Monday, November 15, 2010

New Boss Same As The Old Boss

“We didn’t lose the election because of me. Our members do not accept that.”
-- Nancy Pelosi

“That is why you failed.”
-- Yoda

As predicted, the House Democrats will re-elected Nancy Pelosi as their leader. Clearly they learned nothing from the election. Nevertheless, there are a couple of interesting aspects to this whole affair, including the possible future of Heath Shuler. Who?

1. The Democrats lost because of Pelosi.

The Democrats got into power and ran wild. During the election, Obama tried to sell himself as a break with the crazy tribal politics of the Democratic Party. Pelosi and her crew tried to sound like moderates too, attacking the Republicans as big spenders and as the party that wants to tax the middle class. And Rham Emanuel ran around the country trying to find conservatives to run as Democrats in Republican districts.

So you can imagine the public was somewhat surprised when the House, under Pelosi’s leadership, tried to tax the economy to death, spend the budget to death, strangle our health care system to death, and breathe life back into the most malicious zombie of them all. . . the unions. What’s more, they did this even though they knew the Senate would stop almost all of it, and even though they knew Obama had no stomach to offer them political cover.

The public was not amused and they took it out on the Democrats in November. Indeed, the public inflicted an historic defeat on Pelosi and her crew. Pelosi wants to blame the economy, but if it was just the economy, then the Senate also would have experienced an historic change. . . it didn’t. Moreover, Pelosi doesn’t seem to understand that she bears the responsibility for the economy. Having two years under Obama and four years under Pelosi to impose economic policy tends to give one that responsibility.

2. The Democrats are heading in the wrong direction.

With almost all the moderate Democrats losing their seats, the Democrats were always going to have a hard time realizing what went wrong and correcting themselves. Those that remain are blinded by ideology The re-election of Pelosi to their leadership (indeed the reelection of the entire leadership without change) and the disclaiming of any responsibility for their defeat indicate that they have not heard a word of the message the voters sent them. Thus, expect them to move further left and continue to scare the public.

And for those who point to the Republicans’ rebound in 2010 as evidence that Pelosi could rebound, let me point out a problem with the analogy. The Republicans were weighed down by a deeply unpopular President in 2008 and a horrible candidate. But by 2010, both of those factors had disappeared and the Republicans actually caught a tailwind from an unpopular Democratic President. Pelosi et al., on the other hand, will still be weighed down by Obama in 2012 and possibly 2016.

3. The Very Strange Case of Heath Shuler.

Finally, we come to the strange move by Heath Shuler. Shuler, for those who don’t know, is a Democratic Representative from North Carolina. Before that, he was famous for being the Washington Redskins’ draft bust who head butted a wall on national television and injured himself. Shuler is running against Pelosi for the leadership even though he has no chance to win. Why do this?

Several thoughts come to mind. First, North Carolina will be redistricting and he may find himself with more Republicans in his new district. It will help him to have stood up to Pelosi. But here’s some speculation for you. . .

When Shuler first ran for the House, the media asked a couple of his ex-teammates what they thought of his run. One teammate, his former roommate for road games, said that he were surprised Schuler ran as a Democrat because Shuler was ultra conservative. It is true that Shuler has not fully lived up to that in the House, but he is one of the more conservative Democrats. And in a state that is slowly trending Republican, and with the Republicans controlling redistricting, Shuler may be the first House member to jump parties. Indeed, little about him fits in the current Democratic Party, except that being a Democrat was the only way he was going to get elected in 2008. So what better springboard than to make a run at the leadership on behalf of returning the party to the center, and then jumping ship when he “reluctantly” concludes that the party has left him and will never return?

It’s just a thought, but it makes sense. And here’s a further thought. . . if he pulls it off, look for Shuler to run for President as a Republican at some point.

43 comments:

SPN Headlines said...

Speaker Pelosi says the lame-duck Dems will repeal the law of gravity to mitigate airplane crashes - SHOCKING story at:

http://spnheadlines.blogspot.com/2010/11/pelosi-creates-new-leadership-roles.html

Peace! :-)

Tennessee Jed said...

I feel compelled to point out that Shuler is a former Tennessee Vol quarterback. Everybody around here is amazed he has been a Democrat.

