Pat, I am ecstatic about this, also. Nancy Pelosi is the almost sole person responsible for the Republicans regaining control of the house. Can't wait to see how many more seats they will get from her in 2012 and possibly the Republicans getting control of the Senate. But, on a side note. Pelosi is the most incompetent and arrogant politician that I have ever served. She represents a state that is almost bankrupt with the same type of thinking she has.

Mark, she is?

More arrogant than Cheney? More arrogant than Mitch McConnell? More arrogant than John McCain? More arrogant than Shelby? More arrogant than John Boehner? Wow.

She's smarter than all of them put together. Arrogance isn't her thing. Competence in what government is for is her thing.

You know, she was against the Iraq War. Remember that war? That the arrogant SOBs in DC pushed for? Think of all the lives we could have saved if only someone listened to her.

Again, she's smarter and braver than all those GOP wimps.

@ J Wesley: Grow up, Sonny boy. Just because a few blowhards demonize Pelosi doesn't mean she's "the most despised woman in the history of the universe." And when you've lived a few years beyond the 12 or 13 apparent by your tone, you'll understand that the political pendulum swings both ways, giving those of us who are thoughful and moderate the power to direct the country's direction despite childish ideologues like you and your kind, both left and right. www.newsprism.com

Good for Nancy. Hang in there, girl! When the GOP is trying to tell the Democrats how to run their party, it's never because it would be good for the Democrats. Matter of fact, the fuss they raise is in direct proportion to how effective that person is on behalf of the Democratic Party, so this looks like a great move. Let the howling begin :-)

As a centrist Dem, I am dissapointed we didn't change leaders to make the point things will be different. I can only conclude that they wont.

Nancy really needs to go, but the far left wing of the party is all thats left so the status quo on the DEM side of the house remains. Sad.

Pursuing a Progressive agenda in the face of the elections is just going to degrade the dem party even more. Iwant the Blue Dogs back. But I fear the centrist voice of the party is be gone for a long time. And with it, goes the ability to craft practical compromises. Welcome to gridlock 2.0. Only opposite poles are left to pee on each other and get nothing done.

'No Country for Moderates'.

Actually, just about every Democrat I know hates Pelosi almost as much as the Republicans. So I guess the Dem politicians have a hard time listening to the American people as a whole. They had an opportunity to make a change for the better and instead, they continue with the "same ole, same ole".

Tim,

The blue dogs are nothing but DINO's. They are shills inside the Democrat party on behalf of their Republican benefactors.

Nancy lived up to her campaign promises. Why complain. Her agenda was our agenda as stated by the Obama camp.

The vilification of her and her motives are thinly veiled sour grapes by the party who lost it all just two years ago.

From your posts, Bloggerrich, I'd say you probably don't know too many Democrats. There are lots of us out here who think Nancy did a great job in a tough market getting so much legislation through the last Congress despite the Party of No.

Actually Pat, it looks like Mark may actually know her.

I do find it unusual that not one leader stepped down. They are all in their 70's, maybe a time for some new blood.

Let's see RealAmericansFirst...My boss and her husband are Dems, a close former co-worker and her husband are Dems, my two best friends are Dems, my Wife and her whole family are Dems...she's got a huge Italian American family...2 of my 3 brothers-in-law are Dems, my Grand Mother is a Dem, 2 of my Aunts are Dems, one of my 2 Uncles is a Dem...need I go on?

Pelosi never knew what she was doing, but then the Dems seem to be making it a habit of putting people in that are virtually clueless...pun intended Obama.

Yea Pat, she's arrogant.

What is worse is the condescension of her arrogance. Her actions regarding health care reform were a crime against democracy. A piece of legislation that fundamentally changed our lives, the economy, etc. and it is passed without anyone even reading it, or understanding the profound impact of it.

"We need to pass it so we can find out what is in it" - as if the American people were children to be distracted from their complaint. Sickeningly arrogant.

Funny thing, though. She has accomplished something Obama never has.

Bipartisan support for something.

The left still wants her on the mound pitching the liberal agenda and the right would love nothing more than to have another at bat against a pitcher they for all practical purposes, just run-ruled.

My first thought on reading the headline of this article was that the Democrats are out of their minds. Surely they are aware of Pelosi's reputation with the average voter. My second thought was that maybe this isn't such a bad thing. If Pelosi continues on the same path on which she has been traveling for the past several years, it will be a shoo-in for the Republicans to win more seats in the House in 2012, as well as regain control of the Senate and win the presidency. The arrogance of politicians in general for not listening to the American voter is unfathomable.

