# House Speaker Contest **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 12, 2022, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770 "2022-11-12T00:48:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 100
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1981 "2023-01-07T14:38:34Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > …nothing but lurching to the right to appease whackjobs who want to blow up the government. Do we know what McCarthy finally had to promise to get elected? ---
**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 7, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1982 "2023-01-07T14:44:40Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Do we know what McCarthy finally had to promise to get elected ? My guess: Mostly a promise not to let McCarthy’s PACs interfere with their primaries no matter how embarrassing they are to the GOP. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1983 "2023-01-07T14:47:36Z")
Katie is awesome. She was reading through the whole crazy thing. It is what I would do. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1984 "2023-01-07T14:49:35Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > As far as I can tell from following this thread and the NY Times live coverage, there was _no_ outreach to Dems about a compromise “moderate” candidate. There was _no_ maneuvering by the “Problem Solvers” caucus to get anyone other than McCarthy in there. There was not a whiff of any movement toward the center; nothing but lurching to the right to appease whackjobs who want to blow up the government. The moderate Republican revolt was always just fantasizing by decent-but-naive people who would like to see a bipartisan coalition focused on solving our nations’ problems. First because there are no moderate Republicans. “Main Street” and “Problem Solver” Republicans aren’t moderates – Dan Crenshaw and Elise Stefanik are in the Main Street Caucus, for Christ’s sake. What you do have are House Republicans who are more institutionalists. And they tied themselves to the McCarthy bandwagon come hell or high water. ---
**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 7, 2023, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1985 "2023-01-07T14:51:02Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Do we know what McCarthy finally had to promise to get elected? It’s not 100% clear yet because apparently they won’t vote on the rules package until Monday, but here are some comments about it from the NY Times: > Representative Kevin McCarthy of California won election early Saturday as House speaker in a historic five-day, 15-ballot floor fight, after giving major concessions to right-wing holdouts > Yet Mr. McCarthy, who was willing to endure vote after humiliating vote and give in to an escalating list of demands from his opponents to secure the post… > Republicans announced that they would wait until Monday to consider a package of rules for the chamber, which is expected to enshrine many of the compromises Mr. McCarthy made to win his post. > > The concessions Mr. McCarthy agreed to, which he detailed in a party conference call early Friday, would diminish the speaker’s power considerably and make for an unwieldy environment in the House, where the slim Republican margin of control and the right-wing faction’s appetite for disarray had already [promised to make it difficult to control](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/05/us/politics/republican-party-leadership.html). > Mr. McCarthy agreed to allow a single lawmaker to force a snap vote at any time to oust the speaker, a rule that he had previously refused to accept, regarding it as tantamount to signing the death warrant for his speakership in advance. > > Also part of the proposal, Republicans familiar with it said, was a commitment by the leader to give the ultraconservative faction approval over a third of the seats on the powerful Rules Committee, which controls what legislation reaches the floor and how it is debated. He also agreed to open government spending bills to a freewheeling debate in which any lawmaker could force votes on proposed changes. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1986 "2023-01-07T14:58:48Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Do we know what McCarthy finally had to promise to get elected? > **[Opinion | To save himself, McCarthy just destroyed the House](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/06/mccarthy-house-speaker-vote-insurrection-by-other-means/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWJpZCI6IjYyMDc3NTgiLCJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjczMTAyOTQyLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjc0MzEyNTQyLCJpYXQiOjE2NzMxMDI5NDIsImp0aSI6ImZjZTU2MjdhLTRkMmMtNGExMC05ZThmLTQxMWZmYzAyY2E0MiIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9vcGluaW9ucy8yMDIzLzAxLzA2L21jY2FydGh5LWhvdXNlLXNwZWFrZXItdm90ZS1pbnN1cnJlY3Rpb24tYnktb3RoZXItbWVhbnMvIn0.77FWL7Jo0jAJNl5fPxg8REWeMhkTXco0KGf6S4jt99Q&itid=gfta)** > > McCarthy becomes speaker on the 15th vote — but he's already irrelevant. Some details in article. (Also in new [thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-the-mccarthy-concessions-to-become-house-speaker/977794).) ---
**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 7, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1987 "2023-01-07T15:10:49Z")
With the adjournment vote they were using the e-vote system, where you can keep switching until the system locks. But rather than a rule some of these are things that are “just how we do it” – like for example how “it’s a 15 minute vote” but it stays open until everyone who counts shows up – which sure, is a principle that has been soundly thrashed, but they are like that: who knows what norm they follow from one day to the other. > [@DWMarch](#): > > Like for example making it so the Congressional staff can get paid (this does not have to include the Congresscritters themselves) even if there is no Speaker? Or swearing the members in first and then having the Speaker contest? I believe that like the matter with the Continuing Resolutions and debt ceilings it’s by design a way to “force” a decision vote, by making it so they can’t just coast along under an acting administration. > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Why would the Clerk of the House swear in the Senate??? I think that was a mistype. > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > All this crap should be handled behind closed doors by the majority conference in the two months between the election and the first day of Congress. As mentioned before, that faction has explicitly stated they want for it to be possible for any individual member to walk into the session and “derail the thread” of whatever is on the agenda. Of course, they are so shameless as to negotiate in back rooms or through smartphone chats and then say “this is real democratic debate”. My take having been able to sleep on it, they did not want to just walk in and say “nevermind, of course you are the winner” off the bat. They wanted one last moment of reminding everyone in public and for the record, “we’re doing this because you NEED us to do this”. Thus only Gaetz and Boebert go “present” on the 14th vote so that it ends up with a tie. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1988 "2023-01-07T15:23:40Z")
