# Mod Dems: Do you want Nancy Pelosi to stick around? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 6, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696 "2010-11-06T13:15:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/1 "2010-11-06T13:15:42Z")
I’ll bet most liberals and conservatives do … but for different reasons. How about the moderates? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/2 "2010-11-06T13:56:29Z")
Yup, she’s been an effective leader. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/3 "2010-11-06T16:24:40Z")
Earlier this week (just before, during, and day after the election), I read a bunch of articles saying that she’d likely step down from leadership and was even expected to resign her seat. At the time, I couldn’t understand what these people were thinking…why on earth would she? I’m becoming more and more convinced that political pundits fit wholly into the “and the like” part of Douglas Adams’ “_hairdressers, middle managers, telephone sanitisers, and the like_”. I’m not sure if I qualify as a “_Mod Dem_” for you, but I’m glad to see her step up (yet again). ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/4 "2010-11-06T18:07:27Z")
> [@Digital\_Stimulus](#): > > Earlier this week (just before, during, and day after the election), I read a bunch of articles saying that she’d likely step down from leadership and was even expected to resign her seat. At the time, I couldn’t understand what these people were thinking…why on earth would she? > > I’m becoming more and more convinced that political pundits fit wholly into the “and the like” part of Douglas Adams’ “_hairdressers, middle managers, telephone sanitisers, and the like_”. > > I’m not sure if I qualify as a “_Mod Dem_” for you, but I’m glad to see her step up (yet again). She may step down from leadership (although probably not), but she definitely won’t resign her seat. She was just reelected from her San Francisco district with something like 80% of the vote. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/5 "2010-11-06T19:25:39Z")
The rumors seem to be that she’s planning on running for Minority Leader, and that Clyburn is planning on sticking with the Whip position, which would squeeze current Majority Leader Steny Hoyer out of a leadership position. No idea how it’s actually going to all go down, though. Pelosi’s fine with me. Under her watch, the House passed a lot of legislation I like. Some of it even managed to pass the Senate and become law, which is nice. I don’t know if those skills are the same as she would need in the minority, but I don’t have any reason to think she wouldn’t be as good at it. ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/6 "2010-11-06T19:35:56Z")
I’m a liberal/progressive Independent and I have no problem with Pelosi. I think the main reason she has been so villified by the right is that she is an outspoken woman in a position of power who doesn’t agree with THEM. In other words, she’s a “bitch”, a “ball-breaker”, “arrogant” and “abrasive”, and probably a “lesbian” to boot. The qualities which would be considered positive attributes in a man are seen as negative and threatening in a woman. She’s just the latest target of this sort of reaction. I feel she has a lot to offer and see no reason she should step down. I hope she stays on in some important capacity, if only to piss off those who hate her so much. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/7 "2010-11-06T20:41:36Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > The rumors seem to be that she’s planning on running for Minority Leader, and that Clyburn is planning on sticking with the Whip position, which would squeeze current Majority Leader Steny Hoyer out of a leadership position. Well, at least that’s ONE good thing that happened with this election… ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/8 "2010-11-06T21:22:09Z")
I definitely think she should stick around. The minute I heard a member of the opposition say they hated her because they didn’t like the way she rammed through HCR, I knew she was an effective leader. It was a measure of how effective she is that they actually said they hated her, and it was a measure of her forcefulness as a majority leader and master the convoluted rules of engagement in Washington, which took a savvy leader who knew how to use and apply them in the advantage of her, her party and their constituents to get things done. Who wouldn’t want that leadership to continue? Oh wait, I know. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/9 "2010-11-06T21:31:59Z")
Her leadership put more than 400 bills through the House since 2006. Of course, thanks to Harry “Take-A-Fall” Reid, 400 of those bills are still waiting for the Senate to take them up. There’s one I hope doesn’t get voted back into leadership. ---
**Author:** ![Hold\_Fast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58f4c7/32.png) [@Hold\_Fast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hold_Fast)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/10 "2010-11-06T21:50:03Z")
> [@InterestedObserver](#): > > I think the main reason she has been so villified by the right is that she is an outspoken woman in a position of power who doesn’t agree with THEM. Now you know how we feel about whats been done to Palin. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/11 "2010-11-06T21:51:37Z")
As an economic progressive, I’ve been less than thrilled with Pelosi, but I think she’s just had to wrangle a diverse caucus. I’m not going to be too upset if she becomes minority leader. Harry Reid, otoh, I would probably be content to see replaced. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/12 "2010-11-06T22:24:29Z")
