Pelosi for Life?

Yesterday Heath Schuler from North Carolina announced he will challenge Nancy Pelosi for House Minority Leader in the new 112th Congress. Conventional wisdom,of course, says she will win. She would not be running if she didn't have the votes. That's how it works. I know the Republicans are salivating at the thought of her continuing to be the face of the Democratic Party. As one GOP insider put it; she is great at creating jobs, for House Republicans. I don't know how good it will be for our country. She is not only a rigid ideologue but she has no track record of be willing to compromise on anything. She rammed through healthcare, twisted arms to get the votes for Cap and Trade in the House which died a quick death in the Senate. After a crushing loss of 60+ seats, I cannot see how the Democrats think she should still lead the party. But so many of those Blue Dogs are gone. They lost to Republicans because many of them were in more conservative districts. What is left of the Democrats is a much more liberal minority. We are still stuck with Barney Frank and his ilk, who will no doubt vote for her. I am glad to see Schuler challenge her, if for no other reason than to say not everyone is afraid of her. He also promised his constituents that if he was re-elected that he would challenge her. He is more conservative, one of the few Blue Dogs that remain, and seems to be principled. However, it seems nothing is going to stop Pelosi. This reminds of an episode of Designing Women, in which Julia Sugarbaker ran for office and during a debate with her opponent got so exasperated that she uttered these words of wisdom, "I am a Christian and I get down on my knees and pray everyday. One of the things I pray for is that people with good sense will get power and people with power will get good sense and that the rest of us will be blessed with patience and the strength to survive people like you in the meantime!". It seems almost ironic that such an appropriate statement for where we are now would come from a sitcom character from nearly twenty years ago, especially a liberal one.