What is worse is the condescension of her arrogance. Her actions regarding health care reform were a crime against democracy. A piece of legislation that fundamentally changed our lives, the economy, etc. and it is passed without anyone even reading it, or understanding the profound impact of it.

It's time to drop that phone argument. I didn't buy it the first 500 times someone argued that they didn't read the bill and I'm not buying it now.

All members of Congress have a staff in their offices. One of those staff members is a person who carries the title of "Legislative Director", "Senior Legislative Assistant" or "Legislative Coordinator". It is that persons job to know what exactly is in every bill and to convey this information to their boss.

Bottom line, each and every member of Congress knew damn well what was in the health care reform package and anyone who told you they needed more time to read the bill is full of crap and was merely trying to kick the can down the road.

I know it...the Republicans know it...Speaker Pelosi knows it.

Democrats vote Pelosi as their leader.... Oh my god now thats funny.... Democrats never were too bright..

Pelosi as democratic leader Another smart move by the democrats.... Apparently she is the best they have... God help us...

True Bob...this will be a plus for the Republicans in 2012. America spoke and the Dems didn't listen...twice! They seem incapable of governing. How could somebody pass something without any clue of the possible outcome? I can tell you. The politics are more important to the Dems than the American people are, so Pelosi helped pass it to make Obama look good...but it didn't work and now the Republicans are rolling big time. The Dems put the worst possible candidate in the Presidency and passed the worst possible health care bill in the worst economy since the Great Depression. Then, they put the same crap in that America said it wanted out. Pelosi is the person that comes to mind when most think of the worst politician in the Democratic party. Yet, they put her back in as the leader.

If I had to sum up the Democratic party in a short sentence, I'd have to say "they are a paralyzed, inadequate and reckless bunch of self-destructive morons with no respect for the American people...Democrat, Republican or other."

My first thought on reading the headline of this article was that the Democrats are out of their minds. Surely they are aware of Pelosi's reputation with the average voter.

Her reputation with the average voter, unfortunately, is whatever the political blowholes like Limbaugh, Beck, Malkin, Coulter and company have been allowed to fabricate about her.

Tim in Seattle, what is this left wing of the Democratic Party you're referring to? There is nothing "left" about the Democratic Party anymore. That health care bill that Nancy Pelosi pushed through, 90% of the policies in that bill came directly out of the health care bill REPUBLICANS were pushing under Bob Dole's leadership in 1994. Cap and Trade? That was first proposed under the first President Bush nearly 20 years ago. And the latest thing, the Obama Administration is now poised to extend yet again the Bush tax cuts (which probably means they'll be extended indefinitely, and the national debt will soar). (If those Bush tax cuts were so effective, we wouldn't have wound up in this economic mess in the first place.) All the stuff the Democrats are pushing these days are policies Republicans were behind 10, 20 and 30 years ago. Today's Democratic Party is yesterday's Republican Party. Today's Republican Party has gone so far to the right, they're about to go off the deep end. Unfortunately, half the nation has allowed itself to be brainwashed by Fox News and doesn't recognize this. We're about to lose our opportunity to lead on renewable energy. As China and India jack up energy demand and renewable energy thus becomes a necessity, rather than an option, we'll be importing it all from China, just as we import oil from the Middle East today. Our nation's move to the short-sightedness of the right is killing our ability to be cutting edge and a viable economic power in the future.

Tim,

Centrist Democrat? Most of Americans are/were as someone put it - between the 40 yard lines.

Obama and Pelosi are on the left's 5 yard line, not even close to a centrist democrat. What's more, they, as well as the lefties here at FR, seem to disdain the blue dogs - good riddance is almost cheered with every moderate democrat defeat.

Do you think Pelosi will move to recruit moderates? Do you think moderate recruits would even listen?

Good luck Tim.

Niteowlett,

If the Blue Dogs are DINO's, and they should decide to caucus with the Republicans, would that make you happy or sad? I've been told more times than I can count that the Democrats are the "big tent" party, which is, I understand, a very nice way of saying "everyone is welcome". If the Blue Dogs are unwelcome, who else is unwelcome, anyone that doesn't share the progressive agenda?

