[matthew fuller]

"The congress convenes on January 20. We have 17 days to make them listen! "

I think that you might be wrong- This current Congress is gone in about 1/2 hour Eastern time. I really don't know what "convenes" means technically, but the next Congress starts 01/03/2013, and their first order of business is to "chuse" a speaker. ( Buckwheat will be Immaculated 01/20/2013)

[Baynative]

I think you are correct. I plan to stay up late faxing and calling congressional offices to urge them to unite against Boehner, anyway.

I wonder if electing a democrat speaker while the republicans have the majority would in a sense neuter the speaker's role and dilute the power of that position. It seems to me that we'd be no worse off.