# Next Senate Majority Leader and Speaker of the House **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 10, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600 "2010-06-10T01:13:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/21 "2010-06-11T00:45:51Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > The smart money is on Reid and Pelosi. I don’t know about the smart money, but it’s certainly the way I’d bet. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/22 "2010-06-11T01:18:14Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Banning alcohol woudl be a horrible idea, but I don’t see how it would be a massive increase in government power. The government is allowed to ban things and it’s banned plenty of other things. A Constitutional amendment would be required and blah blah blah. A amendment would not be required. The 21st amendment merely repealed the 18th. Line 2 specifically allows for dry states: “The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.” Dry states continued to exist for 50 years or more, and some are still semi-dry. In addition to that, the amendment in no way prohibits the feds from including alcohol in the list of things the government is allowed to ban by law. Marijuana, cocaine, tobacco, alcohol–it’s all political. It was, in fact, a political calculus by the dry faction that selected a constitutional amendment vs. federal law during the nation’s momentary lapse of reason. They thought that an amendment would have greater durability than law. They were right, but not by much. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/23 "2010-06-11T01:24:56Z")
I actually wouldn’t be surprised if Reid gets replaced as Majority Leader even if he does win reelection. I’m not going to go far enough out on the limb to say he will, but his leadership hasn’t been very effective and I think there are a lot of democrats who want him gone. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/24 "2010-06-11T01:29:08Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I actually wouldn’t be surprised if Reid gets replaced as Majority Leader even if he does win reelection. I’m not going to go far enough out on the limb to say he will, but his leadership hasn’t been very effective and I think there are a lot of democrats who want him gone. I think Reid’s been pretty effective; his one lapse was giving Baucus too much time last summer to win over guys like Grassley and Enzi on health care. But unlike Pelosi, who could afford to lose a few dozen votes on any given issue, Reid’s had to keep every single Dem senator on board to pass anything. And he’s done that surprisingly often. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/25 "2010-06-11T01:47:36Z")
I don’t think Reid has done all that well - in fact it might be a plus for the Dems in some ways if he loses - but the Senate being what it is, I don’t think he would be replaced. They have too much respect for seniority. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/26 "2010-06-14T17:16:51Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Well, she’s got a host of nutty positions and statements that are going to take some piss out of her campaign pretty quickly. > > She wants to get rid of Social Security and Medicare, for instance, and in a state which derives a large amount of its income from the hospitality industry, saying she thinks alcohol should be illegal will not go over well, either. > > And there’s also that Scientology thing, and that bizarre statement about doing laundry and cleaning bathroom is “work that Americans won’t do.” It gets a lot worse than that. [She opposes fluoridation of public water](http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/09/sharron_angle_cavity_creep). In 2010. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/27 "2010-06-15T20:19:06Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I actually wouldn’t be surprised if Reid gets replaced as Majority Leader even if he does win reelection. I’m not going to go far enough out on the limb to say he will, but his leadership hasn’t been very effective and I think there are a lot of democrats who want him gone. Count me among them. He’s a political klutz - twice he voted “no” on the healthcare reform bill when he meant to vote “yes.” Twice! Keeps saying dumb things, too - almost as bad as Biden. Needlessly partisan, even when it’s self-defeating, and doesn’t have a handle on his own caucus. Seems to me he’s his own worst enemy. I’d bet that Schumer will become Senate majority leader even if Reid hangs onto his seat in Nevada. I’m also confident that Pelosi will remain as Speaker. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/28 "2010-06-15T21:05:06Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Count me among them. He’s a political klutz - twice he voted “no” on the healthcare reform bill when he meant to vote “yes.” Twice! The Majority Leader will often switch his vote so he votes with the prevailing side on a close vote. That allows him to make a motion to reconsider the vote sometime later, when he’s whipped up the votes. This is a standard parliamentary tactic, not indicative of being a klutz. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby\_Slippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/94ad74/32.png) [@Ruby\_Slippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby_Slippers)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/29 "2010-06-18T15:19:38Z")
Is everyone just assuming that Boehner will be re-elected? I live in his district and we actually have a credible candidate running against him – Justin Coussoule. He’s a first-timer, an unknown, and I’m sure he’s underfunded, but he looks like he could do a good job if he could just get his case (and name and face) out there. [Coussoule for Congress](http://www.coussouleforcongress.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/30 "2010-06-18T16:36:01Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The Majority Leader will often switch his vote so he votes with the prevailing side on a close vote. That allows him to make a motion to reconsider the vote sometime later, when he’s whipped up the votes. This is a standard parliamentary tactic, not indicative of being a klutz. Except, of course, when it is: [Reid casts wrong vote on health care for second time - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/26/reid.vote.gaffe/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Zephyurs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/dfb087/32.png) [@Zephyurs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zephyurs)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/31 "2010-06-19T03:21:28Z")
