E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSUpdated 10:42 a.m. - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told fellow House Democrats today that she will run to keep her leadership position, likely extending her tenure as Democratic leader for another two years.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2102, with newly elected Democratic House members.
"I have made a decision to submit my name to my colleagues to once again serve as the House Democratic leader," Pelosi said Wednesday at a press conference following a meeting with fellow Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
On the 10th anniversary of her election as Democratic leader, Pelosi said her colleagues had made their desire for her to remain as leader "very clear." There had been mounting speculation that the 72-year-old California Democrat might step aside and yield to younger figures in the party.
Recommended - First Thoughts: Previewing the president's presser
Pelosi served two terms as speaker of the House, the first woman to ever hold that role, from 2007-2011, during which time she oversaw House passage of President Barack Obama's landmark health reform law. She has also taken a special interest in advancing legislation intended to address the effects of climate change, prompting a vote on a "cap-and-trade" bill in 2009 which eventually stalled in the Senate.
Republicans seemed almost giddy about the announcement.
"There is no better person to preside over the most liberal House Democratic Caucus in history than the woman who is solely responsible for relegating it to a prolonged minority status," said Paul Lindsay, the communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
As part of her decision to stay aboard, Pelosi said that New York Rep. Steve Israel had agreed to serve a second term as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Israel helped Democrats pick up seats in the most recent election.
Pelosi's decision also means the top leadership in the House would presumably remain the same for the next two years:
-- John Boehner as speaker
-- Eric Cantor as majority leader
-- Pelosi as minority leader
-- Steny Hoyer as minority whip.
Leave a Comment:
Libs have been saying that the Republicans are nothing but a bunch of old, white people. I look at Pelosi, and Harry Reid, and Charles Rangel or Barney Frank, or that clown-as-VP Joe Biden, all part of the liberal, elite, rich 1%, and I ask, "What's the difference?"
Do you really want to compare the diversity in the GOP with that of the Democrats???
I'm just commenting on what many libs have been saying about outward appearances on the right and then I look at the other side and say, "What's the difference?" Shouldn't be such a difficult question.....
Speaking of appearances, I have a bit of a fascination with Boehner's watery eyes and red nose, especially when the Man Tan fades, has Cantor's eyes become beadier, McConnell's lips bluer, why is that?
Slightly off topic, maybe, but we need a 100% clean sweep in both houses...boot them ALL out and get in new people and implement term limits. It does the nation no good to have someone be a rep for a million years especially when they can't change with the times. Look at Sen Byrd...51 years as a Senator. Ted Kennedy, 47 years; Inouye, 54 years and has already stated he will be running for a tenth term in 2016 at the age of 92. These people hit their hey day back in the 1960s...we are in the 21st century.
These long running congressional reps have become jaded and most seek only to line their own pockets. Remember the announcement earlier this year that congress graciously passed a new rule for themselves that said they can no longer benefit from insider trading?
LYNN, Sorry but I don't buy that. Name a more effective senator than Teddy Kennedy. He accomplished more than several presidents did in their tenure. We used to speak of "Statesman" and while some rotten politicians stay on too long, some serve their country with distinction. New is not always better.
What I would like to see is BIG MONEY taken out of our politics. It has corrupted the entire system and made many of our politicians little more than paid errand boys for the uber rich. What I'd also like to see is a ten year ban on a former congressperson being employed in any private sector job that they were associated with while in office. These clowns wait a year after jumping ship and then go out to make millions schilling for the very companies they were supposed to oversee.
Ask Mary Jo Kopechne how effective senator Kennedy was.
DAVE, Sure thing buddy, after you ask the families of the 4500 troops Dubya sent to their deaths in Iraq on a fools errand. And while you're at it clown, also check in with the 25,000 wounded not to mention the several HUNDRED THOUSAND innocent Iraqi civilians who were killed.
And guess what smart guy, even Republicans acknowledged Teddy as "The lion of the Senate".
Hey sonny!!! I served in LBJ's war. I was against the U.S. getting involved in the middle east at all. You were glorifying a man who was responsible for the death of an innocent woman. You young pipsqueaks need to get historical perspective on matters which you think you know it all.
Dave, Kennedy is dead and so is Mary Jo, let that go. Kennedy was a good Senator. My Husband served during LBJ's reign, go shot up while Boehner, Cheney, Romney, Clinton weaseled out of service. Then you have Bush in the Guard, getting his teeth cleaned and playing at campaigning. We know what we speak of also and way past the pipsqueak stage.
My GOD we have some real nut-jobs running this Country and we had a change to hit the reset button.
If ANYTHING that would have least sent a message. Now we are PHUCKED.
