# Concerning the McCarthy concessions to become House Speaker **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 6, 2023, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794 "2023-01-06T18:32:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/101 "2023-01-08T08:57:15Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I think that’s why they caved relatively quickly last time. Stopping Veterans’ and Disability Benefits hurt “the wrong people”. Hell closing National Parks inconvenienced and to some degrees harmed “the wrong people” too. And the goal - slashing Social Security and Medicare? Would also be hurting “us” more than “them”. Because the bar that tolerates “political” craziness has surely lowered just in these last four/six years, alone - with the quite accelerated advent of Gates, MTG, Boebert, Gosar, and those likes - I’m convinced that that same electorate who voted in those attention-starved toddlers have become substantially more normalized, with this lowered bar, to whatever face-meets-leopard-fest that will surely ensue with all the wrench-in-the-machine fuck-up-ery the GOP, as a whole, will unleash in the coming two years. The GOP know, full well, that they will be the source of the upcoming chaos, making it incumbent upon them to spin, to gin up, harder than ever (in concert with the you-know-who “news source”), to hammer home to said electorate that it is, somehow (don’t ask me to get into GOP/Fox minds what they’ll come up with) the Demon-crats being at fault, and I fear the GQP will be successful in not losing any of those votes in '24 due to the electorate becoming more normalized to this lower bar of political “representation”. 🤢 G-D I hope to end up to be so completely wrong on this speculation. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/102 "2023-01-08T13:10:39Z")
This one person to force a vote thing has me confused. Why the sticking point? If they really wanted to kick him out they would surely have more than one person demanding a vote. Why even bother unless you’re confident that you have enough votes to actually oust him? Are there that many who would vote to oust but not sign on to the initial demand for a vote? Is it a fear of signing on to the call for a vote, losing the vote and then having the Speaker as an enemy? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/103 "2023-01-08T13:30:12Z")
I have a (possibly dumb) idea-would everyone have had the same issues as McCarthy? If Lou Ffnorb had been trying to become Speaker, would he have had to appease the HMC as well? Or was this whole thing unique to McCarthy? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/104 "2023-01-08T14:23:18Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Or was this whole thing unique to McCarthy? Not really as unique as ironic. McCarthy was one of the architects of the strategies that allows a handful of bomb throwers to highjack the process. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/105 "2023-01-08T20:10:38Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > Can someone explain to me why the Dems didn’t strike a deal with McCarthy rather than have him end up as Speaker anyway but with concessions given to the arsonist contingency? Who says they didn’t try, and were rejected? > [@MikeF](#): > > This one person to force a vote thing has me confused. Why the sticking point? If they really wanted to kick him out they would surely have more than one person demanding a vote. Why even bother unless you’re confident that you have enough votes to actually oust him? Just causing a vote causes disruption and chaos. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/106 "2023-01-08T20:13:30Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Who says they didn’t try, and were rejected? I’ll say it. Hakeem Jeffries himself said clearly that they would not approach Republicans but would wait for Republicans to approach Democrats, if they wanted their assistance. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/107 "2023-01-08T20:13:34Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Who says they didn’t try, and were rejected? Pretty much everyone involved in the process. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/108 "2023-01-08T20:29:19Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Pretty much everyone involved in the process. You are right. Politicians hardly ever lie. 😜 😱 Obviously the Dems did not make any official approaches, but over a drink and a cigar , confidentially,“man to man” (or man to woman or whatever), who can tell. This sort of thing goes on all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/109 "2023-01-08T22:36:33Z")
Why bother asking the question if you are going to presume the answer despite any evidence presented? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/110 "2023-01-08T23:00:59Z")
It’s obvious that it happened, because there is no evidence that it happened. That’s just how sneaky those Democrats are. I wish I was making up the logic behind this, but it’s typical. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/111 "2023-01-08T23:51:14Z")
