Nancy Pelsosi wants to be house Minority Leader, is this a sign of hubris, desperation, or unrealistic hope?

Yes, she wants to be minority leader for the Democrats in the house. The Democrats were surprised and don't really want her in a leadership role. The Republicans are giddy because they ran against her and won handily and see the same thing happening in 2012. The problem the Democrats have is that she is a tiger and fights back against Republicans effectively. Better than any other congressman in the Democratic Party. So, the Democrats need her, but they don't want her in a leadership role and that's all she wants to be. So, she is handcuffing the party.