If I were a member of the Republican leadership, I would be taking today's vote for minority leader as an opportunity. 40 or so Democrats are perhaps, available to at least discuss a joint caucusing effort, why not give it a shot? If the remaining Blue Dogs decided to caucus with the Republicans, that increases the margin to roughly 290 R (or R affiliated) to 145 D ( or D affiliated). A two to one margin is an undeniable message to the Democratic party, perhaps that would get their attention, or maybe, it would just drive them deeper into the progressive camp. I don't know the answer, but if I were the Republicans, I would surely give it a try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Who came up with the subset of caucuses? Isn't it sufficient that you caucus with your party? We now have subsets for the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Czech Caucus ( I kid you not), Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Pro-Trade Caucus, and heavens knows how many more. Each of these subsets has their own issues, I get it, but as soon as you form exclusionary subgroups, you create a more divisive entity, which then fragments under competing desires/demands.

Big tent or not, I think the Democrats have just given themselves a mortal wound, unless of course, Representative Pelosi is only doing this as a swan song prior to her retirement. If that's the case, perhaps the Democrats can survive and maybe even thrive, but it probably shouldn't be a two year swan song, maybe two months tops.

Da Noid,

So you are admitting that Nancy/others never read it - they had staff read it and tell them what is in it. Yea, that's cool.

And besides, people are still trying to figure out what is in it and the impact everyday. It changes everyday with the new departments, policies, interpretations, etc. being put together, formulated, etc.

What was the hurry? Obama said jobs were the priority and instead pushed thru 2,000+ something pages that don't take full effect for several more years, coincidentally not until after Obama's reelection?

You may fall for this crap and you are welcome to be one of Obama's/Pelosi's usefull idiots, but the majority of Americans certainly haven't fallen for it.

Yes...call me a "useful idiot"...that's SURE to make me see things your way.

Sorry, but all I said was you were welcome to be one of Obama's/Pelosi's useful idiots. If you don't want to be one, then don't be one.

When questioned a few years ago about the individual mandate in HCR being unconstitutional, she flippantly replied that the news person must be kidding, and implied that it wasn't important.

This is the woman the DEMS choose as a minority leader, after they've just received a smack-down for not listening to a majority of Americans, and for ignoring the constitution?

Oh, what fools.....! Nancy is as self-serving as Obama - narcissists, the both of them.

You can demonize her all you want, Nanci Pelosi was one of the most effective House leaders in modern history. She served her country well in a trying time and the huge majority she got in this vote from her peers is testment to that.

Fedup, I dont see her being in denial total or otherwise, she won her district and well, she has every right to be there and be a leader. She has been extremly successful as Speaker getting legislation through to help American citizens, I applaud her efforts and I applaud her decision to run again for leader and not be run off by those that dont agree with her.

You go Nancy! Well behaved women seldom make history!!!

Correction, Fed Up, she ignores the Tea Party's wishes on everything. But since I don't think they voted for her, they really can't complain, now can they?

What country are you living in? Pelosi was re-elected with a 70% vote. She does listen and she does do the work of the people. When one considers the complete lack of bipartianship on the part of the Republican leadership and their sheep, she was able to get significant legislation thru the House. So far all the Republican leadership has promised is more of the same. So who is listening. If I were you I wouldn't get to excited now. In 2 years, if history is any indicator, things may change dramatically back in favor for the Democrats. If the economy improves, and history is on the Democrats side, the electorate will jump the tea party ship. As a "fed up" repudiator of all that is Republican (big government, too much defense spending, on the wrong side of all social and moral issues, etc.). Doubt my word, let me intruduce you to Google. Before you speak, look it up. Peace!

You go Nancy! Well behaved women seldom make history!!!

Ain't that the TRUTH Gingerbread Mamma! ;0)

I have this fantasy that when she has to relinquish the gavel it's not going to be Agent Orange's hand where it ends up! lol

She was in fact very effective. She effectively passed unpopular legislation without any opposition votes or input, admitting publicly that she had no idea what the bill(s) even said. Now, she has effectively destroyed her party for at least the short term including now 2012. She has effectively resided over a state that by any measure of the word, is totally bankrupt and circling the drain. To hell with bipartisanship it would seem, that is obviously the message we are receiving from that circus tent. She literally represents everything that folks don't like about politics or politicians. As happy as I should be that she will continue to be the face of her party, I am still saddened that an entire party just flipped off the country.

I have to agree that Pelosi was a big reason the dems lost so much ground and yet they go and reelect her. I think our biggest problem politically today is that our elected officials are loyal to the PARTY and not the PEOPLE. obviously no one really listened in this last election so I guess they have to listen in the next one. I am a registered INDEPENDENT. I try to think for myself and vote accordingly. I think the political party system has become too powerful and the notion of serving the PEOPLE has been lost. Lately I vote for the lesser of 2 evils instead of for the person. We need to change that.

