House Leader Keeps Diverse Democrats on Common Course

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House Leader Keeps Diverse Democrats on Common Course
# Under Nancy Pelosi, party members have held together on 88% of votes. But not everyone in her camp is happy.

By Mark Z. Barabak, Times Staff Writer

SAN FRANCISCO — Nancy Pelosi is explaining the ways of Washington, how second-guessing is second nature there, when she offers an unusual observation. "You have to understand," she says, "Washington is a secret-sauce town."

Which is her way of disdaining those who profess to know the perfect ingredient — the secret sauce — for political success, if only the likes of Pelosi paid proper heed. Pull the troops from Iraq. No, let President Bush find a way out. Offer a fix for Social Security. No, simply torpedo the president's plan.

Pelosi is the leader of Democrats in the House of Representatives, arguably one of the toughest jobs in politics. There is the hand-holding required of the party's 200-plus members, enough to create a morass but not a majority on Capitol Hill. There is the impotence — and daily indignity — of being outnumbered by unyielding Republicans.

And of course there is all that free, often contradictory, advice.

Pelosi, her smile unwavering, her energy unflagging, insists she knows the recipe for winning back the House in November. "It's one good month in front of another," she says in an interview between hometown appearances. "Beat Social Security. Make sure the world knows what's happening … ethically. Attract the candidates. Raise the money. Build the unity for our message."

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http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-pelosi23jan23,0,5874189.story?coll=la-headlines-politics

[Demeter]

1. And Impeach BushCo!!!

It's not enough to keep breathing--we have got to fight and win this newest battle for American ideals.