Why Would a Freshman Congress Member Feel Qualified to Be Speaker?

[MineralMan]

I don't understand this at all. They still have to learn how the House functions. The have to understand that body's complicated andn often senseless rules. They have to learn how to introduce a bill. They have to learn how to sponsor legislation. They have to learn how to get along with their fellow members.

Being Speaker of the House requires an extensive knowledge of House rules and procedures. It demands a thorough understanding of the nuances that can make the difference between adoption and rejection of bills. It's not an honorary position. It'd hard, grueling work that requires experience, knowledge and wit.

I don't get it.

[LakeArenal]

1. Or third in line to the Presidency?

[MineralMan]

2. Well, that, too, although it has never happened that a Speaker

became President through that line of succession. That would be the least of my concerns, really.

[In It to Win It]

15. Now that we have Donald Trump as he broke several "never happened" norms

All bets are off

[MineralMan]

18. I don't think so, really. He's not going to be impeached and removed

as long as the Senate has a GOP majority. And, even if he were, there's Mike Pence, drooling over the possibility of becoming President, something he could never do by being elected.

[3Hotdogs]

20. Maybe not impeached, but stroking out after frogmarched Qusay?

[MineralMan]

21. Pence. That's the answer to all of those questions.

[DownriverDem]

52. Maybe to you

We need Nancy as Speaker for the next 2 years. It's going to be pure hell with trump and the repubs. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just plain naive. We don't need an inexperienced newbie to take on trump. Wake up.

[In It to Win It]

70. Preaching to the choir, my friend

I’m #TeamNancy

[PatSeg]

37. Oh yes, that as well

Takes a lot of hubris to feel one is qualified for a leadership role before you've even started. Perhaps some newbies are trying to get some press, but it doesn't look very good.

[4du]

56. I am not aware of any freshman running for Speaker

But I am aware several pledged not to vote for Nancy so that they could win their election.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

61. That was really dumb of them IMHO to make that promise

Now they feel like they have to "show the reciepts" on it but it's just going to wind up causing a mess we shouldn't need to have to deal with.

[4du]

66. If they did not say that they would not have been elected

Nancy is hated in parts of this country more than Donald is.

[C Moon]

78. Right wing nut jobs hate any woman in a position of power. They can go fuck off. Twerps.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

87. Which is completely mystifying

I just don't get certain parts of the country- where being a socially progressive liberal just trying to do good and help people gets so horribly villified for ?????? and yet they seem to have no problem with a 70 year old crass and boorish and buffoonish and woefully incompetent President gets heralded.

I just don't get it.

[4du]

88. We all have different experiences

which produce different viewpoints

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="

" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Proud Liberal Dem]

89. Yeah

but some viewpoints are mindblowingly crazy and idiotic

[Hortensis]

84. 4du, they pledged with NO idea who would replace her.

This isn't choosing a chair for the publicity committee of the local Our Revolution chapter, this is the United States Congress.

A huge battle is underway for the soul and direction of our nation. Our future lives and wellbeing depend, some literally, on the success of House Democrats.

AG’s office: No right to privacy for voter data: The Kansas Attorney General’s office says in legal filings that Kris Kobach shouldn’t be held personally liable for exposing sensitive data about Kansas voters and that those affected have no constitutional right to privacy for their information.

Chinese-style 'digital authoritarianism' grows globally: Governments worldwide are stepping up use of online tools, in many cases inspired by China's model, to suppress dissent and tighten their grip on power, a human rights watchdog study found Thursday. The annual Freedom House study of 65 countries found global internet freedom declined for the eighth consecutive year in 2018, amid a rise in what the group called "digital authoritarianism."

The Freedom on the Net 2018 report found online propaganda and disinformation have increasingly "poisoned" the digital space, while the unbridled collection of personal data is infringing on privacy.

The researchers said online freedom also declined in the United States in part due to the rollback of "net neutrality" rules which ensured that all data be treated equally, without "fast" or "slow" lanes for commercial or other reasons. It said online freedom also faces threats in the US as a result of the reauthorization of a surveillance law and a "hyperpartisan" environment in social media marked by large disinformation efforts.

