Eugene Robinson on Speaker Pelosi: 'She came to play and left it all on the field.'

[flpoljunkie]

Nancy Pelosi, undone by her own success

By Eugene Robinson
Friday, November 5, 2010;

Losing elections is an occupational hazard for politicians, so there's no need to get all weepy about the Democratic officeholders who suddenly find themselves with more time to spend with their families. It would be more appropriate to shed a tear or two for the future of the country, what with the Tea Party brigade coming to town. Then again, I was pretty gloomy after the 1994 midterms, and yet it turned out that the world did not end.

President Obama still has the ability to set the nation's agenda - and also the power of the veto, in case of emergency. Harry Reid is still Senate majority leader - and after the way he punched and scrapped his way to victory, who wants to mess with him? As for John Boehner, he'll soon learn that his new job requires a more extensive vocabulary than "no."

But amid the wreckage of Tuesday's GOP rampage, there's one person for whom I feel awful: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She's losing her job not because she does it poorly but because she does it so well.

Pelosi would never ask for, or even accept, my sympathy - that's not her style. Her place in history was secure the moment she became the first woman to take possession of the speaker's gavel. Still, she squeezed every drop out of her four-year tenure. To string together a couple of sports cliches, she came to play and she left it all on the field.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/04/AR2010110406625.html

[xultar]

1. Fucking A!

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. 200+ bills, passed by the House...

...implementing the Democratic agenda right across the board.

Killed in the Senate by the Party of No.

All institutional disasters are followed by the search for scapegoats, followed by the punishment of the victims, promotions for the guilty, and praise for those who did nothing. Why would the Democratic Party behave differently?

[CBHagman]

4. Brilliantly said.

All institutional disasters are followed by the search for scapegoats, followed by the punishment of the victims, and praise for those who did nothing. Why would the Democratic Party behave differently?

Pelosi has been abused and demonized by an angry, irrational right, and apparently forgotten by those whiners on the left who neither understand how the legislative process works nor how effective the speaker has been. But she's earned her place in history.

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. Thanks. Isn't original to me....it's one of those things...

...floating around in the organizational-behavior zeitgeist. I picked it up in a curriculum-design class.

[fugop]

3. I'm with Eugene here

I feel the worst about losing Nancy. She did an amazing job, in spite of having to deal with all those freakin' grabby Dems (and obstructionist GOPers). It's no wonder they demonized the hell out of her. She was an incredible Speaker. I'll miss her most of all!!!

[catgirl]

6. I hope she remains the leader

She's does an amazing job!

[gkhouston]

7. I'd like to keep her as leader and replace Reid. n/t

[flpoljunkie]

9. Sam Rayburn, who served a record 17 years, stayed on as Minority Leader twice when Republicans won

http://www.rollcall.com/news/-200197-1.html

[DCKit]

8. "...he'll soon learn that his new job requires a more extensive vocabulary than "no.""

Says it all.

Boner's got NOTHING, and that is going to become apparent shortly.

[catgirl]

10. Should be interesting!