# Liberals - what do you think of Nancy Pelosi? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2017, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722 "2017-05-16T06:05:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/1 "2017-05-16T06:05:28Z")
I confess that, living abroad and being reasonably content with how the Obama administrations chugged along, I did not pay super-close attention to US politics in between elections. So I wasn’t really all that focused on Nancy Pelosi, other than generally agreeing with what she said when I read quotations of her remarks. I also tend to avoid videos in favor of written reports, so I hadn’t seen/heard her talking much. Now that I am paying much closer attention to current events and I’ve resigned myself to the fact that a lot of news is delivered via videos, I occasionally see recordings of her speaking. So I have a question: Is it just me, or is she kind of … inarticulate? (She’s much better than Trump, of course, but that is setting a pretty low bar.) I note she is 77; was she better before and now she is losing her edge? Or maybe I’ve just happened upon some of her lesser performances? (Obviously, I can’t control responses to the thread so perhaps non-liberals will chime in too. But if you dislike her for political reasons, it would be nice to know that you are not in overall agreement with her, since judgments on all political sides are inevitably influenced by whether or not we share the same general world view as the person being judged.) ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/2 "2017-05-16T13:14:45Z")
I’m not sure she’s ever terribly impressed me as a speaker/thinker, but I don’t think I paid as much attention to her before the last 5-10 years. I’ve respected her more for the consistent positions she’s advocated, and her years of accomplishments as a woman in our male-dominated government, rather than her eloquence. In the past 5 or so years, I’ve seen many a clip of her which came across as embarrassing. Not sure why she puts herself in such situations. I wonder if it redounds to her staff. But her politics are pretty solid in the opinion of this lib. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/3 "2017-05-16T13:20:53Z")
I think she’s a sharp politician who has stayed steady with her policies and positions. She was able to shepherd the ACA through which took considerable acumen (as evidenced by watching the GOP). The GOP strawman of her is just that, like “Obama’s the Messiah!”, meant to create an impression of adoration and infallibility that most liberals/Democrats don’t hold but I think she does her job well. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/4 "2017-05-16T13:22:16Z")
In my understanding, she is absolutely top-notch at some of the inside-baseball administrative political tasks like vote counting, whipping, party discipline, etc., which made her a very good House Speaker, IMO (if you agree with her and her party on politics). ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/5 "2017-05-16T18:14:42Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > In my understanding, she is absolutely top-notch at some of the inside-baseball administrative political tasks like vote counting, whipping, party discipline, etc., Exactly what I was coming in to say + fund-raising, which she is apparently superlatively skilled at. Scuttlebut is that some/many party activists would like to see her gone after repeated failures and too get fresh blood into position. And there have been attempts. But even those insiders are reluctant to pull the trigger ( or _try_ to pull the trigger ) because she is apparently a tireless workhorse who does many of the little things better than anyone else. Here is a longggg [article from The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/the-staying-power-of-nancy-pelosi/440022/) from back in 2015 that goes into considerable detail. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/6 "2017-05-16T19:00:00Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > In my understanding, she is absolutely top-notch at some of the inside-baseball administrative political tasks like vote counting, whipping, party discipline, etc., which made her a very good House Speaker, IMO (if you agree with her and her party on politics). Pretty much this. She’s not an impassioned or inspiring orator. But she rarely says the wrong thing and is pretty good at moving the congressional delegation to where it should go. She possibly doesn’t do as much for the party outside of congress - but I’m not sure that’s her job. Not as important, but she seems to be a nice person with a [sense](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLH0fT3mbe0) of [humor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtOW1CxHvNY). ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/7 "2017-05-16T19:07:06Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > In my understanding, she is absolutely top-notch at some of the inside-baseball administrative political tasks like vote counting, whipping, party discipline, etc., which made her a very good House Speaker, IMO (if you agree with her and her party on politics). Joining in the general concurrence here. Not only did she get the ACA through the House, [she got carbon cap-and-trade through the House](http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll477.xml), which had to be an even heavier lift. She even got 8 Republicans to vote for it - probably the absolute last time that was possible - and she needed some of their votes, too, since it passed 219-212, with 44 Dems voting No. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/8 "2017-05-16T21:29:51Z")
