Posted on 11/12/2018 3:27:00 PM PST by Kaslin
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has done what we all knew she was going to do if the Democrats retook the House: mount a bid for speaker (again). It’s a slam-dunk, right? Well, she isn’t exactly the real face of the party. Moreover, she’s incredibly unpopular, a figure that jacks up the GOP base (and fills its campaign coffers), and a whole host of new Democrats don’t support her bid in the leadership. The question is whether the new class sticks to their word.
Pelosi did raise money for them, despite their explicit opposition to her reassuming the House speakership. In all likelihood, this leadership fight will end like the last Congress, where Pelosi was easily re-elected by Democrats to be minority leader. But for the sake of argument, we already have the stories that her speakership bid could hit obstacles and that it isn’t being warmly received by some top Democrats.
First, the polling shows that 56 percent of Democrats want someone else, but they still like her:
By 56% to 39%, Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said Nancy Pelosi should be replaced as their leader in the House rather than kept in that role by being elected the next speaker. These views are similar among Democrats across the ideological spectrum.
[…]
Despite their lack of support for Pelosi as speaker, Democrats' opinions of Pelosi are more positive than negative. In Gallup's most recent update, from June, 48% said they have a favorable opinion of her and 31% an unfavorable one. Those figures indicate that some Democrats who have a positive opinion of Pelosi may nevertheless want her to be replaced as the party's leader.
Indeed, dozens of Democratic candidates, many of whom were elected on Tuesday, had vowed to support someone other than Pelosi as speaker should the party regain its majority status. Meanwhile, many incumbent Democrats have announced their intentions to back Pelosi as leader. The party will decide on its leader for the next Congress later this month, with the full House voting to elect the speaker once the new Congress convenes in January.
Not even former Vice President Joe Biden is enthused about another Speaker Pelosi era:
And, alas, there’s the new “red to blue” class of Democrats who ran on an anti-Pelosi platform (via NTK Network):
By my count, 10 of these 37 anti-Pelosi Dems have won & 5 more are in races that are too close to call. Dems could wind up w/ only a dozen seats over 218... https://t.co/17YPWe3kFA— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 7, 2018
Thirty-seven Democrats in the DCCC’s “Red to Blue” program disavowed Pelosi and said they would not support her for speaker. According to the Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman, 10 of those Democrats won Tuesday night, and another five are in races that are “too close to call.”
In total, that could give the anti-Pelosi coalition 15 members. According to Wasserman, Democrats “could wind up [with] only a dozen seats over 218.” If Democrats end up with just 230 House members, and 15 of those members have pledged to oppose Pelosi, she will be short of the 218 votes she needs to be speaker.
Now, the question is whether this crew can stick together. As newly elected members of Congress, I doubt they will remain firm. They want to do things, all freshmen do, and they’re probably not going to risk being declared persona non grata by the more senior members of their Congress by opposing Pelosi. On the other hand, if they do stick together—what an exciting January we have coming up.
If the pay off is big enough they will come around.
I would think one of the “Blue Dog” Democrats might work.
Still liberal, but more reasonable.
*****************************************
Imo, those are very much more dangerous than the wild eyed radicals. The quiet ones make it much easier to surrender by increments, while the wild eyed make it much easier to just say no.
Trump has already said he’ll get her some help.
He wants her as the face of the rat party I guess.
“I guess you didn’t get the memo...Tom Perez,the DNC Chairman,announced just last month that there are no more moderates left in the Democrat Party.”
All the more reason to try.
Dems need to inject some youth into their Senate presence. Occasional Cortex for speaker!
I am really hoping that the ‘latest’ whack job from NY hits DC with mouth roaring, probably too stupid to realize she will get nothing if she doesn’t ‘play along’ so hopefully she and some of the other real nutz band together and create 2 years of genuine comic relief and keep EVERYONE off guard...
Remember, a Congress that does NOTHING is an outstanding Congress especially since they have no interest in a budget or working with each other...
Stock up on popcorn....(hopefully) the fun is about to begin.
It’s all talk. They’ll vote for Pelosi to be speaker just like “pro-life” Dim Bart Stupak did, knowing she’d use her speaker power to push abortion.
If the Dems don’t vote for Pelousi, they are obviously MISOGYNISTS! You heard it here first!
Once settled in their offices, the newbies woll be visited by Vinnie and his basebll bat. he asks questions “do you enjoy walking without crutches”
Do NOT want this! Much better if the idiot is speaker instead of someone actually smart and sane.
Sadly, Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco is as centrist as can be found.
The rats are all bad if you ask me.
LOL!
The most likely scenario is that some Dems “revolt” and refuse to vote- so she wins it with less votes.
The media will act like it all wasn’t just part of the Dem establishment plan.
If the Dems didn’t have the media in the bag everyone would always be laughing at them.
A “moderate” Democrat able to get elected is either an outright 5th column player or a Useful Idiot being used, being played. Either way they are dangerous and in need of vigorous opposition.
No one can get far in the DNC without being corrupt.
The House Republicans will get to pick who becomes Speaker after all. Will they side with Nutty Nancy or the renegades’ candidate? I hope it’s the latter, because of the division it would cause in the Democrats’ caucus.
Pretty sure that if she needs a few votes, all she has to do is call PDJT. He’s already said he’ll make sure she gets whatever she needs.
What moderate Democrats? BTW, what conservative Democrats?
Well, there’s always Alexandria Occasionally-Coherent. The added advantage is that I think the Speaker’s office has a bar, so she’d feel right at home!
Aww, she helps Republicans.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.