Politics California Style: Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman
by Lurita DoanThe success of the Chicago-style politics of Dick Durbin, Rahm Emmanuel and Barack Obama, characterized by brass knuckles, intense bullying, finger pointing and public attacks has been mesmerizing. Meanwhile, very little attention has been focused on the California-style politics of obfuscation and intimidation practiced by Nancy Pelosi and her sidekick, Henry Waxman. Ignoring California-style politics is a mistake: these guys are good!
The art of obfuscation is central to California-style politics. Think back on Speaker Pelosi’s byzantine explanation of why she called career CIA employees liars. Incomprehensible, deliberately vague misdirection characterizes the California-style of politics. Never be precise; never say what you mean, and certainly, never let facts interfere with the spin.
Cumbersome, incoherent legislation is another example of obfuscation, California-style: thousands of pages of gobble-de-gook, the Stimulus, at 1000 pages, the Energy bill at 1100 pages and the Healthcare bill version #1 at 1300 pages and the latest House healthcare bill at a whopping 1990 pages.
Pelosi seems to have assembled these monstrosities so that few in Congress can read the legislation in its entirety before she calls the vote. Deceptive executive summaries, with left wing talking points, attached to these gargantuan documents are yet another form of obfuscation.
Stimulus funding is especially ripe with obfuscation. For example, Speaker Pelosi is on record stating that she has not been involved in funding special interest projects out of San Francisco with the Stimulus. One project, the San Francisco Marsh Rat, figured frequently in news stories. In fact, Pelosi’s public relations folks claimed these accusations are a “total fabrication” .
Despite what seems to be her decade-long involvement in the project, Pelosi, did not, technically, endorse earmarks for the Marsh rat since the creature in question is not a rat, but a mouse, the San Francisco Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse. Second, the Departments of Interior and Commerce allocated the funding; Pelosi only ensured the funding stayed in the legislation. Third, the funding cascades through multiple entities, so finding Nancy Pelosi’s fingerprints requires part bloodhound, part Sherlock Holmes, and a willingness to wade through a maze of primary sources that obscure the facts.
Stimulus legislation, Amendment #98, Page 69, appropriates $50 million for Department of Interior to fund the “California Bay-Delta Restoration Act” for “coastal habitat restoration”. The Department of Commerce is also funded in the Stimulus, and Recovery.gov, reports that Commerce, via NOAA, has allocated $167 Million in grants to various States for coastal ”restoration” and research projects considered to be of importance or value. The “San Francisco South Salt Pond Restoration ” received $7.5 million in funding, the “American Canyon Salt Pond Restoration in San Francisco” received $8.5 million, and yet another, the Elkhorn Slough Restoration received $3.9M. These projects support habitation for the Harvest Mouse.
If you keep following the breadcrumbs, the San Francisco South Salt Pond Restoration Project has a division, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project that supports the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse habitation project. The final clue to the connection with Stimulus funding, comes from the Milpitas Post, a non-profit newsletter from March 2009 that gleefully reports their good fortune in receiving a Stimulus grant.
So, thanks to California-style politics, and despite Speaker Pelosi’s obfuscations, millions of dollars of taxpayer money did fund pork projects such as the habitation of the San Francisco Harvest Marsh Mouse.
Another Californian, and close, Pelosi confidant, Henry Waxman, practices California-style politics of obfuscation and intimidation, whether conducting his witch-hunt hearings or whether promulgating faulty energy legislation that will do little to address the energy problems in this country. Waxman’s strategy is to affirm a statement loudly enough and often enough in the press, so eventually the misstatement is perceived as fact.
Waxman’s truth-through-repetition technique has been enormously successful. For example, Waxman cultivates the perception that he is eager for oversight. The reality seems more that Waxman is eager for others to have oversight, but when it comes to his own district in L.A., Waxman is the original Mr. NIMBY(Not In My Back Yard).
For example, a few years ago, the FBI wanted to expand their offices at 11000 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. The General Services Administration supported this decision to expand and improve the GSA-owned building on Wilshire Blvd. Problem was, Waxman didn’t want the FBI to expand their facilities in the middle of his district. Congressman Waxman’s campaign and fundraising headquarters for his PAC are also located on Wilshire Blvd. Probably, the idea of a bunch of FBI agents located in the vicinity of his harvesters of campaign donations was, to Mr. Waxman, totally unacceptable.
