Tag: Speaker of the House

Through the Wormhole with the DNC

Clifford A. Brown
Clifford A. Brown
1411
 

Prime Minister’s Questions this past week foreshadowed the American government’s future. Such a future had been seen as years, or decades, away, but events of this past week suggest the United States has entered a wormhole, as in a science fiction story. Indeed, it seems that one party has created an artificial wormhole, or hyperspace jump gate. Are we now being hurled towards convergence with British politics and society, with truth becoming stranger than fiction?

Prime Minister’s Questions, on 6 March 2019, featured questions about what Labour MPs called “knife crime.” While the Conservative PM lightly pushed back with talk of “drug gangs” as the problem, she effectively conceded the left’s position by citing an “offensive weapons” bill as a part of the government’s response. The accepted range of debate in Britain is now over how helpless the subjects of the realm should be rendered, firearms having long been restricted to near non-existence for ordinary people.

Preview Open
Three Martini Lunch

Pelosi Gives GOP Huge Gift, Pence Honors Arpaio, Trump Doctor Drama

22
Hosted by Greg Corombos & Jim Geraghty

Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America are thrilled to hear House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi state she will run for Speaker of the House if Democrats win back the majority.  It’s hard to imagine a better talking point for GOP candidates.  They also cringe as Vice President Mike Pence gives a shout out to former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio during a visit to Arizona, noting Arpaio’s controversial record and how he would be a sure-fire loser if nominated for the U.S. Senate.  And they’re not exactly shocked to learn that Donald Trump dictated the glowing, over-the-top letter released by his doctor in the 2016 campaign that vowed he would be the healthiest person ever to be president of the United States.

Preview Open

Member Post

Barbara H
Barbara H
94
 

  With the way things had been developing in the Republican presidential contest in recent weeks, lndiana’s primary on May 3 seemed like it might be the last real chance for those hoping to prevent a Trump nomination to turn things around.  Before the vote, most polls suggested that Trump was in the lead, possibly […]
Join Ricochet!

This is a members-only post on Ricochet's Member Feed. Want to read it? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

Member Post

Tim H.
Tim H.
54
 

Fact:  The Speaker of the House is not required by the Constitution to be a member of the House of Representatives.  The Constitution specifies only that, The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment. Preview Open
Join Ricochet!

This is a members-only post on Ricochet's Member Feed. Want to read it? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

Speaker Ryan?

Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson
10530
 

On the front page of the New York Times online at this hour:

Screen Shot 2015-10-21 at 9.39.13 AMIn the circumstances, Paul Ryan’s conditions for running for Speaker strike me as entirely reasonable. You?

Preview Open

Welcome to the Cocktail Party

Egg Man
Egg Man
4017
 

Paul_Ryan_by_Gage_Skidmore_3Is Rep. Paul Ryan now an Establishment™ RINO squish? This piece in National Review explains that Ryan is now deemed unacceptable to lead House Republicans because of his past immigration stances. Yes, border security is paramount. Yes, this means that we should apply additional pressure on the Republican leadership to make sure they don’t try the “comprehensive” approach with President Obama.

But let’s be realistic. Obama has just over a year, and that isn’t going to happen. So the goal should be to find someone who can unify Republicans on a strategy that will force Obama to accept popular conservative positions (okay, not likely), as well as force Obama to defend unpopular leftist positions, thwart Obama’s executive ambitions, and create popular support for conservative policies. Ryan is uniquely qualified to do this.

If there are some conservatives who wince at this option, then they should offer a name of someone qualified to lead and not simply throw out past apostasies.

Preview Open

Member Post

Gil Reich
Gil Reich
66
 

The Speaker doesn’t have to be a member of Congress, so let’s think out of the box. How about John Goodman? He already was a Republican Speaker of the House, and Sorkin fans everywhere appreciate the way he gave up his office by putting country ahead of party and personal interests. Preview Open
Join Ricochet!

This is a members-only post on Ricochet's Member Feed. Want to read it? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

Ryan and Reconciliation Is a Powerful Combination

Larry Kudlow
Larry Kudlow
3720
 
shutterstock_180341093

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, March 6, 2014.Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com

As of this writing House Ways and Means chairman Paul Ryan has not decided whether to run for Speaker. He has been bombarded by all the Republican factions. Even Mitt Romney says the Wisconsinite can unify the Republican conference and take the job. I applaud Ryan’s leadership and policy skills and think he would make a good speaker.

Preview Open

How Would You React to a Coalition Majority in the House?

Fred Cole
Fred Cole
9523
 

Now that Kevin McCarthy has dropped out of the running to be Speaker John Boehner’s replacement, and given the lack of any clear alternative (who actually wants the job?), some are floating the the idea of a coalition:

One crossover vote — from one member, in one election — does not a precedent make. But Representative Charlie Dent (R-PA) nonetheless told CNN minutes after McCarthy withdrew, to elect the next Speaker “we [may] have to assemble a bipartisan coalition, that’s the reality of this place.”

Preview Open

Member Post

Fredösphere
Fredösphere
77
 

I do not fear becoming Speaker of the House. My only fear is that the House GOP lacks the cojones to elect me. The current House leadership is dysfunctional and helpless. Sure, I know the limp-wristed excuses: non-discretionary / veto / wait ’til 2017 / give us a bigger majority / Senate traditions / can’t […]
Join Ricochet!

This is a members-only post on Ricochet's Member Feed. Want to read it? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

A House Divided

BrentB67
BrentB67
11219
 

The announcement of Speaker Boehner’s sudden retirement has mostly been met with joy, and I am not sorry to see him go. But we should temper our enthusiasm about how radical a change will come with a new speaker.

The reality of the House, in my opinion, is that it is not made up of two parties. It is made up of three.

Preview Open