_Sigh_ And to think Democrats had a chance to get rid of Harry Reid… of all the races for Republicans to blow, why’d it have to be this one? Subtraction by addition. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/32 "2010-07-26T16:40:56Z")
> [@Ruby\_Slippers](#): > > Is everyone just assuming that Boehner will be re-elected? I live in his district and we actually have a credible candidate running against him – Justin Coussoule. He’s a first-timer, an unknown, and I’m sure he’s underfunded, but he looks like he could do a good job if he could just get his case (and name and face) out there. > > [Coussoule for Congress](http://www.coussouleforcongress.com/) His bio reads like he’s an ideal American political candidate, grown in a vat. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/33 "2010-07-26T17:59:06Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > [@Ruby\_Slippers](#): > > > > Is everyone just assuming that Boehner will be re-elected? I live in his district and we actually have a credible candidate running against him – Justin Coussoule. He’s a first-timer, an unknown, and I’m sure he’s underfunded, but he looks like he could do a good job if he could just get his case (and name and face) out there. > > > > [Coussoule for Congress](http://www.coussouleforcongress.com/) > > His bio reads like he’s an ideal American political candidate, grown in a vat. :eek: Well, except for his connection with the Satanists of Proctor & Gamble . . . ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/34 "2010-07-26T19:43:41Z")
Interestingly, he doesn’t appear to mention his party affiliation at all on his official site. Is “Democrat” that dangerous a word in his district? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/35 "2010-07-26T20:15:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Interestingly, he doesn’t appear to mention his party affiliation at all on his official site. Is “Democrat” that dangerous a word in his district? Well, duh. It’s a district that has regularly reelected John Boehner, after all. ETA: Woohoo! 22,000 posts! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/36 "2010-07-26T20:37:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Interestingly, he doesn’t appear to mention his party affiliation at all on his official site. Is “Democrat” that dangerous a word in his district? [His district](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio%27s_8th_congressional_district) hasn’t elected a Democratic (or non-Republican, for that matter) Congressman since 1933. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/37 "2010-07-26T21:54:37Z")
I have to wonder: If a district is so heavily slanted against a party that members of that party don’t even mention it, is there any real chance of said members winning? I mean, the party affiliation is still going to show up on the ballot, which (it seems to me) would be the most important place. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/38 "2010-07-26T23:40:52Z")
As a challenger from the minority party in that congressional district, you can always hope that the entrenched incumbent either dies or has a terrible scandal late in the campaign but insists on remaining on the ballot, such that disgusted voters go for you. But you’ll have a helluva time hanging onto the seat two years later, when (as almost invariably happens) the majority party runs a much stronger candidate against you. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/39 "2010-07-27T05:32:31Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Tea Partyista Sharron Angle > **[Sharron Angle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharron_Angle#Positions)** > > Sharron Elaine Angle (née Ott; born July 26, 1949) is an American politician and perennial candidate who served as a Republican member of the Nevada Assembly from 1999 to 2007. She ran unsuccessfully as the 2010 Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in Nevada, garnering 44.6 percent of the vote. On September 15, 2013, she was unanimously elected the fifth President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies, and resigned in 2016 to run again for the Nevada U.S. Senator position In... Good god, the woman is a cartoon character. A plague on Nevada if they elect this ignorant animal. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600/40 "2010-11-11T03:32:21Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > The smart money is on Reid and Pelosi. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Pelosi isn’t going anywhere, and neither House is in danger of changing parties. Reid could lose (though his chances are better now that the Republicans nominated a complete nutbag to run against him). Schumer is rumored to be the most likely successor if that happens, followed by Durbin. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He would be only if the Republicans won the majority, which is unlikely. > [@RTFirefly](#): > > I don’t know about the smart money, but it’s certainly the way I’d bet. > [@Ruby\_Slippers](#): > > Is everyone just assuming that Boehner will be re-elected? I live in his district and we actually have a credible candidate running against him – Justin Coussoule. He’s a first-timer, an unknown, and I’m sure he’s underfunded, but he looks like he could do a good job if he could just get his case (and name and face) out there. > > [Coussoule for Congress](http://www.coussouleforcongress.com/) So now what? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-senate-majority-leader-and-speaker-of-the-house/542600.md?page=3)