The Democrat's leadership elections in the House of Representatives have been postponed from this Thursday to Wednesday November 30, two weeks later. The reason is apparently a push to put up a challenger to replace Nancy Pelosi.
Quote:
House Democrats delay leadership elections in blow to Pelosi
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi agreed Tuesday morning to delay Democratic leadership elections until after Thanksgiving following an outcry from several dozen members who said they needed more time to assess last week's devastating election. Rank-and-file Democrats will now vote for their leaders on Wednesday, Nov. 30.
The move is a blow to Pelosi, who has been the top House Democrat for a dozen years. While no one has come forward yet to challenge her — Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) is weighing a bid but not formally declared - and there is no sign she wants to do anything other than continue in her current role, the next two weeks will now be a debate about Pelosi's future.
Immediately after the Nov. 8 election, Pelosi suggested moving the date of leadership elections back. But then she settled on Thursday after what she said was an outpouring of support from her colleagues to move ahead. But several members pushed back, arguing they should just formally postpone the proceedings for several weeks in order to review the election cycle and why they fared so poorly as a party. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) offered the motion to delay the elections, and Rep. Mike Capuano (D-Mass.) seconded. There was heated back and forth over the issue. The motion was about to be ruled out of order by Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra (Calif.) before Pelosi acquiesced. She had initially agreed to hold a vote Thursday on whether to delay caucus elections or move forward, saying she thought new members should have a vote.
Pelosi was described as "very angry," "furious" and "extremely defensive" by multiple sources during what was an often "raucous" gathering. "It's a whole new ballgame. Her enemy is time," said a senior aide to a lawmaker who wanted to delay leadership elections.
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It seemed obvious to me and many others that the Democrats should have replaced Pelosi after the Tea Party Massacre of 2010, and then again after the Tea Party Massacre, Part II in 2014. But they thought they were right on track, as they had rammed through Obamacare and they were playing "the long game". So now their long game will be interrupted by at least a four-year episode of Donald Trump in the White House, along with the Republicans controlling the House, the Senate, soon to be the Supreme Court, and also a huge majority of Governors mansions and state legislatures across the country.
With a reversal of Obamacare on the menu, some people in the Democrat's ranks are apparently no longer convinced by the "long game" spiel. A meeting of House Democrats was held today where a postponement of the House leadership elections were proposed, with the proposal nearly ruled "out of order," until Pelosi aquiesed and agreed to the postponement. She was apparently furious at the lack of appreciation and deference in light of all she has done for the Democrats in the House.
Nevertheless, it sounds like Pelosi is poised to win another term as the leader of the Democrats in the House, because business as usual is exactly what they apparently think they need right now.
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