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First Woman Speaker not lost for words

by YankeeJim | November 5, 2010 at 12:18 pm

119 views | 0 Recommendations | 6 comments

I hesitated to pile on once again, but she’s asking for it.

Remember, she made history becoming the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives. She used the ram rod to rough shod Obama’s agenda through the legislature without a single Republican vote.

Following that brief moment, her behavior was largely responsible for the “shellacking.”

Now, a kinder gentler person would stand down, but not Nancy. Republicans have the likes of Mitch McConnell, and the Democrats have Witch Pelosi.

“Speaker Nancy Pelosi to seek minority leader post

By Paul Kane and Perry Bacon Jr.

Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, November 5, 2010; 3:46 PM

Rejecting demands that she relinquish power after her party'slosses in the midterm elections,House Speaker Nancy Pelosiannounced Friday that she will run for minority leader, potentially setting up an ideological battle inside the Democratic caucus.

"I am running for Dem leader," Pelosi (Calif.) said in apost on her Twitter account. She said her decision was in part "driven by the urgency of creating jobs" and protecting this year's health-care and Wall Street overhauls.

Many Democrats had hoped Pelosi - a central figure in the Republican campaigns that led to the ouster of more than 60 Democrats and returned the House to GOP control - would step aside. This would have cleared a path for Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), who has support from the party's diminished moderate-to-conservative ranks.

But Pelosi's allies have been quietly approaching fellow Democrats, seeking support for her to continue as the party's leader. After her announcement Friday, Hoyer and Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) each signaled their interest in running for the No. 2 post.

Pelosi has no challenger at the moment, making her the clear favorite to win in a caucus that is more liberal after Tuesday's losses. She needs just a bare majority to become minority leader. However, frustration with her tough leadership style cuts across all ideological ranks of the caucus, and most insiders expect that she will face some opposition in the secret ballot likely to be held the week of Nov. 15.

On Friday, Republicans were practically giddy at Pelosi's announcement.

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YankeeJim

at 14:24 on November 5th, 2010

Hell no.

"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)

at 15:00 on November 5th, 2010

Rest easy amigo. Ol' Nancy will soothe and restore the partisanship. She has already stated she won't compromise. Thank God it's going to be all the Republicans fault. This past week CNN has been pounding that message home to the faithful. Accusing and projecting the Republicans of continued obstruction. By January the media will have salted the idea so firmly in the public's mind, Democrats will think that not showing up until then was part of the agenda of obstruction. :-)

YankeeJim

at 03:41 on November 6th, 2010

For conspiracy theorists, I believe she is a Republican plant. Michael Moore should make a movie.

ishambat

at 21:01 on November 5th, 2010

People are split about Obama, but are united against Pelosi. The result of the vote - huge loss in the House but only minor losses in the Senate - shows this election to have been a referendum much more on Pelosi than on Obama or Democrats. She'll probably get in because the moderate districts clobbered the Democrats, and ones who are remaining are from more liberal districts. Of course, with Democrats in the House no longer being the majority, she would have to change her tactics if she is to get anything done.