All you people that vote your gender and your skin color and whom you sleep with and what you can scam from the tax-payer are watching the last days of your bailiwick.
See you in the streets. I will be the one showing you knuckleheads where the damn magazine goes and what end to point with.
Better yet, why don't you suck on the barrel???
America soundly rejected Nancy Pelosi in 2010--real smart move there donkies...
Uh, didn't we just have an election and didn't your crowd just take a drubbing??? Didn't Democrats just pick up seats in the House, this even after your party Gerrymander all the districts. We actually received more votes than did your party.
Did I miss something, rejecting Nancy, 2010? Isn't this 2012 and we just had an election and the Republicans lost, or am I still in a time warp?
I am a Democrat. I also feel that maybe its time for Nancy to pass the torch. We need to END party bitterness. Get the process moving for the good of the country. Matter of FACT, Boner needs to go as well. Get people at the HELM that work to SOLVE the problems. Not look for camera "OPS" to spew accusations at each others party. SOLUTIONS are the key.
If would be great if Pelosi, Reid, McConnell and Boehner were all replaced with leaders who can bring some intelligence and balance to Congress.
I love coming to First Read. Beverly in Chicago set the perfect tone that has been the hallmark of this place. She drools all over herself for plastic woman and spews nothing but hate for anyone from the opposition party. It's a good thing that I don't live in the peoples republik of Illinois any more. I might find myself in Chicago, meet up with Beverly and have to barf all over her. On second thought, I plan to stay as far away from Chicago as possible. They arm all the drug dealers, pimps and convicted felons and deny gun permits to law abiding citizens. What a wonderful place to live!!!
DAVE, Yes we Democrats should take a page from the book of the GOP. The party of love, tolerance, empathy, compassion, bipartisanship and acceptance. Dave, are you frigging kidding me??? Your party that just spent 4 years doing everything in their power to DESTROY Obama, now you want to make nice, nice??? Forget it pal, it's game on and your crowd is losing.
Ozzieboy, you liberal/progressive/socialists always demonize that which you disagree with. I did NOT want to destroy Obama. I only wanted to send him back to Chicago, where he belongs.
DAVE, well apparently you just missed your big chance cause you got thrashed last week, in case you didn't notice.
And what is this "send him back to Chicago" horse@!$%#??? I don't recall Democrats saying that they wanted to send Dubya back to Texas or Willard to one of his 14 houses or Ryan to Wisconsin. There is a racist tinge to so many comments coming from the Right that I find very offensive.
There it is we have a winner the race card has been played. Ozzie please stop by your local DNC office or Welfare line to receive your prize - a bottle of Country Flowers Massengill.
The President won, over, done. Get over it, wishing it wasn't so doesn't change it. Move on and go do something useful, Meals on Wheels needs volunteers. Actually I am delighted Bush went back to Texas and doesn't venture too far from the weed whacking enterprise he was so fond of.
I do not care who the Top Dem. is nor do I care who the Speaker is. What I want from these A holes is for them to start running the country like they were sent there to do. We the people sent them to congress to do our bidding, not theirs. What we need to do is get these old farts out of there and get some younger blood in. We will have that chance in 2 years.
absolute worthless piece of garbage .
We will never be rid of that bitch. She is too much of a whore to leave voluntarily. She will have to be carried out feet first from the house floor. Cannot believe the decrepitude and corruption among liberals.
As long as she pisses you clowns off, I'm happy. Now go sulk over your thrashing from last week pal.
Read this carefully, little boy. I want you to post here in 2016, if this country still exists in that year. Your president is on a path to destroy the country and he really does not care who gets hurt as long as he can make us just like Europe. When this happens, I want to be the one who tells you and the rest of your liberal/progressive comrades that I warned you.
the only person possibly stupider than nuttsy pelosi is obama your welfare momma, and when karma takes both of these pieces of crap off the planet there will be a lot of celebrating going on. what is the difference between nutjob pelosi and obama your welfare manboy, nutjob pelosi has a larger penis and her pea brain is twice the size of his which is the size of an atom.
You sound upset. Last week's election results got you Nazis feeling downhearted??? I feel your pain bro, I truly do.
yoyoma- I'll bet you are in one of the "stupid" states that wants to secede from the union- There's a place in Canada that will take you in-you should go there- then complain about your President.
heavanlychild,
your name says it all, you are as arrogant as your welfare momma obama, pelosi is probably your old babysitter from the projects in your neighborhood, let me ask you, how much money does obama your welfare momma put on your EBT card each month, I bet no matter how much it is you still bitch as a loser that works for nothing and whines for everything is never satisfied.
@ Yoyoma - Give it up- the loser is you- Still sour grapes from last Tuesday loss- REALLY ROMNEY/RYAN LOST
I'm a supporter of President Obama. I am not a supporter of Nancy Pelosi.
