CONGRESS

Jon Huntsman to Replace Boehner as Speaker?

Would an 'outside the beltway' leader help?

Dec 29, 2012 by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t

Image: Politix

Recent weeks have seen John Boehner humiliated by his own party, scorned by grassroots conservatives, and prey to rumors that he'll be voted down when he gets re-nominated as House Speaker in January.

The obvious replacement candidate is Eric Cantor, the current House Majority Leader. But word on the street has Paul Ryan as the popular favorite - or "next in line" - to replace Boehner.

Meanwhile longtime pundit Norm Ornstein thinks we should look outside the beltway for next Speaker, and he has a very specific candidate in mind: Jon Huntsman for Speaker!

By any reasonable standard, [Huntsman] is a conservative Republican," writes Ornstein. "As governor of Utah, he supported smaller government, lower taxes and balanced budgets, and he opted consistently for market-based solutions." But Ornstein's main rationale is Huntsman's alleged bipartisan appeal: "As Speaker Huntsman would look beyond party and provide a different kind of leadership. He...would aim for a broad majority from the center out, not from the right fringe in."

Via WaPo.

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?	Who would you like to see as the next House Speaker?

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John Boehner

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Eric Cantor

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Paul Ryan

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Jon Huntsman

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Nancy Pelosi

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Someone Else

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All : 106

Comments (view in Forum)

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Dec '12

racemonkey

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The problem is much deeper than who gets to be speaker. Both sides have shown they have little desire to come together and make a positive change for our nation. The President's tax more spend more plan is a sure fire failure for the future of the nation, he just has emotion on his side and a growing American disdain for the wealthy who aren't Democrats and for conservative values to make him look good to his followers and the uninformed. The Republicans don't want to go far enough with their tax cut proposals to make a statement that they are ready to quit backing the larger than life U.S. Military budget that the President has been so happy to take advantage of. Unfortunately both parties are only a mirror image of the division within the nation where most citizens and illegals are more than willing to spend other peoples money and give up other peoples rights to get their own way.
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u
Dec '12

Penn1699

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Well said.
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Post @Penn1699
Dec '12

bsking

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we need to have clear and concise differences in opposition while remaining respectful. ryan is a better choice. cantor is a weasel.
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o
Dec '12

woodtick57

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Ryan has shown he is not really leadership material in that silly campaign of his, didn't he?
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Post @woodtick57
Dec '12

Real4WheelDrv

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I'd say the same thing about some of Harry Ried's behavior during the election too....
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Dec '12

Sonny

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@woodtick57 Yes, he most certainly did, Woodtick. And I can't understand why anyone would still think of this guy as any kind of a national leader....
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Dec '12

Sonny

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@Real4WheelDrv That's fine...But I don't think that Harry Reid is interested in becoming the next Speaker of The House.
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Post @Sonny
Dec '12

Real4WheelDrv

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@Sonny No, but if you're gonna knock somebody's leadership based on actions during a campaign...maybe the senate needs a new face too...
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o
Dec '12

woodtick57

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I'd go with Huntsman. can we still get him in as President?
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u
Dec '12

idiot

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boehner would be a great man only if he represented the 99 percenters.
but that will never happen.
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Dec '12

justapirate

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I like Boehner. He's not a very good 'boss', though. He's letting the 'crew' direct him and tell him how it's gonna be, which is a pretty darn mixed message with no cooperation amongst themselves. If he could learn to use the Gibbs head smack on occasion I could support him again.
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Post @justapirate
Dec '12

Ashstop

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Whoever the most conservative one would be would get my vote, these guys were elected to represent us, I want someone who will fight for what we believe in,
I didn't see the left give up on their agenda in 2004 and say that since the right overwhelmingly won they would vote for smaller government , lower taxes, man/wife marriage ! That's what they are saying we should do now, we lost so we all need to go left... I say "No!"
The tax rate that is going away was Bush's.. They hate Bush, said it only helped the wealthy, not middle class so lets see, the only way half the country will ever wakeup is to see what big taxes, big government does.. It was the downfall of all the big civilizations in the past.
I hope we hold firm!!! We need a stronger Republican Party, not turn into a jr. Democratic party
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o
Dec '12

woodtick57

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Going further to the right does not always mean being more conservative. So many in the Republican party are already to the right of being conservative, a shift even further right would be a step off the cliff of radicalism...
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Post @woodtick57
Dec '12

Ashstop

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@woodtick57
I just meant we need to stick to our mandate ( lower taxes, smaller government, entitlement reform) Obama's new plan C is thought to be increase taxes smaller than he wanted but still an increase, and push everything else back to next year!! We can't keep doing that!!
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Post @Ashstop
Dec '12

jamie91

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@Ashstop how can you equate smaller government and then let them in the marriages of individuals? That is big government pushing religion.
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Post @jamie91
Dec '12

