Fifth-ranking House Dem doubles down, says it's time to overhaul leadership

[brooklynite]

Source: The Hill

Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) on Wednesday amplified her previous calls for a complete overhaul of House Democratic leadership next year.

Sánchez, the fifth-ranking House Democrat, made waves in October when she called for the top three Democratic leaders — Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.) and Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn (S.C.) — “to pass the torch to a new generation” regardless of the outcome of November’s midterm elections.

On Wednesday, Sánchez doubled down on that assertion, saying there’s “a real breadth and depth of talent” that needs room to take the reins of the party.

“Having the top three leadership of the same generation, I think it’s time for that generational change,” Sánchez told reporters on Capitol Hill. “So I do still stand by that statement that’s it’s time for a generational shift.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/396486-fifth-ranking-house-dem-doubles-down-says-its-time-to-overhaul-leadership

[Laurian]

1. I think Sanchez has done this before, just like Tim Ryan.

I'll stick with Nancy and her team.

[DownriverDem]

5. Me too

Nancy has been excellent at keeping the Dem House members together.

[kimbutgar]

2. She's just giving walkaway fuel

Can’t they just shut up until after the election if we get control? Now is not the time to get the repukes any ammunition.

[LiberalLovinLug]

16. "If we get control" There's the rub

What if getting control is contingent on many in the base seeing how the party is willing to change, to allow new voices in leadership roles, and thus bring out the voters? And conversely, changing leadership takes the fangs out of the GOP's relentless drum beating on Pelosi and the rest of the establishment Dems, (whether warranted or not)?

We might need first a fresh blue wave to happen within the party pool first before we ride the big waves in November.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Let's use our experience to the maximum as the next generation is chosen

It will be a power vacuum if we seize Congress. Let's not lose the wisdom of those who understand how to use the levers of power before their generation begins to contemplate retirement. We can't mess this one up with youthful enthusiasm and ideology. We must rule and make changes that have rock-solid durability.

[DownriverDem]

6. Exactly

Get electoral wins and then move forward. We don't have time for infighting. Win in November first!

[brooklynite]

8. How does discussing leadership now affect our ability to win in November?

[bettyellen]

12. The GOP runs against Pelosi and this makes some Dems look complicit.

[brooklynite]

19. ...to whom?

How many voters care about leadership?

[bettyellen]

22. I think a lot of ignorant voters pick up on this chatter, same as they did w HRC....

Even Dems don’t “like” her. All over again.

[research_guy]

20. Pelosi

Having previously worked in SF, we don't actually know Nancy but certainly know of her. Alexandra says she wanted to retire years ago but is the only remaining connection to the big Pacific Heights contributors who are funding salaries and maintaining office space for the party. After 2016, the national is broke.

It's sort of funny the way most Republicans talk about Nancy being nuts because she definitely isn't. She had, what...five daughters? She graduated from Trinity in DC. Even today her kids and her grand kids run around like perfectly behaved old school Catholics. She is as establishment as they come.

[Guilded Lilly]

4. Age doesn't guarantee competency. Either way. Passing the torch is only a positive if

those carrying it forward are qualified.
If a next generation hasn’t shown strength and direction, just being the next generation doesn’t make it the definitive choice.

[DownriverDem]

15. Experience

Sorry, we need experience. New folks yes, but the leaders know how and what to do. They need to stay. Haven't we learned enough with no experience trump?

[research_guy]

21. I Completely and Totally...

...agree with you but unfortunately that isn't where the party is right now.

When guys like Crowley hit the dirt, we know there's a vacuum. The last time we saw stuff like this was in the late sixties and early seventies. We went through a period during which we saw Republican and Democratic lite administrations but the hard left was kept at bay because leadership understood how unpopular those people are in middle America. We're not a democracy. We're a representative republic. The Electoral College is there to protect certain people from the big states. That is a fact.

It may be necessary to get sicker before we can get well.

Had Hillary been the nominee in 2008, we might not be sitting here like this. The party would be stable. Today, it is anything but.

