Shuler to Challenge Pelosi For Minority Leader

Democrat Heath Shuler has declared that he will indeed challenge out-going Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for Minority Leader.  Pelosi, who is blamed in part for the Democrats' massive election loss last Tuesday, has repeatedly said that she has the support of Democrats.  Shuler clearly disagrees.

In his decision to run, Shuler stated:

"We've just come off the largest ... loss for the Democratic Party in almost a century.  And to be able to put Speaker Pelosi as minority leader is truly ... unacceptable for our party."

Whether Shuler will be able to win is up for speculation.  Pelosi, in power for years, is unlikely to relinquish her power to a challenger.  Likewise, she is sure to get many votes from people who have worked with her over the years.

Shuler

On the other side are angry Democrats demoralized after her, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's, and President Obama's leadership led the Democratic Party to electoral ruin last week.  These Democrats surely want to hold on to their jobs, and Pelosi leading their party in the House has not worked (for them).

Many Democrats are already against Pelosi:

In North Carolina, Democrat Larry Kissell stated that he hopes Pelosi "will change her mind and step aside."  Representative Joe Donnelly of Indiana has stated that he is "disappointed that Speaker Pelosi is going to seek the position of Minority Leader."  Representative Dan Boren of Oklahoma stated that Pelosi's bid is "very disappointing."  Representative Heath Shuler said he may even challenge Pelosi's bid.

With many against Pelosi, it is hard to understand why she is pushing on.  Yet even these Representatives do not comprise the entirety of Democrats against Pelosi in the House.  Even hardened supporters of Pelosi, ones who voted with her near or at 100%, want her out of power.

Pelosi

Democrat Albio Sires of New Jersey admonished Pelosi, saying she didn't "know when to move on."  "I voted for everything she asked me to vote for.  You know, sometimes in this business it's difficult to know when to move on," he stated.

As the numbers grow against Pelosi, it will certainly be interesting to see how this all plays out.  Is Pelosi that desperate to hold on to power?  Only time will tell. 


Please bookmark!