# 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:** 25
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/481 "2023-01-04T00:05:03Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The Republicans have been fractured for a long time. It made it almost impossible for John Boehner and later for Paul Ryan. The R Speakers job is thankless and miserable. Imagine negotiating a bill and then have your own members fail to pass it. Ryan’s tenure was hell. > > Today was a shit show and embarrassing. All that is true. And since Boehner’s and Ryan’s time, the GOP has nurtured within its ranks a group of people who out-Tea Party the Tea Party in their contempt for the concept of “government.” The 20 voting against McCarthy (as of today) are 100% fine with the House members never being sworn in and the House never being gaveled into existence as a functioning body. Which is what will happen if there is no Speaker. This is a situation never before seen in the USA. Despite similar periods of upheaval over the centuries, in all those other examples the parties involved actually did want the House to _exist_. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/482 "2023-01-04T00:08:18Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > It’s almost like they didn’t know the vote was today. > “Holy Hell! I missed the dress rehersal!” I don’t think that it was just that they ran out of time, it’s that with the Freedom Caucus, conspicuous dysfunction is the point. They represent right wing America’s ID. Their constituents didn’t elect them to govern they elected them to fling shit. ---
**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 4, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/483 "2023-01-04T00:13:25Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > > [@snowthx](#): > > > > I am not sure who nominates candidates for SotH, but I read somewhere about a month ago someone suggested, half-jokingly, that Liz Cheney would garner all the Democratic votes, and likely some from Republicans - enough to become speaker. Wouldn’t that be great?! (if true). > > Eh, she voted 93% of the time with Trump, more than even Jordan. I really admire her actions on 1/6 and impeachment, but I don’t know that she would be all that much better. > > Though I guess it would be fun to poke Kevin McCarthy in the eye. That was actually who I was going to suggest earlier when I suggested the Dems nominate an anti-Trump R. I figured she would be too toxic to get enough R crossovers. All the objections to my earlier suggestion apply to Cheney as well. She would certainly try to put a damper on some of the more ridiculous antics being proposed by the wacko wing. ---
**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 4, 2023, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/484 "2023-01-04T00:24:08Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I saw a brief bit on the news this morning with Lauren Boebert (I think) saying much the same thing; that Congress is unpopular and she, and her ilk, are trying to change it. The problem is, I don’t think she has any clue why it’s so unpopular with so many of us. I would like to see more cooperation, more bipartisanship, more compromise. But you see, that’s it. From their delusional point of view, the problem is that its unpopular because OF COURSE “ **what all _Real Americans_™ want Congress to do is the things WE want.** ” If only Congress would just implement the Loon Caucus’ Real American™ Agenda, the institution would be widely beloved. The way **they** see it, NO Republican voter elected their Representative primarily to represent their district well and responsibly steward the budget, they ALL were elected to send Hunter to jail. build the wall and make Joe fail. … because if we don’t do that then OMG the Socialists are about to take us over and make DC and Puerto Rico states (\*) (\* no joke: Lindsey Graham tweeted that compromising with Jeffries win would mean supporting the Democratic agenda and made those the top two bullet ponts: > ---
**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 4, 2023, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/485 "2023-01-04T00:28:10Z")
Let’s play a game of excluded middle. Here’s the possible outcomes that I’ve come up with. What other potential outcomes are missing from this list? 1. The Never Kevin’s give up and McCarthy wins. 2. Enough Democrats either stay home / vote present and McCarthy wins. 3. The Never Kevin’s and the rest of the Republicans agree on a different Republican member. Steve Scalise seems to be the most frequently mentioned, but possibly someone else. 4. Democrats come together with at least 6 Republicans to elect a compromise candidate. 5. The Never Kevin’s convince most of the other Republicans to support Jim Jordan. 6. Enough of the Never Kevin’s stay home / vote present and Jeffries wins. 7. We end up without a Speaker for the next 2 years. I ranked them in order of what seems likely to me at this point, but I tend to be wrong on these things as demonstrated by my prediction a few hours ago. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/486 "2023-01-04T00:32:13Z")
> [@Lindsey Graham](#): > > DC statehood > Puerto Rican statehood. Is those the most heinous accusations that can be flung at Jefferies? Thought the Freedom Caucus et al was all about self governance. ---