Tradition! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/112 "2023-01-09T03:07:13Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Well one of the concession allows a single house member to force a vacating vote on the Speaker, and that would be part of the official House rules. So they could easily vote him out if they wanted to. They could easily call a vote. Easily voting him out will be much more difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/113 "2023-01-09T17:19:25Z")
Practically speaking, how much of the House’s time would be wasted taking these votes? Would there need to be time for debate before the vote? Is there anything to prevent Rep. Assclown (R-Mordor) from just calling another vote immediately after the first one fails? ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/114 "2023-01-09T22:23:00Z")
The House is debating the rules package now, with one hour allotted for debate. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/115 "2023-01-10T00:39:19Z")
[House Narrowly Approves Rules Amid Concerns About McCarthy’s Concessions](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/09/us/politics/house-rules-republicans-mccarthy.html) (probably paywalled) > After initially balking at a package of changes to House rules that would enshrine concessions the speaker made to ultraconservative members, Republicans united to push them through. > In the end, a handful of holdouts dropped their opposition and supported the measure, putting aside reservations about Mr. McCarthy’s concessions, including some that they worried could lead to deep cuts in military spending. > > [The package](https://rules.house.gov/sites/republicans.rules118.house.gov/files/BILLS-118hresPIH-118th-rules-of-the-house-of-reps-V3.pdf) passed on Monday evening in a mostly party-line vote of 220-213, with just one Republican voting “no.” It included the so-called Holman rule, which allows lawmakers to use spending bills to defund specific programs and fire federal officials or reduce their pay; would make it harder for lawmakers to raise the debt limit; and would pave the way for the creation of a new select subcommittee under the Judiciary Committee focused on the “weaponization” of the federal government. Welp, what a surprise. No GOP rank and file revolt, no deal with Democrats to sideline the extremists, just falling in line as always. Who could have predicted? Those who expected any kind of moderation and compromise are disappointed once more. Get ready for impeachment votes every Tuesday and Hunter Biden’s laptop hearings every other Thursday! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/116 "2023-01-10T01:20:15Z")
I propose the “Kevin” should be the male equivalent of “Karen”. Pass the word, make it a meme. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/117 "2023-01-10T01:24:09Z")
I need some help with this Holman Rule business. Does this mean they can defund the Justice Department or US Attorneys offices if they investigate Trump or other Republicans? Reduce Garland or special counsel Jack Smith’s pay to $1 per year? Cut their investigatory budgets to zero? ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/118 "2023-01-10T01:25:43Z")
Yep, the “moderate Republican” revolt was never going to happen. Because there are no moderate House Republicans – the Republican groups and individuals that sometimes get referred to as “moderate” are deeply conservative in their rhetoric and policy positions. The split here is more between radicals and institutionalists, and the institutionalists aren’t going to publicly break with party leadership. They’ll try to work behind the scenes to advance their agendas, but they’ll always be at a disadvantage to those members who are happy to set the house on fire. > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I need some help with this Holman Rule business. Does this mean they can defund the Justice Department or US Attorneys offices if they investigate Trump or other Republicans? Reduce Garland or special counsel Jack Smith’s pay to $1 per year? They can include in their version of the appropriations bills provisions that would eliminate funding for specific programs, or even salaries for specific individuals. Any appropriation bill still needs to be passed by the Senate and signed by the President, though. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/119 "2023-01-10T04:31:28Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Get ready for impeachment votes every Tuesday and Hunter Biden’s laptop hearings every other Thursday! Which voters in deep red districts will squee over. But the GOP representatives who have won votes selling themselves as “centrist” might have a tougher time finding buyers as a result. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794/120 "2023-01-10T04:49:18Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > But the GOP representatives who have won votes selling themselves as “centrist” might have a tougher time finding buyers as a result. They’ll have their Tax Cuts and tough-on-crime(in my neighborhood by people who don’t beling there) votes, and that’s what will satisfy the “Republican centrist” voter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794.md?page=7)