Nancy Pelosi: She's The Boss

The book is She's the Boss - The Disturbing Truth About Nancy Pelosi, and the author Rochelle Schweizer has done a fabulous job of documenting Pelosi, her origins, her objectives, her obsessions and more.  Schweizer tells us that Pelosi's father, "Big Tommy" D'Alesandro, Jr., ran his own well-oiled machine. The nut doesn't fall far from the tree...

She [Nancy] saw precinct party politics up close where the means to power was deal making, backroom bargains and, when necessary, strong-arm tactics and intimidation.  New York Times reporter David Firestone writes, "The ability to make merry while reaching for the jugular is an essential characteristic for politicians, and friends say Ms. Pelosi learned it from one of the classic political bosses and characters of an earlier era, Thomas J. D'Alesandro, Jr., a congressman, mayor of Baltimore and doler of favors for northeastern Maryland for 40 years."¹⁸

Exactly who was Nancy Pelosi's father "Big Tommy" D'Alesandro?  Schweizer tells us all about him in Chapter One.

Although there was never any direct evidence that Big Tommy was working directly with the Mob, that did not prevent speculation.  As Lee Bernstein puts it in his book The Greatest menace:  Organized Crime in Cold War America, "These postwar gangsters were in fact the ultimate organization men.  Racketeering, drug smuggling, prostitution, gambling, and the other crimes targeted by police and investigative agencies were transformed from the work of 'mobs' to 'organized' crime.  Among the most visible targets of suspicion were Frank Costello, Johnny Dio, Tony Provenzano, Jimmy Hoffa, Tommy D'Alesandro, Jr., William O'Dwyer, and countless others."¹⁰  [pg 11]

Explains a lot.  The description of "mob" politics may be more accurate than any of us thought.  Baltimore politics seems very similar to Chicago politics.  Perhaps another reason Pelosi seems so infatuated with Barack Obama.

In celebration of Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro's birth, a Baltimore newspaper headline declared:  "D'Alesandro Will Find New Boss in First Daughter."  The story went on to make another speculation:  "This little lady will soon be 'Queen' in her own right."¹  [pg 31]

... If Margaret Thatcher is the Iron Lady, Nancy Pelosi is the Titanium Queen"  [pg 6]

So where does the Titanium Queen stand today?

... A few months before she started pounding the gavel, she told Newsweek,"Two-thirds of the public have absolutely no idea who I am.  I see that as a strength."¹¹  But as her profile rose, her favorable ratings dropped.  The findings of a WSJ/NBC poll in September 2009 confirmed that only 27 percent of those polled had a "positive" view of Pelosi, while 55 percent viewed her "negatively."¹²  Furthermore, an October 2009 poll revealed that she had only a 34 percent approval rating in her home state of California.¹³  And astoundingly, the results of a CBS news poll taken before the House voted on the health-care reform bill in March 2010 showed that while more than half of those questioned didn't have an opinion of the Speaker, of those who did, her favorable rating came in at 11 percent, compared with an unfavorable rating of 37 percent.¹⁴  Yet she wields substantial power and has used her position to effect change through policies not representative of mainstream America. [pg 3]

She has legislated a government takeover of at least one-sixth of the economy, challenged the Catholic Church on abortion, circumvented the White House to meet with a Mid-east dictator, and claimed that her liberal agenda is part of a holy calling. [pg 7]

Daddy, "Big Tommy", and mob politics would be so proud.

I haven't taken you past Chapter One of She's the Boss. You still have 260 pages and notes which are chocked full of information.   The notes and references are exhaustive and make it easy for the reader to go directly to the source. 

I highly recommend this book to all as preparation for upcoming elections in November 2010 and November 2012.  Knowledge is power.  Knowledge of the enemy can lead to victory.

The author's last words asks "is the House that Nancy Pelosi built ready to collapse?"  We can only hope the answer to that question is "yes", but understanding Pelosi, where she came from, what she has done, how she has done it, will help to dethrone her and all who believe as she does.  

Buy this book, She's the Boss - The Disturbing Truth About Nancy Pelosi, today.

Comments

[R.J. Godlewski]

" Among the most visible targets of suspicion were ...Jimmy Hoffa...and countless others."

Ah, okay...

Deb, you know that my dad knew Jimmy Hoffa (well, at least he was once bailed out of jail by Hoffa ;o) ), and if all they had was "suspicion", it leaves you wondering about all those Islamic terrorists attacking us, don't it? ;o)

There used to be a time within our country when suspicion, apprehension, conviction, and justice could be carried out within the same work week...

R.J.