Yeah it’s something isn’t it - that there will have to be a deal between the leader of the R party with the leader of the D party to deliver the speakership?
Wow.
...it will be just as easy to deliver 18 boehner votes as 35 abstentions... imo it will be a combination that gives boehner the speakership... there’s a good math problem in there somewhere ;)
Where I’m spending my time this morning is thinking about what will happen after boehner is elected via a deal with pelosi.
outrage for sure - but what CAN happen? A sitting speaker has never been removed but experts agree that it is possible...
good times...
I had to do some digging, but I believe this is the answer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson%27s_Manual#U.S._House_of_Representatives
The House of Representatives formally incorporated Jefferson's Manual into its rules in 1837, stipulating that the manual "should govern the House in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the standing rules and order of the House and the joint rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives."
This URL contains (among other stuff) "Jefferson’s Manual of Parliamentary Practice":
Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 111th Congress
See page 3 of Section IX: Speaker:
§ 315. Removal of the Speaker: A Speaker may be removed at the will of the House, and a Speaker pro tempore appointed, 2 Grey, 186; 5 Grey, 134.
I believe that is the actual notes made by Jefferson, and this additional text is explanation that was added later:
A resolution declaring the Office of Speaker vacant presents a question of constitutional privilege (VI, 35), though the House has never removed a Speaker. It has on several occasions removed or suspended other officers, such as Clerk and Doorkeeper (I, 287–290, 292; II, 1417). A resolution for the removal of an officer is presented as a matter of privilege (I, 284– 286; VI, 35). The Speaker may remove the Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Chief Administrative Officer under clause 1 of rule II.
My interpretation is that the Speaker can be removed by a majority of all Representatives. So, that would mean it would require 218 Republicans to vote against their sitting Speaker.
Finally! Someone hit on it!
The Dems are in their weakest minority in a generation, but Pelosi, much as I despise her, is a hard-core politician. You've got to admire her absolute willingness to fight every inch. She's got balls, something sadly remaining among many Republicans.
She knows she'll not be Speaker, but I guarantee you she's working like a demon to exploit this situation.
She might, in fact, instruct enough Democrats to abstain... but Lord only knows what she'll get for it.
We really need someone so ruthless on our side.