Pelosi puts Democrats in the spotlight

Earlier today, each cable television network gave the Democrats more exposure than they got at any other time since Bill Clinton left office.  For that reason alone, many Americans tuning into channels like Fox News were probably surprised to discover that Nancy Pelosi was more than some abortion-loving San Francisco liberal that right-wing pundits made her out to be.  She is a practicing Catholic, a dedicated grandmother, and a daughter of a Baltimore mayor that taught her about a higher calling for public service.

Until this evening, it will be a mystery what sound bites each of the three major news networks will use.  The odds are that they will include these comments about the Iraq war:

"The election of 2006 was a call to change -not merely to change the control of Congress, but for a new directionfor our country. Nowhere were the American people more clear about theneed for a new direction than in Iraq.  The American people rejected an open-ended obligation to a war without end. Shortly, President Bush will address the nation on the subject of Iraq. It is theresponsibility of the President to articulate a new plan for Iraq thatmakes it clear to the Iraqis that they must defend their own streetsand their own security, a plan that promotes stability in the region,and that allows us to responsibly redeploy American forces."

While Pelosi is not known for being the best public speaker, she definitely deserves an A for today's address.  Below are some videos of the events earlier today: