Two Massachusetts Democrats say it's time to dump Pelosi

[former9thward]

Source: Chicago Sun Times

WASHINGTON — Two Democratic stalwarts from Massachusetts are suggesting that Rep. Nancy Pelosi should leave the party’s leadership team in Congress after big electoral losses last year and in 2010.

Reps. Michael Capuano and Stephen Lynch made the statements on WGBH’s “Greater BOSTON,” with Lynch predicting outright that “Nancy Pelosi will not lead us back into the majority.” Asked by host Jim Braude if the answer to the question whether Pelosi “should go?” is “yes,” Lynch said, “Right.”

Capuano was also asked if the 75-year-old Pelosi should quit leadership ranks. He said: “That, or she should change, one way or the other.”

Each of the top three House Democratic leaders is in his or her 70s.

Read more: http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/7/71/509507/two-massachusetts-democrats-say-time-dump-pelosi

[wolfie001]

1. They don't come any blue-dogier than Hoyer.

He'd slash Social Security first chance he gets. Hardly can call him a Dem. My opinion of course.

[Action_Patrol]

21. Ridiculous.

He's a staunch union supporter and a good leader.
I don't see any merit in your accusations.

[wolfie001]

25. I guess you haven't heard of google. nt

[Action_Patrol]

26. No idea what you are yammering about

Guess you are the Prime Minister of Vague. Pleased to meet you your honor.

[wolfie001]

39. "yammering"? pfft

Listen "pal": if Hoyer wants to , and I quote "Keep cuts to Social Security on the table" in his negotiations with repukes, then he's a blue-dog. You may just be a blue-dog lover and you haven't realized it yet. Yammer that.

[Action_Patrol]

40. He IS a blue dog. Part of their caucus.

It doesn't change the fact that he's been strong for the party, a solid Union supporter and defender of Democratic principles and priorities. He's also been very good to his district and constituents. Which is his job.
Go project your garbage on someone else, "pal".

[wolfie001]

41. Start something you can't handle?

At least you admitted he's a "blue-dog"....lol..... Now how 'bout he just leaves it for a younger generation. Just curious, did he ever lift a finger to keep Wakmart out of Maryland? He's accepted a lot of campaign contributions from this "Evil Empire" so I guess your argument about being a "Union supporter" depends on the Union. You don't need to respond because you're a Hoyer supporter but jeez, the guy's a Dino!

[Action_Patrol]

42. "Admitted"? There's nothing to admit. It's fact

Keeping Wal-Mart out of Maryland? Ha. That's your line in the sand for being a Democrat? What a busted sense of priority you have there.
It's not my argument. It's yet another fact. You don't like the Democratic leadership? Fine, but your purity tests are pure bullshit.
No need to respond "pal". We've nothing to discuss, obviously.

[Octafish]

46. Hoyer was one of those who voted to remove Glass-Steagal.

Reverse Robin Hood megabankster style.

[wolfie001]

47. Dino looking to make a deal with the Replugs on SS. nt

[swilton]

2. At least some people

smell the burning coffee

[merrily]

27. Here's what's puzzling me: I had read that one of Capuano's hallmarks

was being liberal AND getting along very well with Pelosi. That was a few years ago, though.

[mtasselin]

3. YES

Also get rid of Debbie Schultz, I will not give a dime until there is a house cleaning. These people don't own these jobs just the suits that they wear.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

4. Personally, I think Nancy has hurt us more than helped.

I think she's made it harder for Obama to govern.

[dbackjon]

5. Agree - but not Hoyer

[Arkana]

6. Pelosi isn't to blame.

It's the fact that Democrats have ignored statehouse races--they control district maps, and the GOP's iron grip on them has caused so many states to be redrawn into R-friendly maps that they have effectively districted Democrats out for another decade.

[asjr]

8. You're correct. Pelosi has been a rock for Democrats.

My state could have Democrats instead of Republicans for Senators if we had enough Democrats with enough fervor to get out in this state with the message that we are much better off with Democrats in charge. The rural part of the state is where the older voters live. They listen to the Republicans disguised as snake oil salesmen. All they have to do is say, Bless you man or woman for praising the Lord. He is on you side. Mr So and So is a dedicated person who loves the Lord. Vote for him. Then, they will sing his praises to their neighbors who will say later to a friend I'm going to vote for Mr Snake Oil. He is a true Christian.

[merrily]

34. Perhaps more. The re-districting and waves of 2010 and 2012 put a lot of Republicans in Congress.

The now have the strong advantage that incumbency bestows. And, as the old saw goes, everyone hates Congress, but everyone loves his or her own Rep.

Even if every Republican now in Congress doesn't run again, even their endorsements and campaign appearances will mean something to the voters of their districts.

That may mean that Republicans will get to re-district again in 2020. It's not the result I want, but it's a possibility.

Democrats might have to do something dramatic to get the majority back. Either that, or the Republicans will have to mess up even more than usual--and that thought is shudder producer.

[Romeo.lima333]

7. this dem agrees madame impeachment-is-off-the-table needs to go

[Bluenorthwest]

9. Lynch is pretty conservative, anti choice and sided with the GOP on Teri Schavio so should his

opinion amount to a hill of beans to me? If so, please explain to me why that is.

[kiri]

15. right on!

With Dems like Lynch, who needs Republicans?

