Ladies and Gentlemen Meet Mrs. PELOSI

[Carol&Marc 0]

"...Nancy Pelosi has made supporting labor unions a cornerstone of her public career. Yet the vineyards and hotels that comprise her $35 million fortune have one thing in common: they don't use union labor I have another section I like to call, “Workers of the World Unite Somewhere Else.”

"This is where we find Nancy Pelosi—Democrat leader in the House, the best friend of labor unions you can imagine. She says that labor unions are vital to negotiating good wages and working conditions. She won the Cesar Chavez award from the United Farmworkers Union in 2003. Remember that, the United Farmworkers Union.

"She is the top recipient of PAC contributions from the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union.

"What’s interesting about that is, there were several strikes a few years ago in San Francisco, where she came down strongly on the side of the hotel employees and restaurant employees union and campaigned aggressively for them against other hotels. Of course she is the most reliable vote in Congress for organized labor.

"What’s interesting about Nancy Pelosi is that she and her husband not only are very influential in the Democrat Party, they’re very wealthy. With Nancy Pelosi, her commitment to organized labor essentially ends when it comes to her own businesses.

"Nancy Pelosi and her husband own a Napa Valley vineyard that’s worth about $25 million. They grow very expensive grapes for very expensive wines, and they don’t use members of the United Farm Workers to pick their grapes. This winner of the Cesar Chavez award hires only hire non-union contractors.

"There are plenty of union contractors in Napa Valley and there are other wineries that use them, its’ just that the Pelosis don’t have happen to among them. They also sell their grapes to non-union wineries.

Schweizer continued: "[They have two other wine businesses also strictly non-union]."

"But it gets even worse than that. Nancy Pelosi and her husband also own a chain of restaurants and a hotel in Napa Valley, California. Despite her public commitment to the Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Union, you better not join that union and work for the Pelosis, because you will end up getting fired.

"For example, they are partners in a hotel with 250 employees, which is strictly non-union. They are among the very few owners of Piati, a chain of Italian restaurants with 900 employees. Again, if you try to join the union when you work for the Pelosis in their restaurant, you will be fired.

"One other issue for Nancy Pelosi. I hate to pick on her, but it’s just so inviting. As they say in the military, it’s a target-rich environment. With Nancy Pelosi, another big issue is the environment.

"She always makes statements that, with us, the environment is not an issue, it’s an ethic, it’s a value. Which is a nice way of saying, “I love the environment, but not when it comes to our own businesses.”

"A lot of people don’t realize that, in 1996, Nancy Pelosi and her husband and fewer than 10 other partners wanted to build a golf course and country club outside of San Jose, California, called the CordeValle Country Club.

"In order to get approval to build on these 275 acres, they had to comply with some very stringent county environmental regulations. Now the California tiger salamander and the Western pond turtle are apparently endangered species and they’re very, very common on these 275 acres that the Pelosis wanted to develop.

So the agreement they struck with local regulators was, we’ll build the golf course, we’ll set up some holding ponds and we’ll create a natural habitat to make sure that these environmental endangered species survive.

Of course, they built the golf course. It opened in 2000. If you want to join, the membership is $250,000. But they never followed the environmental regulations.

"The ponds were never built for these endangered species. For seven years, they also failed to file any of the environmental reports required by the California Fish and Wildlife Commission.

"A 2004 County Environmental Compliance Report found all kinds of environmental problems on the Pelosis’ golf course.

Remember with Nancy Pelosi, her commitment to the environment is not just an issue, it’s an ethic and a value.

"What does that actually mean in practical terms? Did they turn around and build this habitat and comply? No, they solved the problem the old-fashioned way: they hired lobbyists and they got the environmental regulations changed.

"So if you go to the CordeValle Country Club today and play golf, it’s a wonderful course, but there will be no holding ponds. There will be no endangered species and the Pelosis seem to be quite happy with that."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1725001/posts

[Heracles 417]

How interesting is that...

