Does Nancy Pelosi have any leverage in fiscal cliff talks? (Ah, no.)

Washington Post ^ | 11/29/12 | Sargent and Greg Sargent

[Libloather]

Does Nancy Pelosi have any leverage in fiscal cliff talks?
By Sargent and Greg Sargent
The Washington Post
Posted Nov 29, 2012 08:51 PM EST

With John Boehner continuing to (publicly) rule out a hike in tax rates for the rich, Nancy Pelosi fired back today by drawing her own hard lines. She told reporters that another round of big spending cuts is unacceptable, and in an interview with NPR, she rebuffed the idea of raising the Medicare eligibility age.

Which raises a question: Does Pelosi have any leverage in the talks to begin with?

The Beltway chatter holds that she doesn't -- Politico describes her as a "bit player in the unfolding drama." It's certainly true Pelosi's influence over the outcome will likely be minimal. But there are factors worth considering that render this a bit of a simplistic take.

While Pelosi will have little sway over the final deal Obama and Boehner reach, she may have some influence over Obama's handling of the talks.

[Libloather]

Is this idiot in still charge of something?

[txnativegop]

Nah, she is a token female to satiate the feminists in the Dem Party

[smoothsailing]

“at least 219 of the 234 House Republicans won in November by margins larger than Obama’s national margin.” - George Will

There’s the leverage. Pelosi can go suck an egg.

[Christie at the beach]

Two phrases should not be used together..
Nancy Pelosi. Cliff. Just saying..

[ncalburt]

This clown is just a DNC employee sub contracting at the compost .
This fraud literally spits out the DNC faxes under his
Name .
I think he was colored the biggest dem plant at the
Compost sea of dem potted plants there .
Now that is quite a feat !

[tet68]

Nancy doesn’t even have enough leverage to hold
her own boobs up.

[Ingtar]

... another round of big spending cuts ...

What reality is she living in?

[tet68]

She’s living in the democrat reality...

“Give us more money, we’ve spent all you had.”

[Cicero]

I’m afraid she still does have one lever. His name is Boner.

[musicman]

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[Defiant]

Well, even if Boner ever grew a pair (I know, fantasy), there would always be 30 or 40 limp wristed RINOs who would shrivel in fear at the thought of the government ever running out of money, and at the terrible things the Post would say about them. They would join with Pelosi and so, to that extent, she does have leverage over the discussions. She can offer a compromise that might attract enough Republicans to gain a majority.

The point is moot, however, because Boner will offer the same compromise. The compromise is, Obama wins, but he's nice about it.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Does Nancy Pelosi have any leverage in fiscal cliff talks? “

You mean like last year when Bohner went to her to round up DEM votes for the Budget Control act to replace Republicans who refused to vote for it?

This is all part of Bohners dance ritual of surrender

[hattend]

She told reporters that another round of big spending cuts is unacceptable,

There was a first round of spending cuts?

[Lionheartusa1]

Her Statement : We have to go over the fiscal cliff to see what’s in store for us when we do .

[trebb]

She told reporters that another round of big spending cuts is unacceptable...

Another round? When was the first round?

[stephenjohnbanker]

” I’m afraid she still does have one lever. His name is Boner.”

All she needs, based on recent history.

[JohnD9207]

Does Pelosi have any leverage in the talks to begin with?

_____________________________________________________
Only if she threatens to take off her clothes!

[ridesthemiles]

ANOTHER round of BIG spending cuts????

When was there any round of big spending cuts under Obama?