature tune at a $1,000-a-head fundraiser Thursday night where Pelosi, 66, celebrated her historic swearing-in as the nation's first-ever female speaker of the House, second in line to the presidency.

"Democrats are back and that is cause for celebration, and we are back after 200 years with the first woman speaker," the San Francisco Democrat told the roaring crowd of 1,200 at the National Building Museum. "Thanks to you, working moms in this country know there's a mom in the speaker's office who understands their challenges."

As she had earlier in the day after accepting the speaker's gavel from House Republican leader John Boehner, Pelosi thanked her husband, investor Paul Pelosi, her five children and her six grandchildren for helping her move "from the kitchen to the Congress."

"I guess it hasn't really fully landed that I am the person who carries a great deal of responsibility," she acknowledged, "because we have always been a team effort."

Pelosi kept her family close throughout the day Thursday, bringing her grandchildren onto the House floor where they took turns sitting in her lap as the roll was called sealing her election by a vote of 233-202, the chamber's Democratic-Republican breakdown.

On Friday, the final of three days of festivities Pelosi orchestrated to introduce herself to the nation, she was to greet well-wishers at an open house on Capitol Hill, then head to her native Baltimore to visit statues of her father, Thomas D'Alesandro, the city's former mayor.

A ceremony was scheduled to rename a part of her childhood street in the city's Little Italy after her, as Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi Via.

The week's events also included Catholic masses and dinner at the Italian Embassy as Pelosi highlighted her ethnic, family and religious background more than her California liberal politics.

Even so, Pelosi's daughter Alexandra told the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee gala Thursday night that her hard-charging mother, who ran for Congress only in 1987 after moving to San Francisco and raising five children, was never ordinary.

She multitasked, made elaborate Halloween costumes by hand and hosted birthday parties where children built life-size gingerbread houses.

"Everybody's coming up to me and saying, 'Can you believe your mother is speaker of the House?"' said Alexandra Pelosi. "And to anyone who's been to my house, the answer is: 'Of course!"'

In addition to Bennett, performers Thursday night included Wyclef Jean, Carole King and several former members of the Grateful Dead, one of Pelosi's favorite bands.

Outside there was even a genuine Grateful Dead fan trying to get in, holding a hand-painted sign with the classic Deadhead plea: "I need a miracle." The fan, dreadlocked 30-year-old Scott Orellana, said he didn't have $1,000. A Democratic aide eventually sneaked him in the door.

But mostly Pelosi attracted her own fans, eager to applaud her landmark victory.

"It's inspirational ... I am so thrilled," said Rachel Binah, 64, of Mendocino, Calif., a Democratic activist who brought her 15-year-old niece, Maija, to Washington to witness history being made. "A lot of young people don't really know what we went through to get here."

[bluestardad]

Great now Women should be required to register for National Selective Service when they turn 18 like men do.

[skyk-2009]

I like so many Americans who went out this November and voted for change and against the hate and vile politic's of the Religious Reich, find this to be Great but we may well have just seen the start of Women in a leaders position. After all they really can do as good as men and sure as HELL can do a lot better than the pathetic Loser in the White House now.

[santo_marco]

If the United States were to implement a draft for this war, it would further the breakdown of American patriotism, as we know it; especially this late in the game. There is no doubt, however, that if the draft were to be implemented in the event the United States was directly involved in a just war in defense of our nation or our allies, women would be right there getting their card punched.

I would like to know who stripped Tony Bennet's testes. A pacifist? Are you kidding me? If everyone had the choice, we would all be pacifists. Unfortunately, there are people in the world that believe in aggressive military action and terrorism to obtain an objective. That's where the requirement of a military comes into play. Even in the bloodiest of engagements during our civil war, no military body ever committed genocide in murdering thousands of innocent civilians at time. If there had, I can guarantee that the victims would pray continuously for someone to come and give justice and security, no matter what country they came from. Yes, the war in Iraq is sloppy and poorly planned, but that does not mean that we are not doing the right thing in liberating an oppressed society that seeks to find it's way into the 21st century.

God is with you.

[ctrindle]

I am a woman, and I agree if women are going to hold a men's job they need to also be required to register for the National Selective Service when they turn 18 like the men do.

[exyahootroll]

How much does an M-16 weigh? Girls can carry them too!

[frankinaz]

Congress should stop appeasing illegal immigrants and the businesses that employ them. Charges must be brought against those who enter and remain in this country illegally, and against their employers. All offenses committed by illegal immigrants should be deportable offenses. No jobs, housing, driver's licenses, car or property ownership should be available to illegal immigrants. Deny future citizenship to children and their parents if the parents are illegally in this country. Congress should also cut Federal funds to states that give college tuition to illegals at state residence's rates. Illegal immigrants cost the taxpayer far too much money, and its time to say "No!" to these people.

