This is what's called "thinking outside the box." Would be nice if someone actually did it.
Whether Hoyer or Murtha becomes Majority Leader, the Democrats will begin their reign with very hard feelings and a divided Caucus.
In the spirit of engendering bipartisanship, I have an idea. Actually, this is someone else's idea, but I promised I wouldn't tell who it was.
Assume the GOP ends up with 203-or so-seats when all the recounts are over. And say all 203 of those Republican Members of the House were to tell Steny Hoyer that they feel his pain over the Pelosi/Murtha thing and they have decided to vote for him for Speaker.
If Hoyer went into the election for Speaker with 203 GOP votes, he would only need to find 15 Democrats who don't like or trust Pelosi (not exactly a stretch) to get to the magic number of 218 - an absolute majority of the 435 Members - and Mrs. Pelosi would be a very important member of the House Appropriations Committee. Period.
Republicans could look the Popular Press squarely in the eye and say: "What higher level of bipartisanship can there be than crossing over the aisle to vote for the other party?"
Quick! Call Time Magazine and tell them to hold off on that "Person of the Year" cover for Nancy Pelosi.
Please please please please please do this! |