I honestly thought he’d never pull it off. I underestimated how much humiliation McCarthy was willing to suffer and how weak the rest of the party would be in allowing the suffering to continue without stepping in with an alternative plan. My mistake in overestimating the chances that someone somewhere in the conference would step up and say “enough is enough”. My mistake. My reward for obsessively following this train wreck for the past week finally came a little after one a.m. Kevin McCarthy was denied his dearest wish and fantasy – he did not get to gloat into Nancy Pelosi’s face as she handed him the gavel. Nope, instead he had to stand quietly while Jeffries gave a rousing speech and then meekly accept the gavel from Jeffries instead. Ha! ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1989 "2023-01-07T15:26:07Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > As far as I can tell from following this thread and the NY Times live coverage, there was _no_ outreach to Dems about a compromise “moderate” candidate. There was _no_ maneuvering by the “Problem Solvers” caucus to get anyone other than McCarthy in there. There was not a whiff of any movement toward the center; nothing but lurching to the right to appease whackjobs who want to blow up the government. > [@ShadowFacts](#): > > As far as I can tell from following this thread and the NY Times live coverage, there was _no_ outreach to Dems about a compromise “moderate” candidate. There was _no_ maneuvering by the “Problem Solvers” caucus to get anyone other than McCarthy in there. There was not a whiff of any movement toward the center; nothing but lurching to the right to appease whackjobs who want to blow up the government. Republicans couldn’t bend left, not really. They’ve spent the last 14 years screeching about how utterly evil and depraved democrats are. Compromising with Satan would be political suicide. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1990 "2023-01-07T15:28:29Z")
I can’t wait to see all of the good things that this House is going to do for my country! I feel so optimistic I could puke! ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1991 "2023-01-07T15:30:07Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I can’t wait to see all of the good things that this House is going to do for my country! Now we can really dig deep into Hunter! ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1992 "2023-01-07T15:33:59Z")
And with results, like Republicans got with all the Benghazi nonsense, too! ---
**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 7, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1993 "2023-01-07T15:51:13Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > > > Do we know what McCarthy finally had to promise to get elected ? > > My guess: Mostly a promise not to let McCarthy’s PACs interfere with their primaries no matter how embarrassing they are to the GOP. There have been rumors Gaetz was promised chairmanship of one of the Armed Services subcommittees. Mike Rogers of Alabama is slated to be chair of the Armed Services committee itself. He’s the guy who was restrained from going at Gaetz after the 14th vote. He had previously spoken out angrily about having to take away a subcommittee chairmanship from one of the loyalists and give it to Gaetz. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. ---
**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 7, 2023, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1994 "2023-01-07T16:07:40Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Mike Rogers of Alabama is slated to be chair of the Armed Services committee itself. He’s the guy who was restrained from going at Gaetz after the 14th vote. He had previously spoken out angrily about having to take away a subcommittee chairmanship from one of the loyalists and give it to Gaetz. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. Here’s a [little snippet from CNN](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynxHJBRkw-c) about their confrontation. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1995 "2023-01-07T16:18:31Z")
I’m wondering if it had gone to Monday, McCarthy would be in. Given that 14 round vote and the tempers, 2 days could have knocked it back. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1996 "2023-01-07T16:43:03Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Gotta love Rep Katie Porter (click on the pic to see what she is reading): I own that book! I laughed out loud. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1997 "2023-01-07T16:44:52Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > On the plus side, at least it didn’t happen on January 6th What did happen on January 6th was that they successfully prevented the United States government from functioning. I wonder whether they were waiting until the 7th so that they could make that point. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1998 "2023-01-07T16:49:11Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > “Sounds like one of your parties, sir.” 😀 😀 😀 ---
**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 7, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1999 "2023-01-07T16:58:39Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Now we can really dig deep into Hunter! > [@bobot](#): > > And with results, like Republicans got with all the Benghazi nonsense, too! And emails. Don’t forget the emails. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/2000 "2023-01-07T17:05:57Z")
I think the real winner here is democracy^. ^ Democracy may not be included with purchase with certain Speaker model numbers. I give him half a Boehner. Not sure the conversion rate to Scaramuccis. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=99) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=101)