Nancy Pelosi 2.0?

In September we covered some of the controversies about the re-election of Nancy Pelosi, as Speaker of the House, should the Democrats take the House, which they have now done. And, the furor over whether Pelosi is too old, at 78 years-old to lead, in this fractious effort has made tongues wag all over the country: Is she progressive enough? Can she impeach President Trump? Is she too much of a centrist?

As previously noted, the GOP stalwart, Newt Gingrich, who was a formidable Speaker of the House, in his time, told an interviewer that she had been in “this business forever” and that she would win, and that her contacts, and toughness were a real factor in the role. In other words, a worthy foe.

Some Dems say that she might not be the person to break the gridlock in Congress, a monumental effort for anyone, but others are pointing out that she is not the new Moses, ready to lead the Dems into the Promised Land.

“Pelosi met with Problem Solvers Democrats last week after they sent her a letter “strongly” encouraging her to embrace their proposals to “Break the Gridlock.” Pelosi described the meeting as “positive and constructive” and credited members for coming forward “with valuable solutions” to restore the House “as the great marketplace of ideas our founders intended, “said Politico.com

Pelosi did score some major reversals, notably the young Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said in a tweet, "All the challenges to Leader Pelosi are coming from her right, in an apparent effort to make the party even more conservative and bent toward corporate interests. Hard pass," the New York Democrat said. "So long as Leader Pelosi remains the most progressive candidate for Speaker, she can count on my support."

Perhaps, the young lawmaker was realizing that support from an established leader, and one who supports female lawmakers was worth the risk. Learning the ropes, and who can support you, is the first rule on Capitol Hill, and it looks like she is learning fast.

Ocasio-Cortez also took a strong stand on the issues, knowing that she is going to have to face them, and she said: “I hope that we can move swiftly to conclude this discussion about party positions, so that we can spend more time discussing party priorities: voting rights, healthcare, wages, climate change, housing, cannabis legalization, good jobs, etc."

As Gingrich exclaimed, “I would say, first of all, Nancy Pelosi is a very smart, very tough person who has earned her position by just brute hard work, by applying her intelligence and by applying a network that has sustained her for a long time,” and he also added, that “Anybody who thinks they’re going to outmanoeuvre her is up against somebody who has literally spent her lifetime — she’s been in this business forever.”

Moving in concert is a 9-member group of Democrats who Politico.com reported on Friday that, “Democratic members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus are warning House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) she won't win their votes for speaker if she doesn’t back their proposed rules changes.”

“We will only vote for a speaker candidate who supports ‘Break the Gridlock’ rules changes.”

Facing another front Pelosi also is “working to counter opposition from another group of Democrats who gathered 16 signatures from members and members-elect pledging to oppose her for speaker in a Jan. 3 floor vote.”

Using those skills that Gingrich identified she is managing to take free reign to wrangle, deal and even wheel --- case in point: “Her most prominent possible challenger -- Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio -- decided against running and instead endorsed Pelosi. The California Democrat also secured the backing of at least one other Democrat who had previously said he'd support new leadership.”

Pelosi offered to make her chairwoman of the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections previously a defunct position. Checkmate.

Continuing the dance, she had some good news: Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), endorsed her on Wednesday after Pelosi “pledged to prioritize an infrastructure bill and legislation to open Medicare to people over the age of 50. Higgins had criticized the Democratic leader for months, vowing repeatedly to vote against her in the new Congress.

“Some will ask why I have changed my position. The answer is simple: I took a principled stand on issues of vital importance not only to my constituents in western New York but also to more than 300 million Americans whose lives can be improved by progress in these areas,” Higgins said in a statement.

Money might not bring you love, but it can help in a hotly contested election and the midterms showed that it can help your team win.

“Pelosi was also far-and-away the most prolific fundraiser for the Democrats this cycle, bringing in more than $137 million for the party’s campaign arm, vulnerable incumbents and first-time candidates hoping to flip GOP seats in the most hotly contested races,” said the Hill in its coverage.

Notably, those that she helped did not sign the insurgent letter, showing that they know who helped butter their bread to victory.

Going back to the Gingrich statement, “The slow erosion of opposition has highlighted the sheer power — and many tentacles — of the Pelosi machine, which is churning at full throttle heading into the closed-door Democratic leadership elections, scheduled for Nov. 28.”

Chipping away at the opposition, like Dominoes, seems to be the hallmark of Pelosi and as the Hill noted: “Higgins, for instance, wanted Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), a senior CBC member, to launch a leadership bid. Yet Bass announced her support for Pelosi late last week — a move that influenced Higgins’s decision to back Pelosi.”

What do voters think” “A new poll, conducted after the midterm elections by Politico and Morning Consult, found that 48 percent of Democratic voters back Pelosi’s Speakership ambitions, versus 22 percent who oppose her ascension.”

One area of concern for many that oppose her is to impeach the president, yet Pelosi knows that it would require at least 20 votes from GOP members of the House, an unlikely event with party solidarity, but also that holding Trump to the checks and balances, outlined in the Constitution, is a better prospect, than trying to win over Republican lawmakers, who often hold their nose, and give at least outward support for the embattled Trump.

Taking to task the moderate Republicans can help achieve a neutralizing effect that a political veteran, like Pelosi than a neophyte, no matter how earnest, or a benchwarmer, who hasn’t been in the game.

With the rebuke of Chief Justice Roberts to the president over his criticism of an “Obama” judge, this is an opening to garner support among those same moderates.

In January, the results will be seen, and most observers, especially those inside the Beltway, are betting on Nancy.

Update: The Hill reported that "House Democrats voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to nominate Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to the Speakership in a 203-32 vote.

The outcome was no surprise despite an entrenched rebellion from insurgent lawmakers who want changes to Democratic leadership. Pelosi was running uncontested and enjoys widespread support within the liberal-heavy caucus she’s led since 2003.

The 32 votes against her were fewer than the 63 votes won in a 2016 contest for minority leader by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who ran against Pelosi at the time.

Still, Pelosi faces a tougher test the first week of January, when the full House meets to choose the Speaker in a public vote requiring a majority of the entire voting chamber.

Pelosi can not afford 32 Democratic votes against her in that contest, though she has weeks to convince some of her opponents to either vote for her on the floor or vote present — reducing the total number of votes needed for victory."

Fending off opposition created an environment where she not only gained the nomination, but also, perhaps due to advancing age, and a lifetime of achievement, Pelosi agreed to pretty much a four-year term, when she reaches her early 80's, gaining more support. But, also in a display of strength in an Oval office meeting with Trump, she showed her mettle by challenging him on the facts of immigration, and told him point blank that getting $5 million dollars to build his, by now, infamous wall, would never happen.  Checkmate.

Updated 15 December 2018 - 2:56 CT