Pelosi Elected Minority Leader

Nancy Pelosi was elected Minority earlier today by a considerably wide margin of 150 in favor to 43 against. Her challenger, blue dog Heath Shuler, attempted to tap into angry sentiment against the outgoing House Speaker from defeated moderates. Pelosi's victory marks her continued influence on not only the congressional Democrats, but national Democrats at large. Earlier this month, Pelosi responded to her massive sixty seat defeat.

"How would your ratings be if $75 million were spent against you? Because I'm an effective leader, because we got the job done on health care and Wall Street reform and consumer protection."

Despite her nine percent national popularity, Nancy Pelosi is certainly here to stay in Washington as the face of the Obama agenda and the Democratic Party. National Republicans should find joy in this result, for Pelosi will only work to further polarize her fellow party members.

Shuler considering challenging Pelosi

Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler (D - NC) is considering challenging Nancy Pelosi for House Minority Leader if no other candidate steps forward. Shuler, a member of the "fiscally conservative" blue dog coalition, would likely attract a large share of votes from all wings of the party.

Bishop says no to Pelosi

Georgia Democrat Sanford Bishop has announced that he will not support Nancy Pelosi in her bid for House Minority Leader. Bishop, who barely won reelection in his gerrymandered district, is likely to be one of the most vulnerable incumbents after the upcoming census. His decision marks one of few liberal Democrats to oppose Pelosi's campaign.

Dan Boren's not supporting Pelosi

Dan Boren, who just appeared on Greta, announced that he will not support Nancy Pelosi in her bid for House Minority Leader. Boren was one of the few Blue Dogs to win reelection. He represents Oklahoma's second, Sen. Tom Coburn's former seat. Oklahoma's second is a district that heavily favors the GOP, but Boren's independence and social conservatism have enabled him to retain this seat since 2005.

Boren also mentioned the importance of bipartisanship in the upcoming session of congress, one that will be dominated by gridlock between House Republicans and President Obama. His hawkish fiscal conservatism, by Democratic standards, certainly seems fantastic, even to those on the right in terms of fiscal issues.