> [@Hold\_Fast](#): > > Now you know how we feel about whats been done to Palin. Disliked for determination and effectiveness **/=** laughed at for ignorance and foolishness. :dubious: > [@InterestedObserver](#): > > I’m a liberal/progressive Independent and I have no problem with Pelosi. I think the main reason she has been so villified by the right is that she is an outspoken woman in a position of power who doesn’t agree with THEM. There’s some element of misogyny there, sure, and that problem isn’t entirely limited to the righties, either. But what you’re hearing from the Fox contingent about how she should step down is mere concern trolling. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/13 "2010-11-06T22:29:23Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Harry Reid, otoh, I would probably be content to see replaced. I’d be in favor of Schumer, who seemed to be the top choice if Reid had lost reelection. I think he might end up as chair of the DSCC, though. I don’t know who else would even be in the running. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/14 "2010-11-06T22:47:59Z")
> [@Hold\_Fast](#): > > Now you know how we feel about whats been done to Palin. :dubious: Nothing’s been done to Palin that she didn’t do to herself. Even when Katie Couric tried to softball her, it wasn’t soft enough. The woman’s an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/15 "2010-11-06T23:03:12Z")
Pelosi has actually accomplished things and did not quit . ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/16 "2010-11-06T23:09:44Z")
I don’t regret her having been Speaker, but I think it is a good rule of thumb that if you’re a party leader and you lose control of the chamber you lead, it is time to give someone else a chance. Graveyards are full of indispensable people. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/17 "2010-11-06T23:26:24Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I don’t regret her having been Speaker, but I think it is a good rule of thumb that if you’re a party leader and you lose control of the chamber you lead, it is time to give someone else a chance. > > Graveyards are full of indispensable people. Anyone else does have a chance. They vote for who they want as their leader. In this case knowing Pelosi’s proven ability to count and calculate votes I’m going to assume she has the support needed or she wouldn’t apply for the job. If the Democrats want to run from their accomplishments they can shoot for a different leader. From where I see it they have legitimate accomplishments and keeping there leaders shows they have something to be proud of. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/18 "2010-11-06T23:34:43Z")
because of her unique style of analysis (of bills): “we have to pass the bill to find out what’s in it” Absolutely brilliant!🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/19 "2010-11-07T18:09:37Z")
You’ve had it explained to you before, **Ralph**. Putting the context back in, as an honest account would, as you must know, gives you this: > [@](#): > > "You’ve heard about the controversies within the bill, the process about the bill, one or the other. But I don’t know if you have heard that it is legislation for the future, not just about health care for America, but about a healthier America, where preventive care is not something that you have to pay a deductible for or out of pocket. Prevention, prevention, prevention—it’s about diet, not diabetes. It’s going to be very, very exciting. > > “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy. Furthermore, we believe that health care reform, again I said at the beginning of my remarks, that we sent the three pillars that the President’s economic stabilization and job creation initiatives were education and innovation—innovation begins in the classroom—clean energy and climate, addressing the climate issues in an innovative way to keep us number one and competitive in the world with the new technology, and the third, first among equals I may say, is health care, health insurance reform. Health insurance reform is about jobs. This legislation alone will create 4 million jobs, about 400,000 jobs very soon. Got it now? :dubious: Plenty more if you take the trouble to click and read. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696/20 "2010-11-07T19:43:28Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Anyone else does have a chance. They vote for who they want as their leader. In this case knowing Pelosi’s proven ability to count and calculate votes I’m going to assume she has the support needed or she wouldn’t apply for the job. > > If the Democrats want to run from their accomplishments they can shoot for a different leader. From where I see it they have legitimate accomplishments and keeping there leaders shows they have something to be proud of. Nonsense. You make it out like Pelosi is the only reason why health care reform passed. Damn near every Democrat who will be sworn in in January will have supported the bill, so the idea that the Dems would be “running from their accomplishments” is nothing but hot air. The two who would be most poised to take over for Pelosi – Clyburn and Hoyer – are just as much the reasons why the bill passed as was the Speaker herself. And, in fact, they have more to do with the vote-counting than Pelosi ever did. That’s a stone-cold fact. Of course members could choose to vote for someone else – that’s not what I was referring to. I was saying that Pelosi ought to step down from the leadership. I think that’s the right thing to do. However, politicians being politicians, sometimes are wont to believe they are more important to the country than they actually are. That’s my view of the main reason why Pelosi is not stepping aside. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-dems-do-you-want-nancy-pelosi-to-stick-around/559696.md?page=2)