Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA8) Up for Re-election in 2012 – Battles to Maintain Power in Congress – Capuano (D-MA) No to Pelosi – Boston Globe Scolds

Pelosi Seeks Power - here with Obama - mutual adoration apparent - image PatDollard

Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House, is determined to seekthe position of Democrat Minority Leader, regardless of the fact that some in the Democrat Party would prefer another member take the lead. Pelosi, who, despite support for her Republican Opponent in 2010, John Dennis, coming from every corner of the 8th district, including the endorsement of Cindy Sheehan, won re-election by a an astounding 80.1% of the vote. Pelosi, who along with the House Democrats, lost leadership positions when Republican’s regained control of the Congress in November, simply refuses to go away. Perhaps it is the fact that she did so well in her own District, or the dogged nature of the Progressive, whose ideology trumps reason in all cases, that leads the most unpopular figure in American politics to compete in what is partially, a popularity contest.

All leadership positions, regardless of which political party controls the house, are subject to politics inside the party; members must convince their “peers” that they deserve a specific leadership post. Nancy is now in the stages of doing just that, while the GOP is perhaps her biggest cheerleader. Her biggest detractor however, comes from the Bay State, where one would think that Progressive Democrats would heartily support Nancy’s quest to be the Minority Leader – not so.

The Boston Globe reports today, (or more to the point opines and blasts several Democrat incumbents for bad manners) suggests that Michael Capuano (D-MA8), is not pleased with Nancy’s performance and suggests she seek retirement. Capuano, unlike the balance of the 9 Massachusetts Congressional Representatives, did not face a tough fight for reelection this year (he ran uncontested. He understands the consequences should Pelosi remain the face of the Democrat Party. It was the numbers that came into play in the once “secure” Democrat Commonwealth of Massachusetts that made Mike stand up and take notice.

Normally, members of Congress in blue states like Massachusetts and California, do not even face a serious challenger, and go unchallenged for decades. In 2010 that changed, and both California and Massachusetts saw challengers in Districts that are home to some of the most previously powerful in Washington. For example, when looking at Districts the New York Times suggested would be taken by each incumbent with at least 70 plus percent of the vote, they actually came in a tad too close for comfort. The MA2 (Richard Neal (Formerly seeking Chair of House Ways & Means), saw 1st time challenger Tom Wesley with little financing, take 42.7% of the vote, MA5 (Niki Tsongas), saw 1st time challenger, Jon Golnik take 42.3% of the vote, the open seat in the 10th District, Democrat Bill Keating won by merely 4 points, and in the MA4th, Barney Frank (former Chair Finance) was chased by Sean Bielat, and won by 10 points, which had Barney Frank fuming (see Globe article on Frank’s bad manners.) The balance of the races, were in the same vein in MA, with entrenched incumbents coming in with lower overall percentages than in previous decades.

Capuano understands that those results are encouraging, not to the Democrats, but to those who are now considering run in 2012 at the same Congressional Representatives who only won by 10 points or even 20. The challenges will come, and these former powerful members of the House, will have to begin fundraising again, to battle opponents unknown. It is that with Nancy Pelosi’s face as leader, which will be used in every possible ad against those who support her, which has smart Capuano running as far away from his former protégé as possible.

It will be interesting as the infighting continues, to see if, between now and January when the new Congress convenes, who will take the titles of Democrat Minority Leader and Whip. Capuano may be hoping it is a moderate face, however, Nancy is not going away quietly, and may, in the end, manage to take the lead. According to the Globe, all Nancy Pelosi needs is the backing of the California Congressional Representatives (D) as well as the 10 Democrat Massachusetts Congressional Representatives and she will be well on her way to meet her goal. Note that report was made prior to the Capuano announcement/analogy vis a vis Pelosi and baseball (the losing coach is normally fired (paraphrased), leaving Pelosi, 1 short. Surely there are other Progressives, left in the Congress who will stand for Pelosi, and give the GOP the opportunity of taking the rest of the House and Senate in 2012. Of course, this depends on whether or not the GOP stands on its principals and delivers on the promises made - that is the only option before these new Congressional members.

MA GOP Resurgence Evident in Primary Results – 134 Republican Candidates On Ballot for 2010 Elections

Yesterday’s primary results in Massachusetts yielded 134 Republican candidates for both State and Federal offices. For the first time in over two decades, there will be valid choices in Congressional District races in the Bay State. The majority of the Bay State’s Democrat Congressional Block has has not faced strong Republican opposition in decades – that changed yesterday. According to the Massachustts Republican Party there are 5 Candidates for Statewide Office, 104 Candidates for the Legislature, 9 Candidates for Congress, 2 Candidates for District Attorney, 2 Candidates for County Commissioner, 7 Candidates for Sheriff and 5 Candidates for Governor’s Council.

Jennifer Nassour, Chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party released the following statement following the primary results:

“I offer my sincerest congratulations to GOP nominees up and down the ballot who won their primaries, and thank all those candidates who helped renew a two-party system in Massachusetts. The real work begins now when our Republican candidates take their message of fiscal sanity to Independents and Democrats across the Commonwealth. For the first time in a long time, the wind is at our Party’s back in Massachusetts. Voters are motivated and eager for change because Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill have done nothing to create jobs -- whether it’s the Patrick-Cahill Administration’s eight tax increases or a job-killing health care bill from the Democrats in Congress. I’m confident that voter enthusiasm will only continue to surge for the GOP, and our candidates will pound the pavement through November 2nd with a message of fiscal discipline and real reform.”

One could, in fact, call the results of last night’s primary, nothing short of historical. Although there is little to be found on the majority of the results from major news outlets, and was little prior to the election and during the primary itself (with a focus on Democrat primaries for open seats and or District Attorney races), the fact that there were competitive races that resulted in 134 candidates in Massachusetts is no mean feat. It remains to be seen how long the (local state) media in the Commonwealth will be able to “ignore” the races – specifically the Congressional Races as October brings the reality of a mid-term and the opportunity for many who sat out this primary to get out and vote. The total vote results were fairly indicative of a low voter turnout, and primarily paralleled major party enrollment, meaning that the vast majority of the state’s electorate, the Unenrolled, sat out the primary.

Based on the pundits, one would think that the die has been cast for politics as usual; however, those same pundits cast doubt on the Bay State in December of 09 into the final week of the January 19th special election. It will be a combination of party partisan “red-meat”, and, more importantly, those on the ground who feel enough is enough (the unenrolled, and other party affiliates) that will ultimately make the decision. Although the media ignores, and the pundits from Washington insist the Bay State is solid blue, one cannot bet the house on incumbents retaining their offices past the November general.