Willie Brown: GOP split makes Pelosi more powerful than ever

San Francisco Chronicle / 10-6-13

What you're really seeing in this partial shutdown of the federal government is the launch of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign and the resurrection of Nancy Pelosi.

Cruz, the Texas Teahadist, had to find some way to distinguish himself from all the also-rans on the Sunday morning chat circuit. Much to the chagrin of his own party establishment, that's just what he's done - rallying the far right in a revolt against Republican leaders.

SNIP

What I think will ultimately happen: Pelosi is going to come out of this more powerful than she's been in a long time.

If Pelosi can keep the Democratic caucus solid - and you know she can - she'll forge an alliance with the 20 or so House Republicans who would vote today for a funding bill that doesn't gut Obamacare. And they will, when Boehner caves to the inevitable and gives them the chance.

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