http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090709/ap_on_go_co/us_pelosi_michael_jackson
QuotePelosi: Resolution on Michael Jackson unnecessary
WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shut the door Thursday to a resolution honoring Michael Jackson because debate on the symbolic measure could raise "contrary views" about the pop star's life.
Lawmakers are free to use House speeches "to express their sympathy or their praise any time that they wish," said Pelosi, D-Calif. "I don't think it's necessary for us to have a resolution."
A resolution sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, cites some of the singer's charitable acts and proclaims him an American legend, musical icon and world humanitarian.
Even before Pelosi's comments, some Democrats said privately they did not support the resolution and a divisive debate would hurt House efforts to muster the votes for priorities such as health care and climate change.
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who posted a video on YouTube calling Michael Jackson a "pervert" and a "pedophile," has pledged to do all he could to block the resolution.
Michael Jackson was acquitted in 2005 of charges that he molested a 13-year-old boy. Those allegations, and his admission that children slept in his bed at his home but nothing sexual occurred, have led some members of Congress to put distance between themselves and any formal honor for the entertainer.
"A resolution, I think, would open up to contrary views to — that are not necessary at this time to be expressed in association with a resolution whose purpose is quite different," Pelosi said at a Capitol Hill news conference where she discussed various legislative matters.
When members of the Congressional Black Caucus held a moment of silence in the House after Jackson died June 25, some lawmakers walked out of the chamber.
Jackson Lee has pledged that the resolution, now before the House Foreign Affairs Committee where she is a member, would come to the full House for debate. Such honorary measures normally move quickly from committee to the full House and pass on a voice vote.
But Jackson Lee's resolution, introduced June 26, was in trouble early. It drew only one co-sponsor, Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif., and was not endorsed by other black caucus members.
From the stage at Jackson's memorial Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Jackson Lee hoisted a framed copy of the resolution.
Telephone and e-mail messages left for her spokesman Thursday were not immediately returned.
:huh: why would there need to be a resolution on MJ? I think it's retarded for him to be brought up by lawmakers? waste of taxpayers' time & money there.
Quote from: BuddhaRhubarb on July 09, 2009, 12:22:20 PM
:huh: why would there need to be a resolution on MJ? I think it's retarded for him to be brought up by lawmakers? waste of taxpayers' time & money there.
I've no idea. :lol:
I'm not in the habit of agreeing with Nancy Pelosi, but I think she's in the right this time.
Quote from: BuddhaRhubarb on July 09, 2009, 12:22:20 PM
:huh: why would there need to be a resolution on MJ? I think it's retarded for him to be brought up by lawmakers? waste of taxpayers' time & money there.
This was already covered anyway, from back when President Reagan instructed MJ to "give some TLC to the PYTs."
Anywho, rare smart move by Nan-Nan.
My respect for Nancy Pelosi (on a scale of 0-10) has jumped from 1 to 2.
There was a story on this at salon.com yesterday concerning the difficult position a vote would put democrats in conservative districts in. Nancy may be taking one for the team on this. Btw, our government is broken.
Quote from: alfred russel on July 09, 2009, 01:55:15 PM
There was a story on this at salon.com yesterday concerning the difficult position a vote would put democrats in conservative districts in. Nancy may be taking one for the team on this. Btw, our government is broken.
How do we fix it? Do we make Ed a new American Sulla?
Quote from: Valmy on July 09, 2009, 01:56:18 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 09, 2009, 01:55:15 PM
There was a story on this at salon.com yesterday concerning the difficult position a vote would put democrats in conservative districts in. Nancy may be taking one for the team on this. Btw, our government is broken.
How do we fix it? Do make Ed a new American Sulla?
Would that make Neil the new Canadian Marius?
Quote from: Valmy on July 09, 2009, 01:56:18 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 09, 2009, 01:55:15 PM
There was a story on this at salon.com yesterday concerning the difficult position a vote would put democrats in conservative districts in. Nancy may be taking one for the team on this. Btw, our government is broken.
How do we fix it? Do we make Ed a new American Sulla?
I don't think someone from HR is the answer, his major reform will probably be extra "respect at work" training.
Nancy is RACIDISTIC :mad:
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on July 09, 2009, 01:58:11 PM
Quote from: Valmy on July 09, 2009, 01:56:18 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 09, 2009, 01:55:15 PM
There was a story on this at salon.com yesterday concerning the difficult position a vote would put democrats in conservative districts in. Nancy may be taking one for the team on this. Btw, our government is broken.
How do we fix it? Do make Ed a new American Sulla?
Would that make Neil the new Canadian Marius?
Who gets to be Caligula? :menace:
Quote from: Malthus on July 09, 2009, 02:19:47 PM
Who gets to be Caligula? :menace:
That can only happen once the Canadian Octavian makes Canada an Empire.
Quote from: Viking on July 09, 2009, 01:47:42 PM
My respect for Nancy Pelosi (on a scale of 0-10) has jumped from 1 to 2.
