Rep. Pelosi has become more of an anchor than a sail to the House Democrats at an important juncture in their quest to become the majority party. This week's election losses sends a powerful message to rank-and-file Democrats that they now need to move forcefully beyond the 2016 presidential election debacle. Simply spending money to defeat your opponent just isn't a strategy. There needs to be a focus on new ideas and policies that resonate with the public and energize the progressive base of their party. The future of the Democratic party depends on making a solid case for the continued relevance of their goals to their traditional constituencies: the poor and the powerless. Always looking to fight the last war can leave you too exhausted to win the next one.