NY Times: Your Children’s Yellowstone Will Be Radically Different: Over the next few decades of climate change, the country’s first national park will quite likely see increased fire, less forest, expanding grasslands, shallower, warmer waterways, and more invasive plants — all of which may alter how, and how many, animals move through the landscape. Ecosystems are always in flux, but climate change is transforming habitats so quickly that many plants and animals may not be able to adapt well or at all.

Trump Administration Plots Costly Private-Care Expansion for Veterans: The plan sets up a clash with Democrats, who say the administration is thwarting congressional intent and will starve the VA health system to pay for private care.

ACLU: Prisoners Are Getting Paid $1.45 a Day to Fight the California Wildfires

A Courtier for the Imperial Presidency: For almost 20 years, Brett Kavanaugh has been a consistent voice in favor of maximal executive power and privilege.

The Civil Rights Movement Is On The Ballot This November: In the lead-up to this year’s midterm elections, HuffPost Opinion asked writers to examine the many ways that voting ― a fundamental and hard-won civil right ― is imperiled in the United States. ...

Don’t fool yourself for a second by thinking the movement is a closed chapter in history, or that its work is finished. The struggle for civil rights goes on in 2018 ― and just as in 1870 and 1965, it runs straight through the right to vote.

[erpowers]

91. Not Pointed Out Enough

The fact that the Speaker of the House is third in line to the Presidency is not mentioned enough. I think that contributes to people not really caring who becomes Speaker of the House. Nowadays it is very unlikely that the Speaker of the House would become President, but if something catastrophic happens you would want someone who understand how the government works moving into the Presidency.

[violetpastille]

3. Why would a Reality Show personality feel qualified to be President?

Narcissists and the People who Enable Them.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

76. Why would a First Lady feel qualified to have the Deputy National Security Adviser fired?

Why doesn't she just go back to modeling? It seems to be where she's most comfortable.



BTW, here's the headline that accompanied that picture, submitted without comment:

Melania Trump says she might be most bullied person in the world

[violetpastille]

82. "Modeling"

I know this is shitty to say, but for a person that was a model for so many years, she doesn't seem to have many modelling pictures.

[RhodeIslandOne]

4. What Freshmen is throwing their name in?

By the way, you actually don’t even have to be a sitting Congress person to be voted speaker.

[demmiblue]

10. I must have missed something, as well.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

63. Which PERSON is throwing their name in

I'm not aware of any at the moment.

[Amimnoch]

74. OMG. You know, I'd totally forgotten that it doesn't have to be a member!

LOL, an interesting twist to REALLY piss off all the Pelosi haters on the right would be to bring back President Obama and install him as speaker, or Hillary!

All the talking heads on the right would start spinning and spewing like extra's from The Exorcist.

(yes, yes, I know it's not gonna happen, but damn funny to ponder)

[LiberalFighter]

80. Wouldn't want to do that.

Because he would not be eligible to be President again by that procedure. So it would go to the next person in line. Hillary would work better but there may be other things happening.

[Amimnoch]

83. If i'm not mistaken, that's not settled?

I haven't really looked at the Speaker position in particular for line of succession, but there's been a lot of articles and discussions about an ex-POTUS returning as VP. There's nothing actually preventing the sitting of the position, but would be subject to court challenge should something occur causing succession to go into effect. Most that I've read on it suggest it shouldn't be a problem since the specific language of "elected" in the 22nd.

I'd assume all the debate around an ex-2 term- POTUS sitting as VP would apply just as much for the position of Speaker.

Although, with our current SCOTUS membership, it's probably safe to say that if it happens to a Republican, it'd probably be allowed, but not for a Democratic Party POTUS.

[4du]

90. I like this idea

Hillary for Speaker. Trump would have a heart attack and die. Pence would be raptured and float away. And the stolen election of two years ago would be corrected and Hillary becomes the POTUS

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="

?start=6" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[hlthe2b]

5. ditto... the naivete' (and arrogance) is astounding.

[DownFromTheMountain]

6. Precious newbies!

First is to get rated "able" as a congress-person, then start helping out sweeping the stall. Don't you just love it when no experience wants to take over right away?

[MineralMan]

7. It happens in business, too. The new hire, fresh out of MBA school,

thinks he or she knows what is needed to make things work. Getting over that phase is the first challenge.

[TheBlackAdder]

14. When I worked at EDS, there were graduates of a 14-week Programmer course--called themselves Gurus

.

They were the most dangerous people. Hubris, a little knowledge and the belief they were gurus.

They would report other employees for dress code violations, to headquarters, because the local Site Admin knew talent was more important than dress. So they would scalp local site management. Then, when they trashed production databases, they would have to get help from the same people they tried to get fired.

.

[MineralMan]

16. Yup. That's part of why I walked away from working for others.

I started working for myself in 1974, and never went back. I started, grew, and closed several businesses. It's been fun!

[Ilsa]

81. Not just EDS.

MBAs with no real understanding of financial software engineering. They'll fire senior engineers heading up big dollar projects to save $100k, not bothering to find out if anyone else can really pick up the slack. They may increase their bottom line by $75k, but the have a really pissed off customer (another big firm) who remembers the engineer and asks for him by name. Oops.

[TheBlackAdder]

8. Ignorance? A power grab? The list is endless.

[George II]

55. Ego? Someone put him/her up to it? Yes, endless!

[ProudLib72]

9. Impetuous?

Need change right now (or better yet, yesterday)?

I agree with you. A freshman congress member needs to learn the rules, establish connections, and get some legislation under their belt. What worries me in this instance is that a freshman congress person doesn't seem to grasp this and still made it to congress.

[unblock]

11. it's just a pushy way to negotiate themselves a committee chair or lesser leadership role.

pelosi will still have the vast majority of democrats behind her, but someone else can deprive her of the 218 needed to win outright.

then i presume there would be some negotiation, and the candidate with only thirty or so supporters agrees to drop the bid for the speaker role in exchange for some juicy committee assignment or whatever.


if it starts to look like pelosi is actually vulnerable, i would have to think more experienced members would throw their hat in the ring as well.

[marylandblue]

12. Why would a 70-year old real estate salesman want to be President?

[MineralMan]

17. Yes, but that's a slightly different thing.

It's just as foolish, though.

[stopbush]

19. He didn't.

[watoos]

32. You got it. I agree.

[dlk]

13. Hubris...

[Bettie]

22. Has a freshman congressperson

said they are running for speaker?

I suspect Pelosi will still win, but I'm equally certain that there are other congresspersons with the knowledge to be speaker.

And I've heard nothing of a newly elected person saying they will run.

[MineralMan]

23. No, but give it time. Meanwhile several of them are militating

against Pelosi, based on no knowledge of what the Speaker actually does or needs to be able to do.

Pelosi will be the Speaker. No worries.

[ProfessorPlum]

27. what the hell? you mean you are just pissing and moaning about something you

only think will happen?

what is the point of this thread?

I think it would be a shame if monkeys would feel qualified to fly out of my ass. Give it time.

[watoos]

35. Right on, and this is the perfect type of thread

that will appeal to Russian trolls and bots. Anyone who challenges Pelosi will get tremendous backing from St. Petersburg to make the election of Speaker look tumultuous.

Nancy Pelosi has been a great Speaker, she will get the job, everything else is just noise meant to make Democrats look bad.

I still say if we want an injection of new blood no one says we have to give Steny Hoyer the job of majority leader.

[LakeSuperiorView]

53. Hell, several people here are doing that. nt.

[beachbum bob]

24. Ego.

No incoming congress person has the smarts or knowledge to do the job.

So it's all ego

[Celerity]

25. What freshperson wants to be Speaker?

I really must have missed something.

Much of the actual, (meaning elected members) anti-Pelosi sentiment is coming from the centrists. Some of the new ones who ran on an openly anti-Pelosi stance, then the so-called #5WhiteGuys group.

