Well, if Democratic bloodsports over the House speakership race was on your Christmas list, cross it off. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) now has a lock on it, with a deal struck with the anti-Pelosi wing on the Democratic Party, who vowed to oppose her bid. Some 16 House Democratsdeclared their opposition to her candidacy. Yet, their potential candidate to oppose Pelosi, Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), decided to bow out. Some other anti-Pelosi Democrats jumped ship as well. Still, there was a chance that this small band of rebels could cause Pelosi heartburn on the House floor. Now, such fears can be put to rest. Pelosi plans to step aside after…four years (via Politico):
So, yeah, Pelosi is back. But that could work to our benefit. Pelosi, like Obama and Hillary Clinton, animates the GOP base like no other. So, congratulations Mrs. “let's hear it more for pre-existing medical conditions.”Nancy Pelosi struck a deal Wednesday with Democratic rebels intent on denying her the speakership, paving the way for her to reclaim the gavel she lost eight years ago.
The California Democrat has agreed to limit her time as speaker to four years at most. In return, a critical number of lawmakers who vowed to oppose Pelosi will support her in a crucial Jan. 3 House floor vote.
The proposal also limits the time her two deputies, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), can stay in their posts, although those changes will likely have to be ratified by the full caucus.
The accord is a major triumph for Pelosi, who has spent the past several weeks engaged in a full-court lobbying campaign to line up the remaining votes she needed to clinch the speakership.
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