# 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:** 28
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/541 "2023-01-04T13:15:38Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I think the biggest issue for Republicans re: DC or PR statehood is that each one pretty much guarantees two more Democratic senators. And it’s not like they have any territories to grant statehood to that lean Republican, do they? They do have that whole State of Jefferson thing, tho. LOL ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/542 "2023-01-04T13:19:49Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > What if the Democrats approach McCarthy and offer: he goes on camera and says that under his speakership the debt ceiling will be raised; and if he does so, 100 Democrats skip the vote, giving him a majority. If the Democrats were going to offer this, it should be to remove the debt ceiling entirely. Of all the stupid things Congress does, voting to approve a budget and then having to vote to pay for the things they voted to buy is perhaps the stupidest. ---
**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, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/543 "2023-01-04T13:21:46Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > DC or PR statehood is that each one pretty much guarantees two more Democratic senators. Which as mentioned by **Bootb** may be a self-fulfilling fallacy when it comes to PR. Heck, since 2005, 2 out of the last 3 congressional delegates (including the incumbent), adding up to 6 out of 10 congressional terms, have caucused Republican and pro-statehood. But if the national party keep saying they don’t want our votes unless and until we’re solid MAGA red Anglophones, well… Anyway, back to the story, 12 noon today, next showtime! ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/544 "2023-01-04T13:35:20Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Well, he’s set up his desk in the Speakers’ office without actually holding the title of Speaker of the House, so it appears in a way, he has. After all, “possession is nine tenths of the law.” That was either in the Talmud or maybe a Woody Woodpecker cartoon. Not sure. ---
**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 4, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/545 "2023-01-04T14:42:50Z")
So, if there is no speaker of the house for the next two years, can bills still be brought to the floor if enough Republicans join with Democrats to support it? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/546 "2023-01-04T14:44:35Z")
This morning, King-Maker Trump came out in full support of Kevs: > This will be an interesting test of his influence. Now, some on Twitter are speculating that this entire shit show was/is a con job, designed so that Donnie can step in and force everyone into alignment. I don’t subscribe to this theory, but it _is_ floating out there this 8:44 in the morning. If the 20 remains 20, or barely reduces, Trump is even more marginalized. If they accede to his demands, they are even more fucked in 2024. Good times! ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/547 "2023-01-04T14:47:33Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > So, if there is no speaker of the house for the next two years, can bills still be brought to the floor if enough Republicans join with Democrats to support it? Members can’t even be sworn in until a Speaker is elected. Right now there are no sitting members of Congress. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/548 "2023-01-04T14:48:33Z")
… then who is voting for Speaker? 🤪🤪🤪 (Don’t worry about answering it, this is just another way the Constitution is broken.) ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/549 "2023-01-04T15:00:41Z")
Okay… say Kev caves in to the Freedom Caucus’ demands, get elected speaker and down the road a couple months they decide to vote him out. Then what? Are they in the same pickle again and can’t elect a new Speaker? That would be pretty short sighted. I suppose they could use those couple months to groom a new potential Speaker. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/550 "2023-01-04T15:03:07Z")
My wife and I got into a whole discussion about this last night after she saw a tweet from Adam Kinzinger asking “Am I still a member of Congress?” So basically, they’re elected but can’t do anything other than vote for leadership, then they get sworn in and start with committee assignments and get down to business. Doesn’t make a lot of sense, but then again most times picking a leader isn’t such an ordeal. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/551 "2023-01-04T15:07:04Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > So McCarthy makes all of these concessions to the crazy wing and still couldn’t get their votes. He’s re-learning the lesson that Chamberlain had to learn in the 1930s. Give Hitler everything he wants, and he’ll just want more. ---
**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 4, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/552 "2023-01-04T15:07:52Z")
The point is to have a speaker with a gun at their head driving only where the few demand and otherwise doing nothing. ---
**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 4, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/553 "2023-01-04T15:09:09Z")
So, it seems to be to the advantage of those who don’t want a functional government to continue to balk at any compromise. Then they get to go back to their constituents and tell them that they broke the government, which is what they were sent there to do. Sure, it means no investigations into Hunter’s laptop, but they actually know that that won’t go anywhere, and could even backfire once it is shown what little “evidence” they actually have. Better to just go on Fox and make insinuations than to actually try to prove them in a formal setting. ---
**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 4, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/554 "2023-01-04T15:10:28Z")
> **Summary** > > > [@Horatius](#): > > > > He’s re-learning the lesson that Chamberlain had to learn in the 1930s. Give Hitler everything he wants, and he’ll just want more. > > And a more recent and relevant lesson that Obama learned in the 2010s. Give the Republicans everything they want, and they’ll just want more. > > Their own playbook is biting them in the face. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/555 "2023-01-04T15:15:59Z")
Yeah, I suppose that’s the case. How long can that last? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/556 "2023-01-04T15:17:07Z")
> **very off-topic post {WE?}** > > > [@k9bfriender](#): > > > > And a more recent and relevant lesson that Obama learned in the 2010s. Give the Republicans everything they want, and they’ll just want more. > > It’s also the lesson to be learned from illegal aliens crossing the border, one supposes. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/557 "2023-01-04T15:17:42Z")
> [@Jumpbass](#): > > Okay… say Kev caves in to the Freedom Caucus’ demands, get elected speaker and down the road a couple months they decide to vote him out. Then what? That’s an interesting question. If a motion to vacate the chair carries, then the House would have no Speaker. But, unlike now, at that point members would be sworn in, committees would be appointed, the rules adopted, etc. And most importantly, there would be a Speaker pro tem in place who would be able to preside over the House. ---
**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 4, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/558 "2023-01-04T15:28:38Z")
> **Problematic and off-topic post hidden {WE?}** > > No, not really. Or at all, in fact. > > I’m not sure how you equate individuals fleeing violence and poverty with rich white men seeking power, but honestly, this probably isn’t the thread to get into whatever crazy woo conspiracy theory that would make you utter such a ridiculous remark. > > Please open a thread explaining _exactly_ what it is that you mean here, and I’ll be happy to give my feedback on it there. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/559 "2023-01-04T15:35:34Z")
---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/560 "2023-01-04T15:39:03Z")
Modnote: Enough of this hijacking of the thread. You’re both causing trouble. **k9bfriender** your response is bordering on insulting the poster for sure. > **Hidden to avoid hijacking the thread.** > > > [@k9bfriender](#): > > > > And a more recent and relevant lesson that Obama learned in the 2010s. Give the Republicans everything they want, and they’ll just want more. > > > > Their own playbook is biting them in the face. > > > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > > It’s also the lesson to be learned from illegal aliens crossing the border, one supposes. > > > [@k9bfriender](#): > > > > No, not really. Or at all, in fact. > > > > I’m not sure how you equate individuals fleeing violence and poverty with rich white men seeking power, but honestly, this probably isn’t the thread to get into whatever crazy woo conspiracy theory that would make you utter such a ridiculous remark. > > > > Please open a thread explaining _exactly_ what it is that you mean here, and I’ll be happy to give my feedback on it there. I’m just going to hide all of these posts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=29)