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Micchael Steele Alicia Menendez Symone Sanders Julian Castro Kimberly Atkins Stohr MSNBC The Weekend 12-14-24 Democrats got drubbed in November for their liberal positions on issues like immigration and transgender. 

So naturally, you’d want to promote as one of the party’s most prominent voices someone from… the far left of the party? Someone like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, leading light of the hard-left Squad?

That might not make sense to you. But you’re not MSNBC. The Saturday edition of The Weekend devoted a segment to the Dems’ intraparty squabble over House committee positions, and in particular to AOC’s attempt to supplant Gerry Connolly as the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee.

The co-hosts and guests all expressed support for AOC. Former Obama HUD Secretary Julian Castro: “I think it’s inevitable, though, after an election where you had voters send a strong message, that Democrats need to adjust their message. And they need, I think, more of a fighting spirit, and a focus like I think AOC and others have had. So I’m hopeful that you’re going to see some turnover here.”

Going further left seems like a recipe for more Democrat pain at the polls, but this is MSNBC.

Modelo fighting spirit For that matter, you might say that Castro sees AOC not just as a model leader, but as a Modelo one, praising her “fighting spirit.”

Boston Globe opinion writer Kimberly Atkins Stohr agreed:

[AOC’s] a very, very smart person. And so I think her leadership, particularly on a committee like Oversight, which honestly has sort of lost some of its power, I think, recently and doesn’t have quite the push that it used to, but it’s so important in a Trump administration especially to have someone smart and fiery at the helm to do what is necessary to push back at overreach from the incoming administration. So I think she would do a great job, with absolutely no disrespect to Congressman Connolly. 

Co-host Michael Steele elicited gasps from the panel and pushback from Castro, when he said that unless Dems get their act together, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries won’t become Speaker until he’s as old as Nancy Pelosi!

Two of the hosts took unsubtle shots at Pelosi. Steele sardonically noted that Pelosi’s support for Connolly came from “behind the scenes—yet again.” That was presumably a snide reference to her clandestine efforts to force Joe Biden to walk the plank.

And the ever-animated Symone Sanders-Townsend, speaking of Pelosi, said:

“I don’t like to speak ill of folks while they’re sick . . . But she’s not here for this generational shift.”

Which brings to mind an aphorism I read earlier this week:

“Everything before the word ‘but’ is horses—.”

Note: Earlier, the panel attacked several Trump nominees as unqualified. Speaking of qualifications, Symone might have hurt her chances of being named Secretary of State in a future Democrat administration after she described Nancy Pelosi as having been hospitalized in “Luxembourg, Germany.” 

Autsch!

Here’s the transcript.

MSNBC
The Weekend
12/14/24
8:16 am ET

MICHAEL STEELE: A new generation of House democrats wants to hold the line against incoming Trump administration. But change in Washington, folks, yeah it just doesn’t come without a fight. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Congressman Gerry connolly are battling it out to serve as the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee. It’s a very important committee. Politico reports that both are projecting confidence about their chances. AOC has the backing of the Progressive Caucus, while former Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly behind the scenes—yet again—to boost Connolly. A vote is expected next week.

. . . 

JULIAN CASTRO: The Democratic Caucus, basically people are able to sit there for a long time. And so I think it’s inevitable, though, after an election where you had voters send a strong message, that Democrats need to adjust their message. 

And they need, I think, more of a fighting spirit, and a focus like I think AOC and others have had. So I’m hopeful that you’re going to see some turnover here. As much respect as I have for Congressman Connolly and others, I think it’s time in many of these instances to see that turnover. 

. . . 

KIMBERLY ATKINS STOHR: [AOC’s] a very, very smart person. And so I think her leadership, particularly on a committee like Oversight, which honestly has sort of lost some of its power, I think, recently and doesn’t have quite the push that it used to, but it’s so important in a Trump administration especially to have someone smart and fiery at the helm to do what is necessary to push back at overreach from the incoming administration. So I think she would do a great job, with absolutely no disrespect to Congressman Connolly. 

. . . 

STEELE: Julian, all of that is very good, but the brutal reality is that Hakeem Jeffries will be as old as Nancy Pelosi is before he becomes Speaker if they don’t get their act together. 

SYMONE SANDERS: I was like, what? 

STEELE: That’s just the truth of it, right? 

CASTRO: Hakeem Jeffries will be the Speaker well before he’s 80 years old!

SANDERS: Michael trying to put that bad juju on the Democratic leader. 

STEELE: I’m just trying to acknowledge that the juju exists! 

. . . 

SANDERS: Speaker Emerita Pelosi is not supportive of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. I don’t like to speak ill of folks while they’re sick. She was hospitalized, Speaker Pelosi was, during her congressional visit to Luxembourg, Germany this year. But her staff says, earlier this week, her staff says she’s working from the hospital.  But you know, two things can be true. I’m glad she’s all right. But also, she’s not here for this generational shift.