Page 39 - Time Magazine, Sep. 17, 2018

Pelosi
and Senate
Democratic
leader Chuck
Schumer huddle
in the Capitol
in March

interests,” and Pelosi speaks carefully, But Pelosi evinces an odd equanimity. Trump blasted it even as he signed it.
not wanting to be baited into a “basket Not wanting to become Trump’s foil, she No detail in that bill escaped Pelosi’s
of deplorables” moment. lambastes him far less than she did Bush. attention. At one point, to resolve an im-
Trump voters, she says, need compas- “Being surprised, disappointed, even passe over minor-league baseball sala-
sion, not condescension. “I don’t want to wondering about his behavior is a luxury ries, she worked out a compromise with
be disrespectful of any of the people who we can’t afford,” she tells me over dinner the league through her relationship with
voted for the President,” she says. “I do at a Houston resort. It’s another one of her the president of the San Francisco Giants,
want to make sure they understand what tiny nonmeals: she’ll consume only a bowl securing the players a pay increase. The
he is doing to them.” It may take patience, of seafood chowder and a glass of water, final bill lifted spending caps and boosted
she adds. “Did you ever know anybody and spend nearly three hours talking. “I domestic appropriations by some $60 bil-
who was dating a jerk?” she asks. “Could can’t waste my time thinking, Why would lion, while blocking Republican efforts at
you tell her? No. You have to wait until he say that? Why would anybody support environmental, labor and banking dereg-
she figures it out for herself—hopefully somebody who says that?” she says. “It ulation. “We wouldn’t have been able to
before it’s too late—or you’ll just drive her doesn’t matter anymore. All we have to pass that spending package under Barack
into his arms.” do is win this election so that we can have Obama,” a House Democratic staffer told
Later, Pelosi mingles with the crowd. leverage for the American people.” me. “Republicans would have laughed us
A woman has brought a book to be signed In the meantime, Pelosi has used her out of the room.” The real art of the deal
for her daughter. “You’re an inspiration,” scant power in Congress to considerable in Washington is being practiced by Pe-
she says. A man volunteers advice: “Put effect. Despite controlling all three losi, in what ought to be the Capitol’s least
President Trump on the spot!” he says. branches of government, Republicans powerful caucus.
“Offer to debate him!” The women have have proved unable to enact most of Pelosi’s talents aren’t always enough.
gratitude; the men have demands. The their promises, including their signature Last year, the President told her and
women respect her; the men want to tell vow to repeal Obamacare. Pelosi and her Schumer he wanted to protect young
her what to do. She smiles graciously and Senate counterpart, Chuck Schumer, have undocumented immigrants, known as
Dreamers. But he soon retreated to a
repeatedly outmaneuvered the President.
poses for another picture.
SAUL LOEB — AFP/GET T Y IMAGES FOR SOMEONE LIKE PELOSI, who has agree to a spending deal that raised the shutdown over the issue ended after two
hard-line position. A January government
In September 2017, they got Trump to
days, when Senate Democrats panicked
debt ceiling and funded the government,
spent her life in service of institutions—
indeed, for anyone who has spent their
and caved. In February, Pelosi made
drawing howls from conservatives. In
a last stand, taking to the floor of the
March they cut another spending deal,
life following a set of agreed-upon rules—
House for eight hours to read the stories
this one so favorable to Democrats that
the Trump era has been destabilizing.
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