Speaker Pelosi to step down from leadership position

Nancy Pelosi, one of the most powerful speakers in modern U.S. history, will cede the helm of House Democratic leadership after 20 years and take on an unfamiliar role: Rank-and-file member.

Since she reclaimed the top gavel in 2018, the first woman speaker — whose legislative prowess has powered her party’s agenda under four presidents — planned to give it up after this term. Yet her decision became more complicated, she has said, by the brutal assault of her husband Paul last month.

“I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress,” Pelosi said to a packed chamber that remained pin-drop silent as members took in her decision.

Then Democrats’ better-than-expected midterm election prompted personal pleas for her to stay from the president and Senate majority leader.

But in a floor speech attended by nearly every member of her Democratic caucus, including plenty of teary allies, Pelosi declared it was time for a “new generation” of leaders. Clad in stark white, the color of suffragists and her hue of choice for critical moments, the California Democrat delivered her farewell speech within a chamber where she has been a part of Washington’s biggest moments for decades.

Speaker of the Establishment Hakeem Jeffries becoming House Democrats’ next leader is not necessarily a sign of progress.

(I don't know too much about this Intelligencer except it seems to be part of NY Mag. It seems to be a bit slanted leftward, progressive. Not saying there is anything necessarily wrong with that. )

I heard someone call the US political process a circus and a **** show! What gives?

revelette1 wrote:

Speaker of the Establishment Hakeem Jeffries becoming House Democrats’ next leader is not necessarily a sign of progress.

(I don't know too much about this Intelligencer except it seems to be part of NY Mag. It seems to be a bit slanted leftward, progressive. Not saying there is anything necessarily wrong with that. )

Jury is still out for me on Jeffries. I've heard him speak on many
topics on MSNBC...and there are comments he makes that I like...and some I see as trite. I actually had mentioned to my sister last week that I hoped it was not Jeffries who moves up to leader.

We'll see.

Frank Apisa wrote:

revelette1 wrote:

Speaker of the Establishment Hakeem Jeffries becoming House Democrats’ next leader is not necessarily a sign of progress.

(I don't know too much about this Intelligencer except it seems to be part of NY Mag. It seems to be a bit slanted leftward, progressive. Not saying there is anything necessarily wrong with that. )

Jury is still out for me on Jeffries. I've heard him speak on many
topics on MSNBC...and there are comments he makes that I like...and some I see as trite. I actually had mentioned to my sister last week that I hoped it was not Jeffries who moves up to leader.

We'll see.

Sounds like you’ve come to some hasty negative views of Jeffries. I’m trying to figure out what he’s said that’s “trite”, and how even though you say the jury is out, you already have a strong enough negative opinion of him to say you hope he’s not leader.

Just before Kevin McCarthy lost for the eighth time in the race for House speaker, former Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi said there was no chance the Democrats would switch their vote to help McCarthy win and allow the chamber to move forward.

“I think what you are seeing is an incredibly shrinking speakership in terms of all the deals that are being made, and that is most unfortunate,” Pelosi told reporters. “They have to elect a leader from their ranks. We can help on policy. That's our responsibility to find common ground on policy and even on some of that process ... but they have to select their leader first.”