Really? My respect is at like 1x10^-10 and perhaps might slide to 1x10^-9 over this, but unlikely.
Quote from: Valmy on July 09, 2009, 01:56:18 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on July 09, 2009, 01:55:15 PM
There was a story on this at salon.com yesterday concerning the difficult position a vote would put democrats in conservative districts in. Nancy may be taking one for the team on this. Btw, our government is broken.
How do we fix it? Do we make Ed a new American Sulla?
I have lists ready.
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 09, 2009, 02:39:36 PM
I have lists ready.
[jaron]Am I on the list ?[/jaron]
I never thought I would consider any action by Pelosi sensible.
But I applaud this. Much better than MS democrats, who passed HR 8 in the special session convened for the sole purpose of passing a state budget by Midnight, June 30.
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/20092E/pdf/HR/HR0008PS.pdf
Quote from: garbon on July 09, 2009, 02:33:17 PM
Really? My respect is at like 1x10^-10 and perhaps might slide to 1x10^-9 over this, but unlikely.
Same here, only slightly less unlikely.
When I heard about this while watching the memorial the other day I was like :mellow: and I yelled "Nigga, are you crazy?!" at my tv screen. <_<
Quote from: Valmy on July 09, 2009, 01:56:18 PM
How do we fix it? Do we make Ed a new American Sulla?
As a tribune of the plebs I say: VETO.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 09, 2009, 06:19:53 PM
Quote from: Valmy on July 09, 2009, 01:56:18 PM
How do we fix it? Do we make Ed a new American Sulla?
As a tribune of the plebs I say: VETO.
Remember the Gracchi.
Quote from: Jaron on July 09, 2009, 05:37:18 PM
When I heard about this while watching the memorial the other day I was like :mellow: and I yelled "Nigga, are you crazy?!" at my tv screen. <_<
Racist.
Quote from: derspiess on July 09, 2009, 08:54:09 PM
Quote from: Jaron on July 09, 2009, 05:37:18 PM
When I heard about this while watching the memorial the other day I was like :mellow: and I yelled "Nigga, are you crazy?!" at my tv screen. <_<
Racist.
You can't be racist if you're not white. It doesn't work that way.
This thread delivers :lol:
Quote from: BuddhaRhubarb on July 09, 2009, 12:22:20 PM
:huh: why would there need to be a resolution on MJ? I think it's retarded for him to be brought up by lawmakers? waste of taxpayers' time & money there.
These things are rather common in the House. If you watch CSPAN enough you'll see them make resolutions to recognize achievements of a local sports teams, notable community members passing, etc...
Quote from: Jaron on July 09, 2009, 10:24:26 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 09, 2009, 08:54:09 PM
Quote from: Jaron on July 09, 2009, 05:37:18 PM
When I heard about this while watching the memorial the other day I was like :mellow: and I yelled "Nigga, are you crazy?!" at my tv screen. <_<
Racist.
You can't be racist if you're not white. It doesn't work that way.
:yes:
Remember when Jesse Jackson called New York "Hymietown"? Not a raciss :)
Quote from: Fate on July 10, 2009, 07:19:42 AM
These things are rather common in the House. If you watch CSPAN enough you'll see them make resolutions to recognize achievements of a local sports teams, notable community members passing, etc...
Which doesn't mean they're not stupid and a waste of taxpayer time. Honestly, that stuff needs to stay at the municipal level, maybe an exception for people holding high federal offices.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on July 10, 2009, 07:41:12 AM
Quote from: Fate on July 10, 2009, 07:19:42 AM
These things are rather common in the House. If you watch CSPAN enough you'll see them make resolutions to recognize achievements of a local sports teams, notable community members passing, etc...
Which doesn't mean they're not stupid and a waste of taxpayer time. Honestly, that stuff needs to stay at the municipal level, maybe an exception for people holding high federal offices.
Who actually thinks taxpayer's time is valuable? There's more than enough of it that a Congress critter can take five minutes to give a short explanation on the floor of why they're presenting X for a resolution and have the handful of members present vote aye. These things don't take up a lot of time, especially given that it's usually done en masse.
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 09, 2009, 06:24:16 PM
Remember the Gracchi.
So who did you like best? Tiberius or Gaius?
Quote from: Valmy on July 10, 2009, 09:22:07 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 09, 2009, 06:24:16 PM
Remember the Gracchi.
So who did you like best? Tiberius or Gaius?
Neither. They both got what they deserved.
Quote from: Scipio on July 09, 2009, 03:06:06 PM
I never thought I would consider any action by Pelosi sensible.
But I applaud this. Much better than MS democrats, who passed HR 8 in the special session convened for the sole purpose of passing a state budget by Midnight, June 30.
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/20092E/pdf/HR/HR0008PS.pdf
Pelosi did him a favor. This thing was just going to be a platform for people to cry pedophile on the floor of the house.