OK, so lately I have been reading a good bit about Nancy Pelosi and her status as the “boogey-woman” of the right and her supposed causing of garment rending on the left due to her “baggage” and I wanted to get this on the record.
Nancy Pelosi is the OBVIOUS choice for Speaker of the House.
I could go into a long winded list of reasons but instead I want to make two simple points and then let this whole discussion roll of my back from now on.
Point One:
Most opposition to Nancy is not coming from the supposed “left” of the party. Tim Ryan is a middle of the road, if not slightly right of center white male. He claims to have 20 votes that will not vote for Nancy Pelosi. Are they centrist white men as well? I would venture a guess he isn’t teaming with Barbara Lee and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Left is NOT opposing Nancy Pelosi in any real way.
Point Two:
Well, I guess it is the same as point one!! The left is not mobilized against Nancy Pelosi.
Barbara Lee, for example, one of the most progressive congressional voices of the past 40 years has moved into a leadership role for the first time and has stated she is not seeking the Speakership. There are organizations that want to draft her, but she is smart and knows that there will be other opportunities. Indeed those organizations also know that, they are simply positioning her as a future candidate. She knows right now we need to hit the ground running and only someone who has been there before can do that.
I guess that last part was a point on its own, so let’s break it out.
Point Three:
The fact is, that to provide support for other House members who want to investigate, while also holding the caucus together for every little vote, is too important to allow a 6 month learning curve for a new speaker to get steady footing.
So, when you think about this, remember:
1) There is not a large coalition against Nancy, only splinter groups.
2) The loudest opposition is actually “conservative” or “centrist” democrats.
3) We need experience.
There are only two years to go here. Someone will succeed Nancy eventually. I have my own favorite. We all do. But now is not the time
Signed,
A left wing super progressive pie throwing bernie bro who usually would clamour for change but sees the bigger picture so please, no flags.