For some Democrats, and that number probably included Pelosi, the struggle against Trump had become an emotional thing as well. She had pursued and pursued Trump, and yet there he was, still in office. The next day, after he was acquitted, she would have an outburst, wagging her finger at the president and saying that despite the acquittal, "You're impeached forever. You're never getting rid of that scar."
Fast forward five years. Pelosi is now 84 years old and walking with a cane after a recent hip injury. Her party is in the minority, and incredibly, Trump is president again. After all her work, after everything -- Trump is president again. Tonight, he will give an address to a joint session of Congress. What to do?
First, a number of Democrats have threatened to boycott the speech. That's probably not a big scare for the White House -- it will just mean proportionately more wildly cheering Republicans. Democrats realize that, and most will likely show up.
So, what should the Democrats in the audience do? A new Axios report says some are planning to disrupt the speech, walking out at strategic moments: "Criticism of transgender kids was brought up as a line in the sand that could trigger members to storm out," Axios noted. Others have talked about bringing noisemakers or props, such as empty egg cartons.
It's hard to believe Democrats will actually do that. Are they really that dumb? Who knows?
As for Pelosi, the former speaker is urging fellow Democrats not to follow her example. She wants them to behave during the speech so that they can't be criticized for disrupting the president. "Any demonstration of disagreement, whether it's visual or whatever -- just let him stew in his own juice," Pelosi told the Washington Post. "Don't be any grist for the mill to say this was inappropriate."
It's hard not to laugh at the woman who, while sitting in the most visible spot in the House chamber before millions of viewers, tore up the president's speech and waved the torn paper in the air, now advises her fellow Democrats to show restraint. The bottom line is we don't know what Democrats will do. They might not know themselves.