…who would you pick to take the job?
Barack Obama.
Michelle Obama, because she was smart enough not to run for President.
I thought this was the perfect answer. Then I saw this.
Can former presidents hold office again?
There are debates about whether or not a person who has already served two terms can serve again as POTUS if they aren’t elected to the position. That was one of the theories previously floated around about how Trump could be maneuvered into serving a third term. So, maybe.
But I just think he’d do a great job leading the Democrats in the House, I wasn’t even considering this as a back-door way for him to become POTUS again.
Sure. John Quincy Adams was in the House for a long time after leaving office.
There’s no bar. Most don’t wish to, however.
Other offices other than POTUS? Sure.
Sure. John Quincy Adams was a US Rep after being president. And there’s no prohibition to those ineligible to be President to serving in a line of succession office.
I can’t see either of the Obamas having any desire to take on that position.
I think Stacey Abrams would be an excellent pick.
Taft was Chief Justice after he was President.
Obama can be Speaker. The Presidential Succession Act sets about a line of succession but it does state that the line only consists of people who would qualify for the office. So, at least under the terms of that Act, he couldn’t serve as President again.
That’s a separate question from whether he’d want to or if the House would do that. It would be the first time a non-Rep was selected, which would be a hard sell to a lot of Dems as well.
The question isn’t “Who would take the job?” or “Who would have the best chance at taking the job?”.
It is “Who would you want to take the job?”
Hillary Clinton, because I think she’d piss off Trump more than either Obama.
Michelle would be my first pick. Second pick might be Mayor Pete.
Well, in that case, probably a 20 years younger Nancy Pelosi. She’s not a perfect individual, but she probably is the best Speaker we’ve had over the last ~30 years and possibly longer.
The position isn’t President. It’s not about somebody inspirational. That’s for the public. The actual job is Cat Herder in Chief. Putting together a legislative and investigative agenda and getting the caucus on board with all the different wings and interest groups to get both mundane and important bills through, especially in a polarized environment is a tough as hell job. And that’s not either of the Obamas or Pete Buttigieg. A Hillary Clinton might be able to do it but her best years are behind her as well. Basically, the knife fighter in the shadows, not the target standing in front
But if we’re talking about somebody right now and not as they were decades ago, I don’t know if anybody is a great pick. Whoever the caucus selects is by default the best one for the job - getting them to agree on anything, even the selection of Speaker, is a major first step.
Listening to Rachel Madow interviewed by Jon Stewart last night made me think she’d be a great Speaker.
But, to be honest, I’d rather it remain a member of Congress. If we had to pick someone from the outside, let’s go with Rachel Madow or Mayor Pete.
Not anybody in history, please. No time travel and (do I really have to say this?) no fictional characters.
That would, IMHO, be a major drawback. As it stands, Hakeem Jeffries will be 2nd in line to be POTUS, and the only Democrat on the list. Should Trump do something extremely reckless*, to the point that even Republicans in the Senate would be on board with removing him, having Jeffries (or some other Democrat eligible to be POTUS) is important.
*. Something like, say, deciding to nuke Iran.
Hakeem Jeffries. You may not have to be a house member, but I think it helps.
It helps a lot.
The job requires an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the challenges and difficulties facing each and every House member of your own party and an ability to inspire compromise among them. Sometimes very painful and difficult compromise. Keeping such a disparate group all swimming in the same direction is a skill hard won with time and experience. That’s what Pelosi had.
Jeffries is her chosen successor. she spent a lot of time teaching him how it’s done.
Jeffries is my choice for this reason. And it’s why I believe he will be the next Speaker – wishes expressed in this thread notwithstanding.
If it must be someone not currently in the House, then I guess flip a coin. Maybe my former House representative, Peter DeFazio. He may be old, but he knows his onions.