Pelosi, btw, has never even been in Tennessee unless flying over us in her big plane keeping the world green for democracy LOL ;)

AndrewPrice said...

Jed, I knew that too. I was in DC when they drafted him and they were thrilled! But he never panned out.

And like I say in the article, several people were shocked he ran as a Democrat. So it honestly would not surprise me if he really was a Republican, and would eventually jump parties. And if he does, I could see him becoming a strong contender for much higher things in the Republican Party because he could easily claim both the conservative base and the middle because of the "ex" Democrat credential. Of course, he needs to play this perfectly to avoid being seen as a traitor.

This could be interesting.

AndrewPrice said...

P.S. Jed, why would she visit Tennessee? What's could possibly be there that she can't find in San Francisco or some other big liberal city? Plus, if she went there, she might have to meet people who don't share her wacko views. . . and that would be too hard on her. :-(

AndrewPrice said...

SPN, we don't normally accept links because we don't want people advertising or posting malicious links. But since your article is on the same topic and you aren't selling anything, I'll leave the comment.

StanH said...

Once Nancy loses her perks, I’ll bet she retires. On a personal basis I think it’s great that she come back, she’ll serve as a constant reminder of what was, and we need to thin the herd more in 2012, she can be useful. I also believe Heath Shuler will be one of many who will switch as this country turns right, especially if we can field a great presidential candidate for 2012, it’s gonna get lonely in the leftist loony-bin.

Anonymous said...

Andrew: Your article makes very good sense, but I still have to check with Bill Maher to see if you're right.

Ponderosa said...

Gee, I just wish we'd heard more about HCR.

It’s so weird how things work out. Guess they must have just run out of money (or something) back in April because not a soul has heard a peep about it since then. If they’d had only been better at messaging, Nan would still be Speaker.

Oh, what a world! What a world!

AndrewPrice said...

Stan, I too think it's great that they chose Pelosi again. She is a reminder of their worst instincts and she will keep the conservative base focused -- especially since she's going to continue to be a total jerk about everything.

I don't doubt that a lot of people will begin switching once the writing is on the wall -- especially in the South and if the West shifts further right. Shuler is just interesting to me because of his seemingly strange run at the leadership spot. I have no doubt that's part of some bigger plan of his.

AndrewPrice said...

Lawhawk, Bill Maher? Forget Maher! I cleared it with Sherlock Holmes, he agrees because Shuler had mud from San Francisco on his shoes. LOL!

AndrewPrice said...

Ponderosa, It is all about messaging. They just didn't dumb it down enough for we the public to understand! :-(

What do you mean no one's talked about Health Care Reform since April? I swear the GOVERNMENT WAS USING MY MONEY TO PAY ANDY GRIFFITH TO LIE TO ME!!!!!!

Sorry, that's been bothering me.

Game Master Rob Adams said...

I hear you Andy and no I do not want to buy your insurance. Go back to Mayberry!

CrispyRice said...

I can see people switching parties, but then running for pres after shortly doing so? Really?? Hmmm.

AndrewPrice said...

ACG, I can't tell you how much it bothers me that they are using my tax money to put those ads on television. That should be illegal lobbying. And it really irks me that he would do those ads. I am hoping his mind is just so far gone that he doesn't know what he's reading.

AndrewPrice said...

Crispy, By running against Pelosi, he has raised his profile HUGELY. If he now very loudly jumps parties, the Republicans will invite see him as a star because of his his profile. I'm not saying he gets the nod in 2012, but he could easily become the keynote speaker at the convention.... which could lead to a run at the next available date (2016 if we lose, 2020 if we win).

T_Rav said...

Andrew, I'd be very skeptical of any presidential prospects for Shuler. Obviously, he'll never be nominated by the Democrats, and to be nominated by the Republicans, he'd have to be accepted by them first. Given the fate of Alabama's Parker Griffiths earlier this year, it'd be an accomplishment for him just to make it through the next primary. I don't see it.

Also, I was very disappointed to learn that Shuler used to quarterback for Tennessee (sorry, Jed).

Ponderosa said...

It is just another unbiased PSA from our friendly gov't, you know like:

"Stay in school."

"Don't do drugs."

