The Democratic sweep in Congress merely one year ago ushered in California Democrat Congresswomen Nancy Pelosi to the top seat of the House of Representatives, and already, she’s having an identity crisis.

As Speaker of the House, Pelosi maintains the authority to take action on the promises campaigned by Democratic candidates in the 2006 midterm election to end the War in Iraq. “There should be no doubt of our country’s ability to continue the legacy that our founders set out for us,” Pelosi asserted to students in a speech at Meredith College Friday.

“An educated and informed electorate is essential to this,” she continued. However, Pelosi has done nothing than demonstrate her utter lack of knowledge pertaining to her Constitutional duties as the Speaker and greatly undermined the founders of whom she speaks so highly. As the second in the line of presidential succession, right after the Vice President, Pelosi holds tremendous power in setting the agenda for Congress, and yet her greatest feat thus far is nothing more than expressed disappointment in its performance — and, needless to say, in President Bush.

Since the Democrats took control of Congress, more than 800 United States troops have died in Iraq. And while Pelosi continues to dish out logical fallacies on proposed alternate recipients of war funds such as uninsured children or needy students, American and Iraqi death tolls will only escalate.

As Speaker of the House, Pelosi has significant influence on the flow and referral of legislation and the conditions under which bills are debated. Not to mention the Democrats hold a solid majority in both houses of Congress. However, she erroneously contends that Congress lacks the power to stop the flow of additional money to fund the war — a power explicitly ascribed to Congress in the United States Constitution.

Countless Americans who had anticipated a change in U.S. foreign policy after the newly elected majority party swap into Congress are left frustrated and bewildered by the war’s perpetuation, and Pelosi sits at the top of the Congressional heap, refusing to take any blame — much less action.

Voters gave the Democrats a mandate last year to bring the war to an end and bring our troops home. Instead of exploiting her power to help do so, Pelosi has sat back and allowed the war to persist with no end in sight.

Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words. Displacing the blame disparaging Congress and the President are simply denying the real problem at hand: action must be taken to end this war. As former President Harry S. Truman once said, “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

It’s time for Pelosi to either get America’s troops out of Iraq, or she needs to get herself out of Congress. This decision is up to her.

What do you think of Pelosi’s handling of Congress and the War in Iraq? Give us your view and e-mail your comments to viewpoint@technicianonline.com.