Krugman: Thoughts on Pelosi

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

November 5, 2010, 5:36 pm
Thoughts On Pelosi
Paul Krugman

I’m not objective here — I’ve sort of made a point of not hanging out with politicians, but I have spent some time with Nancy Pelosi, and like her. I’m also, of course, not an expert on political maneuvering. Still, two points.

First, Pelosi has by all accounts been an extremely effective leader. She made health care happen, when it was taken for lost; she has shown an amazing ability to herd cats, and from what I hear her caucus appreciates her talents. If the economic policies fell short, if the White House did a terrible job of messaging, well, that’s not her fault.

Second, and following from this: getting rid of Nancy Pelosi now would serve no purpose other than to throw an alleged wild liberal to the conservative wolves. It would, in effect, be admitting that America won’t accept anything that looks like a progressive policy; it would basically mean conceding that the Republicans were right.

So the Pelosi issue is about whether the Democrats will fall back into their good old cringe.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/thoughts-on-pelosi/

[mediaman007]

1. Pelosi has my vote!

She stands for something! The political winds don't move her off her course!

[Salviati]

4. Exactly... If it wasn't for all the judicial nominations and such...

I would have much rather lost the senate and kept the house. The senate majority was useless anyway in it's dysfunctional state. At least the house managed to accomplish things through the efforts of Pelosi. It's too bad that they're the ones that bore the brunt of the punishment for the senates inability to work.

[ixion]

2. More often than not I agree with Krugman. This is not one of those times.

Pelosi failed as a leader, as the facts plainly denote.

As minority leader she provided little to no opposition to our illegal invasion and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Impeachment is off the table." That's more than just poor leadership. That's becoming an accomplice to war crimes.

The list goes on.

[notesdev]

8. Indeed

and the push for HCR no matter how corrupt a bargain it was, was a deliberate choice to sacrifice the House majority.

If it wasn't deliberate then she's too clueless, and if it was deliberate then there should be consequences.

[Toots]

9. So you would want Schuler to become Minority Leader?

A Blue Dog to lead a mostly Liberal Democrats now that the Blue Dog caucus was decimated...He is the ONLY one that is challenging her.. All the other Liberal Democrats in the House have a very different opinion than you do of her..There were over a hundred very good Liberal bills passed in the House that died in the Seanate and you never heard of them, yet you claim she failed...:shrug:

[ixion]

12. ooooo so you want {insert scary name here}

You know, I'm really tired of hearing that excuse.

You know what I want? Real accountability in a government of, by and for We, the People.

And this is not it, and Ms. Pelosi has helped it be not all that.

[Democat]

3. I like Pelosi, but we just lost the house under her. 2012 is coming soon.

We don't want to repeat what happened in 2010 in 2012. Time for a change of House leadership.

[Larkspur]

6. Harry Reid is the one who should step down as a Dem leader, not Pelosi

She cranked out over 400 bills, most of which died in Reid's Senate.

I say keep Pelosi as leader and replace Reid with one who is willing to fight.

[Democat]

10. I definitely agree that Reid should step down - he's Daschle part two!

We need someone with spine to be a real leader in the Senate.

[Larkspur]

24. If only Reid acted more like his re-election campaign

which I admit was a tough hitting campaign, but I credit his campaign manager, not Reid, with that victory.

[ProSense]

5. Pelosi is

one of the most successful House leaders in history.

[highplainsdem]

7. K&R. He's right.

[Gin]

13. I never understood why the rethugs were going across the country

running against Pelosi....

I know what her position is/was but it never made sense so me...so...the votes are more about getting rid of her than anything else?

I don't ever recall hearing about firing the leader more than anything else...other than for president

[tularetom]

11. It's hard for me to forget taking impeachment off the table but

I have to admit Pelosi has done a remarkable job as speaker over the past two years.

With next to no help from the White House and a dysfunctional Senate as well.

And for those opposing her, who would you propose in her place as minority leader?

[madmax]

14. The Krug has spoken.

Pelosi has always been my preference, Krugman's 'endorsement' changes nothing but, glad to read his pov.

Fight on, Nancy.

[whyverne]

15. They hate her guts. I live in Redneckville and all I hear is

Pelosi this and Pelosi that. Make them spend a billion dollars vilifying someone new. Why get them all fired up again? If they're double teaming your best player, someone else has to step up.

[madmax]

16. The tirade will usually also include Harry Reid. nt

[ProSense]

18. "aren't Democrats tired of reflexively capitulating to the other side's narrative?"

Republicans shouldn't get to choose our leaders.

By that logic, Clinton should have stepped aside in 1996.

[whyverne]

19. Clinton didn't lose. The House was lost. n/t

[ProSense]

20. "They hate her guts."

They hate Clinton and Obama's guts too.

[whyverne]

23. She was the leader of the House and the House was lost.

Did the south "dictate" Lincoln finally getting rid of McClelland? Didn't matter. It was the right strategy.

[The Uncola]

17. I agee, even though..

.. her putting "impeachment off the table" still pisses me. That was a HUGE mistake, those bastards should be jailhouse brides by now.

[somone]

21. Leave her there - to piss them off

[tavalon]

22. She's done well

I haven't ever forgiven her nor am I likely to for taking impeachment off the table. It was a mistake that took us one more step toward the destruction of this country.

[deacon]

25. Ohhh, i think we NEED her there. No moderate. A liberal. And she's crafty. n/t

[deacon]

26. Ohhh, i think we NEED her there. No moderate. A liberal. And she's crafty. n/t