"Don't smoke*!"
*Except for unfiltered & illegal joints, those are healthy

"Buy GM."

"All animals are equal..."

AndrewPrice said...

T_Rav, Sounds like an SEC rivalry brewing? LOL!

It's not as crazy as it sounds. A lot of the most conservative Republicans from the 1980s were ex-Democrats who switched parties when Reagan came along. Reagan himself used to be a Democrat.

I think that if he's careful, he can make himself very attractive to the Republicans because they will love to have a high profile Democrats leave their party.

Obviously, this is all just a guess and it depends on millions of possible factors, but I wouldn't rule it out at all.

Another one to keep an eye on is Manchin from West Virginia -- there's been talk about him changing parties for years.

AndrewPrice said...

Ponderosa, All animals are equal is right. I understand they need to let people know about new benefits or whatever, but he's actively trying to sell Obamacare to the public. He even starts by telling us how the new bill sounds like real good thing. That should be illegal lobbying.

Writer X said...

I might be in the minority here but I am pulling for Pelosi to be re-elected as the leader for the House Democrats. I can't think of a bigger idiot to handle the job.

AndrewPrice said...

Writer X, I think we're all actually pulling for her, for the very reason you cite. It's just funny that the Democrats are thumbing their noses at the public on this issue and saying -- "we aren't changing a thing!"

Writer X said...

Andrew, it's the Republicans' election to lose in 2012. It will be like taking candy from a bunch of cry-babies. If they can't pull this off, we're doomed.

AndrewPrice said...

Writer X, I like that, "taking candy from a bunch of cry-babies"! :-)

I agree, 2012 will be the Republicans to lose. I just hope they're up to the task. They can't sit back and assume that Obama will hand it to them.

I also hope they keep that in sight in the House and Senate. They can't let the Democrats play the "we're really conservatives" game by making meaningless votes on conservative issues.

T_Rav said...

Andrew, I suppose Shuler becoming a Republican hero is plausible, but probably unlikely. Unless he switches parties in the very near future, he'll likely be perceived as trying to avoid defeat by an actual Republican. Personally, I'd keep more of an eye on Manchin. The Senate GOP made some overtures to him after the election about possibly switching parties, and he didn't exactly give them an unequivocal "no," which you would think someone truly devoted to the party would do. Since he's filling out the rest of Byrd's term, meaning he'll be up for re-election again in '12, he'll be one to watch.

And no, there's not really an SEC rivalry going, just sour grapes from an Ole Miss fan. (It's an off year for us, but 52-14? Really?)

AndrewPrice said...

T_Rav, I know some people who are very actively plugged into WVa politics, and there have been a lot of discussions about him switching parties. Moreover, as governor, he was very much unlike the Democrats before him. He was pro-business, anti-tax, etc. So I would not rule out at all that he may change sides. The state already is reliably Republican in the Presidential elections, so the writing may be on the wall there.

On Shuler, I agree that he will need to make the move quickly, and the re-election of Pelosi does give him the chance. We'll see. Like I said, I'm only guessing on that point.

Yeah, 52-14 sounds a little excessive. LOL!

Joel Farnham said...

Andrew,

I think Pelosi is a "True Believer." She is the type that losing the plane is not a sufficient reason to quit. She also believes that she did win. She won during the year when HCR passed against overwhelming odds and opposition. Losing a plane is small peanuts. She fully expects that in two years, she will be back in power.

To everyone else, she lost the House. To her, that is good, because she doesn't have to deal with impure blue-dogs. She certainly doesn't realize that she is toxic, that she was used as the poster child of what is wrong with DC. She also doesn't realize that she will be used for what is wrong with DC in the future.

AndrewPrice said...

Joel, I think that's absolutely correct. Pelosi sees the world very differently than the rest of us.

She sees herself as a winner because she got things passed that could change our entire country if they can't be undone.... and she thinks that they won't be undone.

I also agree with your assessment that she will be happier having a smaller, but loyaler, more ideologically uniform caucus.

Plus, as a "true believer," she probably believes that the vast majority of the public is ready to support her ideology "once they understand it." And she probably very much believes that she will return to power after she can convince the public that the Republicans are horrible people and are responsible for everything that is going wrong.

Joel Farnham said...