[huskerarmy]

santo_marco,

You make a good case for nation defense, even perhaps violating the Geneva Conventions and taking "proactive" military action. But a case for Iraq... not so much.

[huskerarmy]

"Yes, the war in Iraq is sloppy and poorly planned, but that does not mean that we are not doing the right thing in liberating an oppressed society that seeks to find it's way into the 21st century."

O.K. Marco, there are many such societies. If as you imply we should be the world's police, who do you believe we should invade next?

[antoniof123]

Some of you are still trying to take a great moment in history and turn it into something it is not. Now the good old boy club is not longer as strong as it was. This is the real reason for the fall of the Reps they refused to change and this is always the reason they fall. Nixon was the first daddy Bush and now the full power that was awarded to the Reps they just do not get it and never will.

[bluestardad]

ctrindle; GOD bless you! Truly!

[bluestardad]

exyahootroll ; Yes they can and my daughter carried one for 16 months in Iraq along with pulling air guard on the 50 cal during convoys! Because Kellog Brown and Root from Haliburton, was doing the water purification job her unit was sent to Iraq to do she and her unit was given convoy gaurd duty to keep them busy.

[processor2]

AMERICA DOESN'T NEED A THIRD PARTY, IT NEEDS A SECOND ONE.

With the exception of a few arguments (abortion, death penalty, etc), there's very little difference between Democrats & Republicans.

BOTH Democrats & Republicans have the exact same philosophy about running this country from a socialist style power-center called "Washington,DC" (aka "centralized government")


What BOTH political parties have forgotten, is the fact that:

"Washington, DC did NOT create the states,,,,,, it was the states that created Washington, DC."

WE NEED TO SEND POWER BACK TO THE STATES.

...............

[grazinggoat]

Way to go Liberal America. This is the true face we all would like to show to the World, a face of tolerance and compassion. Down to the warlords abroad and at home. Down to profiteering scums.

Lets get our troops back home sooner than ever. Here , Now.

[diverinnl]

All Hail Empress Pelosi!

I half expect the proclaimed "Most powerful woman in America" start throwing Christians to the lions during her coming to power jubilee?

[bildooreilly]

$1000 a head fundraiser... nothing like locking the people out... both parties are elist commies, much like the scum that destroyed the soviet union.

[gunnerv1]

If I hear Queen Pelosi say "This is for the Children" one more time, I'm gonna puke!

[gunnerv1]

Queen Pelosi has ascended to the Throne, All hail the Queen, Long Live The Queen.

[gunnerv1]

diverinnl, they couldn't use The "Smartest Woman in the World", Thats already Trademarked/Copyrighted to Her Excellency , Empress Hillery.

[gunnerv1]

They must be good I have adopted five of them plus my own 2, SO, I guess I can say just about any damd thing I want about children!

[emaginechild]

Cutting funding for the war is off the table.

Impeachment is off the table.

Democrats did not take over Congress to put "raising the minimum wage" on the table.

[ramos937]

I watched the House crememonies Thursday and was proud of both parties - Republicans and Democrats. If they keep up this "lovefast" maybe, just maybe something good will come out of the 110th Congress?

Two incidents tarnished the event. When Madam Speaker, started to swear in the House members, Rep-Elect Vern Buchanan rose on a point of parlimentary procedure to the groans of both parties. He asked if the Clerk had been advised of his status. The Speaker consulted the Clerk and replied that the House had and that it would be resolved in accordance with established procedures for such matters. Immediately thereafter, another unknown Republican member, again to bipartisan groans, asked if the House had been notified of the winner of the subject District by the Florida Secretary of State. She replied yes. After that, she was allowed to proceed to administer the House oath to all members to the cheers of everybody.

The tactless behaviour of the above two House members marred an otherwise bipartisan happy event. I sincerely hope they are remembered by both parties.

[ramos937]

This from a vet man. We men have screwed up the country too much. Let's let a woman take a crack. After all, they have always cleaned up the messes we make. By this, I mean women in both parties.

[huskerarmy]

"Queen Pelosi has ascended to the Throne, All hail the Queen, Long Live The Queen."

Gunner, Pelosi supports due process. King George on the other hand selects the law he wants to follow via signing statements and gives himself the authority to listen to our phone calls, and read our mail without probable cause, judicial oversight or documentation.

[processor2]

AMERICA DOESN'T NEED A THIRD PARTY, IT NEEDS A SECOND ONE.

With the exception of a few arguments (abortion, death penalty, etc), there's very little difference between Democrats & Republicans.

BOTH Democrats & Republicans have the exact same philosophy about running this country from a socialist style power-center called "Washington,DC" (aka "centralized government")


What BOTH political parties have forgotten, is the fact that:

"Washington, DC did NOT create the states,,,,,, it was the states that created Washington, DC."

WE NEED TO SEND POWER BACK TO THE STATES.

...............