So, let's say Pelosi gets replaced by (insert name here). Do you think that will stop the . . . .

[EffieBlack]

44. The Speaker is a party leadership role

But it’s primarily about INSIDE party leadership, not outside. It’s not the Speaker’s job to go out and excite the base and rally the troops. Their most important job is inside organizing of the Caucus, legislative strategy, managing the Members, keeping people in line, whipping votes, raising money, etc. That requires a seasoned Member, someone who has worked within and knows the House leadership structure, who has mastered the rules, strategies and traditions of the House, who has built strong relationships and developed respect of the Caucus Members and knows where all the bodies are buried.

Too many people seem to think the Speaker is supposed to be the face of the party and is responsible for getting out votes in the field, but that’s not true. Other people and organizations are responsible for that.

One of the problems I see is that many of the young Turks who keep trying to challenge Pelosi haven’t bothered to do the spade work necessary to develop the skills they need to be effective House leaders. They don’t seek out Deputy Whip or other junior positions and don’t participate in House Caucus management activities. Instead, they focus their energies on appearing on television, creating a high profile for themselves and speaking up about everything and anything. They don’t build relationships within the Caucus, they don’t spend their evenings participating in Caucus meetings or their weekends traveling the country raising money for other Members, they don’t step up for assignments, they don’t participate in the whip operation, etc. That’s why, when party leadership votes come up, people like Pelosi and Hoyer, who have put in the time and effort to learn the ropes and become effective leaders, always kick their butts.

Youth is not a disqualifier, but by itself, it doesn’t qualify anyone for House leadership. They need to do the unsexy work and, usually, it’s older people with more experience, who have figured that out and are willing to focus on the long game.