Progressives back Pelosi for speaker -- in return for more power

[RandySF]

It wasn’t a coincidence that moments after Nancy Pelosi promised progressive House leaders more power in the next Congress, a host of liberal groups announced they were supporting her for speaker.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who is expected to co-chair the House Progressive Caucus next year, left a Thursday night meeting with Pelosi in the Capitol and proclaimed that her members would have more seats on powerful committees and more influence over legislation.

The Washington state Democrat then phoned MoveOn and Indivisible with the news, and they promptly tweeted out support for Pelosi. Then, on Friday morning, Jayapal, previously uncommitted on whom she would back for speaker, gave Pelosi a full-throated endorsement.

“No one can really doubt Pelosi’s progressive chops,” Jayapal told POLITICO in an interview. “And I do think, for the next two years, as we lead into 2020, and are coming off this big wave, we need someone who is smart and strategic and has done this.”

She went on to note that the 15 to 20 Pelosi critics trying to oust her are more centrist in their ideology and goals than the rest of the caucus. If Democrats remove her, Jayapal argued, they would effectively be turning their backs on the voters who swept Democrats into power.

“That drive is not going to take us in the direction that we should go,” Jayapal said of the effort to depose Pelosi. “It’s going to be the opposite of what the election really told us, which is a much more diverse, progressive, bold agenda.”



https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/16/pelosi-speaker-progressives-congress-998595?fbclid=IwAR0YwmI5_nSwJNDDSkXDymT4ryq9lFntn0gsrbWEW3xp8O_uAXFKc4fBYaA

[Renew Deal]

1. I like Jayapal

I hope she gets the position she wants.

[RockRaven]

2. Moderate Dems shot themselves in the foot by buying into GOP and corporate media BS?

You don't say!!!

When are "centrist" Democrats going to learn you only get pain and ignominy by trying to appease Repukes and the DC pundit class?

[GulfCoast66]

3. Lots of 'centrist democrats' represent centrist districts

We have to accept that all democrats should have a voice.

And lots of our incoming freshmen are moderates.

[RockRaven]

4. But my point isn't that they aren't ideologically pure or worth listening to, my point

is that they diminished their own influence on the caucus and thereby made the caucus less like how they want it to be. That's not going to do them any favors in their centrist districts.

These moderates could have bargained their support for more influence, for better committee positions or legislative priorities or procedures, but they didn't. And the progressives did. It's an own-goal by the moderates.

[GulfCoast66]

10. Totally disagree

You seem to think that moderates, because they are moderates are doing some kind of calculating. Did you ever think they believe in their principles as much as you do?

Not all democrats believe in the exact same thing.

We are a big tent part. We should not make fellow democrats the enemy.

[RockRaven]

11. That's my point -- they *weren't* calculating. And now it will cost them.

Not out of vengeance, or revenge, or anyone not accepting them into our big tent. It is going to cost them because they missed their chance to maximize their influence on the caucus through committee assignments and the like. Instead of helping to drive the train they are going to be more like passengers. And in these "moderate" districts, being a moderating force on the party would have been good for the Democratic brand and improved their own chances of re-election. They shot themselves in the foot with their principles, and the wound is going to fester for 2 years.

[GulfCoast66]

13. Let's wait and see how this all pans out

I think you are way to quick in declaring a progressive sweep.

And compared to 20 years ago there really are few moderate democrats in Congress. Too often the term progressive is used to define which team one is loyal to.

[LBM20]

17. They will get plenty of good committee assignments. Hoyer himself is a centrist. Also,

Pelosi and Ryan others will be meeting and talking.

[LBM20]

15. We just got this Blue Wave by winning centrist districts with the right people. Enough of purity!

[Hekate]

5. Horsetrading is a fine old tradition, and how things get done. Give a little, get a little. Progress

[4now]

6. This really sounds great

I like the way that they worked with each other to make things better.

[peggysue2]

7. This is the way the world works with that nasty word . . .

Compromise. You give me something, I give you something back. For the politically pure this might make you gag but human interaction has always been about . . . compromise and barter strategy. Nancy Pelosi and seasoned wranglers know how to play this game and play it smart and shrewdly. We go for the greater good that ultimately works for the largest number of people.

It's never perfect or pretty because sausage-making is messy.

And so is democracy.

But in the end, it works and we move forward. Progress, progressivism, whatever you call it, it's the best we've come up with so far.

Herding cats is hard. But it's worth our effort. It's also worth our effort to the support the best Speaker-candidate we have which is without question Nancy Pelosi. She has no equal, not in the moment. The newbie reps coming in will learn from her and be mentored so when the woman retires, they can carry torch forward.

This is how we win. Supporting our own stars and rejecting the Republican narrative about who she is and who we are--an amazing coalition of fractious cats all leaning in the same direction, stretching out to our better angels for the sake of our families, our future, our country, the world.

We can do this! Because we must.

[RandySF]

8. I think the caucus will be fine once we get past this vote.

[peggysue2]

9. I think so too, Randy

This is a rough patch but I think the rationally-tilted are beginning to see the light. We have a tremendous challenge in the next 2 years and we simply must hit the ground running to get the job done for the American public.

And save the country while we're at it.

[LBM20]

16. Absolutely. You negotiate. You compromise. The whole country is founded on it.

[Wounded Bear]

12. There used to be a word for this...

Now what was that word....?
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Oh, right. Now I remember.

It's called politics.



All the posturing and shit is people horsetrading for power. Pretty normal at the beginning of any Congress, and especially when power flips parties. Everybody is jockeying for seats on committees and slots in the hierarchy.

[LBM20]

14. All Democrats are "PROGRESSIVE." It means making PROGRESS, and ALL are WAY better than R's!