I thought to myself, why are democrats so keen on pushing a minimum wage increase yet totally avoiding dealing with the real issue of illegal immigration. Then it just hit me. Once the minimum wage is increased many businesses like hers will naturally look for cheaper labor elsewhere. Hmm where is this labor going to come from. Yep you guessed it. It will come from the apparent work 'Americans don't want to do'.

In essence all this move does is makes the Democrats look like the good guys for increasing the minimum wage. Yet in 'reality' people like Pelosi benefit from the cheap 'guest worker' labor, while the 40,000,000 Americans living in poverty become poorer..

I am all for a minimum wage increase but this needs to be done hand in hand with tough penalties for businesses hiring illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants who are 'taking' away jobs from Americans..

Edited November 17, 2006 by Infidel

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

Oooh I can play this game too!

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0122-03.htm

Bush Administration OKs Expanded Oil Drilling in Alaska

by H. Josef Hebert

WASHINGTON - Citing a need for domestic energy, the government plans to open for exploratory drilling thousands of acres on Alaska's North Slope that have been protected for decades because of migratory birds and caribou.

The Bureau of Land Management has concluded that oil and gas exploration in the northeastern corner of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska can be conducted with "minimal impact" on the area's wildlife.

While most of the 22 million-acre reserve is open to oil development, its lake-pocked northeastern corner has been fenced off, dating back to the Reagan administration, because of environmental concerns. That area also is viewed as having the highest oil and gas potential within the reserve.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton is expected to sign off on the BLM's recommendation next week, said a department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because a final action has not been announced.

The NPRA, which was created in 1923 specifically to have access to oil if needed, is not to be confused with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge farther to the east, which has been the focus of intense debate in Congress over oil development.

The Fish and Wildlife Service, which like the BLM is part of the Interior Department, has said the area around Lake Teshekpuk in the northeast corner of the NPRA is among the most important molting areas in the entire Arctic for wild geese. It is also used for calving and insect relief by herds of caribou.

The BLM, however, has concluded that more than 400,000 acres surrounding Lake Teshekpuk should be opened for exploratory drilling with restrictions. The government estimates the area contains about 2 billion barrels of economically recoverable oil and 3.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Henri Bisson, the BLM's Alaska director, outlined the planned action in a speech posted Friday on the agency's Web site, predicting the decision will prompt strong criticism from environmental activists and a likely lawsuit.

"I have been told flat out ... to expect an all out fight to the finish to keep this from happening," said Bisson in the speech, given earlier this week to a business group in Anchorage.

The Anchorage Daily News reported on Bisson's speech Friday.

Bisson called the decision to open the northeastern corner "one of the most difficult projects that we have attempted yet at BLM" but said the reason was simple: "The country needs access to its oil and gas resources and this area is a petroleum reserve."

A broad section of environmentalists and conservationists, from the Wilderness Society to Ducks Unlimited, have urged continued protection of the lake region, noting that almost all of the NPRA already is available to oil companies.

"You do need to have oil and gas development in the NPRA, but not on every single acre," said Eleanor Huffins of the Wilderness Society in Alaska. She said environmentalists have little confidence that the government restrictions will be protective.

"When industry asks for exemptions they give it to them," she said in a telephone interview from Anchorage.

Bisson said the development plan would identify seven lease tracts, of 46,000 to 59,000 acres each, north of Teshekpuk Lake, including 217,000 acres of key habitat for waterfowl. Exploratory leases also will be made available for 157,000 acres east and south of the lake, the area used by caribou.

He said ice roads, graveled drilling pads and other facilities would be limited to 300 acres, excluding pipelines, and exploration would be restricted to winter months, resulting "in minimal impact to the wildlife resources that live in this area."

However, if oil is found — as it widely expected — year-round production will follow, environmentalists said.

