#ncga: Let the jockeying begin!
Mike Hager’s chair is not even cold, but there are already at least two rear ends fighting to sit in it. The majority leader’s resignation became official today and all kinds of his Republican colleagues are feeling out their fellow Republicans about replacing him in leadership.
We’re less than three months away from the election. Some have argued that it is pointless to pick a new majority leader. Why not wait until the new people show up at the first of the year? (And while you’re at it, ensure that you STILL HAVE A MAJORITY.)
Sources tell me majority whip John Bell is already out campaigning for the majority leader post. Bell, who replaced the embattled, legally-challenged Stephen LaRoque in the Kinston-centered House seat, was seen as a breath of fresh air and a good-government crusader when he first entered the House. But critics point out that he quickly took to licking the boots of the ruling Moore-Lewis-Dollar troika. As majority whip, he’s been strangely silent on the many deviations from conservatism and ethics that have marked the House in the just-completed session.
A real wild card in this story is the entry of Rep, Mike Speciale (R-Craven) 
into the race. A former Marine and a rock-ribbed conservative, the elevation of Speciale to the leadership post would be a great morale boost to North Carolina conservatives disgusted with the antics of the NCGOPe thus far this election cycle. (Given the time-tested, proven, gutless nature of the majority within the House GOP caucus, I will not be holding my breath waiting for this to happen.)
Sources tell me to expect other names to get out there and test the waters. One name we might see is that of Rep. Jason Saine, the chairman of the House Finance Committee. He wanted the job bad last time around. Saine is quite the yes-man for the ruling Moore-Lewis-Dollar troika. They’d likely be pleased with either Bell or Saine.
If Bell goes through with this, it will create an opening in his current majority whip post — creating further opportunities for new blood in House Republican leadership.
things are getting a little murky. it’s time to let the people know who are the real concretizes and who are not including judges.
Michael Speciale would be great. Breath of Truth!
Mike Speciale is a principled conservative, but knows how to play the game in Raleigh to get the most for the cause. He would be ideal for this position. He will not sell out on principle but he knows when to keep his powder dry.
I want to see Speciale run for Walter Jones seat in the US House when Walter retires. Mike Speciale and Walter Jones are both the type of leaders who make you proud to be a Republican.
I like and respect them both but have to pull for Rep. Speciale. He is exactly what NC needs.
If the party is worth 5 cents it will be Speciale. But, is the party worth 5 cents?
Their Civitas rating numbers speak volumes on who represents us on the issues:
2016 short session
Speciale – 100, tied for 1st place
Bell – 83.7, tied for 12th place
Saine – 57.1, tied for 65th place
2015 regular session
Speciale – 85.2, 2nd place
Bell – 67.9, tied for 35th place
Saine – 64.3, tied for 48th place
2014 short session
Speciale – 85.7, 4th place
Bell – 64.3, tied for 32nd place
Saine – 64.3, tied for 32nd place
One would hope that the caucus would let conservatives have one representative among leadership.
You people are smoking some of that legalized hemp if you honestly believe Speciale gets more than 5 votes for majority leader.
If you are right then the House GOP has gone to the dogs worse than I thought. Now, the Senate has got some really decent leadership, but Tillis and Moore have reminded me more of Basnight, Black, and Morgan than of what I think of as a real Republican.
Speciale is a man of principle, like Hager was, that is so different from the rest of the House leadership. It seems like with Hager gone the Republican base will have no voice in the House GOP leadership unless we get someone like Speciale elected to replace him. Bell and Saine certainly are not it. We have a House GOP leadership that is totally out of touch with the party base.
Millis or Blust would also be good choices.
John Bell and Jason Saine are both progressive Republicans who love Polar Bears and support President Obama’s green energy agenda. The are both owned, lock, stock, and barrel by our hard core environmentalist movement. Either one would be wonderful in this position. Until now, the Majority Leader has been the only leadership positions that our Polar Bear loving progressive Republicans have not yet occupied. It is time we got it, too, and we are happy with either Bell or Saine. President Obama will be pleased.
Rep. John Bell is a good guy. He has the right principles and has stood on the right side of the issues when the calling occurs. I think he is at least fair and would be receptive to the conservative wing of the house caucus. I would not be disappointed if either of these men get the position.
Those Civitas ratings do not show Bell to be a dependable conservative, especially the 2015 session which is more representative since it involves a lot more votes. Indeed, his voting record is not a whole lot different than Saine, both of which are considerably to the left of Speciale. Of particular concern are the special interest renewable energy votes where he does seem to be voting with the special interests and against the interests of NC electric ratepayers and NC taxpayers, as well as against the position of the NC Republican platform.
There is a second area of concern about Bell’s connections with the environmentalist left besides his support of the Big Solar cabal. That is his connection with the CCA, an environmentalist group that wants to regulate our commercial fishing industry out of existance. Not only does Bell attend their events like their banquets, but the Executive Director and the Vice President of the CCA are both personal contributors to Bell’s campaign (and they don’t give to that many campaigns), and so is one of their allied environmentalist groups from out of state.
Commercial fishermen have been very active in the GOP in our coastal counties for decades, even back when it was not cool to be a Republican. Electing someone who is tight with the radical CCA is a major affront to them. Being for the CCA means being an enemy of the commercial fishing industry. I have no connection with that industry myself, but have known many connected with it who have been major workers and contributors to the GOP.