From the Political Desk

In its first act as a Democrat-controlled chamber in 12 years, yesterday's balloting for the speakership of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives pitted... two Republicans against each other.

It gets better: the two were Philadelphia Republicans -- a truly rare species.

If anyone's shocked, remember that we're talking about Pennsylvania -- the it's-an-aberration-when-the-truly-bizarre-doesn't-happen state.

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