Dreier would be a strange choice, considering the Tom Foley smear

[BurtWorm]

Remember that one? Orchestrated by the Newties?

[charlie]

1. The one brought to a screeching halt

by Barney Frank, who Joe McCarthy style claimed a list of "known homosexuals" in the top Republican ranks? That one? Frank later revealed he was bullshitting, bless his wickedly clever heart :)

[BurtWorm]

2. It didn't screech fast enough to save Foley's seat.

I'm thinking a Republican would actually be more likely to pull a Foley on Dreier (not a FL Foley ;) ), if he wants to slit Dreier's throat for being insufficiently red state.

[charlie]

3. Could happen

They've got a comfortable enough margin to indulge in a little cannibalism, it'll be hard to resist.

As for Foley's seat... I was watching the returns on election night and there was a poll that discovered that most of the respondents thought whoever won the seat also won the speakership. That's bugged me for a long time. I wonder if a bit of Civics 101 education before the vote wouldn't have made a difference?

Edit: spelling