# Speaker Pelosi? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 30, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-pelosi/374755 "2006-09-30T17:55:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-pelosi/374755/1 "2006-09-30T17:55:29Z")
Lets assume the Dems win control of the House; do you think they’ll elect Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-pelosi/374755/2 "2006-09-30T18:17:30Z")
There’s a good chance they will, since she’s currently the Minority Leader. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-pelosi/374755/3 "2006-09-30T19:03:31Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] There’s a good chance they will, since she’s currently the Minority Leader. [/QUOTE] True, but they might decide to put someone more moderate in charge. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-pelosi/374755/4 "2006-10-01T07:19:50Z")
At least she’d be a smarter Speaker than current-speaker Dennis Hastert, who equates [protecting American liberties with releasing terrorists.](http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/09/29/house_votes_to_approve_presidents_warrantless_wiretap_bill/) :smack: ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-pelosi/374755/5 "2006-10-01T07:34:52Z")
I think it is likely Pelosi will be the Speaker. Since Gingrich, the Speaker position has become more of a political brawler than in the past. Pelosi, as someone who is very entrenched in her seat, doesn’t have to worry as much about re-election and is free to really tear into the Republican party. This differs from earlier generations of speakers like Tip O’Neill who were more likely to work with the other party, now the speaker is more of an attack dog. In general, relations between the parties (particularly in the House as opposed to the Senate) are much more contentious than 20 years ago and a political combatant like Pelosi would fit this new environment. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-pelosi/374755/6 "2006-10-01T12:41:00Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] Lets assume the Dems win control of the House; do you think they’ll elect Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House? [/QUOTE] Great OG, that’s a terrifying thought! ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-pelosi/374755/7 "2006-10-01T12:44:53Z")
[QUOTE=Clothahump] Great OG, that’s a terrifying thought! [/QUOTE] Yeah, lets keep the ones who cover up pedophiles, start unwinnable wars and bankrupt the nation in power. Things have been going great since they’ve been in charge. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-pelosi/374755/8 "2006-10-01T12:49:28Z")
Well, remember, it’s not like some small cabal can just appoint her. If the Democrats win a majority of the House then candidates will step forward for consideration for the SotH position. I’d bet that Pelosi will be nominated and several other, more moderate, players will also toss their hats into the ring. After that it’s a brawl. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-pelosi/374755/9 "2006-10-01T15:56:21Z")
[QUOTE=Clothahump] Great OG, that’s a terrifying thought! [/QUOTE] I for one would sleep much better at night knowing that those of your political stripe are the terrified ones for a change. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-pelosi/374755/10 "2006-10-01T18:00:39Z")
The Republicans have been using the threat of Speaker Pelosi as a way to stir up their base. They clearly hope the idea of a liberal woman in a position of power is enough to get some of the demoralized party members to the polls in some key battleground elections in November. If the Democrats do get into power and Pelosi is elected Speaker there is a good chance that the House will begin a series of investigations into the intelligence used for the Iraq invasion, the Abramoff scandals, the role of Enron in making US energy policy, what Republican leadership knew about Foley’s emails and when they knew it, the awarding of no bid contracts in Iraq, and a host of other issues. Pelosi has pretty much said she would investigate these things. I’m probably biased, but I think it is high time Congress did look into these issues. If I was a Republican, I’d probably be crapping myself about now and bring out Pelosi and Hillary and flag burning and gays getting married and anything and everything to get people to stop talking about how my party has performed in the past 6 years.