Ryan: a chance for change
It can be hoped that at least some of the viciously partisan atmosphere in the U.S. Senate will fade away, now that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is on his way to retirement.
But what about the House of Representatives? There, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has vowed to retain her position. She also has issued a not-so-veiled threat that challenging her could have adverse consequences.
That does not seem to have deterred Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio. He said last week he will challenge Pelosi for the position of minority leader in the House.
“What we are doing right now is not working,” Ryan explained, in what may be the understatement of the year.
Much of what Democrats in the House have been doing has been at Pelosi’s direction. Clearly, a change is needed.
Ryan represents Ohio’s 13th district, which includes Warren, Youngstown and Akron — places where political failures of the past several years are apparent. His fellow Democrats now have a chance to signal their intention to change that.
Or, they could stick with the Pelosi-style politics rejected by voters on Nov. 8.