‘Young Guns’ step up to leadership
“We are going to win. Take it to the bank.” These were the words of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi just a few weeks ago.
What a difference a few weeks make. Now, the woman who was celebrated as the first female speaker in history will soon be the first former female speaker. Taking over for Pelosi and her leadership team will be a group of conservative Republicans dubbed the “Young Guns.”
But “young” is a relative term. The men who are likely to take over key leadership roles in the House are seasoned political operatives, beginning with John Boehner, the man who is likely to take over as speaker. Here’s a quick run-down of some of the likely new leaders of the House:
John Boehner (Ohio-8) will likely become speaker of the House. As speaker, he will appoint members to the Rules Committee. Boehner has solid conservative credentials that go back to the 1994 “Republican Revolution”: He worked with Newt Gingrich to help draft the Contract with America. But Boehner has used his experience to nurture protégés—the so-called Young Guns of the Republican Party. So he has the support of both the old guard in the Republican House as well as younger members who are more closely aligned with the Tea Party movement.
Eric Cantor (Va.-7) will likely become Majority Leader, with power second only to the speaker. (He’s been minority whip since 2008.) He co-founded the Young Guns and really is one of the younger members of the House at age 47. Cantor is solidly conservative on both social and economic issues. He is in favor of making the Bush tax cuts permanent and wants to repeal Obamacare. He’s the only Jewish Republican in the House of Representatives.
Kevin McCarthy (Calif.-22), another co-founder of the Young Guns, is expected to be the majority whip, whose job it will be to count votes and maintain vote discipline. McCarthy has been in the House only since 2007 but has been a protégé of Boehner’s. In 2008, Boehner asked him to serve as chairman of the Republican Platform Committee, and that group produced the party platform for 2008. McCarthy also has a perfect 100 percent rating from the American Conservative Union.
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back to top12 Comments to “‘Young Guns’ step up to leadership”
“We are going to win. Take it to the bank.” These were the words of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi just a few weeks ago.
I’d like to frame that. Isn’t it beautiful?
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It’s time, now, that those in office give America what they are asking for–sound policy that puts the American dream in its rightful place and is exemplary of the heritage from which we came. Can we be the “One Nation Under God” that those words were coined to reflect? god have mercy on us.
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That’s God with a big G. Sorry.
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“But ‘young’ is a relative term.”
Nevertheless, it’s good to see some of the old guard moving aside to make room for younger (relatively speaking) men.
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We accept your typo. And your sentiments!
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Nancy Pelosi obviously banks at the same bank as many of the Democrats do, a bankrupt one.
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Sounds like we could have some good solid leadership for a change in the Republican Party.
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http://reason.com/blog/2010/11/03/reasontv-3-reasons-this-electi
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NJLawyer, did Anna Little win in Joysey?
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Buddyglass,
I hope that link is just liberal hoping. If this House digs in their heals it might be able to slow the spending.
Their take on social issues sounds libertarian. Social issues from a conservative point of view is about right moral choices and how wrong choices hurt many more than the libertine who wants to do whatever he wants. For instance, the breakdown of marriages and absence of marriages is responsible for a lot of the poverty (single moms with children) which affects both the mom and dad but also the kids and the society who must take up the slack or pay for the increased crime that comes out of these circumstances. Part of government’s responsibility is to limit our liberty when those poor choices so negatively affects so many others. Government regulations that effectively protect these innocent victims is good for our society as a whole.
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Reason Magazine is one of the most well-known libertarian publications, so yeah they’re coming at it from a libertarian viewpoint. I expect Gillespie would be highly amused to hear you describe the piece as “liberal hoping” though. You can trust that he’s no fan of Obama.
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maybe it’s just skepticism. I’m hoping the Republicans learned their lesson last time.
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