# 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:** 48
**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 5, 2023, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/941 "2023-01-05T07:07:50Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I’ve been amused how on MSNBC they have started referring to this core group as nihilists. ![](https://media.tenor.com/idMbLvxhzIEAAAAC/some-men-just-want-to-watch-the-world-burn-batman.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/942 "2023-01-05T07:15:37Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I’m not sure how many, if any, “moderate Republicans” are even left in the House. There are two remaining Republicans-that-voted-to-impeach-Trump left in the House. California’s [David Valadao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Valadao#Political_positions) and Washington’s [Dan Newhouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Newhouse#Tenure). They’re reasonably typical non-crazy West Coast Republicans - more moderate than average by national standards. Moderate enough? Depends on the angle you squint at them. Able to pull any Republican votes? Eh, I doubt it. Neither is particularly senior in the party. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/943 "2023-01-05T07:45:41Z")
Why would dems even consider that? Let 5? RINO’s vote for Jeffreys. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/944 "2023-01-05T09:02:26Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I’ve been amused how on MSNBC they have started referring to this core group as nihilists. Seems to be spot on. They don’t really believe in anything other than destroying the current order. [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cw1ZkPIWgAQ33aP?format=jpg&name=4096x4096) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cw1ZkPIWgAQ33aP?format=jpg&name=4096x4096) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/945 "2023-01-05T12:26:40Z")
Sorry if this has been asked before (I didn’t read all 944 posts) but… Why don’t the Democrats pick a Speaker? Find the least odious Republican they can, someone they can work with, and vote for him? Then, all they need is 6 opposition votes to win. Should be easy enough. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/946 "2023-01-05T12:37:38Z")
Can’t find six Rs who are willing to become dead candidate walking in future primaries for siding with democrats ---
**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 5, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/947 "2023-01-05T12:41:06Z")
Because why bail out these clowns? Also, if they screw this up badly enough, Jeffries could theoretically win. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/948 "2023-01-05T12:41:07Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I’ve been amused how on MSNBC they have started referring to this core group as nihilists. Seems to be spot on. They don’t really believe in anything other than destroying the current order. Vie are nihilists McCarthy! Vie believe in nussing! Nussing! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/949 "2023-01-05T12:41:13Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Why don’t the Democrats pick a Speaker? Even if they could - and I don’t think the GOP would ever let it happen - why would they want to? The GOP is a pack of wolves tearing itself apart. When it finally settles down it’s going still going to have the majority and it’s going to get to work doing as much damage as it can in the name of the culture war. Even in the best-case scenario, leading an out-of-power chamber with a narrow margin ain’t exactly easy. The longer this drags on, the more fractured and frayed the GOP gets, the weaker it looks, the harder it’s going to be for **anyone** to lead it. That’s good for Democrats now and it’s good for them in 2024. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/950 "2023-01-05T13:16:25Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Even in the best-case scenario, leading an out-of-power chamber with a narrow margin ain’t exactly easy. The longer this drags on, the more fractured and frayed the GOP gets, the weaker it looks, the harder it’s going to be for **anyone** to lead it. That’s good for Democrats now and it’s good for them in 2024. Another issue is that even if the Republicans do manage to get someone in there–and they will, eventually–the fact is, Speaker is a job that really needs an experienced insider. It’s a procedural job, and the power of the speaker comes from understanding both all the nuances of the intensely complicated institution of the House, both rules and customs, along with a deep understanding of the players: each individual congressperson has their own agenda, and the non-negotiables are often intensely local and specific for each one. Putting some Never Kevin Drain the Swamp Nihilist in the slot will just absolutely freeze everything. They won’t be able to control anything. They won’t even be able to benefit from it. Hell, they will fuck up all the grifting for everyone. ---
**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 5, 2023, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/951 "2023-01-05T13:17:58Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Sorry if this has been asked before (I didn’t read all 944 posts) but… This question has in fact been discussed at length in the thread, so if you are interested, you would do well to go back and review. (No shade intended, just letting you know.) ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/952 "2023-01-05T13:26:14Z")
So apparently McCarthy’s giving away (what’s left of) the store to wrangle the hold outs – lowering the threshold for introducing a motion to vacate to one member, appointing additional Freedom Caucus members to the powerful Rules Committee, promising votes on their priorities. Reportedly GOP “moderates” are “irate” at the concessions, many of them having pledged never to support a rules package that would allow one member to motion to vacate. Which means that they will huff and puff anonymously in the press then dutifully vote for McCarthy. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/953 "2023-01-05T13:56:39Z")
I missed coverage of the early part of Day 1. Has the rule to allow a vote to vacate the Speaker’s chair been officially adopted and is **already** (and for the next 2 years) in effect? Or is this just a **promise** that McCarthy has made to the GOP holdouts, should he be elected? I’m curious because I’ve heard people citing it as a poison pill that would immediately end any GOP defections to Jeffries (because once Jeffries won a round, the GOP holdouts would immediately call to vacate the chair and restart the whole process ad infinitum). But obviously that would only matter if the rule were already in effect. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/954 "2023-01-05T14:00:49Z")
It’s just a promise. The House cannot adopt a rules package or conduct any other business until they elect a Speaker. ---
**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 5, 2023, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/955 "2023-01-05T14:05:42Z")
and the new speaker may not hold to what ever kevin promised if it is not kevin. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/956 "2023-01-05T14:07:01Z")
So one of the fastest ways out of this would still be for some (moderate?) GOP members to either back Jeffries or vote “Present.” ---
**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 5, 2023, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/957 "2023-01-05T14:08:53Z")
by caving to team crazy, kevin could have a good handful of moderates “be indisposed” during the vote throwing it to jeffries. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/958 "2023-01-05T14:08:54Z")
> [@toadspittle](#): > > So one of the fastest ways out of this would still be for some (moderate?) GOP members to either back Jeffries or vote “Present.” Sure. but to the GOP that’s like saying “the fastest way out of a burning building is to jump out the window.” Even the most progressive (_I know, I know_) Republican is never going to hand the speaker position to a Democrat. ---
**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 5, 2023, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/959 "2023-01-05T14:09:44Z")
Here’s my prediction for today. I think McCarthy will get about a dozen or so of the 20 who were voting for Byron Donalds yesterday. Chip Roy, Michael Cloud, Ralph Norman, and those types. The big problem for McCarthy is going to be with the other 8 or so. This group is likely to include Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert. If they hold strong today, tomorrow, and especially next Monday after having had a whole weekend to negotiate, then McCarthy is done for. The question is whether that group will hold out that long, and what sort of carrots and sticks McCarthy will use to try to get them on board. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/960 "2023-01-05T14:10:04Z")
These “moderate” House Republicans who are willing to make Jeffries Speaker are an illusion, man. They’ll swallow their anger and go along with whatever McCarthy promises the FC to get elected, then hope it works out for the best. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=49)