Posted on 10/24/2012 4:07:14 PM PDT by jazusamo
House Democrats will hold their leadership elections after the Thanksgiving break, a leadership aide announced Wednesday.
On an afternoon call with members of her caucus, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the party will stage the elections on Nov. 29, the aide said.
That date is much later than the schedule adopted by Republicans, who have indicated they'll finalize their leadership slots the week before the Thanksgiving holiday.
The distinction has stirred some speculation that Pelosi might be preparing to step down after 25 years on Capitol Hill, and that she plans to use her return in the lame-duck session to groom a challenger to Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), who is eager to move up the ladder.
A second House leadership aide rejected the notion that there was any delay. The aide said the party's election calendar had never been set and the Nov. 29 date was chosen simply to coincide with the second week of orientation for newly elected members.
Pelosi, meanwhile, has been silent about her post-election plans. She says she is focused solely on putting the House gavel back into the hands of the Democrats on Nov. 6 — a difficult task that few outside the party think she'll achieve.
Pelosi has been the House Democratic leader for a decade — the longest such stint in more than 50 years — and the younger generation of potential Democratic leaders has been waiting anxiously to learn her post-election plans.
"Certainly we will see a generational shift, and that will be good," Pelosi told reporters somewhat cryptically last month during the Democratic convention in Charlotte, N.C.
She did not, however, say when that shift would happen.
Aside from Hoyer, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), the third-ranking Democrat, has indicated he's not yet ready to step away from leadership next year.
Clyburn unsuccessfully challenged Hoyer for the No. 2 spot after Democrats were trounced at the polls in 2010. But Clyburn but said earlier this year that he "might" try to seek a higher leadership post following this year's elections.
"I’m not closing the door on anything,” he said in May.
Meanwhile, Pelosi has singled out several younger Democrats as being the likely leaders of the future.
They include Reps. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), the ranking member of the Budget Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), the head of the Democratic National Committee, and Xavier Becerra (Calif.), the vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
But aside from Becerra, who is widely expected to rise to caucus chairman next year, it's unclear where the others would fall.
Wasserman Schultz's office this month took away at least one post-election scenario.
“Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz has absolutely no intention of challenging Steny Hoyer,” a spokesman said.
If they wait until after the election they can hold their meeting in a phone booth.
LOL! What a great thought. :)
We want Pelosi to stay in there (because, IMO, Hoyer holds the same far-left, intransigent views as Pelosi but it not held in the same contempt nationally).
So here is what I suggest:
A few GOP gadflies — Coulter, Limbaugh, et al. — prominently say something like, “I bet Pelosi WILL step down. After all, she’s play out, despised, and besides, her party won’t have the majority anyway. Time for her to retire or at least give up the leadership role to Hoyer.”
That would make it much harder for Pelosi to step aside.
seamstresses everywhere will be sad....Mz. Nancy used a lot of colorful fabric to hide the truth.... old and tired.
You may well be right but I’d still like to that corrupt snake gone.
They include Reps. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), the ranking member of the Budget Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), the head of the Democratic National Committee, and Xavier Becerra (Calif.), the vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
Pelosi's likely leaders picks: UGH, BARF, BLECH!!!!
Let’s not forget her, though; let’s remember every stinking thing she foisted on the American people, STARTING with the Certificate of Nomination she signed with Alice Germond Travis, that HID the fact that Bath-House Barry was a FRAUD.
Out of sight will be a blessing to the eye, Nancy, but, I hope your CRIMES follow you to the grave. I, for one, will NEVER forget.
I guess Van Helsing is finally getting close.
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