Okay, quickie diary here but CNN Breaking News that Nancy Pelosi has been retained as Democratic leader, this time Minority Leader:
Washington (CNN) -- House Democrats voted to make Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, their leader for the 112th Congress Wednesday, overcoming objections from moderates who argued that she was partly responsible for the party's overwhelming defeat at the polls two weeks ago.
Pelosi turned back a challenge from North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler, a member of the party's diminished centrist "Blue Dog" faction, in a 150 to 43 vote. The speaker -- now set to be House minority leader in January -- retained the solid support of party liberals, who have noted her fundraising prowess and past ability to lead congressional Democrats to power, among other things.
An earlier motion to delay the Democratic leadership vote until December 8 was easily defeated in a 68 to 129 vote. Some rank-and-file members were seeking more time to "fully understand the causes of our historic losses" in the midterm elections, according to the resolution.
To "fully understand the causes" of November 2nd's defeat, you'd probably need a team of psychiatrists to examine the nation's mental health. But with over 400 bills passed that were sent to the Senate to die, the fault probably isn't entirely in the hands of Pelosi, but rather the heads of the DCCC and the DNC; I'm surprised I haven't seen Tim Kaine's photo on a milk carton but that's a different diary topic. And yes, I know that many Kossacks are still pissed that impeachment was "off the table", but let's put the blame with the Republicans on this one for turning impeachment into a political football with their dragging the country through the process during Bill Clinton's Presidency.
Anyway, congratulations to Nancy Pelosi; you're likely in a thankless job with far fewer cats to herd, but hang in there and maybe things will turn around in a couple of years or so.
UPDATE Further BREAKING NEWS from CNN: Demonstrating their commitment to minorities, the Republicans have tapped the first Orange-American, John Boehner, as House Majority Leader for the upcoming Congress.