A Question About House Speaker Election

[SeanOhio]

I'm confident the Democrats will regain the House this fall. My only worry is if the victory is thin . . . would this affect Mrs Pelosi in her election to the speakership?

Last time, four Democrats declined to vote for her. If the different between the majority and the minority is small, could she not win the speakership if fellow Democrats fail to support her?

Hopefully the margin will be much greater and this won't be an issue! I'm just wondering if any of you think this is a possibility.

Here's an article from the SF Gate that sums up what happened last time:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/01/07/national1423EST0674.DTL

[kentuck]

1. she may be challenged but if she still has the majority...

Most Democrats will fall in line and support her nomination for Speaker.

[carpetbagger]

2. It could, but probably won't.

Ralph Hall is now a republican.
Charlie Stenholm might not win election to his new and gerrymandered district, and if he does, I think it might be enough of a mandate against the house leadership for him to vote for Pelosi. I think he, Taylor, or Lucas could be convinced by other centrists asking them in public to support Pelosi.

So maybe if it's one or two votes, we'll get a different speaker, but the numbers aren't great.

[Rowdyboy]

3. There's been some talk about Steny Hoyer running against Pelosi

for Speaker, should Dems take back the house. Should he win, those four reluctant "Democrats" would probably vote for him.

[genius]

4. I hope someone better gets the Speakership.

She voted for Homeland Security and the reprimanded Jim McDermott for leaving the words "under God" out of the Pledge.

I would like to see Kuicnich, McDermott, Waters or Lee as speaker.