So, Nancy Pelosi is responding to congressional colleagues questioning of her “leadership” by saying “I’m worth the trouble” alluding to her fund raising expertise. Mkay, she does have a point about that money stuff but misses the point about leadership.
Since she moved her way to the top of the Democratic Party, largely by fund raising, there have been more failures than successes.
Her first move after becoming Speaker following a resounding mid-term election against the Bush junta, was to “take impeachment off the table” thereby squandering a clear mandate and disheartening a vast number of voters looking for action and justice.
Then she elevated Steve Israel to a powerful position based strictly on his fund raising focus. The subsequent blizzard of doom and gloom fund raising email spam and projects further killed voter enthusiams despite bringing in record money. Unfortunately, votes win elections so it turns out have a huge war chest is useless if you don’t keep voters enthusiastic, motivated and turning out. Ergo, the 2010 debacle.
Most recently, she was all in on the DNC strategy to back Hillary at all costs and alienate the vast Bernie contingent. The Bernie-or-busters were foolish and wrong, no doubt about it. But his message of “stick it to the man” and return to an FDR style populism where government FOR the people is embraced, was largely derided, belittle and ignored by Pelosi and the Party leadership.
There are many, many other examples, and I know most of KOSsacks will revile me for saying it but Pelosi needs to step back and accept a role as top fund raiser and let some younger one step up to lead the Party.
She has had her turn. She has had many successes and achievements. But everyone has a time limit. And she has reached hers. The Democratic Party needs 21st century leaders. Leaders of the past should be still revered and honored but from the sidelines.
We do not need JFK accolytes. We need new JFKs. New FDRs. A new way to a new New Deal.
<updated for political correctness>