I respect Ms. Pelosi and would undoubtedly like her and her views as an individual. However, I do not believe she has a pragmatic vision for accomplishing the actions she believes in. Indeed, she is the Republicans' ideal poster person for continuing to hold the House in 2014.
I therefore recommend a vote for either Mr. van Hollen or Mr. Hoyer as the leader (and, potentially, next Speaker).
MADISON, the Right would demonize anyone the Democrats had as their leader, Nancy is no different. Besides, who the hell cares what they think?
She's proven to be a great speaker of the house-- Boehner needs to realize we DEMS are NOT going to lay down and die or be pushed around this time around. You know his job is up for grabs - he doesn't want to let go of it- and Eric Cantor wants it-- It should be an interesting 2 years--
So Republicans, what do you think of Republican Bobby Jindal's statement, "The GOP is the Party of the Dumb"? I have much more respect for Jindal now that he is being honest. Do you know what your prospects are for getting smarter? About zero. I think you should recommit to your goal of making Obama a 'one-term president' - you people live in a bubble anyway, it will make you feel better!
Bobby needs to shut his pie hole.
I have no problem with a woman in a leadership role; republican or democrat! This woman is a dingbat that does not care one bit that the country is tired of her pomp and circumstance. What a bimbo from a state that is going bankrupt.
Really? Is that why she is considered one of the most effective Speakers of the modern era? You may detest her and that's your perogative but the fact remains that she knows how to keep her caucus in line, unlike Boehnor who gets dragged around by the Tea Crazies in his caucus.
And yea, it's all Nancys fault that California has financial issues. Evidently The Terminator had nothing to do with it.
@rckymtnplumber--What are you basing that claim on- hear say? Do you know anything about Nancy Pelosi or are you just going on hear say?
@heavenlychild: I suppose the heavenly must be the heavenly in the Bankrupt state of California where Nancy is from? What I am basing this on is that a leader needs to establish some respect in order to lead; Nancy has very little outside of HER caucus (CIRCUS). As far as hear say, what I know is what her say; Let's pass the bill prior to reading it! Like I said, what a joke!
Nancy didn't cause California's financial problems -- Short memories have we-- what about the "Governator" - If you were from the state- you would know-- So, back to your Circus-
That is not saying much from a group that calls an amoral, impeached, draft dodging sexual predator of a POTUS like Bill Clinton the best president in history.
More of the same from all sides.
Wonderful news since they all work so well together and the country is more united than ever.
Well there goes the budget! Blue Cross Blue Shield will no doubt be the monopoly heath care provider nationwide! Soon, Blue Cross Blue Shield will be able to raise their rates and exclude those that were promised national health care under Oboma Care! {:-(}
You do not need to read it-just sign right here. Sure are alot of idiots that fell for that one-and still are.
I believe the country would be better off if Congress would elect different leaders in both parties! But since the Republicans re-elected their same obstructionists leaders, Nancy Pelosi needs to be there to continue to fight them for our benefit! She has done a good job!
The Dems have captured the Center. I worry that this choice will pull them back to the fringe and give the conservatives an opening to get it back. Not my first choice for Minority Leader.
obama is as far left as it gets and a lot of Dems are starting to frown. Just fact. Look at the list of people he has coming to the WH to discuss the economy. That is why we will fall off the cliff. Romney was criticized by both parties the whole time he was moving closer to the center, often against his better judgement, for the good of the country. He was not two faced or hypocritical he realized he had to give. We blew our chance. All things in moderation...guess where that came from?
@gbull- I agree with you Nancy has done a great job-- She has to deal with John Boehner, Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor, Mitch McConnel , and Newt - If they are NOT pieces of work- I don't know what is--
if anyone see's heavanlychild on this post please tell her that the nurses are looking for her as it is time to change her rubber pants and put her back in her cage before she craps all over the place.
How old are you, yoyo? Five?
@yoyoma- grow up please-
yoyo You need to check your pants-something smells.
For the government to begin working again the leaders of both parties in both the senate and house need to be changed. Both need more moderate leaders.
The Democrats are bragging about expanding government with a 1 trillion dollar fiscal budget shortfall again this year.
You Democrats aren't paying for the government you already created, but the fact is you keep putting us deeper in debt every year by the trillions
All we Republicans have to do in this race is wait until you run out of lenders and with the countries credit rating losing credibility it won't be long now.
Oh, carry on, I thought you said something.
beverly in chicago what is the matter with your head. The liberal cool-aid must not be the proper mix. Hope your welfare checks keeps coming along with the food stamps
Gas up my new broom, I'm gonna milk it for all its worth