Pelosi's "loss." Why is this such big news?

[TechBear_Seattle]

Pelosi's choice for House Majority Leader lost the caucus election. So what? Is this really such a big deal that all of the cable "news" outlets have to repeat this every half hour and claim it as "proof" that the Democrats are incapable of leading their own party? Is this just sour grapes from the White House Propaganda Machine or is this actually so important?

Sorry, but I don't see this as any more significant than being voted down by a group deciding on what pizza toppings to order. Pelosi wanted anchovies, most of the gang didn't. What am I missing?

[kstewart33]

1. Because she's a woman.

So the media focuses on her "big loss" and her Armani wardrobe.

It's a minor setback for her. If she were male, the media would have moved on.

[Virginia Dare]

2. We have heard nary a peep...

about how Lott being installed back in power is a major blow to Bush and Rove.

[onenote]

6. I guess I missed the letter from Bush/Rove publicly endorsing Alexander

Pelosi, the leader of the party, publicly went out on a limb to support one Democrat over another, and lost. That's news.

[Virginia Dare]

8. Did you miss the fact that...

Bush and Rove threw Lott under the bus in favor of installing their boy Fristy? Yes, Bush and Rove backed Alexander...it was no secret, except maybe to you...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/15/AR2006111501371.html

[onenote]

14. believe me, I know a hell of a lot more about this than you

And what we're talking about is a perception issue: Pelosi stuck out her neck by publicly writing an open letter of endorsement for Murtha instead of keeping quiet. Once she put herself out there like that, she earned the flack when she lost.

[Virginia Dare]

15. Do tell....

I'm all eyes...give us the scoop about what you know, I defer to your supreme knowledge here, educate me.

[onenote]

17. I don't have have "supreme knowledge" to know more than you do

You seem to think that the fact Pelosi publicly backed the wrong horse in an intraparty matter as her first move as leader isn't news. I disagree, and since it clearly is news, I think we've established who knows what they're talking about.

If you go back to Bush throwing Lott under the bus the first time, that was big news too. The fact that chimpy's support for Alexander didn't produce a victory over Lott isn't big news this time (1) because it wasn't done with the same public splash as Pelosi's letter and (2) the repubs are running from the WH big time these days and, frankly, what's surprsing is that Alexander came as close as he did. In case you didn't notice, chimpy wasn't all that welcome out on the campaign trail this time and his "endorsement" doesn't carry much weight.

Pelosi, on the other hand, has no track record. This was her first move, and I've spoken with a number of senior Democratic lobbyists -- former members of Congress etc -- with whom I deal professionally, and they all think Pelosi screwed up. She picked a fight she couldn't win which is stupid politically and since it was her very first move as leader of the party, it was destined to become a bigger story than it needed to be.

[spooky3]

18. While all you are saying may be true...

1) Newcomers to jobs do make mistakes sometimes. Lots of times, in fact. The issue will become newsworthy only if it becomes a pattern from which Pelosi does not learn.

2) The story was blown WAYYYY out of proportion in the media. The average citizen could not care less about which Dem is selected as ... what was the job again? who? ... oh yeah... The average citizen DOES care about many things that the media is not covering to nearly the same extent.

[Virginia Dare]

21. It certainly was a big story inside the beltway...

Political insiders will always hand-wring over these things, that's nothing new. I don't think the average American citizen cared much either way, as it effects them very little.

Personally, I don't see it as much of a screw up on her part, maybe a small misstep at the most. She probably knew it was a long shot, but one worth taking. She knows where she stands now, and she's savvy enough to adjust accordingly.

I don't see it having any long term effects as far as her leadership goes. Whether she likes it or not, her colleagues chose Hoyer, and she will have to work with him. They know each other well, each knows how the other stands, they'll have their disagreements, but that's not necessarily always a bad thing, I have faith that it will all work out.

As far as Lott goes, I disagree, I think it was a big story, it shows an additional chink in Rove's alleged political armor.

By the way, I live in Washington too, I'm no stranger to Washington politics, and I'm no stranger to the inner workings of Nancy Pelosi.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Totally Committed]

4. She is being made and "example" of....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2741175#2741227

TC

[onenote]

5. because she's ostensibly the leader of the party

and she didn't exactly lead it very well on this one.

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. She didn't lead the Democrats in the GOP fashion, that is certain

That is to say, she didn't issue an edict and strong-arm everyone into obeying that edict unquestioningly.

How very sad that the lack of fascist leadership is seen as weak and indecisive in the US nowadays. Sad, and a bit scary.

[onenote]

12. actually, the way the repubs handled this was a lot smarter

In 1994, Gingrich wanted Bob Walker to be majority whip. He voted for him, but did not publicly issue a letter of endorsement. When Delay ended up winning, it was not perceived as a significant loss for Gingrich because he had made the wise move of not publicly seeking to divide the repubs.
Pelosi's move was amateurish.

[Virginia Dare]

9. She owed a political debt to Murtha...

and she paid it. I don't see her in an unfavorable light for it. She's loyal to those who are loyal to her, how is that a bad thing? She and Hoyer have a long history together, going back 40 years, and their relationship has often been contentious. Being top rate politicians, I'm confident they can now put it behind them and work together.

[DURHAM D]

22. In a few months when the American people are even

more angry about the war Pelosi has some political cover because her anti-war guy did not get the job.

Second point - the media, the inside the beltway gossipmongers, the American public and the folks at DU have no idea what the reason and strategy for her support was all about. The strategy is complex and layered and may not work or work in ways we will never know.

We know nothing.

[geek tragedy]

10. Slow news cycle. eom

[blm]

11. No different than the 'droppedpronoun-gate" Media spins against ALL liberal Democrats

while giving all courtesy to any Democrat friendly to BushInc.

[oasis]

13. The corporate media has to dig up something besidesTom Cruise's wedding.

They dare not cover what's happening in Iraq.

[KKKarl is an idiot]

16. We are not the republican party

The best part about being a progressive is that you can disagree about something & still find common ground on other things. We do not take the position of if you are against our leaders policy then you are un-patriotic. Pelosi loosing on this vote is nothing big. Fox news wants to make it a big thing, but at the end of the day Hoyer & Pelosi agree on more issues than Murtha & Pelosi.

[Skittles]

25. yes; Democrats do not goose-step

after 12 years of republican goose-stepping the press is very confused

[Cass]

19. Because she's a woman and a democrat. Its a twofer for these idiots.

I don't like this at all. IMO, they are insinuating that she's a bitchy shrew who can't keep the democrats in line. Its all very condescending, rude, and sexist.

[kentuck]

20. Because the Repub that won for Minority Leader...

was caught passing out checks from Big Tobacco,to his fellow members, on the floor of the House...And that was somehow not as significant as losing a vote by the Speaker? Now, if she had won....?

(A lot of prepositional phrases)

[otohara]

23. Because The Media Has Anti-Dem Bias

think about how many names they call democrats vs republican's.

[let us vote]

24. She ran unopposed for her position. The MajL was the first test.

The MajL position was her first battle. It was assumed that there was a system where everyone would move up a level when the majority switched. No one wanted to buck the expected trend and risking losing valued chairmanships. Pelosi thought she had the power to change the status quo and found that she doesn't have the power to make waves.

[sampsonblk]

26. Slow news day-nt

nt

[yellowcanine]

27. Well it is bigger news than an Edward's staffer buying a Play Station at Walmart, imo.