Nancy Pelosi was voted in as the new Minority leader 150-43, in a secret ballot during a private Wednesday meeting even after a move by Heath Shuler to become the new leader. I think his bid was an attempt to try and strengthen Blue Dogs and his own political life in the upcoming 2012 election.

House Democrats elected Nancy Pelosi to remain as their leader Wednesday despite massive party losses in this month's congressional elections that prompted some lawmakers to call for new leadership. Pelosi, the nation's first female House speaker, will become minority leader when Republicans assume the majority in the new Congress in January. She defeated moderate Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina, 150-43, in secret balloting in a lengthy closed-door gathering of House Democrats in the Capitol