I don’t have a strong opinion one way or the other, but why wouldn’t House Democrats consider replacing their leader Nancy Pelosi when they vote this week?
She has presided over a slew of lost elections, including when she lost her two-year post as Speaker of the House. Pelosi predicted Democrats would gain 20-plus House seats in this election; they got six. If anyone can cite something positive she’s done worthy of maintaining her role bring it on, please.
Not since 1929 have there been so few Democrats in the House of Representatives.
This time there’s a serious challenger, aided by a secret ballot in a time when establishment veterans are on the run. I know next to nothing about Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, but this comment alone ought to make him worth a look:
My level of frustration came from the idea that we’re going to have for two more years the same conversation as we have been having since 2010. I think the level of frustration in our caucus is as great as I have seen it. It’s time to do something about it, not just talk about it. Because now we’re not even the national party. We’re a coastal party. And we’ve got to move forward if we’re not going to get voters in Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota. And go back down south. When I first came to Congress we had members from Tennessee. We have to go back there and campaign and get those folks in the fold. — Ryan (NBC “Meet the Press” 11/27)
have nothing against nancy, but dems (and i know this is an inane superficial not worthy of the trail reason) are in need of better optics… something like a taller and prettier than ryan & drumpf fiery leader with a great sense of timing and humor. you know how the media love glitz and new toys.
in re recount, this repost from last thread:
I expect the drumpf will make sure his lawyers are at the recount for the same reason Hillary’s lawyer said “to participate in order to ensure the process proceeds in a manner that is fair to all sides.” here’s his statement according to the quardian.
Elias: “Because we had not uncovered any actionable evidence of hacking or outside attempts to alter the voting technology, we had not planned to exercise this option ourselves.
“But now that a recount has been initiated in Wisconsin, we intend to participate in order to ensure the process proceeds in a manner that is fair to all sides.”
Ha, patd, an acquaintance mentioned yesterday that if anything, at least a few lawyers would gain in the recount 😉
Good Luck to whichever candidate wins the House Dem Leadership. Will say though that the times they are a-changin’ & being one step ahead of the opposition is always smart strategy. What do the Democrats have to lose at this point by shifting the prism & seeing how the new light breaks? Touchy subject but if the Powers That Be didn’t learn anything from this election have to question where their true loyalties exist: to our Country or to themselves.
I remember just before the 2010 midterm elections Rep Pelosi appearing everywhere hawking her book then after the Democrats lost the House thinking well someone’s got some explaining to do. Talk about optics …. ouch. That memory has stuck.
Off subject, but if you don’t want to read the world’s longest 6th grade book report avoid Louisa:The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams by Louisa Thomas. I sacrificed two hours of my life & give fair warning.
Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) waves after speaking to supporters at the DCCC U.S. midterm election night watch party at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7, 2006. Behind Pelosi is U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH). Photo by Larry Downing/Reuters
from pbs:
The Ohio congressman challenging House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi says his colleagues understand that regaining the majority requires a “new message and a new messenger” able to reach out to voters who abandoned the party in this month’s election.
House Democrats are set to vote Wednesday on who’ll lead them when Congress reconvenes in January.
Pelosi — a 76-year-old liberal from California — says she has the support of two-thirds of her caucus.
Her challenger, 43-year-old Tim Ryan, tells “Fox News Sunday” that colleagues have told him the Nov. 8 election was about change and that they want change, too.
wonder if the chief twit will now tweet he’s changed his mind on prosecuting Hillary… if for no other reason than to stir up his troops, the media and distract everyone from the recount.
raw story collects a bunch of Sunday’s tweetstorm including some colorful ones by ko… here’s one of the least colorful of those:
Keith Olbermann
✔
@KeithOlbermann
And look in a mirror, @realDonaldTrump, and let your eight chins break it to you: you’re blowing this. You’ve erased your dignity #GetOutNow
11:43 AM – 27 Nov 2016
more fun and games
https://youtu.be/dfrSwowxpr8
Trump ‘furious’ over Conway talk on Romney
raw story reports Conway’s response to above mojo was that it was sexist and:
Conway added that she can have any job she wants, Scarborough reported. “I’m not sure how that reporting is sexist,” he responded. “Those were sources at the top of the campaign. Is she suggesting that the people that she’s working with … are sexist?”
I’ll keep this one simple or I’ll lose my temper again. I want Nancy. Thank you.
