Wednesday Nancy Pelosi was at Semafor to promote her new book, The Art of Power: My Story as America's First Woman Speaker of the House (free copies were distributed to attendees) and to answer questions from Semafor's politics reporter, Kadia Goba.
Pelosi said she had just come from a leadership meeting to discuss the Jimmy Lai sad situation in China.(Editor's note: On the news later, Lai's son said that the Chinese had held his dad in solitary confinement for more than three years. Jimmy Lai, 76, is a diabetic.)
At the beginning of her talk (to the swooning crowd), Pelosi said, "I think that’s it’s really important for us to show that most of this language that is provoking violence is coming from a very extreme place in our country." (Springfield did not come up during her talk.)
"We try to find common ground in a democracy which you do non-violently." She mentioned the assault on her husband, Paul, in their home in San Francisco in 2022, turning to the audience and asking to "imagine someone coming into your home, going into your bedroom" before an attack.
"How disrespectful they were about the assault on my husband," she said, speaking of opposition leaders. "What it does to your children."
She thought the Republican party would try to "lower the temperature" of violent talk and mentioned Charlottesville where one person was killed. "The president of the United States would not condemn those actions."
Goba said since "everybody" expects the Republicans to take the Senate, what does Pelosi think?
"Well," Pelosi smiled and turned to the audience who applauded: "Not everybody," she said slowly.
"I speak without any authority because I am not in the Senate," said Pelosi. "You’ll have to ask them about prospects. I am more optimistic than 'everybody thinks we’re going to lose.' I don’t say that. No.”
January 6 was a topic Goba refused to abandon, bringing it up several times. Pelosi noted that more than 100 Capitol Hill police were injured. Trump did not seek National Guard help (despite his recent statements to the contrary).
California has 52 representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives of whom 40 are Democrats and Pelosi is working to elect more. She represents San Francisco.
"Whatever happens in this election, we must accept the results. It’s one reason why Hakeem Jeffries [present U.S. House minority leader] must have that gavel on January 6. If I didn’t have the gavel on January 6, who knows what would have happened?
"Everything is at risk in this election," she said. People are concerned about jobs," and everyday issues. "What does your candidate mean to me?" voters ask.
For some reason, moderator Goba seemed stuck on Pelosi's relationship with Kamala Harris and asked the former speaker repeatedly about how close they are. (What does it matter?)
"I speak without any authority because I am not in the Senate," said Pelosi. "You’ll have to ask them about prospects. I am more optimistic than 'everybody thinks we’re going to lose.' I don’t say that. No.”
January 6 was a topic Goba refused to abandon, bringing it up several times. Pelosi noted that more than 100 Capitol Hill police were injured. Trump did not seek National Guard help (despite his recent statements to the contrary).
California has 52 representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives of whom 40 are Democrats and Pelosi is working to elect more. She represents San Francisco.
"Whatever happens in this election, we must accept the results. It’s one reason why Hakeem Jeffries [present U.S. House minority leader] must have that gavel on January 6. If I didn’t have the gavel on January 6, who knows what would have happened?
"Everything is at risk in this election," she said. People are concerned about jobs," and everyday issues. "What does your candidate mean to me?" voters ask.
For some reason, moderator Goba seemed stuck on Pelosi's relationship with Kamala Harris and asked the former speaker repeatedly about how close they are. (What does it matter?)
Pelosi said she knew Harris officially, not personally, Pelosi praising Harris and Harris's "eloquence" conveying ideas and policy.
What happened to the open primary Pelosi promoted? Goba wanted to know.
"Yes, people could have jumped in," Pelosi said, "and some people were sort of preparing [to do that] but she [Harris] took off with it. Actually, it was a blessing because there's not that much time between then and the election. It wasn't that we didn't have an primary. It's just that [to loud applause] nobody else got in.
"The president endorsed her [Harris] and that’s a big deal because Joe Biden is the most consequential president of modern times. He’s accomplished so much more. Even Barack Obama in his eight years in service would admit [what Joe Biden has done] in this short period of time."
What happened to the open primary Pelosi promoted? Goba wanted to know.
"Yes, people could have jumped in," Pelosi said, "and some people were sort of preparing [to do that] but she [Harris] took off with it. Actually, it was a blessing because there's not that much time between then and the election. It wasn't that we didn't have an primary. It's just that [to loud applause] nobody else got in.
"The president endorsed her [Harris] and that’s a big deal because Joe Biden is the most consequential president of modern times. He’s accomplished so much more. Even Barack Obama in his eight years in service would admit [what Joe Biden has done] in this short period of time."
She said it was not only legislation Biden has achieved, but executive actions "and how you get things done."
Biden knows the job from being vice president, Pelosi said.
Back to January 6 again: "He [Trump] had the right to go to court. Every court turned him down. He just didn't have a case."
"Nobody," she emphasized the word, "ever expected that the president of the United States would incite an insurrection that would send people to do violence....It was not just any old day.
"We're talking serious stuff here. Elections are about the future."
Switching to a topic of eating preferences, who knew Peolosi was crazy about hot dogs? Yes, she is!
"I had one for lunch today. I have one almost every day and chocolate ice cream (very dark chocolate, she paused and whispered the words a few seconds later) for breakfast."
But she does not want her grandchildren to practice what grandma does! Nor should anybody, for that matter, she cautioned.
"Growing up in Baltimore in an Italian neighborhood, food was very important to us."
She was told she should not write a book now since it would exclude so much of what is happening (Trump and the attack on her husband) and the former speaker said she'll just have to write another book.
"Growing up in Baltimore in an Italian neighborhood, food was very important to us."
She was told she should not write a book now since it would exclude so much of what is happening (Trump and the attack on her husband) and the former speaker said she'll just have to write another book.
For those who disagree with her content : "Write your own book" (to audience laughter).
She emphasized that "recreate" and "recreate" are the same words, but we all need to "take a time off to re-create" which "I hardly ever do" but she recommends it to others.
Pelosi ended her talk with lines from the Star-Spangled Banner composed by Francis Scott Key in the Baltimore harbor in 1814.
She emphasized that "recreate" and "recreate" are the same words, but we all need to "take a time off to re-create" which "I hardly ever do" but she recommends it to others.
Pelosi ended her talk with lines from the Star-Spangled Banner composed by Francis Scott Key in the Baltimore harbor in 1814.
There was "proof through the night that our flag was still there," adding "with liberty and justice for all, whatever the results of the election are, we will be for a peaceful transfer." She left the stage to a standing ovation. About 150 attended.
patricialesli@gmail.com
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