[bettyellen]

23. The party has been gaining favorability steadily since 2016...

And having grown up in both of the districts Ocasio won... to extrapolate on that win nationally is a huge mistake.
It’s not your average Dem district by any metric.

[NewJeffCT]

7. I think maybe a plan to phase out the leadership?

Maybe Hoyer in the next term, Clyburn the next and Pelosi after that?

I'd be wary of too big a shakeup during a pivotal moment in US history - especially if Dems take back the House in the Fall

[RandiFan1290]

9. I agree. nt

[Scurrilous]

10. Number 5 wants 1 - 3 gone so she can move up the list.

Sounds like a power grab to me.

[Wwcd]

11. Yup. She was hoping to replace Boxer-CA 2016 when she retired..

Loretta lost badly to Dem favorite Kamala Harris where she turned many off by her campaign tactics.
I do remember it, & I'm not even in CA.
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/election/california-elections/article113387458.html

Kamala Harris trounces Loretta Sanchez for U.S. Senate in California

BY CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO
[email protected]
November 08, 2016 10:00 PM

Kamala Harris vanquished Loretta Sanchez in the historic race between two Democrats to succeed U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, as the state attorney general overwhelmed the veteran congresswoman in every facet of the low-profile campaign.

SNIP

She sought to inject regionalism into the race, arguing that for too long Northern California has held powerful state positions. Ultimately, Sanchez’s efforts to campaign as an outsider spurned by her own party’s establishment – despite serving 10 terms in Washington – failed to convince voters.

More...
Sanchez, sought to inject regionalism into the race, arguing that for too long Northern California has held powerful state positions.
Ultimately, Sanchez’s efforts to campaign as an outsider spurned by her own party’s establishment – despite serving 10 terms in Washington – failed to convince voters.



Your post is exactly correct.

[aikoaiko]

13. I wonder if its possible to have our cake and eat it too.

This could be a very collaborative effort where leadership steps down but provides active mentorship and assistance to the new folks.

[awesomerwb1]

14. Stop answering this question if asked FFS

Let's discuss internally, and then shut up about it. If there is consensus for a new leadership, let's do it after we win in November.

Dems seems to be good at getting baited. My lord.

[research_guy]

17. Leadership, November, etc

It speaks to the mess the party has become when a kid can gun down a veteran like that. They're giving up his seniority, his contacts, his experience. Tim Ryan has been screaming bloody murder but no one's listening.

Some of this is about to happen in the Senate. McCaskill has been on a list of seats almost certain to flip for several years running. I thought Nelson might survive as a former astronaut and borderline Dixiecrat but they say not. Manchin will be fine. Joe Manchin lose in West Virginia? The hell you say! Casey's name has come up but the guy is Pennsylvania royalty. I don't see him being beefed.

Brown's being targeted by a guy who's worth anywhere from $50M to $100M. Jane Timken has a fucking target painted on his back. I've noticed the networks have very conspicuously stopped talking about that race. He was everywhere and now he's nowhere. I told my wife it's at least even money we'll walk into one of the wineries, stop at the registration desk and there's Sherrod and Connie. I hope it isn't Wente. One would think he has better taste than that. They're the McDonalds of wine.

Some of us have been around awhile and see the overall pattern. My wife and I were government majors, worked on campaigns, etc. I've cooked a ton of spaghetti sauce and baked a lot of cookies in my time.

Within the next few years, there will be a meeting among all the major constituencies and senior leadership. At that time, the big players will begin to strip the flesh from the carcass and proceed with building a new party. New coalitions need to be formed, certain races identified for testing of ideas, millions of dollars raised, etc. We're building a new house because someone burned the other one down.

This is standard nuts and bolts, right out of the book. Those of us who have a copy or two should keep them handy.

I'm really hoping 2020 doesn't end up looking like 1972 but it might. I think we're gonna have to get sicker before we can get well.

[hibbing]

18. I agree n/t