[merrily]

33. Capuano could hardly be more liberal, though. Lynch's His position on choice, as of a 2013 article.

US Representative Stephen F. Lynch, who has consistently described himself as an antiabortion legislator, said Monday that he believes abortion is a constitutionally protected right and that as a US senator he would actively oppose anti­abortion nominees to the Supreme Court.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/02/05/lynch-long-pro-life-antiabortion-legislator-says-supports-roe-wade/TvoPjNf90snncEUckQXBRK/story.html

Lynch, a Catholic, with very Catholic voters, used to take Catholic positions. Never the deciding vote, though. So was it his view, or was it D.C. kabuki, or was it some combination? Dunno. However, he got re-districted, or saw the light, or whatever. He now has a different mix of voters.

The important thing for me, since he is my rep, is that he doesn't take those positions anymore, but, for purposes of this article, that's not even the point.

From the article, it seems Lynch mostly just agreed with Capuano, who is one of the most liberal members of Congress (both Houses), IMO.

[PBass]

10. Yawn. People say dumb things all the time.

Nancy Pelosi has been incredibly effective as Speaker of the House. She's been one of the best Speakers the Democratic Party has ever had. The main reason Republicans hate her so much - she's been very effective. (Not referring to the Fox News watchers who hate her - they know nothing).

Besides that, Nancy Pelosi is one of the biggest fundraiser that the Democratic Party has -- second only to President Obama, if I remember correctly. As long as money is so important in our political process, that's important to all of us. It takes money to win. The candidates who spend the most generally win. I wish that wasn't true, but it is.

I agree that we should have younger leadership waiting in the wings, and I believe we probably do. But until then, Nancy Pelosi has been doing a great job. New leadership won't have Pelosi's experience, or her ability to 'herd the cats'. Countless bills were passed under her leadership, and were sent to the Senate where they were suppressed. Now in the minority, she has been doing a great job countering John Boehner.

VIVA NANCY

[elleng]

20. Right, you (and I) said it:

'New leadership won't have Pelosi's experience, or her ability to 'herd the cats'. Countless bills were passed under her leadership,'

[hrmjustin]

11. If she steps down Hoyer is next.

Not a fan or a detractor of his.

[Plucketeer]

23. Please! Not Hoyer!

Hoyer's so blue-dog he makes the sky jealous.

[vkkv]

12. I agree. She should give it up.

She's sharp, realistic, attractive, but... she rubs too many people the wrong way.

And I'm from Calif.

And very much a lefty.

[CreekDog]

17. Lynch is practically a troll

Don't be fooled into thinking he reflects any Democratic opinion.

[merrily]

31. Name a position he advocates now that is contrary to the Democratic platform.

He's my rep, btw.

But, according to the article, Lynch basically agreed with Capuano, who is most definitely as Democratic as they come.

[CreekDog]

43. on abortion/choice, how do you not know this?

he's been your rep for how many years and has been anti-choice nearly all of them and you don't know this?

i got no time for this nonsense.

[merrily]

44. He is pro-choice. See Reply 33.

His positions have "evolved." Hence the word "Now" in my first reply to you.

Also the OP says almost nothing, yet people are ready to throw two very loyal, very good Dems under the bus over it.

on abortion/choice, how do you not know this?

he's been your rep for how many years and has been anti-choice nearly all of them and you don't know this?

i got no time for this nonsense.

Yet you had time to reply with out of date info and rudeness.

[dolphinsandtuna]

13. Nancy is probably the most effective Democrat

in National office, except Joe Biden.

Of course, she's an uppity woman, however. That no doubt rubs some people the wrong way.

[elleng]

14. Right. Thanks. She's very effective as leader in the House.

Sorry if she rubs some the wrong way.

[quadrature]

18. Pelosi is effective at raising money ..

other than that,
she is interchangeable with
with a hundred other people

[elleng]

19. She leads the Democratic caucus in the House very well,

knows what's what, counts and 'herds cats' very well. Not at all comparable with a hundred others. Compare with someone like boner to get an idea of what a BAD speaker 'accomplishes.'

[merrily]

35. I assume (and hope) "an uppity woman" is sarcasm on your part.

[CreekDog]

16. Lynch? Who cares what that idiot thinks.

I'd sooner listen to Frank Luntz.

[merrily]

30. Capuano is no idiot. Lynch is not inferior to Frank Lunz.

[The Stranger]

22. Still will never understand why she kept guaranteeing the Bush war criminals that "impeachment is of

f the table . . . "

She both gave away all of the political leverage in the world and became complicit in the junta.

[PassingFair]

36. Probs because the New Dems and Blue Dogs in the dem party would never press it.

I like Pelosi.

All sides have problems with her, assuring me that she takes
a measured stance and tried her best to move things along.

Hoyer would STINK.

Would she be replaced by dem house vote, or party placement?

[The Stranger]

45. It didn't matter what the New Dems or Blue Dogs would do.

Simply by HAVING IT AS A OPTION, she held political leverage with the Bush criminal war cult.

So she intentionally eviscerated that leverage and became essentially complicit in war crimes.

[c588415]

24. Pelosi has done more for Dem Party than these 2

ass-clowns. They owe her an apology.

[merrily]

29. I'm in Boston. Those are NOT ass clowns.

It's a lousy story, though.

[merrily]

28. How to they want her to change? For media, apparently, it's enough that

they criticized her. It doesn't matter what they meant.

"We have a big story: Two Democratic politicians criticizing a third. No specifics needed."

"Next big story: Ask Pelosi to comment on this."

[ladjf]

32. She has and continues to serve America well.

Democratic Party has numerous problems. But, Ms. Pelosi isn't one of them.

[obxhead]

37. 8 years late, but hey

I applaud the announcement.

[merrily]

38. The headline of the OP article is MISLEADING. Story with more details.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/04/08/lynch-capuano-call-for-change-democratic-leadership/HC5QkyYvmHI9qMlXjmSPqN/story.html