Trouble is we do not have Prime Minister.
Ryan says he will not campaign without support from the 40 Republican extremists: “If I can truly be a unifying figure, then I will gladly serve,” “And if I am not unifying, that will be fine as well. I’ll be happy to stay where I am.”
My take: Ryan will only run if he can also be the prime minister. Trouble is, our House is not a parliament. In parliamentary systems, the government is led by the Prime Minster. If he or she fails to have the votes of a majority an election must be held. But we are not a parliamentary system.
The US Constitution makes NO mention of political parties. Indeed one argument made back then was that the combination of an elected President and an elected legislature meant that the legilslature did not need parties since The President was independent of any party.
So why can’t the House just vote for a speaker? Why should the speaker represent the majority of Republicans rather than the majority of the …err ahh Representatives?