8 Comments

I believe that the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives does not have to be a member of the House. Is that correct?

Expand full comment

Wikipedia sez:: "The Constitution does not explicitly require the speaker to be an incumbent member of the House of Representatives, although every speaker thus far has been, and as a member the speaker also represents their district and retains the right to vote." Do you have someone in mind?

Expand full comment
author

You may recall that during the recent unpleasantness with Kevin McCarthy, who was found unworthy of the office by the most sordid collection of poltroons, hucksters and madwomen ever assembled in American politics, that some of them even proposed that Donald Trump, who had fomented an insurrection that desecrated the very halls of the Capitol Building, be installed as Speaker. While neither Constitution nor statute would have prohibited that, a rare sanity descended over the institution and the suggestion came to naught.

Expand full comment

My favorite parts:

"And the state GOP are all crazy."

and

I LOL'd at this line about Morrow, after pointing out his bat-shit craziness:

"He was, in other words, ahead of his time"

Expand full comment
founding

Having been a volunteer legislative advocate in the 70th session, I was working with people who knew what they were doing to represent the American Lung Assn., American Heart Assn., and American Cancer Society, I look back on the members, House and Senate, with increasing respect and admiration, especially in comparison with many of the current occupants.

Expand full comment
author

The Texas Legislature has grown much more reactionary in recent years — take, for instance, the pitiable state of school finance and teacher pay — but it stands head and shoulders above the Congress for its ability to organize itself and do its job.

Expand full comment

" He was, in other words, ahead of his time: a Trumpian farce..." Got my first good laugh this morning, and all before turning on the TV for the Sunday parade of news shows. Many thanks.

Expand full comment

Well done!

Expand full comment