CATTLEPROD

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@woodtick57 And where the dems are at right now couldnt be called "left turn, clyde" socialists at best and a few more steps just good ole communists? Oh no, I forgot obama is a centrist, isn't he? I think I'll have my lobotomy now, obamacare beauracrats. At least I wont realize whats going on and your true agenda for my country anymore. I know in about another 20 years I will be the old coot the government just wants to shut up anyway and I'll be at the death panels mercy, yeah I think I'll just have my lobotomy now.
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Dec '12

woodtick57

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@Ashstop yes, exactly. No need to go further right to stick to those principles...
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Dec '12

mohawkmaid1

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The speaker is not the problem .It would be the same regardless.Damned if you do and damned if you don't. No working with this administration.
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Dec '12

Bobolinsky

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Imagine for a moment if President Obama decided to change tactics... What if... instead of using all of his political capital on economic issues... What if he decided to push other issues that are near and dear to the hearts of many on the Left but do so in a fiscally sane manner?

Right now, President Obama is using the "fiscal cliff" to drive a wedge between the Republican Party and fiscal conservatives... And I submit that Boehner has played right into his hands.

Why not save that political capital and use it later to drive a wedge between the Social Right and the GOP? I know the answer to that. The question is... Do Liberals who understand that President Obama saved his conversion on gay marriage and his free contraceptive executive order for the election year understand why President Obama uses all his political capital on socialistic policies?
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o
Dec '12

woodtick57

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How is SSM a socialistic issue?
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Post @woodtick57
Dec '12

Bobolinsky

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@woodtick57-- I was talking about his recent "You get nothing" comment.
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Dec '12

woodtick57

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Via the SSM issue?@Bobolinsky
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Dec '12

Bobolinsky

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@woodtick57-- What does same-sex marriage have to do with his recent "you get nothing" comment?

His conversion on same-sex marriage squirmed out of the closet a little early thanks to Biden. They were planning on making it a big announcement at the convention... meaning it was an election year sop to the Social Left... not the Fiscal Left. The only connection between ssm and President Obama's Fiscal Leftism is that he is now using that electoral victory as political capital to push his Tax the Rich socialistic policies.
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Dec '12

woodtick57

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@Bobolinsky I'm not sure...you brought it up and somehow claimed it to be a socialisic and now leftist issue.
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Dec '12

WMCOL

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Those with money to influence elected officials will always do better than those who have less and must pool resources to make an impact on politics. One money bag in the 1% category is equal to 500,000 middle class and lower coming together, and that is not likely to happen. Just look at the comments right here. The ultra-rich know exactly how to divide and scatter the peons.

While the peon Dems and Repubs are blaming each other, the ultra-rich have no party and are united for their own interests and ends and not those of the common people. A fool says Obama is the fault, but a wise person knows better.
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o
Dec '12

woodtick57

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So who has more influence, the person who works from the grassroots on a party and helps form the platform and even decide who the party will put up for m\nomination or the guy who writes the $10,000 check to the candidate the grassroots workers put in place?

Anyone can have as much influence in their politics as they want, it does not necessarily take money, just a true will and some effort.
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Post @woodtick57
Dec '12

WMCOL

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@woodtick57
>>>Anyone can have as much influence in their politics as they want, it does not necessarily take money<<<

Exactly what I said:
"One money bag in the 1% category is equal to 500,000 middle class and lower coming together, and that is not likely to happen. Just look at the comments right here. The ultra-rich know exactly how to divide and scatter the peons."
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Post @WMCOL
Dec '12

Dave_Tech

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I said from the very beginning, Huntsman was President Obama's biggest threat. IF he had made it through the Republican play-off's, Obama could very well have lost his re-election bid. Him getting bumped showed how moronic the Republican base has become and how blind they are to pass over a guy that could have easily got them into the White House.
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o
Dec '12

woodtick57

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So true. so very, very true.
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Post @woodtick57
Dec '12

Keyjo

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Yup, Huntsman was my favorite. He is the only Republican among the former candidates that I would have considered and very possibly have voted for.
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Dec '12

RedFloppyShoes

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Wish I could change my vote. I hit Boehner's name by accident. Boehner is a friggin moron. He makes me wonder how can stand upright without a spine.

Paul Ryan or Eric Cantor would be best. Straight talk that can repel the preaident's barbs and jabs.
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Dec '12

PoliticalSpice

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"boehner is a friggin moron. He makes me wonder how [he] can stand upright without a spine."

