WASHINGTON – Despite widespread complaints about massive losses that will put Democrats in the minority, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday she will try to stay on as leader of her party in the House.

The decision exposed a rift between Pelosi's liberal allies and the dwindling number of moderate Democrats, who feel besieged and eager for substantive and symbolic changes in direction after Tuesday's Republican rout. It also is likely to trigger leadership battles farther down the ladder.

Pelosi, the nation's first female speaker, said many colleagues urged her to seek the post of minority leader in the new Congress that convenes in January. That will be the Democrats' top post, because Republicans, who grabbed more than 60 Democratic-held seats Tuesday, will elect the next speaker. It will be John Boehner of Ohio, who will swap titles with Pelosi if she succeeds in her bid.

"We have no intention of allowing our great achievements to be rolled back," Pelosi, 70, said in a letter to her colleagues.

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Please stay in a prominent role Nancy, you magnificent old witch, you have inspired some of my best pages on this website and I would greatly miss you if you were no longer a prominent target of scorn and ridicule.

Our nation needs leaders like you, whose stupidity and ignorance are only exceeded by their moral turpitude. Please, please stay in the news so I can continue my daily diatribes against your criminal corruption.

Affectionately,

EnemyoftheState