# 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:** 22
**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, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/421 "2023-01-03T22:12:11Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > Dems should nominate and get behind an acceptable Republican “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/422 "2023-01-03T22:14:41Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” I’m suggesting a way to capitalize on the mistake. What good is an enemy’s mistake if you don’t take advantage of it? ---
**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, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/423 "2023-01-03T22:14:55Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Who is that woman calling for the votes, and can we get her a whole pencil? The assistant Clerks of the House have been rotating calling the roll. I’m curious to see that little booklet she’s writing in. For McCarthy and Jeffries votes she’s just making a notation on the page, but for the Jordan votes she flips it over and writes on the back. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/424 "2023-01-03T22:17:47Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Who is that woman calling for the votes, and can we get her a whole pencil? I do admire that she’s got the red, white, and blue nail polish going. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/425 "2023-01-03T22:17:48Z")
By giving them an off-ramp? No way, they can get themselves out of this mess. No need to help them conclude this shit show. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/426 "2023-01-03T22:19:32Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I do admire that she’s got the red, white, and blue nail polish going. Oh, I’ll have to look for that during the next vote. Or the one after that. Or the one… ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/427 "2023-01-03T22:19:39Z")
If they get out of this mess with Jordan as speaker we all lose. ---
**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, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/428 "2023-01-03T22:19:43Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > Well, I’m part of the Democratic base who would welcome a more moderate alternative to either McCarthy or Scalise who is also an anti-Trumper, plus it would neuter the wacko wing of the Republican Party. I’d rather they, as @silenus said, let the Republicans twist in the wind. They don’t need us (as a Democrat) to help them out. And the optics of selling out the first black party backed Democratic nominee for Speaker would… not be great. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/429 "2023-01-03T22:20:24Z")
I am reminded of this quote: > To get the man’s soul and give him _nothing_ in return – that is what really gladdens our Father’s heart. > –Screwtape, _The Screwtape Letters_ ---
**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 3, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/430 "2023-01-03T22:21:15Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > If they get out of this mess with Jordan as speaker we all lose. Will never happen. Jordan is loathed among Dems universally, and about 90% of Republicans, too. He’s at the top of the number of votes he can garner for Speaker with this last vote, more or less. ---
**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, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/431 "2023-01-03T22:28:16Z")
And they adjourned until noon tomorrow. ---
**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, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/432 "2023-01-03T22:28:25Z")
House adjourned until noon tomorrow after no election on the 3rd ballot. (McCarthy probably should have done this after the second ballot to see if they could move towards each other) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/433 "2023-01-03T22:30:20Z")
(To resurrect a golden oldie) This may just be the break the McCain campaign has been looking for! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/434 "2023-01-03T22:30:51Z")
> **[Kevin McCarthy Assures Skeptical Republicans He Shares Their Vision Of...](https://www.theonion.com/kevin-mccarthy-assures-skeptical-republicans-he-shares-1849945112)** > > WASHINGTON—In an effort to garner their support and become Speaker of the House, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) assured his skeptical GOP colleagues Tuesday that he shared their vision of innocents drowning in oceans of blood. “While I hear your concerns... ---
**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 3, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/435 "2023-01-03T22:32:25Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > House adjourned until noon tomorrow after no election on the 3rd ballot. Great news- Democrats don’t have to stick around all night playing this game of Republican disfunction. ---
**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 3, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/436 "2023-01-03T22:40:06Z")
Well, there goes one of my predictions: I expected McCarthy would likely clinch it on day one. Very happy to be wrong about that! 🥳 ---
**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 3, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/437 "2023-01-03T22:40:53Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > And they adjourned until noon tomorrow. The Democrats were running out of popcorn anyway. ---
**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, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/438 "2023-01-03T22:43:05Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > And they adjourned until noon tomorrow. Bunch of slackers. They should be back bright and early at 7 AM 😜. ---
**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, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/439 "2023-01-03T22:46:07Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > The Democrats were running out of popcorn anyway. I would LOVE it if tomorrow they brought in a movie-sized popcorn maker and all got bags to munch on. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/440 "2023-01-03T22:47:00Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > They don’t need us (as a Democrat) to help them out. There seems to be an idea in this thread that a quick decision makes a party look good, and one that takes a long time, the opposite. Maybe, but I doubt it. Congress, as a whole, polls poorly despite a history of boring leadership contests. I’m a Democrat. But, in the abstract, the idea that Democrats vote for party leaders unanimously does not endear me to said party. Republicans also tend to vote in an unattractive-to-me lockstep, with a few exceptions like today. > [@ISiddiqui](#): > > And the optics of selling out the first black party backed Democratic nominee for Speaker would… not be great. It’s not a question of selling out, but of acknowledging the inevitable when you can’t win. This is a classic case of the party base saying to fight to the end when waging the battle has no value. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=23)