House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is “100 percent” confident she will become the next Speaker of the House. The California Democrat says we can “take it to the bank” and rest assured that she has “overwhelming” support in her quest to get her hands back on the gavel.
Despite Pelosi oozing with confidence and determination to bring even more of her San Francisco values to Congress, she’s likely facing the strongest political headwinds of her 31-year career in public office.
It’s You, Not Us
Earlier this week, 17 Democrats signed and sent a letter saying they will oppose Pelosi’s bid for the speakership when it goes to a vote on the House floor in January. While some have implied they feared retribution for daring to oppose the Nancy the Almighty, it appears some Democrats are prepared to hold the line in order to block the 78-year-old liberal from getting her hands back on the gavel.
Pelosi was asked on Thursday about the letter and appeared to be holding back her rage. The California Democrat acknowledged the letter, pulled out her “gender card,” and noted that most of the Democrats who opposed her are men. “I think of the 17, it’s something like fourteen are men,” Pelosi told the press, implying that men were only opposing her because of her sex. “If in fact there is any misogyny involved in it, it’s their problem, not mine.”
Pelosi did her best to act as if she wasn’t bothered by the letter and the mounting coalition to block her bid for the speakership, but it appears she does not have the votes she anticipated.
Pelosi needs 218 votes to be confirmed as Speaker of the House. While some House races are still be decided, she can afford to lose no more than 20 total votes. If all 17 Democrats hold the line against her, it could come down to one or two lawmakers who ultimately decide whether she has a speakership or retirement party.
Time to Go, Nancy
The letter doesn’t pull any punches, and flat-out argues that Pelosi is part of the problem with D.C. swamp politics. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) not only signed the letter, but she is also reportedly considering a run to challenge Pelosi.
While speaking with HuffPost, Fudge called Pelosi an “elitist” and “very wealthy person” who surrounds herself with other “very wealthy people.” Fudge, who previously served as chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, also took issue with Pelosi getting praised for the triumphs, but not criticized for the numerous setbacks House Democrats have suffered.
“Everybody wants to give her such big credit for winning back the House, and she should be here because she won. She didn’t win it by herself,” Fudge said, adding, “If we’re going to give her credit for the wins, why is she not responsible for all the losses?”
House Democrats lost 63 seats when Pelosi was Speaker during the 2010 midterms. With Pelosi at the helm, Democrats also failed to regain majorities in the House in 2012, 2014, and 2016, although they did win back control of the House earlier this month.
Fudge also said “racism” has seeped into the Democrat leadership under Pelosi, and appeared to accuse her not doing enough for the Congressional Black Caucus to warrant its support. “My concern about the caucus is the same concern I have about the country. Just as there is this undertone of racism in the country, there’s also that in our caucus,” Fudge argued.
In addition to the 17 opposing her, there are nine moderate Democrats in the Problem Solvers Caucus who said last week they wouldn’t support Pelosi unless she promises – in writing – to back several procedural changes for the next Congress.
Pelosi’s Math Problem
While it’s certainly possible that Pelosi can twist some arms and make some backdoor deals, it’s undeniable that she has a serious math problem. The number of lawmakers vowing not to support her continues to grow, not shrink.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”24″]Pelosi has a unique quality to appear totally incoherent and suffer from a brain freeze while simultaneously forcing her colleagues to submit to her will.[/perfectpullquote]
That doesn’t even include the incoming freshman lawmakers like New York socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Many of these new faces are already playing swamp politics, and are holding out on making a decision until Pelosi meets with them to discuss their ideas for Congress. In essence, many in the Ocasio-Cortez cabal want Pelosi to submit to their progressive and socialist agenda in exchange for their votes.
The question isn’t who can topple Pelosi, but rather whether she can appease enough people to survive for a few more years. Pelosi has a unique quality to appear totally incoherent and suffer from a brain freeze while simultaneously forcing her colleagues to submit to her will.
She is drunk on power and doesn’t think anyone can topple her, but she’s in more trouble than she’s letting on.