Mr. Waxman went into overdrive to kill the idea of so many FBI agents located so near his fundraising efforts. When negotiations didn’t yield the desired results, Waxman applied pressure on the GSA . Mr. Waxman epitomizes the California-style of obfuscation and intimidation. At the very time he is applying pressure to move the FBI out of his district, he is simultaneously posturing himself as a great crusader, supportive of oversight!
Waxman’s technique was successful. Ultimately, the FBI decided to locate its new, expanded facility elsewhere in L.A., out of Waxman’s district, even though the move quadruples the cost to the American taxpayer.
California-style politics relies on deception, on truth-by-repetition, on overwhelming the time and thought processes of opponents with volumes of incomprehensible data and labyrinthine legislation, which successfully hides the details of the bill’s real intent.
America has produced exceptional leaders: Senators, Congressmen, and Presidents who inspired with clear, logical prose and speeches. Those days seem long are gone. The California-style politics obfuscates real intentions to mask unwholesome and despicable acts—and, sadly, its practitioners get away with it.
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Got a Tip?
62 Comments
When I see Nancy Pelosi, she looks just like a Soviet era East German Prison Guard — Clothes and all.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Partisan Media Group, Big Tweeting. Big Tweeting said: BigGovt: Politics California Style: Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman: The success of the Chicago.. http://tinyurl.com/yl8oblm #BigTweet [...]
"The habitation of the San Francisco Harvest Marsh Mouse."
Would that be particularly referring to the nesting habits of the Honorable Henry Waxman>
No one ever said these two baffoons were stupid…just ignorant of the US Constitution and econ 101. They are both representatives emblamatic for the first State in the US to soon file bankruptcy. California has the highest number of union employees, govt employees, marxist school teachers, gays/lesbians, illegal immigrants, etc etc sucking the state dry, with some of the highest tax rates — both personal and business — along with rapidly deflating property values, property taxes, sales taxes and declining income taxes. Recipe for disaster.
You tell me….after California goes bankrupt…will both Pelosi and Waxman choose to help their constituents??? or be on the knees asking for a bailout. My recommendation is that we give California to China in exchange for their debt. Just like a bank calling in a bad loan, China should ask for California when they call in their debt and US treasury bonds…..hmmmm..hmmmmm..hmmmm
very good, you made me smile on a bad day…..
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by AZ grassroots, Barbara Simson. Barbara Simson said: Politics California Style: Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman http://is.gd/4YYsX [...]
The truth is not found in Nancy Peloci. What a corrupt disgrace that is bankrupting California and the USA.
Nothing but Lies, Taxes, and insane restrictions. She is as fake as her facelift. She/He is a LOSER for the hard working citizens.
This is no surprise. Living in NYC, I HATE dealing with anyone from California professionally. Their sing-songy sinshine BS attitudes mask their anger and hostility towards their East-Coast betters. They never just say go f___ yourself but instead string people along with vague upbeat nonsense. I cringe when I have to deal with them.
Folks in the hinterlands and flyover country cringe when WE have to deal with anyone, from either coast. That is the problem with both coasts, ATTITUDE.
Folks in the center, just prefer to call a spade a spade, and let the chips fall where they may……….
they are a pretty loathesome duo, we freely admit…
But they are the Leaders of the country right now, carrying out Andy Stern and Jeff Jones' mandates while their slick salesman travels the world- and goes to fundraisers. he needn't be in DC because he doesn't really govern the country.
Hired 'gun' as it were. His lackof experience isn't a problem for them because he is just the Face of the administration.
His 'czars' and advisors rule the country. And Pelosi, Waxman, Reid, et. al. do what they're told…
It is the California Liberals (sort of redundant) that you are referring to Quik. I was a Californian for 20 years and I lived on the east coast too. There were many professional straight-up business people along the way. Were. Believe me. When doing stints in financial public relations I told plenty of folk in NYC to go F___ themselves.
That being said. That was then. This is now. That 'giant sucking sound' is what was the greatest state in the union going down the drain.
[...] more: Big Government » Blog Archive » Politics California Style: Nancy … Comments [...]
I'll say it again. It's time to do some spring cleaning in Congress. We do not need these career politicians trying to railroad this nation. The very idea that they would intentionally lie to the people that elected them is insulting. They have no character and should never have been allowed to take office. The problem with that is that there is no mechanism to prevent these people from taking office aside from voting for their rivals who may or may not be any better than they are. We need a method of voting that provides an option to vote against one candidate without necessarily voting for another.
What?!? I didn't see anything in there about Texas!
I've been thinking of our economic problems, and California, an awful lot lately. I think I've come up with a solution to all of our problems, including the ones listed above: let's sell California to China.
