# 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:** 18
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/341 "2023-01-03T19:47:51Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Okay, in fantasy land, I have a question. How much power would Jeffries have as speaker if the Democrats are still in the minority? It’s a really powerful role, isn’t it? No way a party allows another party to have the Speaker from the minority. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/342 "2023-01-03T19:50:38Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > How much power would Jeffries have as speaker if the Democrats are still in the minority? As much as the Republicans in the Problem Solvers Caucus choose to give him. And that depends on how secure they are in their seats. If they’re secure then they deal with Jeffries. If not then they fundraise off of the fear that they _might_ deal with him, blow him off when they get a big enough donor, and have a good warchest going into 2024. Jeffries has no control over that. It’s up to the voters in those key districts. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/343 "2023-01-03T19:50:43Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > It’s a really powerful role, isn’t it? No way a party allows another party to have the Speaker from the minority . Well, that’s my question. The power usually comes from the ability to deliver 217 votes whenever needed. Jeffries won’t have that. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/344 "2023-01-03T19:52:33Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Uh, is there any real doubt McCarthy will get it in the end? I mean, there is no chance a Democratic representative could get it…is there? No, Repubs would not leave it that way no matter what. > > This must all be dramatic show. If they had gone to Biggs there might have been something to it. Since they’ve gone to Jordan and Jordan himself is supporting McCarthy, I think your guess is right. McCarthy on the third ballot, winning it on the back of Jordan’s endorsement. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/345 "2023-01-03T19:53:24Z")
The speaker can stop something from coming up for a vote, even stuff that would pass if allowed, right? So, Jeffries could bring up, say, a budget resolution and (hopefully) there are sufficient Republicans that don’t want the global economic disaster that a US default would bring, and it would pass. ---
**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 3, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/346 "2023-01-03T19:54:50Z")
there is mumbling that there may be a nomination of an outside person to be speaker in the next round. gaetz finally said something which with i agree; when someone wants power this badly, they should not have it. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/347 "2023-01-03T19:55:25Z")
funny how the people we “elect” don’t want to do anything but take lobbying checks. which is also what corporate America wants. it’s amazing how they always seem to luck out. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/348 "2023-01-03T19:55:49Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Uh, is there any real doubt McCarthy will get it in the end? This is the first time in a hundred years it hasn’t been a foregone conclusion–so yeah, there’s absolutely some doubt. Smart money is still on McCarthy, but we’re in uncharted waters. ---
**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 3, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/349 "2023-01-03T19:56:59Z")
i don’t see him ever getting enough votes to be speaker… then again i didn’t think trump would ever become president. jordan is not well liked. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/350 "2023-01-03T19:58:10Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > If they had gone to Biggs there might have been something to it. Since they’ve gone to Jordan and Jordan himself is supporting McCarthy, I think your guess is right. McCarthy on the third ballot, winning it on the back of Jordan’s endorsement. Jordan’s a goddamned weasel. My suspicion is that he worked out a deal with the Freedom Cuckoos in advance for him to endorse McCarthy and then reluctantly accept the nomination in the third round, as a way of looking like an alternative to McCarthy’s naked ambition. ---
**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 3, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/351 "2023-01-03T20:09:44Z")
So no changes this time. 19 votes for someone other than McC again. ---
**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 3, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/352 "2023-01-03T20:10:49Z")
mccarthy is out again. at this point they could go all night. it will be interesting to see who is nominated on the 3rd round. gah. this is insane. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/353 "2023-01-03T20:16:04Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > gah. this is insane. Insane. Funny as hell. Tomayto, tomahto. My Government classes are wondering why I’m giggling so much. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/354 "2023-01-03T20:17:28Z")
Just by way of comparison, there have been 8 congresses in the last **two** centuries that needed more than one vote. If this goes to a fourth round, it will be worse than all but eight congresses since the Constitution was ratified. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/355 "2023-01-03T20:18:49Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > The speaker can stop something from coming up for a vote, even stuff that would pass if allowed, right? I think that is what the Senate Majority leader could do. There could be some sort of Dem deal, but not to put a Dem Speaker in- > **[3 strikes for McCarthy — but he's not out yet](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/03/mccarthy-speaker-house-vote-00076047)** > > The House adjourned Tuesday without a speaker, and opposition to the Republican leader only increased in the final ballot. _Some Republicans say McCarthy should make a deal to persuade about a dozen Democrats to leave the floor after several ballots, allowing him to skate through despite a handful of opponents among his own conference. Others, like Bacon, have floated that if conservatives block McCarthy, they could work with a band of centrist Democrats to elect a more moderate Republican instead._ ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/356 "2023-01-03T20:20:01Z")
For those who role play, am I the only one who sees this as a battle between Lawful Evil and Chaotic Evil? ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/357 "2023-01-03T20:22:08Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > The speaker can stop something from coming up for a vote, even stuff that would pass if allowed, right? Yes, but this power is not as absolute as the Senate Majority Leader’s. The House has the “discharge petition” process to allow a majority of the house to force a vote on a measure. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/358 "2023-01-03T20:23:23Z")
Got it. Thanks! (and, thanks, @DrDeth, too). ---
**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 3, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/359 "2023-01-03T20:23:23Z")
back to 212 jeffries, 203 mccarthy, 19 jordan. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/360 "2023-01-03T20:23:47Z")
Just heard on C-Span a quote from someone. “This infighting in the Republican party is only hurting one thing: Our party” I have to disagree, my sides have been hurting for hours now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=19)