See this for example (from the Blue Dog Lieberman-backed, bi-partisanship-pushing, Problem Solvers types)


Stephanie Murphy, 8 other Democrats want promises from Nancy Pelosi in exchange for speaker votes

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-ne-nancy-pelosi-speaker-votes-washington-post-1114-story.html

Nine centrist House Democrats are throwing another hurdle in the path of top party leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as she sprints toward the speaker’s gavel.

It’s not an unexpected obstacle: The nine are members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group formed to promote bipartisanship whose members agreed in September to condition their votes for any speaker candidate on support for a package of rules changes meant to improve how the House operates.

In a letter sent to Pelosi on Tuesday, the nine Democrats reiterated that their speaker votes are on the line and asked for a “written, public commitment” to their proposals by Friday.

“Our constituents and our democracy deserve better,” they wrote. “Put simply, they want us to govern again.”

snip

Signing the letter are Reps. Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), Tom O’Halleran (Ariz.), Jim Costa (Calif.), Kurt Schrader (Ore.), Daniel Lipinski (Ill.), Darren Soto (Fla.), Stephanie Murphy (Fla.), Tom Suozzi (N.Y.) and Vicente Gonzalez (Tex.).

snip


Bipartisan ‘No Labels’ group’s super PAC network revealed: mega Chicago donors

https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/bipartisan-no-labels-2018-super-pac-network-chicago-donors/

With a boost from Chicago-area mega donors, including White Sox and Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, No Labels, a group advocating bipartisanship in Congress, has created a network of super PACs to influence the 2018 elections — but doesn’t want its fingerprints on the money.

One of the super PACs, United for Progress Inc., has spent $740,334 as of Sunday to bolster Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., in his March 20 Illinois Democratic primary battle with Marie Newman in the 3rd Congressional District. The names of the super PACS don’t link them to No Labels. A Sun-Times investigation determined super PACS related to No Labels include: United for Progress Inc.; Citizens for a Strong America Inc.; United Together; Govern or Go Home; and Forward, Not Back.

The Sun-Times inquiry included interviews with donors or their representatives and an examination of documents filed with the Federal Election Commission. United for Progress, Inc., is playing political hardball, attacking Newman in the commercials and direct mail pieces it paid for. Lipinski is part of a No Labels offshoot, the congressional “Problem Solvers Caucus.”

snip

THE ILLINOIS CONNECTIONS: Last year, a No Labels leader, former Sen. Joe Lieberman, was a draw at a meeting at the Chicago Club, 81 E. Van Buren. Lieberman was the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee who became an Independent senator from Connecticut.

snip

[watoos]

36. Is this for real or from the Onion?

[Celerity]

44. Real. Look at the links.

[Autumn]

60. That should be an OP so everyone know who is really out to get Pelosi.

Thanks for that.

[KPN]

26. Huh? I've googled and can't find anything about a freshman Dem Rep announcing or even

discussing the possibility of running for Speaker.

Do you have other info or are you just messing with us MM?

[ProfessorPlum]

28. he's just messing with you

for the fun of it, I guess.

[SixString]

98. He's a shit stirrer

That's his schtick.
I can't believe people here constantly fall for it.
Check out the recs. Unbelievable



But it's probably just a veiled attack of AOC.

[NurseJackie]

29. That would put the Democrats at a distinct disadvantage. We need Nancy Pelosi!

I don't get it.

We used to call it being-too-big-for-one's-britches. It's arrogance and a desire for power. There are many who are reacting emotionally because of long-held grudges or a desire to exact some sort of "revenge" for some perceived slight.

It's not an honorary position. It'd hard, grueling work that requires experience, knowledge and wit.

That's exactly right! It's much more intensive than some sort of outreach position... in addition to experience, knowledge and wit, it also requires an ability to set personal pride and vanity aside in order to find SOME common ground and to place a higher value on making progress (even if incremental) rather than the typical all-or-nothing approach advocated by so many angry and impatient voices.