Funny you should say that, its exactly how I felt when about Nancy "impeachment is off the table" Pelosi when the dems took the house and she did nothing to move forward the adgenda of those who voted them in but whine...
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Post @PoliticalSpice
Dec '12

Keyjo

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But Huntsman isn't a Congressman. How can he be considered for Speaker of the House!?
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o
Dec '12

woodtick57

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The speaker of the house does not need to be a member of congress. or even an elected official in any way, although he is second in line of presidential succession. We could conceivably have a President that was never elected to any office, ever.
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o
Dec '12

woodtick57

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By the public, that is,....@woodtick57
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Dec '12

Keyjo

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@woodtick57
Thanks! I did NOT know that!
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u
Dec '12

Belin

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Obviously, we need someone who could communicate with the president. Putting Pelosi on the list is absurd. The majority in the house is republican, therefore the speaker would be republican! I believe under any other administration Boenher would have faired well. The president made sure Boenher would not. I do not support the president interfering in who should be speaker is right. Republicans by majority are not moderates. They were voted into office at republicans, not to bow down to democrats. This poll is not quite fair as Polotix decided what names to place on the list. The president doesn't even like Nancy Pelosi! There take much more homework than to just pick off a list thrown up there by Polotix.
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Dec '12

PoliticalSpice

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Heck, I don't like Pelosi either, and I agree a Republican majority would not elect her speaker, but leave the people who run this site alone, they are just providing a forum for debate and entertainment. I am happy this forum exist, and it isn't easy running what is, in effect, a daily newspaper that allows for instant reader participation. Brsidrs they give you the option to say anyone else, and people are free to vote up or endorse that choice.
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u
Dec '12

Belin

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@PoliticalSpice
I did vote "somebody else". I'm sure it's not easy to run this sight! But they choose this, responsibilities come with that. They are doing their jobs to the best of their ability. I have had replies to me removed by the moderators before I ever saw them. I was curious as to what was said, but also grateful they were doing their job and I never had to read how horrible that post must have been for them to remove it that quickly.
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Dec '12

Sonny

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I think Huntsman would be an Excellent Choice!!! For all of the reasons that were aforementioned! This guy definitely has his "head on straight"...And would be an outstanding alternative to Boehner, Cantor, Ryan, and/or anyone who is affiliated with the "tea-party"...Just an excellent choice for America!
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u
Dec '12

Bob4683

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Excellent choice indeed! He'd get a boost in name recognition as well, which could set the stage for a successful Presidential run in 2016.
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Dec '12

Sonny

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@Bob4683 Well, first of all the question was merely a hypothetical one...He is never going to be "Speaker of The House"...And therefore, based upon your conjecture, will NEVER get any further "name recognition" therefrom. Thus, finally, he will not have any such stage "set for any such presidential run in 2016"...Don't waste your time with such whimsical thinking...The question was purely rhetorical...
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u
Dec '12

Bob4683

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@Sonny I agree the House will not look outside its membership for a Speaker, but all the attention Huntsman has been getting as one who could actually help broker a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff is already impacting his name recogniotion and respect within and outside the GOP.
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Dec '12

justapirate

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I had to vote for Huntsman but I'm afraid he'll only be as effective as Boehner because his own party is gonna trip him up. Pity, really.
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u
Dec '12

seedtick

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It doesn't matter who is Speaker of the House, the problem still lies in the White House.
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Dec '12

DARSB

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I liked Ambassador Huntsman the best of all the GOP candidates, but if, as the article says, a "reasonable standard" should be applied he has no chance in the current House environment.
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Dec '12

marine1

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a reasonable standard fits no plan that i know of in D C.
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Post @marine1
Dec '12

Vance1

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Someone Else!
Someone like Newt that is strong, Someone who states it like it is!!
Someone who doesnt cave to the Obama
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Dec '12

ConserveUSA

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I remember the great days of Newt! We need someone to stand up against Communism!
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Dec '12

PoliticalSpice

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@ConserveUSA LOL, communism? Heck we're not even near socialism. The obsmacare plan has us golkimg money over to insurance companies, and was created by a republican govenor...i forget his name...
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Post @PoliticalSpice
Dec '12

Vance1

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@PoliticalSpice
Manifesto of the Communist Party
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/18...

read it and see just how close we now are to it
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u
Dec '12

GrammyH

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I agree. Newt served well as Speaker when Clinton was president and it was He that got the deficit down. VOTE FOR NEWT!!!
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Dec '12

ConserveUSA

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@PoliticalSpice We need somebody to do something.
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Dec '12

ConserveUSA

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We need a man who will not fall under Obama's Empire of Hopeless!
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Dec '12

harold_lloyd

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The problems in the House are not due to the Speaker, but due to the presence of jihadist neocons and teabaggers, willing to sacrifice the nation to their ideology.
Hopefully, the 2014 elections will fix some of that.
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Dec '12

Dan_Tien

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John Dingell
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Who would you like to see as the next House Speaker?

Who would you like to see as the next House Speaker?