islander wrote:

Really, though, I wonder what the process is. If Steny Hoyer ran, he might peel off 10 GOP votes. 

 islander wrote:
Our next speaker will prove once and for all...government doesn't work!  (posted by DJT himself).

Matt Gaetz is fundraising by proving that nothing in DC works.

 ScottFromWyoming wrote:

Cruel Country.

Edit:  And true. There are a lot of solutions to the problem. But they need to originate from those in control of the situation. If your goal is to govern it should be obvious. If your goal is to prove that governance doesn't work, what is your incentive to show that it can?

 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
I hear Liz Cheney has some free time.

 islander wrote:

NB: the Speaker doesn't have to be from the majority party. Doesn't even have to be a member of Congress. I say nominate Jeff Tweedy.

 miamizsun wrote:

Easier to work with him?  He broke many promises / commitments he had made to Democrats already, why would they trust him more going forward?  Also, let's check the list:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/07/us/elections/electoral-college-biden-objectors.html , yep he's there. He voted to overturn an election. He has no place running a government he doesn't respect.  Honestly, it's about time the Democrats don't step in and save the Republicans from their own mess because 'it's the right thing'... They voted for Jeffries, why isn't the conversation about why zero Republican senators didn't break ranks and vote for the adult on the ballot. I think there are 10 or so Republican senators who are in districts that voted for Biden, who are they representing?

 miamizsun wrote:
Not with Scalese and Jordan as the current nominees.

More and more you hear that McCarthy was managing meeting to meeting...making promise after promise that he wouldn't (and couldn't) keep.  He came to "power" that way, and juggled as long as possible.

So now you have a Republican party that may never agree on someone, and anyone who might consider the job as more than a pulpit wouldn't really want to do so given the rules package approved for this congress.  This could be ugly.

What's interesting... is the thought that maybe the Dems can negotiate with enough of the "Biden district" Republicans to pick the next speaker.  As we inch closer to next year, these folks are already starting to raise money and organize for 2024.  Many of them (there are I believe 18 of them... elected R in 2022 in a district Biden won in 2020) are at risk given the dysfunction of the party, and might consider working with the Dems to seat someone and move on.  They would become the "power" on the Republican side, and make Gaetz and the MAGA wing pointless.    Major long shot, but something's gonna have to give.

 haresfur wrote:
i can agree with this
of course if we sat down over a couple of beers we could come up with a list of reasons of why he had it coming
because ___________
but at the end of the day it would probably be easier to work with him 
is the gop is going through a bit of an exorcism?
what does your magic 8 ball say?

I believe McCarthy has said he will not run again. 

Perhaps Matt Gaetz wants the Speakership. It doesn't really matter because things are going to slide into full-blown farce now. 

 haresfur wrote:
It's a vote.  The Republicans have more of them by a small majority (a handful.. +/- a few). 

It's possible that the Dems could cut a deal and grab enough votes to win...but it's very unlikely.  

 rgio wrote:

Fair enough. Make it clear that the support is contingent on Ukraine funding and funding the government through the rest of the year.

Btw, can the democrats put in a motion to oust the speaker or does it have to be a republican?

 rgio wrote: 
Or we could talk about how pulling that fire alarm was a real act of insurrection.

 haresfur wrote:
Or you wait for him to be nominated again...and cut a deal when he's humiliated and weaker (if that's actually possible).

I think that the Democrats should have voted for McCarthy as speaker. First, if the idea is that the government should first and foremost govern, then that is the best path forward. The upheaval and delays play into the hands of the right-wing. Second, it is the only chance of getting Ukraine aid passed and McCarthy would owe them one. Third, Gaetz would have bust an artery.

 kurtster wrote:
If that happened, we'd have to talk about the Trump gag order... and the election interference, First Amendment BS is just so tired.

 Steely_D wrote: 
Yeah?  Why dontcha go pull a fire alarm ? 

 Steely_D wrote:
Is it possible that Gaetz could be any less likable?   Oh... never mind...he could be Jim Jordan.

Totally digging the drama of this voting in the house. Singing “Exhuming McCarthy” to myself.

 haresfur wrote:
A Mafia trope is “you may not be scared of us, but maybe you don’t want something to happen your wife and kid, eh tough guy?”
This is exactly what’s happening as the Trump machine goes after Hunter.

And so, exactly what is the holdup of going after the obvious nepotism that Ivanka and Jared were part of? Weird that they’re not being held to any responsibility. And, if a hidden agenda of the anti-Trump league is to bankrupt him, then besides trying up all his assets in court cases, they should simultaneously be bringing appropriate lawsuits against the others in the family. Do it all at once.

 haresfur wrote:
a BIG IF