Do any Democrats dare challenge the omnipotent Nancy Pelosi for minority leader? Well, one ultra-conservative Blue Dog who's technically a Democrat may, if that counts. He's North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler: Inexperienced backbencher. Legendarily shitty NFL quarterback. Democratic party savior?

Shuler, who just won his second third term, told a local newspaper last week that if nobody else would run against Pelosi, then he'd bravely assume the challenge. This was before Pelosi somewhat surprisingly announced that she would run for minority leader, so Shuler maybe thought that he'd never have to follow up. So will he make good on his pledge now? We'll find out in a few days, when he plans to say something on teevee.

Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), who threatened to challenge Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for minority leader after the Nov. 2 election, might launch his leadership bid on two high-profile cable news shows in the coming days.

Shuler is scheduled to address his leadership plans during appearances on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday and MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program on Monday.

If Shuler does run, expect the outcome to be... hmm... what's the proper term here?... oh yes: expect the outcome to be Nancy Pelosi ripping his balls off and keeping them in a pickled jar on her desk, forever. It would definitely be possible for a different moderate or conservative Democrat, one with some standing and Washington know-how, to knock off Pelosi. But Heath Shuler? He's been in Congress for less than four years, during which time he's voted against most of the major pieces of legislation brought forward by the party he now wants to lead. Effective party leaders, historically, have been the ones who don't want the other party to win.

And most importantly, look what happened the last time Shuler was put in charge of a major Washington institution: 13 touchdowns against 19 interceptions, and a wasted third-overall draft pick. Learn from your mistakes, Washington.

[Image via AP]

[Correction: He's finishing his second term, not his first. A few words have been changed.]