Jamie, nancy is great and knows her stuff. too bad the country has dumbed down. so imagine how much more press and airtime we’d get with some beautiful amazon (think julie newmar type crossed with an al franken) who would bedazzle and bedevil the britches off the media, cong critters and the twit. 🙂
I thought Tim Ryan was related to the other Ryans in Ohio political life but he isn’t…but he did work for Jim Trafficant and now holds his seat. I like Nancy P and she should be made head of any fund raising unit. I also like Stenny Hoyer we were young democrats at the same time. But now all bets are off and the Democratic Party needs some new leadership and I don’t think Nancy P is going to provide it.
We don’t need our own Donald Trump but it seems to me it is time we recognize that we do elect our president on style over substance and put someone out there who will inspire Americans to be better people.
Trump’s plan is to put America up for sale and in the end I don’t think that is what people want. I think they want to be inspired to be better people. To lift up and find ways to help everyone have a better life.
Out with the old….in with the new…..even Einsteins theory of the speed of light theory being always constant…no matter what…..is being replaced by new ideas……there are two professors going to test a new theory that show that the speed of light is variable……..so bye bye Pelosi…. matter of fact….i would like to see that all positions replaced every two terms………dont like the fact that Diane Fienstein is so comfortable in her conflict of interest position……going to the park to do my tai chi……little cold….so will be wearing a hoodi…..hope that im not arrested and…….later
Jace, prouder than a game rooster to be your friend……..
No can prosecute Clinton there is no case and Trump knows it — thus his fake magnanimous position
Sessions will be too busy prosecuting members of the Klan that smoke pot — the worst betrayal — and trying to figure out how to reinstate the poll tax to go down the rabbit hole of another Clinton kangeroo trial
You can overcome being a white nationalist
The Condom is getting what she deserves. Trump will dump on anyone at anytime if it serves his purpose – he probably told her to tweet bad things about Romney and now he is pretending she was out of bounds. Couldn’t happen to a nicer person
I hope she got all her $$$ up front
November 27th is the anniversary of the assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk
It happened just a few days after the People’s Temple disaster. It was a terrible time in SF politics
Right at the moment in one of my “If I Ruled The World” fantasies, I would give every single male of the species haunting the halls of Congress and all other branches of government a heave ho that would have them all treading water in the Potomac. They’ve messed up enough of the world. It’s time for equal opportunity screw ups.
I say promote her to Leader Emerita. The gentrification of the Democratic Party weakens the two party system.
kgc, thanks for linking that ny times piece by ex-white supremacist derek black. very moving to read. here’s an excerpt of what he wrote near the end of it:
The wave of violence and vile language that has risen since the election is only one immediate piece of evidence that this campaign’s reckless assertion of white identity comes at a huge cost. More and more people are being forced to recognize now what I learned early: Our country is susceptible to some of our worst instincts when the message is packaged correctly.
No checks and balances can redeem what we’ve unleashed. The reality is that half of the voters chose white supremacy, though saying that makes me a hypocrite. I was a much more extreme partisan than a vast majority of Trump voters and I never would have recognized that label.
The motivations that led to this choice are more complex. I have no doubt many of his supporters voted thinking he’d soften his rhetoric, that his words didn’t really matter. The words were not disqualifying for them because they don’t see, or refuse to see, what the message of hate will reap.
Most of Mr. Trump’s supporters did not intend to attack our most vulnerable citizens. But with him in office we have a duty to protect those who are threatened by this administration and to win over those who don’t recognize the impact of their vote. Even those on the furthest extreme of the white nationalist spectrum don’t recognize themselves doing harm — I know that because it was easy for me, too, to deny it.
back in October, wapo had a long and informative article on him, the inner sanctum of supremacists network and his ultimate escape and redemption titled
“The white flight of Derek Black”
My nephew’s wife is a research ophthalmologist at the Ohio State Univ. Every time I hear of some sort of incident there, my heart rate quickens—she is absolutely the type of human being who rushes to the scene of need.
Looking out the back window from the kitchen table, I see two dumb-ass robins scratching around the leaves looking for worms. Didn’t anyone tell them that it’s the 28th of November?
(Daughter Sue’s 55th is today–the shock of ‘maturity’ has hit her; “Oh, Dad…”)
I think the DNC head rather than the head of house dems has more responsibility for guiding the ship through elections. Appointing a sitting MoC who was facing election was not a good idea. DWS had her own fish to fry and didn’t strike me as spending her time strategizing about electing house (& Senate) dems. I’m thinking the pugns had it right – put a “professional” atop the party apparatus and let them do their thing.
As far as Nancy goes, I’m lukewarm. She’s smart, knows her stuff and argues well on policy issues. I tend not to be a what have you got to lose kind of guy, so if Tim Ryan has a better idea of party leadership in the house, put it out there. I know nothing of Nancy’s relationship with Paul Ryan, which I think is the singular most important dynamic for a minority party leader in the house. But I’m just a small town lawyer in a sea of red, so I’ll see what happens. If I got to vote I’d be the model of a low information voter.
Solar, be interesting to see what the outcome of the anti-speed-of-light-is-constant scientists’ experiment will be. I guess every hundred or so years someone should step up and see if the old theory still holds water. Can’t wait for the results.
Here’s a tidbit on that Einstein challenge –
Smart people make my head hurt.
“…Can’t wait for the results.” Any time within a light-century or 100 will do.
Petraeus for Scty of State? Hell NO!
Not only did Petraeus engage in a sexual relationship with someone other than his wife, the miserable sob gave her TS-SCI documents. On the diddly-do count, he should have been reduced to the rank of major and drummed out of the Army–just as any other senior officer or top nco would have been treated. These people at the top are expected to set the example.
On the sharing of TS-SCI. He should be further reduced to 2d Lt and placed in the population of the US Army Disciplinary Barracks at Ft Leavenworth.
msnusworldreport
A Republican elector from Texas says he is resigning his position instead of casting his vote for Donald Trump, calling the Electoral College “corrupted from its original intent” and saying voting for the president-elect would “bring dishonor to God.”
Art Sisneros was considering in August the possibility of becoming a so-called faithless elector, meaning he would refuse to vote for Trump if the GOP candidate won the Lone Star State and its 38 electoral votes in November.
In a Saturday blog post on his website, Sisneros said he had decided he was not comfortable defying his pledge to vote for his party’s nominee, but neither could he cast his vote for Trump.
“Since I can’t in good conscience vote for Donald Trump, and yet have sinfully made a pledge that I would, the best option I see at this time is to resign my position as an elector,” Sisneros wrote. “This will allow the remaining body of electors to fill my vacancy when they convene on Dec. 19 with someone that can vote for Trump.”
Craig, Jamie, Pat, KGC & I forget who else-lots of you talking, which is good 🙂 I have nothing against Pelosi but…I will restate my case re the Democrats in general: Go young or go home! The Dems are starting to look like the Medicare party. I’m all for Pat’s idea to get someone who can “bedazzle and bedevil the britches off the media”! Right now the only one really doing that is Lizzie but, as I’ve mentioned, no matter how much I love her, she’s still a senior citizen and will eventually run out of steam! I’d love to see a ‘Lizzy in waiting’…a young woman or man with chutzpa who will stand up and say this is wrong EVERY TIME trump and his camp pull any of their crap! Someone who will speak up every time he tweets some outrageous lie! Someone to keep hammering away at the facts of his corruption, keep bringing up his tax issues, his foundation fraud, his racist, sexist views, his illegal use of his children as part of his “team”…none of them could ever be mistaken for Bobby Kennedy! Sounds like Keith O, maybe he can recruit some young political (Democrat) firebrand to step up to the plate and hit one out of the park 🙂 As for young Ryan, I don’t know enough about him to care one way or t’other. Is he the only viable alternative to Pelosi?
I get infuriated every time I see snowden quoted by media outlets. He’s a GD traitor and opportunist and should be in jail! I’d love for him and trump to someday get what they deserve and share a cell! When will the media stop adding to his 15 minutes, he’s had too much attention already?!?
Flatus: Happy B’day to your daughter from another Sue. My son turned 50 in Sept and was quite traumatized by the thought…but not as traumatized as his mom at the thought of having a 50 year old son LOL!
Pogo: Very interesting piece on the Einstein challenge (over my head of course) I was intrigued by the final quote: Because this is a theory, as Einstein himself once said,
That is the measure of a great mind. I had to laugh thinking how far from trump’s reality that last line is since in his world he is absolutely always right. But then, I would never accuse him of having a great mind 😀
Tim Ryan has written two books
Mindful Nation
In one of the most optimistic books to come out of Washington during these trying times, Congressman Tim Ryan presents us with an inspiring and hopeful view of our country’s future-and a roadmap for how to get there. Across America, people are feeling squeezed, exhausted, and running faster and faster while falling farther behind. The economy continues to struggle, wars rage on, and every week brings news of another environmental disaster.
His other is The Real Food Revolution
If the goal of the party is to chip away at the Regan Democrats now Trump suckers
this is the guy.
I think he is better at strategery than Nancy P
GrannySue–My (shared) commiserations
Pelosi is every nice thing stated. But she and the rest of the top Dems are in the age group where not waking up after a nap is called “natural”. She needs to step aside and provide support, not leadership. The Dems need someone closer to the Gen X/Y or even Millenials. I say she should step away based on results, not her age.
Pogo, thanks pal for providing that link for me…………..there is still so much to find out about our beginnings, our selves. I find all of this stuff so very interesting that sometimes i get lost in it….i re read things twice in order to contemplate it all……..to me what the largest find that can happen is knowing what kind of energy is at the end of the rainbow (black holes that its)…..me thinks ….energy to fly spaceships all over the universe…time travel maybe….and a whole lot more………….another thing that we are starting to find out a lot more …is how our brains function, how we use it……example…..i dont think that we have very much free will…..The Id, ego, super ego, alter egos…are all in charge of what we do each and every moment………ergo….we can train the mind…..one thing that you might notice….is that the republicans are more like children and selfish, very narcissistic ….that is the way the ID work….the child in us that never grows up…….the dems and most other people develop the frontal lobes….and the parts that keep the ID in check a lot more……not caring for others is an advantage to the rs….egalitarian tendencies in these kind of people are not the norm……this is why i say to the ds….to get down and dirty to keep up with this disadvantage……….Haven’t read it yet….but National Geographic has a great article…..called the new brain……..cant wait to get my hands on it……example …..we use about 5% or our conscious brain…..and 95% of our unconscious brain…………not too much room for free will………..sorry got carried away…….but i had not choice in the matter……hahahaaaa
bbronc, better to proudly hand over the keys and impart wisdom and guidance than have them pried from your hand leaving a legacy of anger and confusion.
The selection of Sen Kaine as the running mate did not make lower class and lower middle class hearts swell with pride, or make their brains select Dems on the 8th. The industrial heartland of America from Hibbing, MN to Birmingham, Al, and from KC to Pittsburgh was once the heartland of the Democratic Party, too. The Dems economic message has left these folks feeling betrayed.
If Dems intend keep the same message they’ve sent for 10 years, and also intend to win races, they’d better configure a new coalition. I don’t think that is possible.
However, if they want to serve people (rather than merely win elections) they’d better ditch their dependence on Wall Street and out-dated friedmanomics, and start talking up making all of America great.
We may use 5% of our conscious brain, but never all at once. I think we’d overheat and die if even 2% of the neurons fired simultaneously.
My good news for this horrid year. Born today fourth Great Granddaughter: Miranda Ellen.
xr…..your 3.47 comment is a home run….outta the park with bases loaded…….
I’m ready for a huge change. The Dems positive message should be re-invigorating the heartland and the working class.
Within 2 years the trump admin should be stuffed with self serving lobbyists. The Dems negative message then should be the betrayal of the trumpolution and the increase in Washington corruption under the repub elites.
Pelosi is not the instrument for this restructuring. She is too old – she doesn’t look like it, lucky for her, but she is older than Bernie ! She is too associated with Dem losses and too associated with the interests of rich people.
It’s time for a change. Of personnel and of minds.
Congratulations, Jamie & Miranda Ellen.
Thanks, Solar ! You scored 4 runs with this, and it bears repeating :
one thing that you might notice….is that the republicans are more like children and selfish, very narcissistic ….that is the way the ID work….the child in us that never grows up…….the dems and most other people develop the frontal lobes….and the parts that keep the ID in check a lot more……not caring for others is an advantage to the rs….egalitarian tendencies in these kind of people are not the norm……this is why i say to the ds….to get down and dirty to keep up with this disadvantage. – Solar
Jamie, horrid year be damned—a wonderful finale for Miranda Ellen’s first November! Congrats!
Yay for Miranda!
It is good to keep in mind that which the Dems already have, a pluroity of the voters. What we do not have is a solid block of the sane people who selected the floater (not the moran cohort).
“He’s a GD traitor ….” -Ms Mumatoog on eddie snowjob
? a gangster disciple ???
The Dems have been sending the same message about job loss and job creation since the 1960’s
so what is the new message?
But at least the message is slightly more honest then Trump — the jobs that have left are not coming back without disruptions and predictable consequences. The long term unemployed and those who have been displaced by trade should benefit from the infrastructure spending.
Congratulations Jamie!
I can see the floater pardon the traitor. Clinton had nothing which could be considered in the same league as what Patreaus willingly gave away. The few pieces which might have been known as classified, even if not marked so, is nothing compared to what the traitor gave away for sex. Now I am waiting for the floater campaign and media to equivalence the two. Obama should ask the court to strip the guy of his rank and let him sit at Ft. Leavenworth until he dies of old age.
Just watched a wonderful movie about Jesse Owens – Race. If you get the chance see it. Stephan James and Jason Sudeikis were terrific.
poobah, as you’ve suggested, Tom Vilsak agrees Dems need to stop ignoring the flyover world
Trumpelstiltskin is on another tweet storm. Do we have to swear him in before the “incapacity clause” can kick in? I know Pence is horrific but at least he seems to be marginally sane.