Stewart Skewers Pelosi On What She Knew and When She Knew It

Photo of Noel Sheppard.

When you're one of the left's favorite politicians, and you get skewered by one of the left's favorite comedians, you know you're in quicksand sinking fast.

Such was the case Tuesday evening when the "Daily Show"'s Jon Stewart, in a segment delicously called "Waffle House," lampooned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Cal.) ever-changing answers to what she knew about detainee interrogations and when she knew it (video embedded below the fold with partial transcript, h/t NBer mvfreeman):

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JON STEWART, HOST: Turning now to another Miss California USA who's also been revealing a little too much of herself, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. As a Democratic leader, we all are know where she stands on stress positions, waterboarding, etc., etc: she's agin it! And if she had been told that we were doin' it, well...

NANCY PELOSI, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE (on videotape): They did not brief us that these enhanced interrogations were taking place. 

STEWART: They did not brief her. Now, in the world that we've grown accustomed to living in, these unequivocal statements are generally followed by, go.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER (on videotape): New intelligence records show House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was briefed in September 2002 about the harsh interrogation techniques used during the Bush administration. 

STEWART: Yes, yes Smithers, excellent. Let the inevitable dance begin again. 

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER (on videotape): At the time you were briefed, did you raise objections?

PELOSI (on videotape): It is not appropriate for me to talk about what happens at briefings. 

STEWART: When the CIA says, "Tick a lock," that lock is ticked! I'd open if I could, oh what the f***, let's open it.

PELOSI (on videotape): We were not, I repeat, we were not told that waterboarding, or any of the other enhanced interrogation methods were used. 

STEWART: Okay, now that's it, I told you, I cannot discuss the briefings no matter what methods you reporters use I'm not saying another word, except to slowly begin to parse the unequivocal denial of never being told...I'm not a wordsmith, but I think notify might mean told...So, they said they could use harsh interrogation techniques, but not that they would. So, basically we've gone from "I definitely was not told" to "I was told, but they used an auxillary verb with a slightly more passive mood." (singing) "Grammar nerd, say what what? Grammar nerd, say what what?" 

Actually, this really shouldn't be a surprise because Pelosi is employing the same defense Democrats used to explain away their votes for the Iraq war resolution in October 2002.

As media bought it then, why aren't they all buying it now?

Stay tuned. 

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.


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Boot Pelosi

Get her out of there.

Tax and spend is bad but borrow and spend is worse.

Nancy Must Go - Time to Resign

One theory is that Ms. Pelosi is guilty of prevaracation for poliltical purposes. The other theory is that she is incompetent and truly does not remember.

Time to go back to San Francisco Ms. Pelosi.

Yup.

I'd just like to note that the theories aren't mutually exclusive. ;)

Better Explanation?

A better explanation is that Pelousy is a two-bit liar!

allan f covered that...

when he said "Ms. Pelosi is guilty of prevaracation [sic]".   :)

OK, I'll say it

Applause to Stewart for addressing it, instead of burying it in favor of yet another cheap shot at conservatives.

OK, that's out of the way. The Fairness gods have been appeased.

Pelosi is dispensable

So Stewart can afford to throw her under the bus.  They've probably already got her replacement as Speaker lined up.

carolina... You can be sure

carolina...

You can be sure good ol' Steny Hoyer has been licking his chops behind the scenes. ;-)

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

 No kidding.  You gotta

 No kidding.  You gotta give the devil his due.

I said the same in the OT where mvfreeman brought that up.

They might say "Wow, that sucks!"  But at least they'll say "Wow!"  -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes

KC I saw this last night. SO

KC I saw this last night. SO funny. He also had a good bit about Prejean.

Nice

A nice assembly of soundbites there and pretty damning.

Does she look like an old possum in the headlights or what?

This should have had a

This should have had a major spew alert...this was hilarious for once with Stewart...I think one of the best three and a half minutes I have spent ever listening to him...I am still laughing as I post this.

Pelosi is in major trouble when this happens...

Delicious indeed!

Thanks mvfreeman and Noel...

...as they say, Priceless.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

And...who the hell is Jon

And...who the hell is Jon Stewart?

