Pelosi Consolidates Power, Positioning Democrats for Wider House Majority

[Purveyor]

May 8 (Bloomberg) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's party couldn't bring troops home from Iraq and Congress's public approval ratings are near a record low. Still, the California lawmaker has emerged as the most powerful Democratic House leader since Tip O'Neill.

In recent months, Pelosi, 68, has dominated the House and is poised to lead Democrats to an expanded majority in this fall's elections. She has thwarted President George W. Bush's push for a trade agreement with Colombia and blocked a measure to end wiretapping lawsuits against phone companies that he supported. She also is delaying decisions on major spending bills until next year, when a Democrat may be in the White House.

``She's consolidating her power,'' said House Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, 68, a fellow California Democrat.

While Republicans have dubbed her ``Czar Nancy'' for her tactics, they also say she is effective. Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma, 59, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Pelosi is polarizing, though she is also a ``smart, hardball operator.''

Pelosi's ability to bring her members together is likely to help her party add to its 36-seat majority in November, even after a divisive Democratic presidential primary. Charlie Cook, editor of the Washington-based nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said Democrats may pick up as many as 10 House seats.

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http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aOLRiT.2oeUA&refer=home

[NMDemDist2]

1. "Consolidates Power" = gives lots of money to campaigns

not a bad thing, but that's what the DC doublespeak really means.

[MNBrewer]

2. Use your power for GOOD, Nancy.

And I don't mean just what's good for you.

[Doctor_J]

3. In a vacuum it's probably better to have Mr. 28% making the people upchuck

every time he's on TV. It's a daily reminder what a weak, pathetic loser he is and thus brand the GOP with the same mark. It keeps on giving and will continue to do so right through the election.

But for the country over the long haul I think impeaching him would have sent a message that the Constitution is back in force and that the rule of law superceeds the desire to prevent an upheaval or "Constitutional Crisis". * and Cheney and Rove belong in prison, and if they don't go there this will keep happening.

[David Diderot]

4. Pelosi: One of many reasons to vote third party.