Kevin McCarthy Drops Out

Discussion in 'Political Discussions' started by major56, Oct 8, 2015.

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  1. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I think you're right except for 1 or 2 things. Sometimes competent leadership does not emerge or if it eventually emerges there is incredible damage done in the interim.
     
    Kizmet, Oct 10, 2015
    #21
  2. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Steve Foerster "Funny you should say that. There's no constitutional requirement for the Speaker to be an elected member of the House..."

    Fascinating concept. I wonder if the Founding Fathers did this intentionally or inadvertently. It's not trivial. We actually came very close to having President Carl Albert in 1973-74, when both the President and the Vice President resigned. If Agnew had been indicted after Nixon resigned, we'd have had President Agnew, and then the Democrat from Oklahoma steps in.

    John Bear, author of The World's Worst Maxims, So You're in Your 40's,
    How to Repair Food, and 30-something other books
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 11, 2015
    John Bear, Oct 11, 2015
    #22
  3. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I think it's a purposeful holdover from the British system. In Dominica, the Speaker of the National Assembly is appointed by the Prime Minister, and in practice I believe it's never been from someone elected to that body. I believe the same is true of the Speaker of the House of Commons in the UK. On the other hand, the PM is supposed to appoint someone who is, if not actually impartial, is at least respected by all, and unfortunately that does not accurately describe the lady who's held that position in Dominica for the last fifteen years. I'm not sure whether the U.S. founders expected the Speaker of the House to be more neutral and less overtly partisan than the position is in practice.
     
    SteveFoerster, Oct 11, 2015
    #23
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