BOEHNER HOLDS THE GAVEL;PELOSI HOLDS THE POWER,By Louise Annarino, January 3,2013
There are two kinds of power: positional power and personal power. Nancy Pelosi appeared to lose her positional power when she passed the gavel to Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner, who retained his position today. Pelosi never relinquished her personal power however. And, I would argue she still retains positional power, even without the gavel. It was Pelosi who delivered the votes to pass the American Taxpayer Relief Act. Boehner could not pass it without her. He lacks the personal power to marshall the votes of his Republican members. Pelosi’s personal power among Democratic members is much stronger. Pelosi consistently delivers those votes as she sees fit.
Boehner needs Pelosi. He cannot lead the entire House without her. He can only follow the minority of fanatics within his party. Pelosi need never follow Boehner; but, she can lead him! Don’t you love it, ladies?
annarino writes 