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Liberal legal scholar Jonathan Turley: "Nancy Pelosi should resign."


His article doesn't mention this but I'll add that when Pelosi tore up that speech and lied by claiming there wasn't a single true page in it, she was tearing up and attacking those featured in the speech who had sacrificed their lives, along with their grieving loved ones, great stories like the 100 year old Tuskagee Airman vet and his great grandson who dreams of joining the Space Force, various heroes rightly honored, and the prematurely born baby who has fought her way to health.

She did that when those people were still in the chamber. Nancy Pelosi was petty and despicable.

https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/481598-nancy-pelosi-should-resign

Some excerpts:

"The House has its share of infamies, great and small, real and symbolic, and has been the scene of personal infamies from brawls to canings. But the conduct of Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the State of the Union address this week will go down as a day of infamy for the chamber as an institution. While it has long been a tradition for House speakers to remain stoic and neutral in listening to the address, Pelosi appeared intent on mocking President Trump from behind his back with sophomoric facial grimaces and head shaking, culminating in her ripping up a copy of his address.

Her drop the mic moment will have a lasting impact on the House. While many will celebrate her trolling of the president, she tore up something far more important than a speech. Pelosi has shredded decades of tradition, decorum, and civility that the nation could use now more than ever. The House speaker is more than a political partisan, particularly when carrying out functions such as the State of the Union address. A president appears in the House as a guest of both chambers of Congress. The House speaker represents not her party or herself but the entirety of the chamber. At that moment, she must transcend her own political ambitions and loyalties....

What followed was an utter disgrace. First, Pelosi dropped the traditional greeting before the start of the address, “Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the president of the United States.” Instead, she simply announced, “Members of Congress, the president of the United States.” It was extremely petty and profoundly inappropriate. Putting aside the fact that this is not her tradition, but that of the House, it is no excuse to note that the president was impeached.

Such an indignity was not imposed on President Clinton during his own impeachment proceeding, and anyone respecting due process would note that Trump has been accused, not convicted, at this point in the constitutional process. Pelosi proceeded to repeatedly shake her head, mouth words to others, and visibly disagree with the address. It was like some distempered distracting performance art behind the president.

My revulsion over this has nothing to do with impeachment. Six years ago, I wrote a column denouncing Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito for mouthing the words “not true” when President Obama used his address to criticize the court for its decision in the Citizens United case...

I also wrote a column denouncing Republican Representative Joe Wilson, who shouted “you lie!” at Obama during his State of the Union address in 2009. Wilson should have been severely sanctioned for that breach. When I wrote those columns, I had never imagined that a House speaker would engage in conduct far in excess of those controversies...

Pelosi, like her predecessors, is supposed to remain stone faced during the address even if the president leaves her personally enraged. Indeed, House speakers have been the authority who kept other members in silent deference and respect, if not to the president, then to the office. However, Pelosi seemed to goad the mob, like a high schooler making mad little faces behind the school principal at an assembly. It worked as members protested and interrupted Trump. Pelosi became another Democratic leader, little more than a twitching embodiment of our age of rage...

Pelosi has demolished decades of tradition with this poorly considered moment. Of course, many will celebrate her conduct and be thrilled by the insult to Trump. However, even those of us who disagree with his policies should consider what Pelosi destroyed in her moment of rage. She shredded the pretense of governing with civility and dignity in the House. Notably, she did not wait to rip up her copy of the speech until after she left the House floor. She wanted to do it in front of the cameras, at the end of the address and with the president still in the chamber.

That act was more important to Pelosi than preserving the tradition of her office. In doing so, she forfeited the right to occupy that office. If Pelosi cannot maintain the dignity and neutrality of her office at the State of the Union, she should resign as the speaker of the House of Representatives."




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Those are facts and they are true. I think she meant from Trump's POV it was emotionally false because he doesn't believe in anything. I disagree with her tearing up the speech it looked bad.

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Her despicable antics say more about her than Trump.

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I guess all that talk good Catholic Nancy said about not having hate in heart for anyone and being prayerful for the president were lies.

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Catholics hate people too.

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Yes, but those were her own words that she's a good Catholic with no hate in her heart for anyone.

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I know just saying she doesn't speak for all Caths. Nor do any politicians on any side for any subject really. The whole system is effed.

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I'm not sure which does more to prove her a liar, happily passing out commemorative impeachment pens or her petty, juvenile antics last night.

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Okay, I get it. When Trump acts like a child you support him no matter what but when Pelosi acts like a child you want her to resign. Trump supporter logic.

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You're saying Trump is as bad as Pelosi? That's harsh. He certainly wasn't last night.

Remember, Pelosi disrespected everyone there, not just Trump.

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Trump disrespects good people everyday and you're okay with that but if someone else disrespects Trump then you get all upset. More Trump supporter logic. You Trump supporters are such hipocrates.

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Did you even read what I just posted? Pelosi didn't just disrespect Trump, but the featured guests there: honored heroes, children, and grieving loved ones. They were still in the chamber when Pelosi tore through their names and stories and wrongly dismissed it all as untrue. She also disrespected Congress, tradition, and the American people.

And for the record I don't see Trump disrespecting "good people everyday". He mostly counterpunches against politicians or celebrities who attack him first.

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OK, I get it. When Pelosi acts like a child you support her no matter what but when Trump acts like a child it is the end of the world.
Typical Dem supporter logic.

It's so tacky on both sides - they all need to stop it.

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