Pelosi’s surprise visit to Kyiv:
Zelensky awarded U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi with the Order of Princess Olga for a “significant personal contribution" to strengthening Ukrainian-American cooperation and "supporting sovereign, independent and democratic Ukraine.”
?President's Office pic.twitter.com/PmDrCd5V1B
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) May 1, 2022
According to The Post, she was joined by “Reps. Adam B. Schiff (Calif.), Jim McGovern (Mass.), Gregory W. Meeks (N.Y.) and Jason Crow (Colo.).” Look at that badass in her heels!
Open thread.
War for Ukraine Update 66: The Face of War
Deputinize Eurasia from the Kuriles to St Petersburg
Happy Beltane to all who celebrate. I suppose I’ll snip some dandelions for my front step, and there’s some yellow blooms from some weedy things in my benignly neglected yard I can add. Now, if I can convince the other half for a fertility ritual today….
Nancy
I’m proud to be a Nancy. And a member of the Balloon Juice community.
Just left my formerly all-consuming work as a supervisor at a human services agency. Important work that I couldn’t leave at work. Always a crisis. And I might be too old for this.
Going to work part time (really!) as a mental health therapist and as an adjunct instructor teaching one class. I hope life slows down so I can pursue my passions–gardening and reading way too much politics. Maybe have time for fun and volunteering.
Life looks promising on May 1. But back to Nancy Pelosi–she inspires me.
Betty Cracker
@Nancy: You sound like an inspiring Nancy in your own right. Hope you find the level of activity that suits you best.
WaterGirl
Order of Princes Olga made me smile!
I am willing to bet that is now one of the most treasured possessions of Nancy SMASH.
debbie
I was half-asleep and listening to the BBC when they announced she was in Ukraine. May she give Putin yet one more ulcer!
WaterGirl
@debbie: I am wondering why they announce that while they are still there? Seems like that increases the danger by a thousand.
NotMax
Happy Lei Day!
geg6
She truly is a badass.
Ken
Reading about Olga of Kiev, on the whole I think it’s better if Nancy doesn’t emulate her too closely when dealing with any January 6 traitors exposed by this summer’s hearing.
Liminal Owl
@Ken: Looks to me like the model for Daenerys (Mother of Dragons).
TxTiger
@Ken: Wow, thank you for posting this link! I had never heard of Olga of Kiev but now I know 1) why the Ukrainians have so much fight in them and 2) what a high honor President Zelenskyy and the government of Ukraine have paid to Speaker Pelosi. May the Speaker’s revenge, while less brutal, be no less effective at routing out traitors than Princess Olga’s.
Wag
@Ken: I think it better if Nancy is inspired by the justice of Olga.
debbie
@WaterGirl:
Maybe they were already on their way back to Poland. I can’t keep track of time changes.
Geminid
Speaker Pelosi brought some heavy hitters to Kyiv. Adam Schiff is Chairman of the intelligence Committee, Greg Meeks is Chairman of Foreign Relations, and Jim McGovern chairs the powerful Rules Committee.
McGovern is active on human rights issues abroad. At home, Congresional Republicans whine that McGovern’s canny rule drafting violates their human rights.
At 41, second term Congressman Jason Crow was the junior member of the delegation. Crow was one 40 Democrats who flipped seats in the 2018 midterms. He beat Mike Coffman in a district comprised of three counties east of the city of Denver, including Aurora, Colorado. Crow won by 8% in 2018. District residents must like what they see because Crow won reelection in 2020 by 17% of the vote.
Jason Crow was born 1979 in Madison, Wisconsin. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 2001, he entered the Army and served in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne, later with the Rangers. Then after earning a J.D. Crow practiced law in Denver before running for Congress.
BellyCat
Nancy SMASH!!!
A profound commitment, day after day, to pointing our country toward the best that democracy can be.
Nancy
@Betty Cracker: Thank you. I hope to do that and to contribute in my way.
Steeplejack
@Nancy:
Good luck with the lifestyle downshifting!
Parfigliano
No GOPer on the trip? Couldnt trust them to keep quiet for security purposes I suppose.
Ruckus ??
@Nancy:
I retired last year. At 72. Now that I’ve been retired even a short while, I have to say, I think I earned this. I’ve worked for a very long time and it feels like this is my time. So I’m changing my stance, I have earned this. It does feel good.
I was a part time mental health counselor a long time ago and that was a job that felt immensely good and some days was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. Working in that field for me was not something I could see myself doing for decades. My point is that if you enjoyed your work and have done it for long enough it becomes a part of you and it’s tough to stop doing it. But there comes a time and only you know when that is. Good luck, enjoy the next phrase. It’s good as well.
randal m sexton
OMG — That Princess Olga
debbie
@randal m sexton:
Nancy’s already included in Wikipedia’s list of recipients of the Order of Princess Olga!
Nancy
@Steeplejack:
Thank you.
It is an effort. I couldn’t stop thinking about the office drama. Human services are draining and distressed staff don’t always offer humane service. That kept me awake at night. Now it is not my job, a new mantra.
Nancy
@Ruckus ??:
Thank you! That means a lot and I appreciate the thoughtful detail. Going to add “I earned this” to the mantras.
Ryan
Makes a brave appearance at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner, which Trump never showed up, a complete loser.