The re-election of Rep. Nancy Pelosi to House Minority Leader is evidence that Democrats have not learned their lesson after the electoral whomping of 2016.
However, the decision was far from unanimous and revealed how fractured congressional Democrats truly are.
Democrats laid one battle for the future of the party to rest Wednesday, selecting Nancy Pelosi as their leader in the House of Representatives for another two years. But the fight over Pelosi’s future, and the battle to lead the Democratic National Committee, have laid bare their upcoming difficulties in any effort to put a check on President-elect Donald Trump and the strong Republican majority. Whether it’s the messenger or the message, Democrats agree that something needs to change following the stunning losses on Election Day.
…As Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan walked out of his unsuccessful bid to take control of the House Democrats, he claimed victory on procedural issues and promises to focus on economic messaging he said resonates through the blue-collar districts like his that Trump won. But when he was asked who should lead that fight for Democrats, he stumbled.
“I don’t know,” Ryan said. (He eventually caught his footing, saying: “We’re all going to participate in leading the party.”)… The Democrats’ difficulties can be seen elsewhere on Capitol Hill as well. Democrats on the House Oversight and Judiciary panels continued hammering away for an investigation of Trump’s conflicts of interest — after spending years digging into Clinton’s dealings as secretary of state — but have gained almost no ground in the Capitol, as Republican leaders have been circumspect on the issue, and likely won’t be game for investigating a president from their party. In the Senate, the Democrats’ own decision to end the filibuster for presidential nominees, has left them largely unable to put a check on Trump’s cabinet picks, the people who will attempt to undo much of President Barack Obama’s eight years in office.
The Democrats are weaker than ever right now. The GOP will control the White House, the House, and the Senate. The congressional Democrats still standing can’t seem to agree on a policy or tactical direction to combat the Trump agenda.
From the looks of it, 2017 is shaping up to be a pretty great year for constitutional conservatives…..
