# 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:** 19
**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, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/361 "2023-01-03T20:23:55Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > 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. Ninja’ed! [Here’s Wikipedia on Discharge Petitions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discharge_petition#In_the_U.S._House_of_Representatives), if anyone’s curious; I was just reading up on them myself. This could be a very powerful tactic for Democrats, if there’s a weak Speaker. ---
**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, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/362 "2023-01-03T20:28:43Z")
> **[The Speaker Inquisition of 1856 | US House of Representatives: History, Art...](https://history.house.gov/Blog/2015/October/10-23-Inquisition/)** > > Shortly before seven o’clock in the evening, on Saturday, February 2, 1856, Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachusetts, strode to the well of the House, climbed the rostrum’s few steps to the Speaker’s chair, and sat down. He paused for a moment. With his... In 1856, it took 133 rounds to elect the Speaker. I feel like the issues of our time should be less extreme than the divide on slavery. If we set a new record then I’d say that our problem in society isn’t the politics, it’s that we’re raising people of that level of petulance that they’d go so hard core as to trash everything for… Basically no reason? ---
**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 3, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/363 "2023-01-03T20:31:17Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > gaetz finally said something which with i agree; when someone wants power this badly, they should not have it. Though at the rate this is going one wonders what power worth calling that will the next Speaker retain… ---
**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 3, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/364 "2023-01-03T20:34:23Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > it will be interesting to see who is nominated on the 3rd round. Can I hope that Trump himself is nominated? And gets 5 votes? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/365 "2023-01-03T20:35:41Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 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. I was curious about this as well. Seems convenient that he’s the loyal soldier, while a small group has coalesced around him as Speaker. I wouldn’t be shocked if he shrugged and said, I didn’t really want it, but if that can help bring this to an end… ---
**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, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/366 "2023-01-03T20:47:21Z")
is john bercow available? does the speaker need to be a citizen of the us? ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/367 "2023-01-03T20:52:53Z")
To become Speaker, one needs an absolute majority of votes cast. If 30 Dems go to lunch, McCarthy’s threshold drops to the point that he wins with the votes he has. I’d be fine with that, if it’s a very _nice_ lunch, and McCarthy pays for it. How about a guaranteed vote on the debt ceiling? Or the DREAM Act? Or, y’know, a promise to actually govern? ---
**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 3, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/368 "2023-01-03T20:54:00Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Jordan’s a goddamned weasel. If anyone ever needed a serious ass-kicking, it’s Jordan. The arrogant sneer, the fake folksy rolled-up sleeves, the snotty attitude. He’s the whole package. ---
**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, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/369 "2023-01-03T20:54:51Z")
You forgot enabler of multiple sexual assaults. ---
**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 3, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/370 "2023-01-03T20:54:58Z")
> [@RickG](#): > > Or, y’know, a promise to actually govern? I don’t think the R’s know how to do that. ---
**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, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/371 "2023-01-03T20:56:48Z")
word is that democrats are not going to help mccarthy like they helped boehner. they will not leave. ---
**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 3, 2023, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/372 "2023-01-03T20:57:04Z")
I’m not aware of that aspect. ---
**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 3, 2023, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/373 "2023-01-03T20:57:39Z")
He’d still need enough of those who have promised to only vote for McCarthy of any incoming Representatives. They may blink but I doubt on his first serious round. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/374 "2023-01-03T20:58:56Z")
Sure, be he may count on Round 5, 6, etc, he and McCarthy talk and they decide to make way for loyal solder Jordan with McCarthy as the #2. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/375 "2023-01-03T20:59:48Z")
Boehner was willing to work with Dems on occasion. McCarthy hasn’t shown anywhere near the same. ---
**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, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/376 "2023-01-03T21:01:14Z")
And once again, with the example of Boehner, he wasn’t able to work with the congress that he had, and walked away from the job. McCarthy is going to have an even nuttier congress to try to deal with. I’d feel sorry for him, but for some reason, I really don’t. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/377 "2023-01-03T21:01:19Z")
I don’t see it. Even if McCarthy could “Darth Cheney” the Speakership from the No. 2 spot, I don’t see his ego taking the body shot. ---
**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 3, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/378 "2023-01-03T21:02:50Z")
Scalise renominating McCarthy ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/379 "2023-01-03T21:03:02Z")
Scalise now nominating McCarthy - maybe he’s hoping someone will nominate him now. ---
**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, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/380 "2023-01-03T21:07:10Z")
he seems really shouty…msnbc is letting others talk about the behind the scenes. dem nomination is short. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=20)