Most of the federal petroleum reserve was opened for oil drilling during the Clinton administration, although then-Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt fenced off 840,000 acres, including the area around Lake Teshekpuk. Norton expanded drilling in the reserve last year, but also left the northeastern section alone.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/overview.asp

[Heracles 417]

Is it not Democrats who say we are for the poor, for the unions, for the people?

Its a bit hypocritical to say that when you are worth over $35 million.. or John Kerry who is worth nearly $600 million or those poor Hollywood actors who make $20 million a film..

Or Michael Moore who stands up against corporations. I am sure he has donated over 90% of his fortune to other poor people in Flint Michigan..

What was I thinking, they know exactly how it feels to be poor..

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Is it not Democrats who say we are for the poor, for the unions, for the people?

Its a bit hypocritical to say that when you are worth over $35 million.. or John Kerry who is worth nearly $600 million or those poor Hollywood actors who make $20 million a film..

Or Michael Moore who stands up against corporations. I am sure he has donated over 90% of his fortune to other poor people in Flint Michigan..

What was I thinking, they know exactly how it feels to be poor..

Are you saying someone can't be rich and also be in support of social welfare and unions?

[Heracles 417]

Are you saying someone can't be rich and also be in support of social welfare and unions?

What I am saying is that it is hypocritical to accuse republicans of being money oriented while just as many democrats are well off. Ironically the wealthiest people live in blue states..

If I was a republican leader I would change strategy and dramatically increase tax. Much like Australia's tax system. After all I remember seeing a link of yours from the UN stating how Australia was the 3rd best country in the world to live in..

Australian Income Tax Rate

* Income from $0 – $4,500, tax bracket is Nil

* Income from $4,501 – $15,750, tax bracket is 15%

* Income from$15,751 - $47,250, tax bracket is 30%

* Income from$45,251 – $71,250, tax bracket is 42%

* Income over $71,250, tax bracket is 47%

Plus a 10% federal GST, VAT TAX on all goods and services sold.. So all of those expensive toys these 'humanitarians' in the blue states buy, you guessed it, will have a 10% federal tax..

Such a tax would greatly improve the living standards of poor Americans. Free health care etc

What I like best about it is that all of these so-called humanitarians living in the Blue states would be hit the hardest due to their higher salaries..

Edited November 17, 2006 by Infidel

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Are you saying someone can't be rich and also be in support of social welfare and unions?

What I am saying is that it is hypocritical to accuse republicans of being money oriented while just as many democrats are well off. Ironically the wealthiest people live in blue states..

Wait...What??? Can you be specific? ...you know, like, Congressman so-and-so said, "quote whatever you're claiming they've said." It's hard to defend or reply when you make generalities.

[Heracles 417]

Wait...What??? Can you be specific? ...you know, like, Congressman so-and-so said, "quote whatever you're claiming they've said." It's hard to defend or reply when you make generalities.

Dude is that all you do, link about 100 articles a day but rarely discuss your own opinion. "I" not a congressperson am saying how she supports minimum wage increases but is against union labor, ie eg the original post about Pelosi. Which is hypocritical and shows that her 'for the people' image is just a front.

What do you have to say about my suggested tax increase to help fund social services?

Edited November 17, 2006 by Infidel

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Wait...What??? Can you be specific? ...you know, like, Congressman so-and-so said, "quote whatever you're claiming they've said." It's hard to defend or reply when you make generalities.

Dude is that all you do, link about 100 articles a day but rarely discuss your own opinion. "I" not a congressman/woman am saying based on what I see and read, ie eg the original post about Pelosi, how she supports minimum wage increases but is against union labor. Which is hypocritical and shows that her 'for the people' image is just a front.

What do you have to say about my suggested tax increase to help fund social services?

I'm trying to find a legitimate source that really delves into her family fortune. What exactly does she own and operate? Do you know? Do you know whether she is actively involved in the business decisions? Do you know if the employee's at the businesses she owns ever tried to unionize? What do they say about her? Without knowing those questions, this is just blowing smoke.