Oh, remember the Sandy

Oh, remember the Sandy Burglar story...it was a one day story (and buried on p. 17 of the illustrious NY Times).  Expect this to fade from the msm fast. 

They're probably already

They're probably already working on Pelosi image revival stories as we speak.....

Just like they shoved Chris

Just like they shoved Chris Dodd and Jeremiah Wright into the dark chamber of reinvention...should come up to the light of day all fresh and clean any day now

Oh.. that's good..

Oh.. that's good... and it's good material, too. Ah, but I'd guess that Letterman's writers won't see anything here either.

(;~> gary

Hehehee...that was a good

Hehehee...that was a good dig Gary...bet you are el correcto too!

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

Wow

That is early for Jon's I nail the left tidbit.I firgured it wouldnt come to after July.

She seems to be hanging her

She seems to be hanging her hat on not knowing the techniques "were used".  As if that makes some kind of a difference.

What was discussed in her presence were essentially the RoE (Rules of Engagement).  To come back later and say in a sense "I didn't think you were actually going to do them" or "I wasn't paying attention to them" shows what kind of fools with have in Congress.  The bad guys are playing for keeps--we should too.

"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"

That's kind of like saying,

That's kind of like saying, Well, yes, I went to the meeting, and  they told me they were arming all the soldiers with  rifles and grenades, but they didn't say they were actually using them!

They might say "Wow, that sucks!"  But at least they'll say "Wow!"  -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes

Who cares what she knew....

and when she knew it?

I see the hand of Rahm behind all of this. Nanny has enraged more than a few of the House Dems, and I think there are probably plenty of long knives out, although they are still in their sheaths.

Between Rahm & Steny Hoyer, Nanny's days are numbered. It won't be a palace coup, but they'll slowly give Nanny enough rope to hang herself. She's so predictably stupid, though, I'm not sure that is necessarily a good thing. Of course, looking at it strictly from our side, stupid and disgraced is better than plain stupid lying....but I suspect Hoyer is not quite as open in his avarice for power. And I don't think he'd get himself caught up in outright lies like Pelosi has.

Time will tell.

 

I hope he fails, too.

 

 

Re Pelosi

Nevermind internal politics for a moment; remember Princess Nan is jetting around the world representing herself as one of the branches of the American government. What do people like Bashar Assad think of America after spending time with Princess Nan? How about President Talabani of Iraq?

Many wars in history have started because of misunderstood positions and diplomatic foulups. It's extremely dangerous having this idiot meet with any foreign leader, let alone leaders of some of the most dangerous countries in the world.

As evil and far-left as Princess Nan might be, her stupidity is far more the danger to our country.

The Gore m/o

I'm surprised that Princess Nan didn't simply use the Al Gore iced-tea excuse. That would have been a better route for her to take. But then as we all know, she's not too bright.

That's a good one, slick!

I had forgotten about that!  LOL!

They might say "Wow, that sucks!"  But at least they'll say "Wow!"  -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes

hey this is old news, wtf

hey this is old news, wtf over! they are just saying something about it now, schnitt reamed her a new one about this for 2 days, 10 days ago

This makes me think there

This makes me think there may still be hope for that dolt Stewart.

Appreciate the h/t

Thanks.

mv

mv,

No. Thank you. ns

You nailed it perfectly at the end Mr. Sheppard.

Pelosi is employing the same defense Democrats used to explain away their votes for the Iraq war resolution in October 2002 

This is my first war looking in from the outside. I retired in 2001.

I have been enraged for years that the Democrats have turned the war into a partisan issue. It is frustrating and infuriating. Has it always been like this?

Now, finally, some of it is starting to come back and bite. I want more. I want a lot more.

Sincerely,

a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.

Unusual Position

It is nice to see Stewart sckewering a Dem for a change.  It is an unusual position for him.  It is interesting how the MSM seems to be in a frenzy to bring down Pelosi.

My theory is that the White House may be behind the pressure on Pelosi.  Bringing down the Speaker of the House sends a strong message to any predisposed to oppose Obama policies.

Read more at:

http://www.framingthedialogue.com/archives/pelosis-pernicious-peril/