General Discussion

Speaker Pelosi is perhaps the most consequential Democrat in American politics. She was an immensely shrewd legislative later and even more gifted opposition force. She made the sausage, she got her hands dirty, and she knows how to cut people dead before they know they're bleeding.

I suspect that Rep. Jeffries relies very heavily on her advice. My intuition is that decisions don't get made unless Pelosi is consulted.

I think the dynamic would (will?) be different with a Speaker Jeffries. Speaker emerita Pelosi has been a household name for Democratic policies and governance for a generation. I'd wager when you run into MAGA folks and ask them who they hate in government they'll say 'the Democrat party and that Pelosi' etc.

Oversight committee chair was an informative struggle within the caucus. I was honestly somewhat surprised that it happened the way it did, and how much laundry was aired in public.

My point, I guess, is that I think Jeffries made a necessary statement, and I am happy he did. I really, really, really hope he maintains an offensive posture because as minority leader, it is the only rational, tactical stance to take. And I shouldn't even say "offensive posture" because we're just tired of getting kicked in the face and arrested in the streets. Call it unequivocal.

It is, also, a significantly more appealing posture than the one taken by his equivalent in the Senate, whom I believe has made a... few... lets say mistakes in the last few weeks.