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Vanity: What if we help choose the Speaker?
LexBaird

Posted on 11/09/2006 12:37:47 PM PST by LexBaird

An idea occurs to me. According to Article I, the whole House gets to choose the Speaker. Now, normally this occurs along straight party lines, but since the House is fairly closely divided, what if the Republicans in the House let it be known that they would support a moderate Dem over Pelosi, and vote as a block to do so?

Is there any House rule that would prevent this? Many of the incoming Dem freshmen ran as "moderate" centrists. Perhaps some pressure or temptation could be brought to bear to eliminate the dinosaur commie Dems from House leadership positions by stopping Pelosi from being coronated by default.

Any insider wonks out there wish to shoot me down quick?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: constitutional; pelosi

1 posted on 11/09/2006 12:37:49 PM PST by LexBaird
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To: LexBaird

Why put a moderate face on the Democrats?


2 posted on 11/09/2006 12:39:37 PM PST by msnimje (You simply cannot be Christian and Pro-Abortion.)
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To: LexBaird

Since Pelosi was responsible for securing campaign funding for most of the Dem freshman class, I doubt they would band together against her. No matter how moderate they may have claimed to be.


3 posted on 11/09/2006 12:40:04 PM PST by DesertDreamer ("I don't believe in a government that protects us from ourselves." - Ronald Reagan)
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To: LexBaird
Actually, there are a lot of Democrats who don't want Pelosi. Why do you think they kept her hidden as much as possible during the run-up to the election?
4 posted on 11/09/2006 12:40:26 PM PST by JennysCool
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To: msnimje

Exactly. Politically speaking, if we have to have a Democrat as Speaker . . . let's put the most liberal one in there possible and paint them as the face of the Democrat Party.


5 posted on 11/09/2006 12:40:34 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: Bluegrass Conservative

Take a look at cable right now; there's your new leaders.

I'm gonna be sick.


6 posted on 11/09/2006 12:41:33 PM PST by Howlin
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To: LexBaird

I suggested this a few times before. There is time enough between the election and the seating of the 110th Congress for Pelosi to screw up. I think Rep. Harmon might side with us, for example. there might be a few patriots on the democRAT side that understand to have her in the Presidential succession chain in this nuclear age is sheer lunacy.


7 posted on 11/09/2006 12:41:49 PM PST by NonValueAdded (Prayers for our patriot brother, 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub. Brian, we're all pulling for you!)
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To: Bluegrass Conservative

If done right, the next two years could be some tremendous political judo.


8 posted on 11/09/2006 12:42:08 PM PST by Eagle Eye (There ought to be a law against excess legislation.)
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To: NonValueAdded
Lieberman should vote Republican in the Senate. He could be the next Zell Miller.
9 posted on 11/09/2006 12:43:30 PM PST by jdm
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To: msnimje
Why put a moderate face on the Democrats?

Because of the control over chairmanships. My gut clenches to think of Rangel, Waters, or that ilk getting the gavel in key committees. Which they will if the strict seniority system prevails.

10 posted on 11/09/2006 12:46:07 PM PST by LexBaird (98% satisfaction guaranteed. There's just no pleasing some people.)
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To: LexBaird

I can't wait to see this bipartisanship! :)


11 posted on 11/09/2006 12:47:32 PM PST by Echo Talon
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To: LexBaird
The Speaker does not necessarily have to be a member of the House. I discovered this back in 1973 when Spiro Agnew was heading for a nolo contendere plea and eventual resignation.

One of Nelson Rockefeller's toadies in the press launched a trial balloon by pointing out that the House was free under its rules to look outside the body for a Speaker. The author suggested that the House replace the senile Democrat Carl Albert as Speaker with -- ta-da! -- Nelson Rockefeller. True, Rocky was from the other party, but "at this grave time of peril, a Government of National Unity would be preferable to divided government." Then all Congress would have to do following Agnew's resignation would be to impeach, convict and remove Nixon, and President Nelson Rockefeller would lead us all into a new world of peace and prosperity lah-dee-doo-dah.

Nixon finessed the trial balloon by picking Gerald Ford, who was very much liked by his colleagues.

12 posted on 11/09/2006 1:05:16 PM PST by Publius (A = A)
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To: NonValueAdded; LexBaird

I think there's a better way. A big scandal. Proof of the NUMBERS of illegals working in her vinyards or as maids in her hotels. Make it so bad Leona Helmsley looks angelic. So bad the MSM will be FORCED to cover it and the Dems can't afford to stay in her corner.


13 posted on 11/09/2006 1:06:16 PM PST by Froufrou
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To: LexBaird
The Democrat Caucus will pick a Speaker and then they will vote 100% to back that person no matter how they voted in caucus. There is ZERO chance they would support your idea or the entire Chairmanship system falls apart.
14 posted on 11/09/2006 1:10:28 PM PST by TWfromTEXAS (We are at war - Man up or Shut up.)
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To: Froufrou
There's no shortage of big scandals out there waiting to be played against the Dems- there are plenty of them with terrorist money and Iraqi oil voucher money in their pockets- we just have to expose how it got there. They are terrorist supporters but the stupid party never bothered to point it out for fear they would be accused of questioning the Dem's patriotism and that might be "divisive".
15 posted on 11/09/2006 1:11:05 PM PST by piasa (Attitude Adjustments Offered Here Free of Charge)
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To: piasa

That's what I think, too. I see now that very often the Dems are the ones who do the things they accuse the GOP of. It's been an effective tactic for them, turning the finger out that should be pointing at them.

Hmmmm...perhaps it was really a Dem who orchestrated the 9-11 attack...I'm thinking Teddy the diver...


16 posted on 11/09/2006 1:14:42 PM PST by Froufrou
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To: LexBaird

The new Dims are in Pelosi's pocket. Ain't gonna happen!


17 posted on 11/09/2006 1:17:28 PM PST by wolfcreek (A personal attack is the reaction of an exhausted and/or disturbed mind.)
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To: TWfromTEXAS
There is ZERO chance they would support your idea or the entire Chairmanship system falls apart.

Well, that's kinda the goal. ;^) I suppose you are correct, but frankly, the seniority system in the legislature is one of the big problems with the system. The whole purpose of having two year terms was so the House would be responsive to the People. That doesn't function when for all intents and purposes everything is controlled by people with "30 year" terms.

18 posted on 11/09/2006 3:05:56 PM PST by LexBaird (98% satisfaction guaranteed. There's just no pleasing some people.)
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To: LexBaird
As my dad would say "I don't make the rules, or necessarily agree with them, but I do know what they are."

Right or wrong that's the system, we're stuck with.

19 posted on 11/09/2006 3:13:10 PM PST by TWfromTEXAS (We are at war - Man up or Shut up.)
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