All I'm saying is that Nancy Pelosi is the right voice and the right woman for the job. We need her and I stand with her.

[watoos]

40. Absolutely,

Pelosi was a great Speaker in the past. Republicans just ran against her in this past election and they lost miserably. When Pelosi called for a vote on a Bill, it passed.

My favorite, Republicans have spent millions of dollars demonizing the name Nancy Pelosi, they flat out hate her which tells me they are afraid of her.

[True Blue American]

43. I still call it that.:)

Cummings said there would be younger ones in Leadership to be trained. It is called transition.

But they need to learn the ropes first. Nancy is experienced, we need that right now. I was not sure at first, but it is common sense.

[Spider Jerusalem]

30. I think you're confused? "I'd prefer someone other than Pelosi" ≠ "I want to be Speaker"

[Recursion]

31. Clay was elected Speaker as a freshman

Though he had already been a Senator.

[Perseus]

33. I never tweet or write to any representative, but I did today

to Ms Fudge...

We all need to do it in an effort to crash the "What the American People Want" line that Moulton (one of the five-white-guys) kept repeating during a CNN interview.

If enough "American People" tweet Mrs Fudge, then they may get the message of what the "American People" really want, and it is for them to sit in a corner and stop the dividing efforts that only benefit republicans.

Most democrats want Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the house, she was very effective then, and will be more effective this time because I think she has had enough with republican crap.

[Gothmog]

34. I do not get it either

[iscooterliberally]

38. I guess for the same reason that a raging dumpster fire thought it would be a good president? n/t

[George II]

39. One of the newly elected member couldn't even find it's way to the Freshmen events yesterday!

[LanternWaste]

41. you don't get a non-existent, hypothetical argument of your own creation?

What freshman congress member is pushing to be speaker? None?

"I don't get it..."
So you don't get a non-existent, hypothetical argument of your own creation? Well, it's a tough old world sometimes, I guess.

[watoos]

42. IMO, the narrative that there is a controversy

over Nancy Pelosi becoming Speaker is a right wing talking point, bolstered on social media by right wing nuts and Russian trolls and bots.

"A House divided against itself cannot stand." Go get em Nancy.

[malthaussen]

47. Agreed.

I believe OP is inadvertently spreading the RW narrative by asking this question. I was just reading an article (fumbles for link, can't find it, shrugs shoulders) suggesting that the recent "demonstrations" about climate change outside Nancy Pelosi's office suggest that there is an insurgency of first-term radicals against a Pelosi speakership, despite the fact that the incoming Congresscritters have already stated full support for Pelosi. IIRC, it is pretty much doing their job for legislators to discuss their concerns with the leadership, sometimes quite forcefully. This is not tantamount to saying "Throw the bum out, I'm a better choice to lead."

Ah, another DU poster has said it better (and has the link I was looking for).
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211433272#post15

-- Mal

[onenote]

45. Do you also wonder why an 8 year old feels qualified to be the Yankees starting pitcher?

Not saying there is any 8 year making that claim. But since there aren't any newly elected members of congress claiming to be qualified to be speaker, I figured I should ask.

[MadDAsHell]

46. This is a little silly. Barack Obama announced his candidacy for PRESIDENT after about 700 days...

as a first-term Senator, and was the greatest President of all time. “Qualified” is a very relative term.

[BamaRefugee]

49. BINGO ;-)

[Cattledog]

54. But do you think he would have been the greatest Senate Leader?

These are different jobs with different skills required.

[MadDAsHell]

67. It's a fair question. But if someone thinks they're qualified to run the Country...

after 2 years as a Senator, who am I to challenge someone wanting to run one body of congress as a freshman/woman?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

64. He still was in there

long enough to unpack his toothbrush. And he proved that he was qualified but this was still after 4 years in the Senate, as well as other political experience.

[MadDAsHell]

65. That's fair. But it wasn't really 4 years. It was more like 2. He was campaigning from Feb 2007 on.

[Bfd]

73. Barack Obama was a Constitutional Lawyer. He also had the creds to be President

Actually he had the creds to take on most any position in the legislative, judicial or executive body.