I have a lot of respect for Nancy Pelosi. Over time, I haven’t always agreed with her positions on specific bills, but she has never said or done anything I felt embarrassed me as a liberal. The right likes to paint her as an extreme left-winger, but she’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/9 "2017-05-16T22:04:14Z")
I put her in the same category as Clinton. A bit wonky, and not the most inspiring figure, but she gets the job done. Also like Clinton she the victim of thinly veiled misogynistic attacks that don’t really have any more depth than “Pelosi’s bad because everyone knows she is.” ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/10 "2017-05-16T22:19:47Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > In my understanding, she is absolutely top-notch at some of the inside-baseball administrative political tasks like vote counting, whipping, party discipline, etc., which made her a very good House Speaker, IMO (if you agree with her and her party on politics). I think she’s one scary lady, and I mean that as a compliment. She gets things done and she manages her caucus. She strikes me as tough as nails. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/11 "2017-05-16T22:42:48Z")
She seemed able to corral the democrats together, but she had a supermajority in 2009 and 2010. So it was likely easier for her. All in all I like her, I think she’d make a good senate majority leader if she ever wanted that position instead. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/12 "2017-05-16T23:10:16Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > I have a lot of respect for Nancy Pelosi. Over time, I haven’t always agreed with her positions on specific bills, but she has never said or done anything I felt embarrassed me as a liberal. The right likes to paint her as an extreme left-winger, but she’s not. The right likes to paint anyone to the left of Rush Limbaugh as an extreme left winger. The problem for them is that many of us (and growing) being an extreme left winger isn’t a negative. It is a neutral or a positive judgment. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/13 "2017-05-17T00:04:39Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > The right likes to paint anyone to the left of Rush Limbaugh as an extreme left winger. > > The problem for them is that many of us (and growing) being an extreme left winger isn’t a negative. It is a neutral or a positive judgment. My husband, for example, thinks she is too centrist. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/14 "2017-05-17T00:15:28Z")
She has been my congresswoman for as long as I can remember, and I have always been proud to vote for her. She isn’t the most charismatic politician, but as everyone has said, she gets the job done, and she strikes me as extremely intelligent. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/15 "2017-05-17T00:18:53Z")
She’s not the best speaker and can be frustrating, but she is sharp. Very sharp. The way she remembers everyone is amazing. She also does a great job, in my experience, in bolstering coalitions, handing out credit and kudos, thanking people directly and by name, etc. And yes, tough as nails. And with a legend of a senior policy advisor. Never underestimate her. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/16 "2017-05-17T01:53:27Z")
My opinion on her as a public speaker hasn’t really changed [in ten years.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=370546) At this point, I’d like to see her step down from leadership, but that’s because all of the Democratic leadership is really old and frankly I’d like to see all of them pass the torch already. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/17 "2017-05-17T02:21:44Z")
Ever see the photo of her meeting JFK when she was just a sweet young morsel? Absolutely delightful. Just take a gander at her little white gloves! > **[Pelosi: I partied with Kennedy (and here's the picture to prove it)](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349503/Nancy-Pelosi-I-partied-President-John-F-Kennedy-heres-picture-prove-it.html)** > > This image shows House Minority Speaker Nancy Pelosi as a blushing young girl with the man whose presidency - and horrifying assassination - would fascinate America for the next 50 years. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/18 "2017-05-17T02:36:16Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > I put her in the same category as Clinton. A bit wonky, and not the most inspiring figure, but she gets the job done. That much I’ll go with. She, and some of our other leadership, bother me somewhat treating the Party almost as personal property but since most of the results have been to my taste I won’t complain too much. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/19 "2017-05-17T03:40:41Z")
Thanks everyone, your responses have been quite insightful. It’s a pity she isn’t blessed with greater oratorical ability to go with her other talents. She’d be quite formidable (well, in some ways she already is) if she were a more articulate and compelling speaker. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722/20 "2017-05-17T03:53:48Z")
Isn’t she married to a billionaire? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberals-what-do-you-think-of-nancy-pelosi/786722.md?page=2)