For Pelosi, Heading Off Impeachment Requires Carrots And Sticks

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks during her weekly press conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2019. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is widely seen as one of the most savvy and agile political minds in Congress right now. And perhaps no issue showcases her behind-the-scenes skill like her caucus control on impeachment.

According to the Washington Post, maintaining control on such an emotional issue — one she thinks is political suicide — takes a mix of preparation, strategy and the looming threat of retribution.

For instance, last month, the pro-impeachment forces seemed poised to mount an insurrection led by House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY). Pelosi called a midnight meeting and loaded up the six party leaders with well articulated arguments on how damaging impeachment could be. Nadler backed down and has not publicly supported impeachment.

She’s kept the rest of the impeachment-ready members in check both by enjoying the trust she’s earned from years of successful strategizing and the fear that comes with her comfort using hardline tactics in retribution.

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  1. Sorry Nancy .
    I thought the same , but it’s past time to rip the bandaid off and put this malfeasance in the headlines every day.
    Make Mitch and his band of sycophants defend criminal activity each and every day.
    Force the American Public to become aware of what is in the Mueller Report

  2. We don’t need no stinking Mueller Report to impeach. When the military and intelligence community is actively undermining the chain of command and hiding things from the President because of National Security risks, we need our leaders calling them in to testify about what they know, why they hide things, etc.

    We can’t afford to be a lawless nation, with agencies acting unaccountably. And if the solution is to remove the person at the top, because he’s not fit for office and his pattern of behavior in office has demonstrated his inability to keep his mouth shut about the nation’s secrets…

  3. A few things.

    • There is less than 50% support nationally for Impeachment

    • There is ZERO differentiation between Impeachment and Impeachment Inquiry and what it means

    • If support for Impeachment passed the 60% threshold it would be a different story.

    • This story is slightly misleading

    • This is summer, with less people besides us paying attention

    • Trump is devolving weekly

  4. FIFY

  5. Shorter Article : “Watch how skillfully Nancy Pelosi does absolutely nothing”

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