[cmartyn 0]

They are a bunch of sleazy hypocritical arsewipes.

People voted against Bush, not for these loons and crooks.

Systems broken, you aint going to fix it by arguing these two parties back and forth. They both suck wind.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

They are a bunch of sleazy hypocritical arsewipes.

People voted against Bush, not for these loons and crooks.

Systems broken, you aint going to fix it by arguing these two parties back and forth. They both suck wind.

There's a lot of back slapping in Washington, that's for sure, but I wouldn't be so cynical.

We need to be sure we're getting the truth here...this article doesn't seem to jive exactly with this from Wikipedia...

The Pelosi family has a net worth of over $25 million, mainly from Paul Pelosi's investments. Besides a large portfolio of jointly owned San Francisco Bay Area real estate, he also has millions of dollars worth of shares in publicly traded companies such as Microsoft, Amazon.com and AT&T.[4] In 2003, the Pelosi family sold their 8 acre Rutherford vineyard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Pelosi

To suggest she has much say over those companies her husband invested in is a bit of stretch, don't you think?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Are you saying someone can't be rich and also be in support of social welfare and unions?

What I am saying is that it is hypocritical to accuse republicans of being money oriented while just as many democrats are well off. Ironically the wealthiest people live in blue states..

Wake me up when the fantastically rich aren't the only ones running for election. Not really news is it...?

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Are you saying someone can't be rich and also be in support of social welfare and unions?

What I am saying is that it is hypocritical to accuse republicans of being money oriented while just as many democrats are well off. Ironically the wealthiest people live in blue states..

If I was a republican leader I would change strategy and dramatically increase tax. Much like Australia's tax system. After all I remember seeing a link of yours from the UN stating how Australia was the 3rd best country in the world to live in..

Australian Income Tax Rate

* Income from $0 – $4,500, tax bracket is Nil

* Income from $4,501 – $15,750, tax bracket is 15%

* Income from$15,751 - $47,250, tax bracket is 30%

* Income from$45,251 – $71,250, tax bracket is 42%

* Income over $71,250, tax bracket is 47%

Plus a 10% federal GST, VAT TAX on all goods and services sold.. So all of those expensive toys these 'humanitarians' in the blue states buy, you guessed it, will have a 10% federal tax..

Such a tax would greatly improve the living standards of poor Americans. Free health care etc

What I like best about it is that all of these so-called humanitarians living in the Blue states would be hit the hardest due to their higher salaries..

all this proves is that australia, just like the usa, if you are successful someone will see the need to dip into your pocket due to your hard work. if you are a bum, however, they don't want your money

Is it not Democrats who say we are for the poor, for the unions, for the people?

Its a bit hypocritical to say that when you are worth over $35 million.. or John Kerry who is worth nearly $600 million or those poor Hollywood actors who make $20 million a film..

Or Michael Moore who stands up against corporations. I am sure he has donated over 90% of his fortune to other poor people in Flint Michigan..

What was I thinking, they know exactly how it feels to be poor..

Are you saying someone can't be rich and also be in support of social welfare and unions?

steven, if someone was really in support of such, they'd donate all their money to such

and therefore, they'd not be rich.

[GaryC 7]

It really isn't hard to find Steve. Here is one from Newsmax.

Union-Buster Nancy Pelosi

Jim Meyers, NewsMax.com

A blockbuster NewsMax Magazine story by best-selling author Peter Schweizer exposes how Democratic leaders passionately fight for liberal policies, but go to great lengths to avoid applying those policies in their personal lives.

Hoover Fellow Schweizer bases his blistering report on his new book "Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy," which has reached both the No. 1 spot on Amazon.com's list of best-selling nonfiction books and the coveted New York Times list its first week out.

