David Freddoso - washingtonexaminer.com
The House freshman Republican cohort of 2011 is like a class in a large high school -- full of straight arrows bad boys and big mouths. Here are some of the high-profile personalities:
Most likely to succeed: South Dakotas Kristi Noem could easily be best looking or given campaign revelations about her many speeding tickets worst driver. But neither would be adequate for this mother of three who came from behind to win a primary then raised over a million dollars in a single quarter -- in South Dakota mind you -- to defeat a well-liked Democrat incumbent. GOP leaders chose Noem to deliver the Republican response to President Obamas radio address last month and for once people actually watched it. She will move quickly up the leadership ranks unless she prefers to run for Senate in 2014.
Most likely to be expelled: Meet the bad boy of the 2010 GOP freshman class David Rivera of Florida. A magnet for bizarre accusations he is already under investigation by Miami-Dade prosecutors for a $500000 contract he negotiated and helped carry out for his godmothers marketing firm. He claims he received no money for it. Rivera created tremendous ambiguity over his personal income and work history during the campaign that has never been clarified. At one point he claimed to have worked for USAID which the agency denied.
As frosh fill back benches new leaders take over
Just as fresh blood is reinvigorating the House GOP rank and file there will be new energy in the leadership too.Even though Republicans were out of power for just four years the old GOP committee chairmen havent come back to reclaim their old spots; nearly all the lawmakers who are taking over committees have never held the chairmans gavel before. Read More
On the Friday before the primary election in 2002 Riveras car collided with a truck carrying last-minute campaign mailers for his opponents campaign for state representative. According to the news stories it happened 10 minutes before the post office deadline for mailings. Whoops! Rivera won the primary by 238 votes.
Most likely to run statewide: Living the GOP dream Jaime Herrera of Washington has gone from state legislative intern to White House intern to Hill staffer to state legislator to member of Congress in less than a decade. She is attractive thoroughly inoffensive and just conservative enough to win a statewide primary. The Hispanic surname doesnt hurt either. After Dino Rossis three strikes theres no surplus of Republicans eager to run statewide.
Most independent: Idahos Raul Labrador is a true conservative with brains legislative skills and one of the safest Republican congressional seats in America. Whats more he owes nothing at all to his partys leaders except payback. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor vigorously backed Labradors abysmal gaffe-prone primary opponent who went down even after a visit from Sarah Palin. After Labrador won the nomination the National Republican Congressional Committee essentially washed its hands of the race. Even the Tea Party Express endorsed the Democratic incumbent. Labrador still won by 10 points despite being outspent 4-to-1.
As a state representative Labrador was a small but painful thorn in the side of Republican Gov. Butch Otter helping to defeat both his proposed gas tax increase and his candidate for state party chairman. If Boehner and company fail to steer a straight path expect to hear a lot from Idahos most famous Puerto Rican.
Most unlucky: Retired Army Sgt. Jeff Landry of Louisiana seems like a good reinforcement for the four Army non-coms leaving the House but he won a district whose population took a huge hit from Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana is losing a seat in Congress and Landry is the logical odd man out. He has the least seniority he is an outsider and he lives in a town that legislators could conceivably draw into any of three different congressional districts.
Most likely to put a bullet in the ceiling of the House chamber: A retired lieutenant colonel in the Army Allen West of Florida is a bomb throwers bomb thrower who wont have to be asked to make his mind known. For example on his vanquished opponent: I think hes a terrible person. ... No respect for this guy. (But tell us what you really think!)
West served in Iraq with distinction winning a Bronze Star but was drummed out for firing a gun to intimidate a prisoner under interrogation. A principled conservative he is a gifted and charismatic orator who frequently fails to watch his tongue and who made some unfortunate early staff choices after winning his election. Expect him to give stemwinders about tyranny in Washington and the importance of national defense spending.
Honorable Mentions:
Youngest: Michigans Justin Amash
Oldest: Pennsylvanias Mike Kelly
Best vocalist: Tennessees Stephen Fincher
Best campaign: Illinois Bobby Schilling
Worst ads in a successful campaign: Arizonas Ben Quayle
Hardest to pronounce: Minnesotas Chip Cravaack
Most likely to brandish an ax on the House floor: Wisconsins Sean Duffy
David Freddoso is The Examiners online opinion editor. He can be reached at dfreddoso@washingtonexaminer.com.
