July 01, 2005
...But Pelosi is Dense, Too

Notice how Nancy Pelosi can't even comprehend the question or the issue at hand. She mistakenly thinks the Supreme Court in Kelo precluded Congress from legislating to prevent the federal government from engaging in eminent domain actions that are for a "public benefit" but not a "public use." It is a dim bulb who is the top Democrat in the House.

Q Later this morning, many Members of the House Republican leadership, along with John Cornyn from the Senate, are holding a news conference on eminent domain, the decision of the Supreme Court the other day, and they are going to offer legislation that would restrict it, prohibiting federal funds from being used in such a manner.

Two questions: What was your reaction to the Supreme Court decision on this topic, and what do you think about legislation to, in the minds of opponents at least, remedy or changing it?

Ms. Pelosi. As a Member of Congress, and actually all of us and anyone who holds a public office in our country, we take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Very central to that in that Constitution is the separation of powers. I believe that whatever you think about a particular decision of the Supreme Court, and I certainly have been in disagreement with them on many occasions, it is not appropriate for the Congress to say we're going to withhold funds for the Court because we don't like a decision.

Sensing that Pelosi misunderstood the question, because her answer makes no sense, the reporter clarifies and repeats it.
Q Not on the Court, withhold funds from the eminent domain purchases that wouldn't involve public use. I apologize if I framed the question poorly. It wouldn't be withholding federal funds from the Court, but withhold Federal funds from eminent domain type purchases that are not just involved in public good.

Ms. Pelosi. Again, without focusing on the actual decision, just to say that when you withhold funds from enforcing a decision of the Supreme Court you are, in fact, nullifying a decision of the Supreme Court. This is in violation of the respect for separation of church -- powers in our Constitution, church and state as well. Sometimes the Republicans have a problem with that as well. But forgive my digression.

So the answer to your question is, I would oppose any legislation that says we would withhold funds for the enforcement of any decision of the Supreme Court no matter how opposed I am to that decision. And I'm not saying that I'm opposed to this decision, I'm just saying in general.

Hello? Anyone home? She ain't the sharpest tool in the shed, but someone ought to explain this to her.

Posted by Jonathan R. on July 1, 2005 03:54 PM


Comments

Unfortunately, Rep. Pelosi is in good company when it comes to misunderstanding Supreme Court decisions. Many people fail to understand that the Supreme Court rarely forces the government to do anything. Their job, for the most part, is to determine whether the government's actions were lawful. As you point out, the Supreme Court never said that legislatures (including Congress) couldn't be more restrictive about their use of eminent domain. Frankly, I blame the reporter as well for not following up on this.

It is this same misunderstanding that produces much of the negativity regarding Roe v Wade. If the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade tomorrow, nothing would change. All it would do is permit states, if they choose, to enact their own laws regarding abortion. It would not require that any state make abortion illegal and in fact, most states would not make it illegal.

Posted by: SBulka [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 1, 2005 04:12 PM


"I would oppose any legislation that says we would withhold funds for the enforcement of any decision of the Supreme Court no matter how opposed I am to that decision."

So I guess she would have opposed withholding federal funds from southern states that were relying on the SCOTUS decision in Plessy v. Ferguson.

It's an absurd position and displays that she and other liberals have NO idea what the "separation of powers" really means....

Posted by: Todd L. Dietrich [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 1, 2005 04:51 PM


...and as my initial point makes clear, SCOTUS decisions are FAR from infallible, and sometimes are flat out wrong. Apparently, this fact is lost on Smilin' Nancy.

Posted by: Todd L. Dietrich [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 1, 2005 04:54 PM


"Hello? Anyone home?"

Probably not, which is why Pelosi is so perfect to represent California. Picture millions of people walking around in the same state of awareness that she does.
To borrow from the B-52s, most Californians are living in their "own private Idaho."

Posted by: Seth at July 1, 2005 08:17 PM


She doesn't CARE about the question. She just parrots the same tired phrases, slogans, and words. She's like a 1950s robot.

Posted by: Mark at July 2, 2005 05:14 AM