I mean, think about it! The gross state product of California is around 1.85 trillion. A low price for the state, then, is three times cash flow (so $5.5 trillion). Add in the asset value (they have good real estate) for another what? $2 trillion, plus FF & F, and we could be looking at a good 9 or 10 trillion dollars, more than enough to settle our debt and have some extra for a big-screen TV.
The people of CA are as leftie as we have (except perhaps for Oregon and Mass.), so they'd love to live in a communist state. Furthermore, China would have a good base from which to export all of its stuff to WalMart. It's a win-win for everyone!
You are right.
Pelosi, Reid, Waxman, Dodd et al are shuckin' and jivin' saying "Yassah Boss, Yassah Boss"……………
They are pathetic.
Scott_Z loves obfuscation, he sings it's praises like a mother would sings a lullaby to a favorite child (Scotts mom just slapped us around, but it's how we would imagine it if our mom had not been a stripper and had loved us) Scott says we proressives must live by this rule, confusion is our friend, claim we never meant what we said, wrote or did, if people complain that it's gibberish we can just claim it's too intellectual for them to understand.
Sorry to go on like this, it's just that I am so lonely and scared, please does anyone know if a mans conscience can get a restraining order against it's self?
Please remember I am just his conscience (I know sic, but it was too long for the handle), I dont agree with anything he does, and he forces me to live in a dark and empty space between his ears, it's terrifying inside his head, there really should be some kind of law.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think Waxman could comfortably fit a plum in each nostril.
I picture this administration actually paying china to take it or giving it free to Mexico.
You hit the nail on the head. It's like Weekend at Bernie's where the corpse is propped up when they need him, but this corpse is breathing and grinning at the cameras. Obummer is the left's prop, their front man. He says what they tell him to say and does what they tell him to do. He craves power and wants to avail himself of all the perks. Then there's all those photo ops. What's a narcissist to do? Unfortunately, I think he may be a malignant narcissist and that makes him dangerous. He's been raised a radical from the cradle and that's all he knows. That, and working the system. He's been BS-ing his way thru life and politics for years. I think he's already bored with being president. He wants to shift this country all the way to the left and put it under the UN's jurisdiction. By apologizing for America everywhere he goes, he hopes to be universally liked and accepted, so that if he succeeds in turning our sovereignty over to the UN, he'll run as president of a one world government. To hell with the US. That's my take.
Waxman needs to get a nose job or something. I just don't see how CA can hang on for so long with idiots like these controlling the states. Yes, I know it's the voters fault. Here they are telling people to go green on everything, they don't do it.
Question: Why should we go green when they don't do it either?
Conflict of a different nature is on the minds of many Patriots. This snowball is gaining weight and velocity as we move toward the November 2010 turnover of Congress. The left knows they will be ousted by a tsunami of voters determined to remove them from Congress. Awareness of the sleight-of-hand legislative maneuvers are critical to the future of this country as we approach next November.
EXAMPLE: The Senate version of health care from Reid DOES fund abortions for welfare scum. Its buried in a "trust" provision in the legislation. Stupak's amendment has no teeth. It was circumvented. Just more of the same. Time is drawing near…..Congress. Be very aware we are watching you individually and very closely.
can't say you're far off base here…
it is pathetic. Almost as sad as the losers who still think this a 'centrist' administrtion…
Amen Brother!
He is the ugliest guy I've ever seen!!! Please stop using his photo!
http://www.eyeconshirts.com
Waxman looks like a rat…or a weasel.
I think he got some of that botox in his nose. As a practical joke someone filled his ZiCam bottle with the stuff.
The CA lunatics are more concerned with the well being of a mouse and fish than they are of the people of that state. And due to the punitive business environment in CA my sales tax returns are down 60% from 2 years ago. Other business owners in my area are also financially hemorrhaging. CA has become a socialist cesspit run by far leftwing malcontents. I will be leaving CA in the not to distant future.
Wake up america! this is a prime example why we need to clean house in Washington and not wait fotr elections to it. Pelosi and waxman fitted the last vote thru voter fraud and Acorn don't let them do it again. they are clearly not in politics to help America bu to line their own pockets. Wake up! these people are elitists and are stealing your rights and wasting your ,money and stealing the rest of your tax dollars. they hide how they raise money, they hide what they think-most of the time, they openly call for you to give up your rights while they keep voting more and moe perks for themselves. What's it going to take for you get with it. Does Obamas sercret police have to come and arrest you for not buy Pelsois health insurance at rediculus high rates? does having your child taken off the government run education camps have to happen before you say NO! have you a clue about the increase in taxes that takes place in less than a year from no to pay for the stimulas?
