Posted on 12/06/2012 5:44:17 PM PST by Bigtigermike
Go for it Jim
It is probably the intent of the Constitution that the Speaker should be a member of the House. After all, how can you speak for the House without being a member of it? There is also a strong historical precedent that indicates that the Speaker of the House must be a member of that body before he is elected. Never in US history has the House even attempted, so far as I know, to elect a Speaker who is not a member of the House. In fact, not only has the House never elected a non-Representative to be the Speaker of the House, none of the original 13 colonies legislatures, nor any of the 50 states, so far as I know, ever elected a speaker who was not also a member of the chamber who elected them; also the the Speaker of the British parliament's House of Commons, from whom our government in a large part derives is always a member of the House of Commons. There is absolutely no reason or precedent that suggests that the Speaker of the House can be someone who is not already a member of the House of Representatives.
However, that being said, it is true that the constitution does not explicitly say that the Speaker of the House must be a member of the House of Representatives at the time of his election, so I suppose according to the letter of the law the House could try to choose a non-member to be their Speaker if it wanted to. After all, it is the House who is given the sole power to "chuse (sic) its Speaker and other Officers." However, doing this would violate convention and parliamentary tradition.
We can all sleep well knowing that many of the idiots that ragged on Palin as a supposed ‘quitter’ and other things...
...were the very same people that promoted the non-border control of Perry as ‘conservative’, trashed Cain along with the MSM on a trumped up witch hunt and cheered Bachmann for hiring an uber RINO to run (tank) her campaign.
It’s so comforting to know that these same people are still at work torpedoing anyone who displays conservative tendencies and sticking to principle while calling liberal actions and politicians ‘true conservatives.
With their ‘help’ I’m sure we’ll get to the point of looking back fondly on the Romney run.
” It’s my understanding that the Speaker doesn’t HAVE to be a sitting Congressman.”
Yet the Speaker is 3rd in line. Things that make you go - HHhmmm..
With the Vice President as Senate ‘leader’, the states then had control of who succeeded the President, and after that the people, with the house.
DeMint’s in the Senate, Weepin Johnny is in the House.
So true!
Rush didn't follow up ON AIR.
Thanks. It's good to know what Jim said - it IS interesting.
IMO, It was a sarcastic remark meant for those that called her a quitter. He wasn’t.
Thank you very much for the very thorough explanation and bit of history! If either House ever has a job opening for a Parliamentarian, you should sign up and apply! Feel free to use me as a reference. :p
Our FR resident Parliamentarian, old republic, is a member of the class of ‘05 of which I am a proud member. He is approaching his seventh anniversary on FR!
I ditto your ‘feel free to use me as a reference’!
The democrats most likely have something dirty on him, and they are blackmailing him into going along with Obama's crap.
I cannot honestly think of why else he would conduct such outrageous behavior lately.
I have a feeling I missed your /sarc tag in #14. You are now like the deer I hit the other night, I thought you were going one way, but now you’ve gone the other way, and thus the unfortunate collision. My apologies if I misunderstood you.
Peace,
SR
It only takes 16 votes to deny him the speakership. Are there 16 congressmen who will put their country before their careers?
The Majority leader could serve the same function as the Speaker, except as presider. I like the House of Commons idea. Let the Speaker be neutral. however. In the steering committee, the Majority leader might have two votes, but not five. Let the conference have a real decision.
Look at his tan. I don’t think that Boehner wants to risk anything. The Party is in the hands of the Liberal Republicans, and they long ago co-opted Boehner.
Wait.. If Palin was a quitter for stepping down before the end of her term what does that make DeMint?
A quitter. Hope he likes he new job. I’ll never vote for him.
She was in an untenable situation in Alaska and made her move in part to facilitate her role as a Tea Party leader and national voice for conservatism—and possible presidential candidate.
DeMint is making a similar move for similar reasons though the situation is quite different. Neither DeMint nor Palin deserve abuse here at FR of all places.
Why are we always making the Left (and RINO’s) flawed arguments for them?
I know this may sound crazy, but I am convinced that Boehner has gone the way of General Petraeus.
The democrats most likely have something dirty on him, and they are blackmailing him into going along with Obama’s crap.
I cannot honestly think of why else he would conduct such outrageous behavior lately.
As long as Bonehead Boehner is bumbling stumbling and fumbling his way down the field the camera is squarely on him. ON HIM.
The fact that he looks like an idiot does not register because he is too busy hogging the limelight to watch what is going on IN IT.
It only takes 16 votes to deny him the speakership. Are there 16 congressmen who will put their country before their careers?
-——I cannot honestly think of why else he would conduct such outrageous behavior lately.——
He is an Ohio Yankee. Ohio is a Democrat union owned state. The rust belt labor union Yankee thought permeates his being
He is who he is
The only thing she's been effective at was a TV show for herself and reality shows for her kids. She is a big a leach as the rest of them! All these people care about is enriching themselves.
We need someone strong who will put personal riches aside and stand up for the people. We need a strong leader who shows no fear. She should be all over Boner, make him cry like the baby he is and run home to his mommy!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.