Regardless of all of the sickeningly flattering media protection of Nancy Pelosi’s retirement, one factor is evident: she was no Tip O’Neill.
Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, Massachusetts’ personal beloved former Democratic Home Speaker, was civil. Pelosi is mean-spirited and vindictive. She pushed Joe Biden out of the race and blamed Biden for the Democrats’ election loss.
O’Neill was a loyal Democrat however crossed the aisle to work with Republicans like Ronald Reagan. He put apart his political variations to get issues finished. Pelosi ripped up a replica of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech from the Home rostrum, in full view of the cameras, calling it a “manifesto of mistruths.”.
O’Neill might separate politics from private relations. Pelosi is incapable of that. She mentioned “30 p.c of Republican” voters would by no means help Democrats as a result of they have been racist or sexist or homophobic.
Pelosi enriched herself to turn into a multi-millionaire many occasions over whereas in workplace. Her and her husband’s web value are reported to be $230 million. O’Neill didn’t turn into wealthy in his public job, residing off his pension and a best-selling autobiography and some TV commercials after quitting.
The 85-year-old Pelosi clung to her job within the Home properly previous her time. O’Neill retired quietly to Cambridge in 1987 on the age of 74, saying it was “time to get out.” He died seven years later. Massachusetts officers ended up naming the Huge Dig tunnel going underneath downtown Boston for O’Neill as a result of he introduced residence the bacon.
Pelosi is regal and fully out of contact with common Individuals. O’Neill was an everyman, by no means forgetting his middle-class roots. He was an old-fashioned Massachusetts pol, reduce from the identical fabric as his pal U.S. Rep. Joe Moakley.
O’Neill coined the memorable phrase, “All politics is native.” Pelosi typically snapped at reporters, barking “Shut up” to at least one journalist. One other time she shouted to a reporter, “Am I talking English to you?”
Pelosi is now getting accolades for her profession as speaker, with the mainstream media like AP writing farewell kisses with traces like this:
“Pelosi stays a political powerhouse and performed a pivotal position with California’s redistricting effort, Prop 50, and the get together’s comeback on this month’s election. She maintains a strong schedule of public occasions and get together fundraising, and her introduced departure touches off a succession battle again residence and leaves open questions on who will fill her behind-the-scenes management position on the Capitol.”
The Pelosi tribute continued, “Final 12 months, she skilled a fall leading to a hip fracture throughout a whirlwind congressional go to to allies in Europe, however even nonetheless it showcased her grit: It was revealed she was rushed to a army hospital for surgical procedure — after the group picture, through which she’s seen smiling, poised on her trademark stiletto heels.”
That is the AP, which is meant to be non-partisan?
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, who used to work for Moakley of South Boston, known as Pelosi the “most consequential speaker in American historical past,” apparently forgetting about his beloved homestate brethren, Tip.
O’Neill did get into political spats with Republicans, together with Reagan, however was all the time keen to sit down down and speak after 6 p.m., generally with a drink.
The 2 powerhouses have been political opposites however grew to become pals and reduce offers. After Reagan’s assassination try, O’Neill was one of many first individuals to go to the wounded president within the hospital, in keeping with former Reagan aide Max Friedersdorf.
“The president nonetheless appeared groggy…with plenty of tubes and needles working out and in of his physique,” in keeping with Friedersdorf. “However when he noticed Tip he lit up and gave the speaker a giant smile, and mentioned, ‘Thanks for coming, Tip.’ Then holding one of many president’s arms, the speaker acquired down on his knees and mentioned he want to supply a prayer…then O’Neill kissed Reagan on the brow.”
It’s exhausting to think about an analogous scene in as we speak’s poisonous Washington setting through which Pelosi lives.
Essentially the most “consequential speaker in American historical past?” What a joke.