**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 4, 2023, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/487 "2023-01-04T00:38:27Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > But you see, that’s it. From their delusional point of view, the problem is that its unpopular because OF COURSE “ **what all _Real Americans_™ want Congress to do is the things WE want.** ” If only Congress would just implement the Loon Caucus’ Real American™ Agenda, the institution would be widely beloved. Of course. I had to laugh during the Trump impeachment debate (the first one, I think) whenever a Republican stood up and said that it was divisive. My reply, to an empty room, was “it’d be less divisive if you vote with Democrats to impeach him.” ---
**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 4, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/488 "2023-01-04T00:42:56Z")
I rank your options #2, #3, #1 in that order ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/489 "2023-01-04T00:50:06Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Eh, she voted 93% of the time with Trump, more than even Jordan. I really admire her actions on 1/6 and impeachment, but I don’t know that she would be all that much better. Even courageous politicians are selective in their courage. Liz Cheney representing the people of Wyoming is nothing like Liz Cheney representing centrists. ---
**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 4, 2023, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/490 "2023-01-04T00:50:29Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Thought the Freedom Caucus et al was all about self governance. Self governance for Real Americans, not for those people. ---
**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 4, 2023, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/491 "2023-01-04T00:53:06Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Is those the most heinous accusations that can be flung at Jefferies? > Thought the Freedom Caucus et al was all about self governance. This is about dark skinned people having a bigger voice in national politics. The very thought makes Republicans imitate Ted Nugent evading the draft. 💩 ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/492 "2023-01-04T01:04:11Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > No way, they can get themselves out of this mess. I predict they will get themselves out of this mess. And they will do it this month by electing a GOP speaker who successfully bottles up halfway progressive bills like a dreamer route to citizenship. One test, that will take 12 months or so to measure, is whether the GOP speaker is so weak that Democrats, allying with 4 or 5 GOP moderates, can bring one or more bills to the floor with discharge petitions. If even one bill passes and is signed by Biden, this year, by a discharge petition, then I will concede they are in a bit of a mess, and if there are two bills signed into law that way, I’ll admit they are in a big mess. ---
**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 4, 2023, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/493 "2023-01-04T01:05:34Z")
And three bills, why it’ll be a movement! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/494 "2023-01-04T01:10:39Z")
Since there have only been 2 successful discharge petitions (bill enacted) in the past 25 years, pretty much, yes. ---
**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 4, 2023, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/495 "2023-01-04T01:12:11Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I predict they will get themselves out of this mess. Of course they’ll get out of this mess somehow. I just don’t think the Dems should help them. ---
**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 4, 2023, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/496 "2023-01-04T01:18:38Z")
That’s two more discharge petitions than there have been failed leadership votes, so I really don’t think you can point to the past quarter century as an indication of what’s gong to happen going forward. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/497 "2023-01-04T01:20:08Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > One test, that will take 12 months or so to measure, is whether the GOP speaker is so weak that Democrats, allying with 4 or 5 GOP moderates, can bring one or more bills to the floor with discharge petitions. If even one bill passes and is signed by Biden, this year, by a discharge petition, then I will concede they are in a bit of a mess, and if there are two bills signed into law that way, I’ll admit they are in a big mess. It seems to me that 5 or 6 most moderate Republicans hold as mich power as thr 5 or 6 most radical. And there are some Republicans who won traditionally Democratic seats, and who could use a reputation for bipartisanship next November. But of course they have to get through a primary. ---
**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 4, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/498 "2023-01-04T01:24:36Z")
Oh yeah, now I remember. Thanks. ---
**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 4, 2023, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/499 "2023-01-04T01:25:58Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > It seems to me that 5 or 6 most moderate Republicans hold as mich power as thr 5 or 6 most radical. Well sure, but the moderates want to actually govern and do things for the country. While the radical ones want to posture, obstruct and get their name mentioned a lot. Which one of these is easier to do? ---
**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 4, 2023, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/500 "2023-01-04T01:30:52Z")
So McConnell…pardon me, McCarthy had fewer Republican votes on the third vote than he did on the first one, which he also lost? OK folks, look out! We got us a badass here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=26)