What about health care? they aren't just going to charge premiums they are going to tax the hell out you as well. then there's cap and trade where they will increas eyour electric cost by ten fold1 TEN FOLD! can you afford a thousand a month for electric? I can't! Want to drive your car-too bad- gas is going to be pushed to ten dollars a gallon because dictators in europe and other places charge the citizens too much for gas and our leaders think we should apy the same or more becasue we are rich! Wake Up America! these political *&^^^*&*&@#$ hacks in Washington are doing all they can to steal your American dream and your childrens futures. They want control over your whole life! Can you say communism?
Can you say YES SIR! cause you are about to be come a slave! do as they say or Gulags will be your next home! Stop Pelosis GULAGS and impeach her now! Wake Up America! by impeach i mean just kick her out and take everything she' stolen over the years from her and let her be on welfare for a while after she gets out of jail for being unamerican and failing to do her job in Washington which she took an oath to uphold the constitution. Only she has refused to follow the constitution. Wake Up AMerica before it's too late!
Ummmm… That's because he IS a weasel AND a rat… Best of both worlds !
Not to get nitpicky here, but, he looks like a bat.
Well, it's those 'hard working citizens' that keep re-electing her sorry Botox face back to Washington!
The pic of Pelosi and Waxman is yet more proof that Politics is Show Business for Ugly People.
Just sayin.
And has anyone else noticed how much Eric Holder looks like a Meerkat?
I defer to your rather apt description ! Well done….
Folks like to post that all Californian's or even most are left wingers. We aren't. Yes, there are big districts that are lefty but Congressional districts in this state have been rigged to keep the Dems in control and Sacramento has become the most left wing, incompetent bunch of Marxists in the country who blatantly look down on the voters as little more than serfs. Republicans had a chance to do something when Grey Davis was recalled and instead of the state Republican party standing behind someone with a solid record of doing the right thing, like say, Tom McLintock they put their support behind the Vaginator and the retarded electorate voted him in. If somehow the Republicans were to capture power (at the State level) I sincerely doubt any noticeable change would occur.
I have been out of work for nine months now and my industry (home building) is destroyed. I have never in my life collected unemployment and I find it loathsome. Time to move and re-train for another industry. I'm not sure though. Texas, Montana or Wyoming.
[...] Read the original: Big Government » Blog Archive » Politics California Style: Nancy … [...]
[...] is the original: Big Government » Blog Archive » Politics California Style: Nancy … By admin | category: style | tags: barack, barack-obama, brass-knuckles, chicago, [...]
They aren't ignorant of either; they are deliberately subverting the US Constitution by driving us into bankruptcy. Their actions border on sedition.
What concerns me most about everything going on is that if they don't stop, we WILL see lynchings of politicians in our own streets. They'll come canvasing for votes, and they'll get shot at.
And frankly, I'd probably be cheering the crowd on rather than standing looking on with abject horror, which is what I should be doing!
Nah, sell it to Texas.
Nancy your so hot
[...] Read the original: Big Government » Blog Archive » Politics California Style: Nancy … [...]
IF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES ON ITS CURRENT MARCH TOWARDS COMMUNISM — CAN OUR MILITARY DEFEND THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION BY USING FORCE AGAINST IT'S OWN COMMANDER IN CHIEF? Seeing that the current administration is not upholding the Constitution and what they were put in office to do.
Henry Waxman is living proof that aliens visited California in the past.
Just awful people… Wake up California.
AMERICA you are fucked……the picture above represents what the people of obama land want. I guess its every man for himself,there is no right and wrong in obamaland. or should i say husseinland,yea thats the ticket……
Gill,
For what it is worth, please do not come to Montana. Montana is not for the faint of heart. it is thirty below in the mild winters, and 100 degrees in the cool summers. The wind never stops blowing at gale force. There are range fires, and sand storms. There are hailstorms and floods and blizzards and locusts like the plague. Yhe water is bad, the people are foul and ill mannered and we never bathe. The place is overrun with badgers, and prarrie dogs and pack rats.
Please, do yourself a favor and don't come to Montana. As a Public Service Announcement, tell this to everyone you know. Montana is too far, too cold and too hostile a climate for you warm blooded Californio's. Wyoming isn't much better. You'd be better served to go to Texas.
Spread the word…………….
I am curious how you write that?
If I post shit or damn, it normally gets deleted by the site administrator. You must be related to someone…..
