Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is watching a nail-biter unfold. The last few seats in Congress are being decided after a contentious election day that left nearly as many questions open as answered. And it would appear that Madam Speaker is hinting at graciously accepting whatever leadership positions her loyal subjects present – unless, of course, her own family obligations get in the way.
The embattled California Democrat recently, and with a coquettish dismissal of her own ambition, spoke with one news outlet about the future: “Well, you know that I’m not asking anybody – People are campaigning, and that’s a beautiful thing. And I’m not asking anyone for anything. My members are asking me to consider doing that. But, again, let’s just get through the election.” What does that even mean regarding her possible continuation as Speaker?
Most likely, the retirement home will take second place to the old familiar stomping ground of the Longworth Building in the Swamp.
The Family Excuse Could Be Dusted Off
When a politician faces expulsion, prison time, embarrassing press, or a crushing loss, the old excuse “spend more time with my family” is dusted off and used efficiently. So, suppose Pelosi has had enough of progressive pressure, peer pressure (although there aren’t many her age), and suddenly finds herself repeating weird phrases, slurring words, or any other such signs of aging or inability to lead. One can bet it’s because her beloved Paul needs her at home after suffering both the physical effects and the widespread news of a vicious attack at his home.
Wearing only his underpants, the illegal alien from Canada went after the speaker’s husband with a hammer. Naturally, the left immediately tried to pawn the guy off as a right-wing extremist, though his BLM flag-flying, LGBTQ lifestyle suggested otherwise. Details are still a tad sketchy, but as Liberty Nation Chief Political Correspondent Graham J. Noble explained:
“[T]he Pelosi attacker has a background – from what we know so far – of deep psychological problems, violent tendencies, broken relationships, a distrust of government (not at all unusual, these days), and a penchant for conspiracy theories. A committed political activist – from either the right or the left – he was not. Since he knew where the Pelosis lived, it took Paul Pelosi’s attacker an awfully long time to decide to carry out his ‘assassination attempt,’ if indeed that was his plan.”
Pelosi – the elected one, that is – made her thoughts transparent: “The attack is horrible. I mean, imagine what I feel as the one who was the target and my husband paying the price and the traumatic effect on our family.” As time passes, perhaps Mrs. Pelosi may decide it’s time to tend to her family and allow the youngsters to run rogue in the Hallowed Halls.
Yeah, But Now It’s a Presidential Cycle
In the same breath used to set the stage for using the “family” excuse and waiting for the election truths to be told, the speaker elaborated: “Nonetheless, a great deal is at stake because we’ll be in a presidential election. So, my decision will again be rooted in the wishes of my family and the wishes of my caucus. But none of it will be very much considered until we see what the outcome of all of this is. And there are all kinds of ways to exert influence.”
Nancy Pelosi (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Most pundits saw a flicker of possibility in Nancy’s eyes after Trump won in 2016 and all hell broke loose in attempting to unseat the man. But by 2018, calls to impeach both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence left her a slim to none chance of being elevated to the White House. There is a reason Mrs. Pelosi stuck it out for so long. But that once-in-a-career opportunity is even more out of reach. Does the Democratic Party need Nancy – or does Nancy need the job to stay out of the family home in San Francisco?
Those who have followed politics since way before Donald J. Trump rode the gold escalator to infamy wonder how long the speaker can keep the pace of the job required. Will she take her leave under pretense – or will she be reinvigorated by desires of becoming the first female president? According to Nancy, she could still be calling the shots in the Democratic Party regardless of who officially leads the House: “The speaker has awesome power, but I will always have influence.”