Andrew,

The idea that all will rise up and accept what she and her statist's have done is reminiscent of what anarchists believe when they blow up buildings. The people will rise up and realize that they (the anarchists) were right all along. It is about as logical as the cargo cult villages. Build a runway with buildings and then cargo shows up magically.

BevfromNYC said...

Oddly, I don't see Nancy getting the Dems to hold the line like Boehner did with the Republicans. They risk becoming the "Party of No", if they don't start playing nicely. They just don't get that it's them, not us.

I expect that Nancy's gonna be late a lot without the military jets and limos at her disposal.

Oh, and Shuler is going to have to get through Jindal and Rubio if he has designs on the Repub ticket.

AndrewPrice said...

Joel, LOL! "Cargo cults"! Now there is something I haven't thought about for a very long time. :-)

I think you're right. It is like the anarchists who think that everyone is ready to turn society upside down just as soon as someone acts. And so they blow up a building or assassinate someone and then are shocked when no one rises up to join them, and are even more shocked to find out that people see them as the villains. Excellent analogy!

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, LOL! She is going to be late a lot now that she gets the Minority Leader's Scooter rather than the Speaker's Limo! I'd love to see her hitchhiking! :-)

I'm not sure I agree that she won't keep them in line. From her perspective they wouldn't be "the party of no" they would be "the party of protecting the 'yes' we did". If that makes sense.

On Shuler, I doubt he could be a candidate in 2012, but 2016 or 2020 could be very different. (But let me stress again that I'm just speculating. He might really be a Democrat at heart?)

Joel Farnham said...

Andrew,

Since Pelosi has to travel like the rest of us, doesn't she have to go through the TSA scanners and get felt up if she refuses to walk through?

Joel Farnham said...

Andrew,

My bad, I just realized something. Ignore the last because TSA is not designed to find and eliminate the antagonist bent on blowing up a plane or society. Those they give a pass to. TSA is intent on stifling any free man who has no such designs.

AndrewPrice said...

Joel, LOL! You are on fire tonight!

Sadly, I agree that TSA seems more interested in copping a feel on little old ladies than they are in stopping the guy who will blow up the plane. Wouldn't want to "racially profile" the guy with the bomb, would we?

Of course, now that Pelosi needs to fly with the rest of us, maybe they'll finally get serious about actually finding the bad guys?

Joel Farnham said...

Andrew,

No such luck on TSA finally going after the bad guys. See, Pelosi is bent on destroying Society. TSA's love that. My guess is that they will bring a Roman salon chair out to carry her through the airport, complete with matching slaves with their tongues cut out.

Ed said...

I agree with Bev, I want Pelosi as their leader. She just turns off so many people.

Minority Leader Scooter. ;D

I remember Shuler, he lost out to Frerrotte. Good game tonight, despite the score.

AndrewPrice said...

Joel, I can see that. I can really see that. No doubt the slaves are people who were convicted of tax evasion. . . kind of gives a new meaning to "getting the chair." :-(

AndrewPrice said...

Ed, I hear it's a used scooter too! ;-)

Yeah, Shuler's NFL career never really took off. And he certainly never came anywhere near his draft status.

Individualist said...

Well I think we can look forward to Nancy P 's endless lectures in the press. That was her job before 2006 when she was minority leader. That is too shrilly make false accusations 24-7 so that CNN never runs out of sound bytes. I give it two weeks before her next big scandal is to be revealed.

As to Andy Griffith, I feel sad for him when I watch those commercials. He is barely able to finish his sentences. When that law starts to miserably fail it is probably going to ruin his legacy. He'll be remembered as the world's biggest shill. Sad, he deserves better........

Anonymous said...

Interesting speculation Andrew, but one correction: Gus Frerotte was the one who did the head butting and got hurt.

TJ

AndrewPrice said...

TJ, I suddenly realized that last night. Ug. The mind is the first thing to go. Thanks for the correction!

AndrewPrice said...

Individualist, I really despise those commercials, especially since you and I are paying for them. But you're right, it does make you feel sad.

I agree about Pelosi. She's going to spend the next two years being about as vile as humanly possible.

AndrewPrice said...

TJ, P.S. Any insight you can add on Shuler?

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