[MadDAsHell]

97. I'm just not sure I buy that you can't run a house of Congress as a freshman/woman...

But give it a couple years and you can run the entire country.

[YOHABLO]

48. No one is naming any names of these so-called rebels in the House.

[brooklynite]

95. "Ben McAdams joins 16 fellow Democrats opposing Nancy Pelosi for speaker"

Marcia Fudge
Seth Moulton
Tim Ryan
Kathleen Rice
Ed Perlmutter
Kurt Schrader
Filemon Vela Jr.
Bill Foster
Brian Higgins
Stephen Lynch
Linda Sanchez
Jim Cooper
Jeff Van Drew
Joe Cunningham
Max Rose
Anthony Brindisi
Ben McAdams.

[Eric J in MN]

50. Link? NT

NT

[BamaRefugee]

51. No matter what happens, at least a DEMOCRAT will win another election! ;-)

[dalton99a]

57. Well, they know where the bathroom is

[LittleGirl]

58. I agree MM

I think that after the legislative session starts, Pelosi should be leader .

If she is mentoring someone, then they can take over later in the term or is that not allowed?
See, even I don't know how that works.

[Trumpocalypse]

59. I don't get a straw-man argument.

There are no freshman members running for speaker

[tonedevil]

62. Of course you don't get it...

there is nothing to get. This post is 100% bullshit since there are no Freshman Congress Members saying they are qualified to be Speaker let alone trying to run for Speaker. I can only assume you mowed your lawn yesterday and this morning some kids were standing on it leaving several large divots.

[Cal Carpenter]

68. When did you stop beating your wife?

I don't get it.

(eta: Not a personal attack on MM, just trying to demonstrate the lack of basis for his OP)

[Gore1FL]

69. None are doing as much that I am aware of.

Here is a question about something that actually happened:

Why did Joan of Arc Feel Qualified to Be the Commander of the French Armies?

[BlancheSplanchnik]

71. It's entitlement. Dudes feel entitled over women who are experts in the field. n/t

[borgesian]

86. huh?

Who is doing this? Lots of outrage in this thread, but no names...

[Kablooie]

72. A Freshman would want to be Speaker because they don't understand how things work yet.

Besides having knowledge of rules and procedures they have to build up relationships and have a knowledge of priorities, strengths and weaknesses of many others in order to manage effectively.

It's also the third position in line for the presidency so whoever has this position his must not be ill prepared and a hothead like Trump.
Once again, the Speaker can't just order things done like a CEO. This is politics which entails complex human interactions at many levels.

It's beginning to sound like we may have our own Freedom Caucus of the left. I hope not.
To attack issues head on without compromise is a recipe for failure.
Even though climate change is probably the most important issue that needs to be addressed, the only way to get it done is through a complex web of human politics. A simpleminded, direct approach will only cause others to block any progress.

For this next session it would be best for Pelosi to remain to get things up and running.
At some point there might be another viable speaker but I'm not aware of that person yet.

[KPN]

75. None do as far as I can tell. False flag.

[democratisphere]

77. Delusional.

[KG]

79. I lulz'd

again.

[ornotna]

85. I lulz'd at how many here agree

With the post.

[brooklynite]

92. What Freshman has said they want to be Speaker?

[displacedtexan]

93. Freshmen may not be running, but they sure as hell want to control the process.

This stinks like the tea party deplorables who destroyed the Republican Party. While I'm glad they did, I sure as hell don't want the same crap in the Dem party.

[onenote]

94. How should the Speaker be chosen? Should newly elected members not get a vote?

[displacedtexan]

96. Article one, section 2

"The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.”

No one in this thread, to my knowledge, has implied that new members shouldn't vote. It just seems like a cart before the horse kind of issue before the newly elected have even been sworn in.

[Honeycombe8]

99. Is there a Freshman rep who is challenging her? I thought there wasn't anyone ...

I thought there wasn't anyone standing in the wings, which makes it all the more strange.