UNPOPULAR legislation or VILIFIED legislation??? If the Democrats had a full-time network working overtime on their behalf, you all would not all be whistling Dixie as you are doing now.

Overturning the HCR's will be the GOP downfall. They have empty rhetoric and are itching to get into our pocketbooks again. They spotted some spare change.

The only change I am seeing is that the Republicans have gotten the message and are listening to the people in the US. They have learned form their mistakes and are making a major assault in getting this Country back on track.

That a pretty big stretch there Senior, considering the GOP doesnt have a plan, job solutions or a budget plan.

They do it's MSNBC. I watch all three cable networks and read several newspapers every week along with the Sunday a.m. shows and some of the shows on MSNBC are far more inflamatory then FOX. Some of what John Stewart said in his interview with Rachel Maddow was sadly true.

I can see that not only are the liberals out in force, but the women's liberals as well. What is funny is how relevant they are to the typical liberal style of voting. If Hitler were to show up and claim to be a Democrat, they would vote him in. A crap politician like Pelosi shows up, and she's the greatest, most powerful woman ever. How about letting go of gender insecurities so you can actually think rationally and stop supporting a crap politician like Pelosi. So what, she is a woman! Who cares what gender she is?

Oh, and I fully agree with Joanne-1134871.

The shows on MSNBC, evening shows, are the most TRUTHFUL of all of the networks combined. You are inflamed by them because the truth does hurt.

Yes...YES!!!

The leadership of the Democratic Party remains:

Nancy Pelosi in the House; Harry Reid in the Senate; and, of course, President Barack Obama in the White House.

The same team that produced historic midterm losses a mere two weeks ago.

They are politically tone-deaf...unable to hear, let alone understand, the message the electorate sent.

Amazing.

But...I like it.

And what attention did the democrats give to job creation in the last two years? They spent over one year on a healthcare bill that will bankrupt America. It will not reduce premiums and will not reduce costs, according to the CBO. The dems passed a stimulus bill that was over $800 billion dollars and saved or created 3 million jobs. Which if I got a job for one hour, it was counted in the 3 million. But, divide 823 billion by 3 million and every job cost us almost $300,000 per job. Even Christine Romer, obama's lead on the economic council stated that the stimulus did almost nothing. obama stated numerous times that there were shovel ready jobs and just a month ago stated there were no shovel ready jobs. Road construction is the worst place for creating and/or keeping jobs. The largest cost in road contruction is the road itself, not the workers pay. Read the article on the shortcut provided. Over $100 million spent in Los Angeles and created about a 100 or so jobs. This is what the dems did for us.

http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/jborowski/los-angeles-government-creates-only-55-jobs-with-1

I for one am glad Pelosi is staying. She single handedly gave the Republicans the house back by the largest margin since WWII era. Can't wait to see the gains in 2012. Pelosi is the most incompetent house speaker, ever.

If she was so incompetent, why did she piss off so many here???

She stood her ground against all odds. When an entire network lobbies against her 24/7, she STILL got key legislation passed.

The party of Republicans are all addicted to self inflicted wounds.

she made all her dems stand thier ground and thats why they are no longer employed, she lied about the hc program saying it would save everybody mone y and so far everyday the cost are riseing,and dont think for one minute she did not know it was going to cost us more.come 2012 she will be the main reason obuma will not get reelected other than his own stupidity just like his recently failed trip.the only thing thier good at is putting us more in debt.will she have to fly coach nowand what about that 20,000.00 a month office if she wants to spread the wealth why dont she let some homeless people sleep there im sure thier is plenty of room.also take some of that botox money and buy someone healthcare since she dont have to pay for healthcare, i wonder if our tax money pays for those facelifts, she may need ritlin for her add, just look at the way her hands fly all over the place as she speaks if you can stand to watch her speak.

I was just watching The Dylan Ratigan and Alicia Menendaz daughter of Sen Menendez just told Dylan that nobody is interested in whether Nancy Pelosi was re=elected. That this is just an inside game that Americans weren't paying attention. Maybe someone should tell them that we are watching.

Bill B.

I didn't watch the whole interview last night but I flipped to Countdown last night and caught the final moments of an interview with Bill Maher who brought up an interesting point that I had long considered...

The Republicans, he said, have staked out territory further and further to the right...so much so that they now consider the Health Care Reform Package which contains many ideas that Republicans once espoused to be "radical left".

