Pelosi first Female Speaker of the House!
Posted: November 8, 2006, 06:23 AM by Leslie Grossman
Nancy Pelosi is set to become the first female speaker of the House. That is clear at 5:52 am (EST) Nov. 8th as I am on the Web searching for the most up to date election news. It’s frustrating to keep pointing out women’s “firsts” but at the same time it is heartening. Because we know that when women lead, change happens. That has been said by many; but most recently pointed out by Carly Fiorina on center stage at the Women’s Leadership Exchange conference in New York City just a few days ago on November 6th. According to CNN, “With all polls now closed after Tuesday's midterm elections, CNN projects that Democrats will pick up 22 seats, more than the 15 they needed to capture a majority in the House. Tonight is a great victory for the American people," said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is poised to become the first female speaker of the House. "The American people voted for a new direction." Pelosi’s bio states: “House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has led House Democrats with remarkable effectiveness for four years. Elected in 2003 as the first woman to lead a major political party in Congress, Pelosi has built consensus and unified the Democratic caucus. A recent study by Congressional Quarterly found that “over the past half-century, Democrats in the House were never more unified” than they were under Leader Pelosi in 2005, voting together a record 88 percent of the time. Pelosi brings to the Leader’s role 19 years of experience representing San Francisco in the House, achieving a distinguished record in intelligence and security initiatives, family and child policy, health care, human rights and environmental policy.” Back in 2002 when Pelosi was elected leader of the House Democrats it was predicted that she would unite the Dems. She did just that within the House and now as the results of the midterm election are coming in, it is clear that she also united them in their efforts to getting a majority elected to Congress. The exact number of women actually elected to both House and Senate is not available as of this moment. However, here’s what we know - of the 56 women challenging male incumbents, most were Democrats. And among the competitive races in the country, there are 18 in which a Democratic woman is poised to win. Here’s what we have to say to Nancy Pelosi and women elected in this pivotal midterm election – “You go, girls! Let’s change the world for humanity!”Reader Comments
Posted: January 6, 2007, 10:08 PM by Liara Covert --www.dreambuilders.com.au
Its wonderful when women like Nancy Pelosi, Condi Rice and others act as role models by dedicating themselves to learning as well as teaching and mentoring. Competent, skilled women performing leadership roles remind us that growth comes from listening and adapting. They teach us that expeirence determines what you are and that your behavior and self-confidence highly-influence the circumstances you attract. Rosalyn Carter has said, "A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go but ought to be."
Posted: November 8, 2006, 12:56 PM by Diane Valletta
Presumptive Speaker Pelosi's ascendancy is indeed a cause for celebration from the perspective of women's firsts. I may be impossibly optimistic, but I continue to believe that as well-intentioned women move in increasing numbers up to the highest echelons of political power, domestic and foreign affairs will be managed and implemented with less focus on "turf" and more on dialogue and collaboration. As for Condi Rice, the commentor above will no doubt recall that while Rice's appointment was laudable, it was not equivalent in terms of women's firsts, since Madeleine Albright had already achieved that pinnacle during the Clinton administration.
Diane Valletta
Posted: November 8, 2006, 12:37 PM by jane galloway
what a great morning this is...for so many reasons. the leadership of nancy pelosi has been and will be unifying, rather than divisive. the ability to facilitate consensus, while speaking truth to power, is one she posesses.
dancing indeed!
Posted: November 8, 2006, 10:08 AM by Jeanne - jeanneyus@aol.com
I hope that WLE was as supportive when Condoleeza Rice was named to her Secretary of State position. I, too, think it's wonderful that women continue to reach higher levels of power both in business and in the political arena. I think organizations such as WLE, however, should be non-partisan since they represent women of all political persuasions.
Posted: November 8, 2006, 10:05 AM by Jacqueline Wales
This is the first time in many years where I truly felt emotional for positive reasons during an election campaign. Nancy Pelosi's win says it all. This is the time for change. This is the time for women to claim their place in the world and to do so with strength and courage. Women in government are taking their rightful places. Let's hear it for the FEARLESS!
Jacqueline Wales
Posted: November 8, 2006, 09:25 AM by nancy@nzuckerhr.com
The first is best, certainly it won't be the last.
We see Human Resource women executives rising to the top, (Nancy Zucker Associates places HR professionals so we know!) as well as other impressive businesswoman like Carly Fiorina, who spoke so eloquently at the WLE Monday.
Of COURSE Nancy got the spot! She deserves it and the voters recognized this also.
Nancy Zucker
Posted: November 8, 2006, 08:13 AM by Diana Polak
"And then there was light". As someone who spent the weekend and Tuesday on phone banks to get out the votes and change the direction of the country, I remain more optimisitic today than I have in the last eight years. In fact, I just got off the phone with a friend in Europe who said European Americans are dancing in the streets. Anyone want to dance? As Robin shared with us, let's dance the dance of leadership and begin the process of changing the country and then..................Well, let's see what happens. For now, I'm dancing!
