"Midterm fury might leave Nancy Pelosi safe"

[Clio the Leo]

Midterm fury might leave Nancy Pelosi safe
By JOHN BRESNAHAN | 5/18/10 5:10 AM EDT

Even if Democrats drop by the dozens in the midterm elections, Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s hold on power will be as safe as ever if Democrats retain a thin majority in the House.

In a smaller majority, Pelosi will be even more surrounded by loyalists, because most of the losers on the Democratic side of the ballot would likely be moderates and conservatives who have been the least reliable Pelosi supporters.

In interviews with more than two dozen Democratic lawmakers, none suggested Pelosi should be replaced, and nobody predicted a serious challenge to Pelosi’s authority, provided Democrats hold onto power.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina also would keep their leadership titles in a Democratic majority, lawmakers said, though there might be contests for some junior leadership posts.

Republicans who have demonized Pelosi may actually be cementing her hold on power within the Democratic Caucus. With GOP leaders openly predicting that Republicans will seize control of the House, any failure to do so will be portrayed by Democrats as a triumph for Pelosi and solidify her reputation as a survivor in a tough political environment.

“The bar is taking over the House. They’ve been clear about it,” Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) said of his Republican counterparts. “So if they don’t take over the House, I think it’s a big win.”

Pelosi loyalists will draw even closer to her within a smaller majority.

“I think that win, lose or draw in November, Nancy’s stock has gone up because of the way she has pulled us together and gotten tough stuff done that we’re going to be campaigning on,” said Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York. “Pelosi was acting on the will of the caucus and has done a pretty remarkable job.”

Pelosi has history on her side as well, because efforts to oust sitting speakers are rare in House history.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37380.html

... and using this as an excuse to post this awesome photo again....

[NJmaverick]

1. The nation is moving in the right direction. Not only will the Dems not lose seats

they will gain seats as a reward for a job well done.

[asphalt.jungle]

2. i don't mind losing seats, as long as it's the right seats

a dem who rarely votes with the dems isn't a big loss even if he or she is 50% less contemptible than a potential repub replacement.

[NJmaverick]

3. When it comes to majority control, which is critical, a Dem is still a Dem

[asphalt.jungle]

4. if we couldn't stand to lose any

but we have a big enough advantage where it's not the end of the world if we lose some less reliable seats. i'm no party purity tester: a conservative dem helps deliver party leadership positions for people like pelosi just as much as any far left congressman. but i just like the position we're in going into a rough election cycle.

[NJmaverick]

5. In the House there is room to lose a few, in the Senate we need to gain another few

so that the Dems can kick Liberman to the curb as well as regain a filibuster proof majority

[DrToast]

6. Agree. We could lose probably 20 seats and not notice the difference