Hey Quik Hit -Here you go, from a bon-a-fide Californian – GO F_____ YOURSELF! Does that make you feel better? You are right… it made me feel better… dirty and trivial…. but certainly better than you!
Namaste.
: Henry Waxman such a great American statesman who ensured that Congress will be exempt from the heath care reform that the democrats are shoving down the throats of Americans You are the perfect example of a typical democrat waxmaggot and hopefully the voters of CA will rise up and terminate your ability to exempt yourself from the crap that you enforce upon others in the future.
How are gays and lesbians, in and of themselves, "sucking the state dry"? (Interesting choice of words, that…).
Not all of us pray at the altar of liberal causes or socialistic governments.
I just got flagged on another comment as having to be cleared by admin, and I have no idea why. I used words from the comment to which I replied, and got hit. T'is a mystery.
Congress has been exempting itself from the laws it passes down on the rest of us for more years than I can remember. They are, for example, exempt from the hiring quotas they inflict on the rest of the populace.
About California TV ban
Hey, are you guys in Free America or Bureaucratic Europe wannabees ?
All energy efficiency regulations are wrong
whether one is for or against environmental savings…
….with respect, Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot!
1. Taxation, while itself unjustified, is better for everyone, if energy really needs to be saved.
TV set taxation based on energy efficiency – unlike bans – gives Governor Schwarzenegger's impoverished California Government income on the reduced sales, while consumers keep choice.
This also applies generally,
to CARS (with emission tax or gas tax), BUILDINGS, DISHWASHERS, LIGHT BULBS etc,
where politicians instead keep trying to define what people can or can't use.
Politicians can use the tax money raised to fund home insulation schemes, renewable projects etc that lower energy use and emissions more than remaining product use raises them.
Also, the energy efficient products can have their sales taxes lowered.
2. Product regulation, bans or taxation, are however unwarranted:
Where there is a problem – deal with the problem!
Energy: there is no energy shortage
(given renewable/nuclear development possibilities, with set emission limits)
and consumers – not politicians – pay for energy and how they wish to use it.
It might sound great to
"Let everyone save money by only allowing energy efficient products"
However:
Inefficient products that use more energy can have performance, appearance and construction advantages
Examples (using cars, buildings, dishwashers, TV sets, light bulbs etc):
http://ceolas.net/#cc211x
For example, big plasma TV screens have image contrast and other advantages along with the bigger image sizes.
Products using more energy usually cost less, or they'd be more energy efficient already.
Depending on how much they are used, there might therefore not be any running cost savings either.
Other factors contribute to a lack of savings:
If households use less energy,
then utility companies make less money,
and will just raise electricity prices to cover their costs.
So people don't save as much money as they thought.
Conversely,
energy efficiency in effect means cheaper energy,
so people just leave TV sets etc on more, knowing that energy bills are lower,
as also shown by Scottish and Cambridge research
http://ceolas.net/#cc214x
Either way, supposed energy – or money – savings aren't there.
———————-
Why energy efficiency regulations are wrong,
whether you are for or against energy and emission conservation
http://ceolas.net/#cc2x
Summary
Politicians don't object to energy efficiency as it sounds too good to be true. It is.
–The Consumer Side
Product Performance — Construction and Appearance
Price Increase — Lack of Actual Savings: Money, Energy or Emissions. Choice and Quality affected
– The Manufacturer Side
Meeting Consumer Demand — Green Technology — Green Marketing
–The Energy Side
Energy Supply — Energy Security — Cars and Oil Dependence
–The Emission Side
Buildings — Industry — Power Stations — Light Bulbs
How does Waxman get his nostrils so big? A big cock for each side?
cowboy, maybe the admin. agrees with me or just lucky….point being we are FUBAR'D.( think they know that one)
Pelosi and Waxman confirms why California is the land of the "Fruits & Nuts"
is it just me, or is the group of US Congress representatives from California looking more and more like the cantina scene from Star Wars IV A New Hope?
The bigger the government the smaller the Liberty…
I've lived in California my whole life. How the above two continue to get elected, says more about those people who keep voting for them, than it says about Pelosi and Waxman. My God, these two political hacks have committed more outright improprieties, possibly outright crimes, while they have been in office than ten other politicians combined. I saw with my own eyes, how California went from the best state in the Union, the Golden State, to a shell, shadow of its former self, destroyed "root and branch.." Of course the Democrat and Republican RINO's that have ruined the State will still receive their fat pensions when they retire, for the "service" they have done for California. BARF!!