EDITORIAL: Zinke's surprising bid for speaker

For Montanans, the race for speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives just got a lot more interesting.

Not that it wasn’t interesting already. When John Boehner had his vision on the road to K Street and suddenly announced his resignation as speaker, the D.C. establishment was thrown for a loop. The heir apparent, Kevin McCarthy of California, pulled out of the running just as mysteriously a few days later, perhaps for reasons never to be known.

In the week since, several candidates have emerged, but now everyone is waiting on the decision of Rep. Paul Ryan, who is seen as someone who can build a bridge between the establishment and conservative wings of the GOP. Only problem is Ryan has already said he doesn’t want the job, and he probably would be chewed up and spit out if he took the job.

Which brings us to the announcement by Rep. Ryan Zinke, Montana’s lone congressman, that he is entertaining the possibility of becoming the first freshman member of the House to be elected speaker since 1860.

Zinke, a former football star at Whitefish High School and a much decorated Navy SEAL who also served Whitefish as a state legislator, is no doubt a long shot, but don’t write him off just yet.

If Paul Ryan opts to remain the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, then there will be no legitimate favorite for Boehner’s thankless job. Zinke’s formidable leadership skills could serve him well as he lobbies his colleagues for votes. It is also important to note that while Zinke is in large measure a mainstream Republican, he speaks the language of conservatives as well as anyone.

He has challenged President Obama directly and repeatedly, and as he says now, “I think America wants something different. I haven’t decided (on running for speaker), but what I have decided is that Congress better do our duty and defend our values of this country.”

That kind of talk may serve Zinke well in a time of transition, and we would not be surprised if his House colleagues give him a long hard look as someone who could challenge the status quo and bring about real change instead of just talking about it.