Nancy Pelosi Wants To Be The New Minority Leader.

[Boompa]

Pelosi was a great speaker but the Democrats lost the House and she needs to step down. At 70 she might consider retirement. Hard to tell her that though when she won her district with over 80% of the vote.

[lilypad]

The Old Girl definitely needs to retire. More time to "fix" herself to look 18 again!! She doesn't need the money, guess she just needed to keep "busy" busy-bodying. Well, now she can take up knitting...and won't hurt so many people any longer.

[BentBow]

She ate too many peyote buttons in yer youth!

[Marv101]

Just like her fellow Democrats who have led California into financial ruin (as well as NY,NJ, CT, IL, and many other states) and sky-high gasoline, real estate & energy prices.

Add to those items a nonstop exodus of the state's best and brightest to states where they can pursue the middle-class dream that Democrats are strenuously against and have convincingly proven for decades, and the creation & existence of more policies and conditions for which the California Democratic Party is 100% to blame.

Did I mention the destruction of what used to be the nation's finest public school system, as well as contributing mightily to the dreaded disease (stateside and nationally) known as outsourcing?

[tigerlily]

Here's some reasons why Nancy remains the minority leader. Kudos to Nancy Pelosi.
Standing Up to Obama
There is no way Pelosi was going to take the fall for the mid term losses.

The Mathematics of Loyalty
Pelosi represents California, the most important georgraphic base for the Dems. On a national level, Pelosi may be a lightning rod, but she is liked and respected among several key blocs that determine who will lead. Pelosi has strong ties to female lawmakers. When the GOP casts here as a wicked witch, these lawmakers signed a letter supporting Pelosi. The media helped Pelosi win re-election by repeatedly suggesting she cede leadership.
BTW - Commenters who criticize Pelosi's looks, for the most part, have nothing substantive to add to the dialog. And we wonder why we have high school bullies. I agree with the PP who suggested they post their own pics.

The Fear Factor
Pelosis uses the reward and punish system. Heath Shuler take note.

Pride
In the last two years progressives have made lasting gains, especially health care. Progressives realize without Nancy this bill had no way of passing. Many dems believe the gains are worth fighting for and do not blame Pelosi for mid term losses.

She's got game - Pelosi is a master at raising money is unparalled when it comes to raising money from wealthy liberal donors.

There's no one else - Steny Hoyer has the only truly independent power base outside of Pelosi and he would not challenge Pelosi. He beat John Murtha with this group, but Steny knows they would vote for Pelosi over him in a New York minute.
Why Dems don't dump Pelosi - POLITICO.com Print View

[LauraC]

In 2012 it means the Republicans can run against her, and the Astroturf (like me) will defeat her, again. I'm thinking by 2013, Pelosi may have enough House Democrats left for a game of Duck, Duck Goose.