[fieldmarshaldj]

Disgraceful that our party can't get its act together here and elect a speaker !

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[BaBaStooey]

Hilarious that a state house of representatives has an even number of members, even more hilarious is that there are 60 Democrats and 60 Republicans, and no end in sight.

Unless a member of either party betrays his side there may never be a speaker in NC.

[BaBaStooey]

ah, I see that a Republican has already defected, turning a 121-119 majority into a 120-120 gridlock.

First, there should never be an even number of members, because it leads to situations like this. There has to be a tiebreaker. If anyone in NC knows, what exactly is the tiebreaker?

Second, the people elected a Republican 2 seat majority, so the choice of the Republicans (hopefully all 60) should be speaker. Problem is likely that Dems are willing to steal the speakership Jeffords-style regardless of legitimacy.

[Kuksool]

I think "Double Agent" Decker switched to the Black Side because he was worried about redistricting. If the NC House stayed in GOP hands, the whole redistricting issue would probably be then decided by the courts. When judges draw the political landscape who knows what will happen. We all know politicans hate campaigning in unfamiliar territory. "Double Agent" Decker figured if he sided with the Black Side, the 'RATS, then being in complete control of redistricting, will draw a friendly district for him.

Now that it appears to be a stalemate in the NC House, I think the best solution would be to have Co-House Speakers. This will enable the GOP to have some say in the redistricting process. Most likely with a power sharing arrangement, a redistricting impasse will occur. This scenario might benefit the NC GOP. With a redistricting impasse, the GOP majority NC Supreme Court will be forced to draw the NC political landscape. This won't guarantee favorable lines for the GOP, but it is better than what Easley and Black have in mind.

[Xthe17th]

Decker's defection ripped wider... should read Decker's defecation...

[Centurion2000]

Disgraceful that our party can't get its act together here and elect a speaker !

If they can't have a speaker they can't get anything done. IF they can't get anything done, then no new taxes or stupid laws get passed ......

Where exactly is the down side to this again ??

[El Whino]

Even it came as a surprise when one Democrat, Rep. Mary McAllister of Fayetteville, accidently voted with Republicans to adjourn when she meant to vote against adjournment.

She must have move here from Flori-duh.