In his book and NewsMax Magazine's special report Schweizer reveals the glaring contradictions between the public stances and real-life behavior of prominent liberals including Al Franken, Ralph Nader, Ted Kennedy, Barbra Streisand, Hillary Clinton and George Soros. And in his NewsMax Magazine cover story, he especially details the hypocrisy of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

The California Democrat claims to be a staunch union supporter, and along with her husband has received the Cesar Chavez award from the United Farm Workers union.

Unions are, in her words, "fighting for America's working families" and battling "the union-busting, family-hurting" Bush administration. But Schweizer has uncovered that the $25 million Northern California vineyard the Pelosis own is a non-union shop!

Schweizer writes: "Welcome to Hypocrisy Central."

But Pelosi's hypocrisy doesn't stop there.

The congresswoman is the top recipient among members of Congress in campaign contributions from labor unions, and has received more money from the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union than any other member of Congress in the last several election cycles.

But in addition to the wine business, the Pelosis own a large stake in the exclusive Auberge du Soleil hotel in Rutherford, Calif.

The hotel has more than 250 employees, but once again, Schweizer found, it is strictly a non-union shop.

The Pelosis are also partners in a restaurant chain called Piatti, which has 900 employees.

"But a union card is not required to work there bussing tables, washing dishes, serving guests or preparing food," Schweizer writes in NewsMax Magazine.

"As with Auberge du Soleil, at Piatti the Pelosis' commitment to organized labor ends at the front door." Pelosi has also demonstrated hypocrisy on the environment.

"With us," she proclaims, "the environment is not an issue – it's an ethic. It's a value."

That's what she says. Schweizer uncovered what she does: One of her largest investments is a private partnership called Lions Gate Limited, which operates the CordeValle Golf Club and Resort in San Martin, Calif.

To get a permit to build the facility, the partners promised to build a "public course" providing considerable access to non-members, and to abide by several environmental requirements to ensure that there would be minimal ecological damage.

But after the facility opened, the county's Planning Commission found that the golf course was in fact private – and the club had "ignored" many of its permit requirements concerning the environment.

What's more, the course was causing a drawdown in the freshwater aquifer, which could have serious implications for wildlife in the area. So much for worrying about the environment.

Schweizer also reveals that another "environmentalist" named Ted Kennedy can be two-faced when it comes to helping mother earth.

Kennedy has recently charged that Republicans have "poisoned our air and water" by repealing environmental protection laws.

But when it came to protecting the environment in Massachusetts, Teddy tried to torpedo a plan to erect dozens of wind turbines off the coast of Massachusetts to provide clean alternative energy to Cape Cod.

Apparently Teddy went ballistic when he found out that some some of the turbines would be placed near his favorite sailing spot just off Hyannis Port.

Schweizer's bombshell NewsMax Magazine report also details how Ted Kennedy, who has fought for the estate tax and spoken out against tax shelters, has repeatedly benefited from an intricate web of trusts and private foundations that have shielded most of his family's fortune from the IRS.

One Kennedy family trust wasn't even set up in the U.S. – but in Fiji. "The reality is that liberals like to preach in moral platitudes," says Schweizer.

"They like to condemn ordinary Americans and Republicans for a whole host of things – racism, lack of concern for the poor, polluting the environment, and greed.

"But when it comes to applying those same standards to themselves, liberals are found to be shockingly guilty of hypocrisy."

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2.../9/205510.shtml

[DeadPoolX 9]

They are a bunch of sleazy hypocritical arsewipes.

People voted against Bush, not for these loons and crooks.

Systems broken, you aint going to fix it by arguing these two parties back and forth. They both suck wind.

There's a lot of back slapping in Washington, that's for sure, but I wouldn't be so cynical.

We need to be sure we're getting the truth here...this article doesn't seem to jive exactly with this from Wikipedia...

I wouldn't trust Wikipedia much. Just about anyone can write an article and then nearly anyone can edit and/or add to one. There are very few, if any, controls on the content at Wikipedia -- unless, of course, an article becomes vandalized. This recently happened to the Wikipedia articles covering the Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii.