By Sturgeone, a Trail Mix Contributor
The US House of Representatives without Pelosi as speaker. A “Picture This” photo metaphor.
Carefully, carefully 
with the plates, Democrats.
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cnn via msn:
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi met Friday with prominent Democratic critics including Rep. Marcia Fudge, an Ohio lawmaker who is considering whether to run for House speaker and challenge Pelosi, who is seeking a return to the role leading the party when it retakes the majority in the new Congress.
With Democrats’ recapturing of the House majority in the midterms, Pelosi has consistently positioned herself to be the next House speaker, a position she held from 2007 to 2011. While Pelosi has been a fundraising juggernaut with allies throughout the caucus, many Democrats ran this fall on a message of refusing to support Pelosi’s leadership.
Fudge was among 17 signees to a letter written by a mixture of incumbent and would-be Democratic members who pledged not to vote for Pelosi in January.
Pelosi is meeting with at least two other signers of that letter Friday, Reps.-elect Max Rose of New York and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, as well as at least three other incoming lawmakers Haley Stevens of Michigan, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia.
Through a spokesman, Pelosi described the meeting with Fudge as “a candid and respectful conversation.” Pelosi’s office said the meeting was set up by Rep. Elijah Cummings, who is expected to become chairman of the influential House Oversight Committee in the next Congress.
Following the meeting, Fudge told reporters that Pelosi did not ask her specifically ask her not to run. Pelosi did ask what Fudge would need in order to support her bid, though. Fudge said she wanted to know about succession planning and being a more inclusive caucus.
“I’d like to know what her plans are. She did not share them with me. But it is something that our caucus is interested in knowing,” Fudge said. “I think the biggest issue we discussed was the feeling within the caucus who are feeling left out and left behind.”
She said she intends to keep in touch with Pelosi in the coming days, specifically “exchanging information” over her desire for a succession plan over the next week on that.
Fudge said if Pelosi pledged to serve only one more term as speaker that would satisfy her concerns.
“Absolutely. No question about it,” Fudge said.
[….]
Besides Fudge, Pelosi met with at least five other newly elected Democrats who have either criticized her or called for new leadership.
Van Drew, who has already announced he is a “no” on returning Pelosi to the speaker’s job, described his meeting with Pelosi as “a very pleasant conversation.” He said they discussed his district and what committees he wanted to be assigned to. He said he does not feel pressure about his opposition to her as speaker. Asked if Pelosi promised him a better committee assignment if he supported her for speaker, he said she did not.
Rose said Pelosi did not give him a pitch but quipped that she offered him a Coke and he accepted.
“Just an honest opportunity for me to introduce myself and talk more,” he said. “No pitch. No transactional politics.”
He said they talked “only a little bit” about the leadership race and that he made himself clear that he sticks to his promises. “She understands that and it was a great opportunity to talk to her.”
[…]
Separately, a “Dear Colleague” letter passed around by members of the House Democratic caucus dissatisfied with Pelosi says “we believe more strongly than ever that the time has come for new leadership in our Caucus,” according to a copy obtained by CNN.
Another letter that’s being circulated on Capitol Hill reveals multiple incoming freshmen — who were largely noncommittal on the House speaker race during their campaigns — will in fact support Pelosi.
The letter, obtained by CNN, is still being circulated and so far includes 61 signatures from women incumbents and members-elect. It comes as Pelosi is shoring up support from the progressive base this week with endorsements from large and powerful groups, as well as prominent progressives in Congress — a move that will put pressure on wayward Democrats to back her bid.
Notably absent from the list are progressive incoming freshmen like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jahana Hayes of Connecticut. Ocasio-Cortez told Vice News this week she was open to supporting Pelosi.
“If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow.”
so is Nancy the camel for meeting with opposition or is Marcia & company for meeting with her?
consider this quote from wiki: the story titled The Arab and His Camel ends with the moral: “It is a wise rule to resist the beginnings of evil.”
[that’s not meant to ascribe “evil” to either party. In this case, it’s meant as “advantage”]
meanwhile, speaking of intriguing women
wapo:
Attorneys for a Russian woman jailed on charges of seeking to infiltrate the National Rifle Association and other American conservative groups for the Russian government are in negotiations with federal prosecutors, both sides said in a court filing Friday.
Lawyers for Maria Butina, 29, and the U.S. attorney’s office for the District made the disclosure about talks over a potential plea agreement in a two-page filing that asked U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan to postpone a Dec. 6 court hearing by about two weeks.
“The parties state that they continue to engage, as they did before yesterday’s defense filing, in negotiations regarding a potential resolution of this matter and that those negotiations would be potentially hindered” by simultaneous litigation, both sides wrote.
[…]
Chutkan granted the delay and set a new court date for Dec. 19.
[…]
The court ordered Butina held without bond as a flight risk.
[…continues…]
son of Benghazi …goper critters won’t give up their hearing gavels ’til torn from their dead hands
the hill:
Former FBI Director James Comey invited House Republicans to hold a public hearing following a report from The Hill on Friday that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) is planning to subpoena him to testify before Democrats take control of the committee.
“House Republicans can ask me anything they want but I want the American people to watch, so let’s have a public hearing. Truth is best served by transparency. Let me know when is convenient,” Comey tweeted Friday.
The GOP chairman on Friday provided notice to Rep. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), the top Democrat on the panel and presumed incoming chairman, that he intends to subpoena Comey and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch to discuss their decision making during the 2016 campaign.
Goodlatte plans to subpoena the pair to discuss their decisionmaking during the 2016 presidential election, a committee aide told The Hill on Friday. Republicans on the panel are seeking to have Comey appear for a deposition on Nov. 29 and for Lynch to testify Dec. 5.
[…]
Under Judiciary Committee rules, the chairman must consult the ranking member at least two business days before issuing any subpoena — suggesting that the move could be imminent.
“It is unfortunate that the outgoing Majority is resorting to these tactics,” Nadler said in a statement Friday.
“Months ago, Director Comey and Attorney General Lynch both indicated their willingness to answer the Chairman’s questions voluntarily. My understanding is that the Republicans have had no contact with either the Director or the Attorney General since,” he added, stating that the subpoenas are “coming out of the blue.”
House Republicans, particularly those in the right-wing Freedom Caucus, sought to compel Comey to testify behind closed doors earlier this year. Comey declined, saying he would testify in a public setting.
bill’s suggestion for a happier thanksgiving
In his final New Rule of the season, Bill calls on Americans to find something to talk about other than politics.
but if you can’t help yourself talking politics
Bill recaps the top stories of the week, including Trump’s response to the California wildfires and paranoia over the Mueller probe.
also on bill maher last night you may want to watch
On the heels of House Democrats’ midterm election gains, Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) joins Bill to discuss the future of his party.
[BTW, swalwell is pro Nancy]
must confess I had never heard of Marcia Fudge before this all started — all day yesterday I thought her name was Martha
Maybe the 17 just trying to look good in their home districts.
Marcia Fudge has been around for awhile – my mother who died in 1996 worked with her on measures to help children in various states of distress
she does seem impressive, KGC, guess she’s one of those workhorses who don’t seek a lot of attention
Well since I seem to wax umbrageous on the subject, I’m going to withdraw from the fray and leave them to run their own house, and watch the chips fall as they may, and see how the cookie crumbles, and know that it will all come out in the wash. May the best workhorse win.
cbs news:
[…]
“They’re all done,” Trump told reporters at the White House early Saturday before leaving for California, adding that his responses will soon be submitted to Mueller’s team. “We do that next week,” he said, in what signals a new phase of the inquiry.
[…]
On Saturday, President Trump left Washington, D.C., for California after the death toll from the state’s Camp Fire climbed to 71 and the number of people unaccounted for jumped to more than 1,000. Mr. Trump is set to visit Northern California, where the destructive Camp Fire is raging.
Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, both Democrats, have welcomed Mr. Trump’s visit, declaring it’s time “to pull together for the people of California.” They will join Mr. Trump on his visit, according to the governor’s office, although details of Mr. Trump’s itinerary were not released as of Saturday morning.
Perhaps this kerfuffle has made Pelosi stronger. Everybody loves a winner.
I suspect that in the end Pelosi will get the gavel, which she should.
Trumps sudden concern over the CA wild fires is a day late and a dollar short. Hard for him to undo the damage his tweets have caused.
Also when Ohio lost congressional districts – she had to compete against another woman also a popular Democrat and people tried to talk her out of running but she stood her ground and won
My guess is that Pelosi wants the job until 2020. Would very likely retire after that.
Holly Figueroa O’Reilly
@AynRandPaulRyan
·
20h
NEW: A letter being circulated on Capitol Hill reveals multiple incoming freshmen — who were largely noncommittal on the House speaker race during their campaigns — will in fact support Nancy Pelosi
.
well, twit IS in same generation as smokey.
here’s a 2014 news report when smokey turned 70. a little nostalgia time on the trail
Hey- how much for that boat?
Saudi royal family needs to eliminate their idiot crown prince.
“Oh no, not that boat, I’m going to fix it up for my grandson. The hull is still in great shape.”
wapo:
JACKSON, Miss. — A U.S. Senate runoff that was supposed to provide an easy Republican win has turned into an unexpectedly competitive contest, driving Republicans and Democrats to pour in resources and prompting a planned visit by President Trump to boost his party’s faltering candidate.
Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith stumbled recently when, in praise of a supporter, she spoke of her willingness to sit in the front row of a public hanging if he invited her — words that, in the South, evoked images of lynchings. She has struggled to grapple with the fallout, baffling members of her party and causing even faithful Republicans to consider voting for her opponent, former congressman Mike Espy.
That Espy is attempting to become the state’s first black senator since shortly after the Civil War made her remarks all the more glaring. It has positioned him to take advantage not only of a substantial black turnout but of a potential swell of crossover support from those put off by Hyde-Smith’s campaign.
Espy remains the underdog in the conservative state, but Republicans with access to private polling say Hyde-Smith’s lead has narrowed significantly in recent days. Republicans need only to look to next-door Alabama, where Democrat Doug Jones pulled out a surprise win last year, to stoke concern.
For Republicans, the Nov. 27 runoff is a chance for a slight expansion of their majority in the Senate, their one bright spot in this year’s midterm elections. If Hyde-Smith wins and Gov. Rick Scott keeps his lead in the Senate race in Florida, Republicans would have a senate majority of 53 to 47. A loss in Mississippi would give the GOP a 52-to-48 majority, only one up from the current razor-thin margin.
Trump’s campaign announced Saturday that he would hold rallies for Hyde-Smith in Tupelo and Biloxi the night before the election. The Republican National Committee, meantime, has two dozen staffers in Mississippi and plans to send more. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is also sending reinforcements and last week made a $700,000 ad buy.
Concern over the tightness of the race came up last week during a conference call that Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo), head of the NRSC, held with Republican donors. In it, he equated the Mississippi race with the party’s ongoing fight over ballots in Florida.
“We take this race very, very seriously,” Gardner said, according to audio obtained by The Post. “We have emptied out the building of the senatorial committee to two places: Florida and Mississippi.”
[…]
Black voters make up 38 percent of the population in Mississippi, and Democratic strategists estimate Espy only needs about 30 percent of the white vote to win. On Nov. 6, an Associated Press voter survey found 57 percent of white voters supported Hyde-Smith, while 21 percent backed Espy and 18 percent voted for McDaniel. Some 83 percent of black voters supported Espy.
[…continues…]
Trump doesn’t care about the murder of a journalist.
Crown Prince Jared Kushner protects a murderer.
I just had this feeling tonight is a good night to watch All The President’s Men again. I did not realize how well I had insulated myself from politics, except for a few lapses. A neighbor asked me if I saw the latest results of a race in Utah, I did not recognize the name of the contestants. Wow. I am doing good.
Actually just a plain fact: He does not at all care about the murder of a journalist.
BB’s already got her sealed bid in. It’s to be the mail-boat for the SS United States.
Went and saw Bill Engvall tonight at the restored Robinson Grand Theatre here I East Bumfuck. Sat next to an old friend and neighbor- you know, the I shoulda called you kind. Had a great time. Engvall is one of the funny bastards who avoids politics in his show like the plague. Now I’m watching a 1991 Allman Brothers concert on a free trial of something associated with Amazon Prime. Guitar lineup is Dicky Betts and Warren Haynes – at the peak of their respective games. Great night.
One thing I noticed in the video of the Acosta event was that HRH Jared confronted Acosta as SFB retreated from the room after being called out by Acosta. What a prick.
Maybe it’s time to let the old ways die
Maybe it’s time to let the old ways die
It takes a lot to change a man
Hell, it takes a lot to try
Maybe it’s time to let the old ways die
Bradley Cooper – Maybe It’s Time (A Star Is Born)
I went to see Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. I’m enjoying this withdrawal from the majority of politics break until advertising for President starts on December 1. Next up; reading a book of fiction written by someone at least 150 years ago.
Jamie, for an escape to a pleasant civilized place when politics really get one down, I find it in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith set in Botswana and featuring the character Mma Precious Ramotswe. just about to start the 19th book pictured above.
good calming read before bedtime, sort of a mental palate cleansing effect.
here’ what wiki has to say about the series:
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is a series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith set in Botswana and featuring the character Mma Precious Ramotswe. The series is named for the first novel, published in 1998. Eighteen novels have been published in the series between 1998 and 2017.
Mma Precious Ramotswe is the main character in this series. The country of Botswana is in a sense a character as well, as it is a crucial aspect of how the stories flow. Mma Ramotswe starts up her detective agency when she is 34 years old, using the inheritance from her father to move to the capital city Gaborone to buy a house for herself and find an office for her new business. She feels a detective needs to know about people more than anything, to solve problems for them. The novels are as much about the adventures and foibles of different characters as they are about solving mysteries. Each book in the series follows from the previous book.
The readership was at first small, then gained abruptly in popularity in the US and in England, beyond the author’s home in Scotland. In 2004, sales in English exceeded five million, and the series has been translated to other languages. Critical reception has matched the sales of the novels, generally positive, and considering the strength of the novels to be in the characters and Mma Ramotswe’s wisdom rather than in the specific mysteries solved in each novel.
The novels have been adapted for radio by the author and for television.
[…]
McCall Smith’s writing style in this series is “deceptively simple” as he “writes in a clear, uncomplicated prose, yet his work is nonetheless insightful and perceptive. His humour is dry, charming and kind-hearted, revealing an author who is keenly observant without a trace of maliciousness.”
[..continues…]