I wonder...Joe Scarborough loves to talk about us as being a "Center Right" ideology in this nation as far as an ideology. How is that possible when it seems that the Republicans keep moving "The Center"?

Nice summary Bill - spot on.

Thank you Speaker Pelosi for all of your hard work on our behalf.

These are some of the reasons why the repugnicants hate her so much and are willing to tell all sorts of lies about her. The election was not about Nancy Pelosi, if it were she wouldn't be coming back to Congress. The elections were about jobs and nothing more. Vilifying someone does not make the lie the truth. It only makes the person saying it a liar. The Dems still control the Senate and the Executive. The repugs won't be able to do very much, which was what they planned on anyway. Speaker Pelosi has proven herself to be the most effective leader that either side has in Congress. Glad that Chuck Schumer will be taking on a greater role in the Senate. He is much more forceful and confrontational that Leader Reid and will let the klansman from Kentucky have all that he can handle. It's going to be an interesting next two years no doubt. The repugs had better not get too comfortable in their majority in the House, because their lack of leadership and ideas will make them the minority once again come 2012. Boehner is afraid of her being the minority leader. It means that he won't be able to have a couple of drinks before the sessions open. He'll have to confront her sober.

Chris........................ but obama his happy cause with her back it means he will be able to keep smokeing his crack.

Except that she never said that, so you're clearly one of those who takes their opinions from FAUX News and has no right to weigh in on our choice of Speaker anyway.

They simply love to wallow in ignorance. It would take an idiot to believe everything that they hear on Fake news. Those that do really just highlight the failures of the American Educational system.

real american.................... just who was that then that i saw standing thier in front of the microphone saying we have to pass the bill in order to find out what is in it,at least fox news tells the truth and are not so bipartisan,I laugh at msnbc ,talk about liberal,I loved watching them cry on tv when the electins were comeing in.they all put down beck and malkin but they never produce ant facts its just their liberal emotions showing through.

"Her positions are in sharp contrast to what many believe is needed." Then why was she reelected? Hmm? The GOP had a candidate, but he didn't win. Does that tell you anything?

"The GOP had a candidate, but he didn't win. Does that tell you anything?"

Yes. It tells us that she's from California, where the words, "fiscal responsibility" are buried under an avalanche of foolishness that has gone on for decades.

Do note that a majority of other states in the union sent a resounding message that they don't want to be in the same boat.

Yep, exactly. We needed a moderate voice that wont obstruct every practical, centrist compromise that the President will put forward.

And for those of you that keep saying 'she listens to the people', how do you explain that her 1st reaction to a bipartisan debt reduction plan authored by a group she supported and an outcome that she said would be 'serioulsy considered' was a categorical 'this is unacceptable'.

I am sorry fellow dems, but it smacks of a politician who cant walk her talk and wasnt ever serious about compromising to get the debt under control. FAIL. Way to hand the GOP the best Xmas present they ever had.....idiots!

Yes, I suppose. Too bad your prom date is drunk with power and still wants to drive home. Fortunately, the American people took her keys away, but she is still wearing the lamp shade. Reality is indeed stranger than fiction.

Erm, speaking of drunk, have you looked at Boehner lately? His bar tab in DC is going to hurt. At least when he was working in Daddy's bar the drinks were probably free.

Yeah, we should check the popularity of all Democrats with the teabagger trolls who have nothing better to do than sit on the blogs all day instead of the 70% of voters in her district who sent her back to the House, right? Can we do the same for McConnell? I don't like him so you have to get rid of him.

Garnishing 70% of those nut jobs in the bay is not exactly a badge of honor. Have you once considered the economic condition of her home state? Are we to use them as a pattern nationally? I'm happy you so readily agree with her policies, but you must realize you are clearly a minority in that aspect.

A tool anyway, that much we can all agree on.

proAmerica: how are you pro-America while being a GOP supporter? They want America to fail simply to overturn a sitting President. You are an oxymoron.

First off, I am not a registered Republican and there are more then enough poor candidates in both parties to go around. You assume too much. Can you point me to some proof that the collective GOP wants America to fail for political gain? I can point you to proof that Harry Reid wanted us to lose the Iraq war for political hey, what does that make him? Un-American?

Um, mainly because the GOP's leaders go around saying their "number one priority" is to make sure Obama is a one-term President and because they consistently vote against the American people. Like opposing extending unemployment benefits but supporting extending tax cuts for the top 2%. Even though those tax cuts will cost more EACH YEAR than all the unemployment benefits paid out since 2007.