Why Pelosi is running for House minority leader

[ProSense]

Why Pelosi is running for House minority leader

By E.J. Dionne Jr.
Saturday, November 6, 2010

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calmly assessing the political cyclone that routed her Democratic majority and will, at least temporarily, force her to vacate one of the best offices in the city, with its inspirational view of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

She keeps coming back to the courage of her colleagues who cast hard votes that helped make the past two years one of Congress's most productive periods in recent times - and made her one of the most effective speakers in history. Her message is unmistakable: Democrats have nothing to apologize for, nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to regret.

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But Pelosi's rule on the gender issue is: "Don't underestimate, don't overestimate, just move on from it." So identity politics is absent when she's asked point blank why the Republicans attacked her so fiercely.

"Because I'm effective," she answers matter-of-factly. "It's why they had to do it. They had to put a stop to me because we were effective in passing health-care reform, which the health insurance industry wanted to stop; Wall Street reform, which Wall Street wanted to stop; (reforms of) students loans for taking the money out of the banks and giving it back to the taxpayer and to families."

And in what might be read as a reminder of why she should remain as leader, she adds: "I'm one of the most effective fundraisers that the Congress has had . . . because I believe in something."

Her analysis of why the party lost the House is compact. "Nine and a half percent unemployment damaged the majority," she says. "What made a difference in the election is the fact that they said we are spending money, and where are the jobs?" While she believes that what Democrats did on health care, education and Wall Street reform was ultimately about fixing the economy, the party has to think "shorter term" in putting "jobs, jobs, jobs front and center." That's her battle plan.

Nowhere is it written that a speaker has to step down from a leadership position after losing the majority. Between 1945 and 1955, Democrat Sam Rayburn and Republican Joe Martin swapped the speakership four times.

Yes, there are valid political reasons for House Democrats to change leaders, especially in light of Pelosi's poll numbers. But there's an argument rooted in justice that the person who built their majority should have a shot at winning it back. And aren't Democrats tired of reflexively capitulating to the other side's narrative? That is what Pelosi is counting on.

[OhioBlue]

1. I am glad she is running for minority leader

go Nancy. She shows courage and determination. We need that in our leaders.

[ProSense]

5. Yes, she does. n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

7. "She shows courage"...

yeah, but when it came to Bush, impeachment was "off the table". Some courage.

[Inuca]

15. Can you maybe, just maybe

consider that there may have been other reasons why she decided that?

[DFLforever]

2. Her poll numbers?

The only poll numbers that count are those in her SF congressional district and the number of Reps who will vote for as leader in the Democratic caucus.

She doesn't need any public approval rating to do her job well.

[ProSense]

3. Exactly, and

Pelosi won re-election with more than 80 percent of the vote. In his Ohio district, Boehner got about 66 percent of the vote.

So she's more popular.

:)

[benddem]

4. and in the state of Ohio

he has an 8% approval rating.

[slackmaster]

6. It couldn't be the $19,400 in additional annual pay, loans from the Smithsonian,

...or the power.

[DFLforever]

8. Her husband is very rich

I don't think $19,400 is much of an incentive with their income.

She's powerful alright, a powerful fundraiser that would be hard for the Dem caucus to replace.

[golfguru]

9. You can never be too rich or too thin

and her approval number is in single digits.

[DFLforever]

10. So? who care what her 'approval 'numbers are

She's not running for president and is no longer even second in line for the position.

[Retrograde]

11. Funny, her district re-elected her this week

so a majority of the voters she's responsible to seem to approve of her.

[golfguru]

14. you are 100% right but...

a speaker represents the entire country.
He/she works better when popular in the entire country.
We do not need another shellacking, with Pelosi used as
target by the opposition to exploit.

[Inuca]

16. With 80% if I am not mistaken n/t

[D-Lee]

12. Nope, she is just great and a realist - lucky to have her! nt

[playstation]

13. Nancy > Heath

[Phx_Dem]

17. The simple answer is, because she's a strong leader who knows how to

get shit done, as proven by the many House accomplishments under her leadership.

[craigmatic]

18. She's probably the best dem on the hill. There's alot of strength there and that's why they follow

her.

[Chatt]

19. Pelosi did a good job

Health reform passed under her helm, among other important measures.

[flamingdem]

20. +1 welcome to du!