The Next Speaker of the House
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer (Getty Images)
by Thomas Neuburger
A short note to let you know that if Nancy Pelosi doesn't step down as Speaker, it's possible, though not likely, that she'll be challenged when the new House convenes in January. With a smaller majority this time (from 232 to maybe 227), it won't take many of her opponents to be able to gridlock the Speaker's vote until there's a compromise candidate. With a caucus of 227, it would take only 11 members to hold the election hostage.
But even if that doesn't happen and she retains her position until 2022 when she's promised to retire, the question of the next Democratic caucus leader is an important one. Who that might be is anyone's guess, but most people's money is on Hakeem Jeffries — it's an open secret he's being groomed for the job. (More on Jeffries here.)
Which brings to mind this event from 2012. The fifth-ranking House leadership position was vice-chair of the caucus. Corrupt New Dem Joe Crowley wanted that position, but he was opposed by progressive Barbara Lee. Finally, progressives thought, someone they could support!
But it was not to be. Prior to a vote in the caucus — and likely to prevent one — Lee was talked into resigning (or talked herself into it after counting the votes). Politico put it this way:
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that she is dropping her leadership bid in what would’ve been the only contested race among House Democrats.
This means Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) [former vice-chair of the New Dem Caucus] is a sure bet to become the next vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, the fifth-ranking post in leadership. …
Lee, a former chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said she was withdrawing her bid in order to “unify” lawmakers around Crowley. [emphasis added]
No real progressive wants this kind of unity this time around. Jeffries is a Party man, not as corrupt as Crowley, but no AOC either. He'll do what the donors say to do.
Real progressives want people like these deposed, not promoted, even if it means losing this time around to build a base for the fight next time — and even if it means pitting the base against the Establishment the way Keith Ellison's run for DNC Chair roiled the base and riled the leaders.
At some point, a progressive has to fight for the base, against the leadership, and do it openly, even if it exposes Party leaders to (well-deserved) scorn.
If no one on "our" team dares to do that, we've gone nowhere and we're getting nowhere, no matter how many "bold progressives" we send into that pit.
By the way, if there was any year in which current Party leadership should be challenged, it's this year, after the debacle of this election. Just saying.
(Note: For those who like my work, I'm launching a Substack site. You can get more information here. If you decide to sign up — it's free — my thanks to you!)
Labels: 2020 Election, Democratic Party, Gaius Publius, Nancy Pelosi, open rebellion, Thomas Neuburger
posted by Gaius Publius @ 9:00 AM
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8 Comments:
The Democratic Party establishment will just roll over the "progressives" as usual and put in New Dem/Blue Dog conservatives and hacks like Jeffries in.
If the Squad had any commitment to its principles, they should consider a mass bolt of the party and signing up with the People's Party as soon as it forms. There's no future for the Left in a right-wing party.
"...if there was any year in which current Party leadership should be challenged, it's this year, after the debacle of this election. Just saying."
Talk is all that will happen. There will be no action. Nothing. Will. Fundamentally. Change. Not now. Not by 2022 - OR 2024.
If AOC wants to do anything besides lob bombs from the sidelines she needs to run for the position.
After 2022, the Speaker will be Republican.
Democraps? *DO* something different?
Why, I remember in 2010 the house democraps got literally slaughtered and who retained her po$ition as democrap hou$e "leader"?
Ditto 2012, 2014, 2016. all total failures. and who kept retaining her po$ition as democrap hou$e "leader"?
The democraps don't have the same definition of $ucce$$ and failure that you might think they should have.
$ucce$$ is losing a close one (or even winning one in 5 or so) but not having to address any progressive annoyances.
failure is winning big, like 2008, and having to pretend to try (with predetermined failure to succeed) to implement progressive reforms so that their voters don't totally lose faith.
You see, pretending to be progressive while intentionally failing is much harder than losing close elections.
The money flows either way. But the money gets nervous if you even pretend to try (and fail) to be progressive.
It's long overdue that anyone who is truly progressive should disavow their democrap party membership and either form a progressive party or join up with an existing rump 3rd party.
They'd have to do a lot of talking, naming names and so on... to discredit the corrupt democrap party, natch.
In this shithole's current state, it won't likely work, but at least a legitimate attempt could be made... finally.
AOC and the 'squad' would be a nice start and would give it a nice boost.
Of course, them all endorsing pelo$i for $peaker AGAIN would not be helpful.
If 12 democraps refuse to endor$e pelo$i, it's entirely possible that McCarthy would then be elected $peaker by unanimity among the nazis. I think that fear of the nazis will be the same old excuse for pelo$i... plus she does spread the money around for her gavel.
12:17, I see an equal likelihood that the house will be deemed irrelevant by then, if trump succeeds in his coup attempt.
Otherwise the next and all future speakers will probably be nazis. yes.
I take your point, 9:03, and it does concern me.
The US of A could certainly have the American version of the Enabling Acts pushed through, even extra-legislatively at gunpoint, and eliminate the Legislative branch.
But some Nazi will still remain as the official "director" of any law-bending activity by the ruling elites whether or not the US of A attempts to pretend this nation is still a "democracy".
doubtful. Hitler kept a reichstag around for optics only for a while. he did not listen to them.
in this shithole, government simply ignores laws and the constitution. They pretty much do what they want.
If congress still exists, it will be for optics only (because americans who are not nazis will still want that illusion).
Actually, it's pretty much optics only NOW. american lefties have "elected" a house majority, but that majority isn't ever going to do anything the lefties need or want. So... only optics.
When the nazis have a majority, then and only then will stuff get done. but, again, nothing that will ever help anyone left of reinhard heydrich.
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