# Any good reason to keep Pelosi as speaker? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 6, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919 "2020-11-06T19:48:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/21 "2020-11-06T22:14:17Z")
Whoever’s Speaker, it’s probably only going to be for two years. Democrats will have a narrow majority. Republicans will have full control of redistricting in the big states that are likely to gain Congressional seats during reapportionment (TX, FL). That plus (assuming Biden hangs on) the traditional mid-term election turn against the President’s party makes it exceedingly likely that Republicans will pick up the House majority in 2022. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/22 "2020-11-06T22:34:11Z")
The biggest political consideration is going to be that the “problem solvers” caucus has a lot of power, the justice democrats have a lot of power, and Pelosi doesn’t obviously give either group all of what they want. So the big question is whether they want to have that fight now, or avoid it. It probably makes sense for progressives to keep her for the time being while they try to make inroads, and for moderates to try to get a young, more mainstream speaker who has the potential to stick around for a long time. Otherwise, I think Pelosi is generally a much better strategist than most other Democrats in leadership and her seniority/credibility help get everyone behind her for important votes, but obviously she’s also a lightning rod for the right. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/23 "2020-11-06T22:43:28Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Yes long ago some people lived long. Especially people with wealth. Overall life expectancy for white males in 1776 was 38. That’s mostly because a lot more people died in infancy or childhood. People who reached middle age were still likely to live into their 70s. Many of the founding fathers were involved in US governance for decades themselves. James Madison, for example, was a representative under the Articles of Confederation, part of the Constitutional Congress in the 1780s, served as a Congressman for the next 8 years, as Secretary of State for another 8 years, and then had a two-term presidency. That’s a combined 25+ years in national office. > [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I have this feeling that Washington , Adams, Jefferson ,etc never imagined people in DC for 30, 40 years. Literally all three people you named were significantly involved in the formation and politics of the United States for decades. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/24 "2020-11-06T23:20:08Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > if she is a master where is another stimulus bill? I know Trump is a mentally ill moron but he did go for the 1st one. You seem to be unaware that McConnell and the Senate prevent measures proposed in the House from moving forward. A lot. Like almost all of them. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/25 "2020-11-06T23:53:55Z")
So far Pelosi has demonstrated a high level of skill and competence at leading the House delegation. You’d have to come up with much better reasons than “she is 80” and “has been around a king time.” We need our skilled leaders. Come up with someone who beats her on skill, competence, efficiency, and outcomes and that’s a basis for discussion. Tim Ryan is great. Nothing against him. But he needs to make a case that he is better than Pelosi. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/26 "2020-11-06T23:58:55Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > One of my big problems with Biden is he never really had a non political job. Glad he won, but he was my last choice. Politics is a skilled profession like any other. There’s zero reason to favor people who have had other jobs. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/27 "2020-11-07T00:00:33Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > It would be interesting if a non house member was speaker since no law says the speaker must be a house member No _law_, but custom, it wont happen. Pelosi is a great Speaker. Pelosi scares trump shitless, and until he is gone, gone gone, we need her. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/28 "2020-11-07T00:04:52Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > Why changes horses when you are about to begin crossing a new stream? Exactly. Especially when you don’t know which horse you’d be changing to. That will do nothing but cause more problems and division at a time Democrats need to be pulling together to get things accomplished. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/29 "2020-11-07T00:09:33Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > if she is a master where is another stimulus bill? The same place it’s been since May 15th: sitting in McConnell’s trash can. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/30 "2020-11-07T01:05:06Z")
Who was Speaker in 2010 when the Dems got their clocks cleaned losing 63 seats? ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/31 "2020-11-07T01:10:16Z")
Maybe let’s get someone who can get a stimulus package pushed through. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/32 "2020-11-07T01:16:43Z")
So the Democrats should vote to elect a Republican as the speaker? I don’t think that’s such a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/33 "2020-11-07T01:17:13Z")
> [@Ranch\_Dip](#): > > Maybe let’s get someone who can get a stimulus package pushed through. You really don’t understand how this system works, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/34 "2020-11-07T01:31:58Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Who was Speaker in 2010 when the Dems got their clocks cleaned losing 63 seats? You think Pelosi not being speaker would have changed that? > [@Ranch\_Dip](#): > > Maybe let’s get someone who can get a stimulus package pushed through. With Republicans in charge of the Senate, the only speaker that can push a stimulus package through is a Republican speaker. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/35 "2020-11-07T01:42:57Z")
Keep her. She’s fireproof. She’s been vetted by the GOP hate machine and the worse thing they got on her is that she’s a liberal from San Francisco. Switch leaders and you risk the kind of revolving scandal door the Republicans suffered in the late 90s. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/36 "2020-11-07T01:57:36Z")
FFS. Why are Democrats their own worst enemies? What’s our problem in Congress? Mitch McConnell. How should we attack that problem? By forming a circular firing squad while McConnell laughs into his wattles. Stop it. Please. Stop it. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/37 "2020-11-07T02:19:44Z")
Yeah, it works the other way. You need a good reason to switch her out. You definitely need an alternative, a reason why, and a reason why the Dems should even be divided and need to vote. I’m fine with someone better taking her place, if everyone can agree they’re better. But you need to find them first. And, yes, they’ll have to be a congressperson. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/38 "2020-11-07T02:31:32Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > Why changes horses when you are about to begin crossing a new stream? Dick Cheney said that about Bush. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/39 "2020-11-07T03:40:58Z")
How is that the Speakers fault? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919/40 "2020-11-07T03:42:10Z")
I dunno, picking the assassin who “did” Moscow Mitch might not be the best choice. 😁 He is the one stopping them, not Pelosi. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-reason-to-keep-pelosi-as-speaker/924919.md?page=3)