Right. Some other countries can call for a referendum vote to "throw the bum out". But that's not the US.
Impeachment 2017 or 2018? Or what else?
- Thread starter Atlantic
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Right. Some other countries can call for a referendum vote to "throw the bum out". But that's not the US.
The speaker serves at the pleasure of the House. The House can change speakers whenever there is a consensus to do so. Being a speaker on the Republican side is a very difficult task because the Republican Party isn't united. It is really an uneasy alliance of two parties. You'll recall that John Boehner had the same problem. I don't think either Boehner or Ryan are bad speakers. They are just stuck in an untenable position. People are blaming Ryan and the Republicans for having 7 years to work out a replacement for Obamacare, and that blame is thoroughly deserved. But realistically it is very difficult for a Republican speaker to do anything of real substance because of the split in the party? If we put Genghis Khan and Joseph Goebbels on a committee to draft legislation, they would have some things in common; yet the result would be crap that either, or both, the Khan and/or Goebbels factions would reject.
Ryan could in principle form a coalition of main stream Democrats and mainstream Republicans that could draft acceptable legislation and get it through the House. Under the present House Rules, however, that would be nearly impossible. Such a coalition, once formed however, could change the House rules. Ryan seems far to wedded to ideology to be capable of that kind of forward thinking and bold leadership. This is unfortunate. In many ways he is, or could be, the most powerful person in Congress, or for that matter, in government. And for what?
His personality disorder precludes him being an effective leader of government bodies that vote. He can't help but act the way he does. The sooner we can rid ourselves of him the better.
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Fun fact: He's not a leader of a democratic government. He's leader of a republic government.
Come on...you remember that old pledge of allegiance we used to say in school? ...And to the REPUBLIC for which is stands...
Your absolutely correct. There are few democratic elements remaining in our Republic at the top end of the national level. Whereas, once upon a time, House members were elected more or less democratically, now only one body is democratically elected, the Senate. The Senate, however, has done what they can to counter with the filibuster what they must see as the pernicious effect of democracy. Sadly for him, Trump has to deal with vestigial elements of democracy in our Congress. Both the House and Senate vote on matters that come before them. That doesn't preclude Trump from ordering them around and threatening them, but it precludes his bullying having much effect.
Very true but if you are Speaker, don't you have to acknowledge that fact and adjust what you try to do to accommodate it?
Ryan is the Republican leader in the House majority... with a Republican president.
It's odd that Ryan opposes Trump as he does. Can't see how he can effectively be the Speaker. Ethically, he should resign.
It's odd that Ryan opposes Trump as he does. Can't see how he can effectively be the Speaker. Ethically, he should resign.
Don't take this personally because I suspect your opinions are formed from reading mainstream media. But you couldn't be more wrong. There is nothing brainsick about Trump. He is a highly successful businessman who decided at age 69 to run for president because he was appalled at what he saw happening to our country. He correctly identified the problems as immigration, both illegal and legal, and trade deals that had hollowed out our manufacturing base. He questioned a globalist consensus that involved the US paying a vastly disproportionate share of the costs of both military and economic arrangements. Voters, many of whom despised both parties, agreed with him.
I suspect you are german, and certainly the german establishment is horrified at Trump because Germany has been the major European beneficiary of a whole raft of policies he intends to change. Significant percentages of voters in France, the UK and other euro countries agree with him on major issues., although of course, as here, they are slandered by the media as racists, etc.
You are correct that elements of both parties here and of course the media would love to get rid of Trump. They are restrained because the republicans have to know it would be the end of their party if they did. The best thing they could look forward to is Trump voters refusing to ever vote for a republican again. The worst, and more likely outcome, I don't want to put into print.
Yes of course. And that requires extraordinary leadership skills. To get anything of real substance done the speaker is going to have to count votes and cobble together a consensus. He may have no choice but to work with the Democrats. There are enough reasonable Republicans and Democrats combined to move legislation forward. The choice is between remaining true to a minority ideology and get nothing done, or compromise, work across the isle, and accomplish a great deal. The first step is to take the Gingrich-Delay* playbook out and burn it. Invite the moderate Republicans and Democrats over for a weenie roast, then start serving cocktails in your office for all comers at 5pm, just like that old rascal Sam Rayburn did. Then serve notice to Trump that he might as well stop tweeting, he isn't going to get everything he promised. In fact he isn't going to get hardly anything he promised. But it shouldn't matter to him. He'll lie about it anyway, and his low information voters will cheer.
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*“I thought that this year, 2016, would be a year where God would bring us to a crossroads, where we would have a major debate on the direction of the country: whether we’re going to go to the left, more socialism, more dissolution of the government and the country, or are we going to turn it around and have it go towards God, God-centered constitutional republic,” -- Tom Delay
http://www.wnd.com/2016/12/tom-delay-finds-gods-plan-in-trumps-election/#ouktDhruoJWujps1.99
Sorry Tom, but God works in mysterious ways! Your Jesus friends' prayers were answered by God directing them to vote for a Godless jerk who amuses himself by grabbing the genitals of women he's just met .