# 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:** 50
**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, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/981 "2023-01-05T15:08:20Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Great, so basically rewarding bad behavior. I’m sure there’s no way it’ll be horrible giving MORE power to the Shit-Throwing Caucus. If once you have paid them the Pain-geld You’ll never get rid of the pain. ---
**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 5, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/982 "2023-01-05T15:09:52Z")
> [@bump](#): > > but to some degree the Democrats hold the cards here That’s the “unity speaker” option. Not impossible if the less crazies get fed up enough. But you need someone that can get enough support from both parties. It would be a test of Jeffries leadership to get enough Ds on board. Upton has been discussed most. ---
**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 5, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/983 "2023-01-05T15:16:03Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > It would be a test of Jeffries leadership to get enough Ds on board. Upton has been discussed most. If this deal cuts out the worst of the Republican party idiots and trolls, I can’t see this being a hard sell, particularly in light of the reports of the concessions McCarthy has apparently agreed to. No way do the Democrats want Boebert et al. to have more actual power. ---
**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 5, 2023, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/984 "2023-01-05T15:29:38Z")
The risk here though is that it’s not only the nutbar trolls who’d be ticked off, you might end up with a _large_ segment of the party feeling betrayed or endangered. I mean really, the “normal” GOP could cut a deal but good God how they are terrorized by their batshit wing … ---
**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 5, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/985 "2023-01-05T15:30:33Z")
I’ve taken that position for a while here but it is not a slam dunk. That said I suspect Jeffries can pull it along with sufficient promises from someone he trusts to keep their promises. ---
**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 5, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/986 "2023-01-05T15:33:17Z")
You just need enough. And there are some whose brands are pragmatic centrism, or what they call centrism anyway, to get there I think. If they are fed up enough. ---
**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 5, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/987 "2023-01-05T15:33:36Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > The risk here though is that it’s not only the **nutbar trolls** who’d be ticked off, you might end up with a _large_ segment of the party feeling betrayed or endangered. Are you talking about the Democrats here? Because they don’t have anything like the nutbars and trolls in the Republican Party. I think the vast majority of Democrats understand that they’re going to get a Republican Speaker _at some point_. So why would any of them balk at an opportunity to get a Republican who isn’t part of the insane wing of the GOP, or beholden to that insane wing for the kind of promises McCarthy is making? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/988 "2023-01-05T15:38:45Z")
At this point I don’t see any compromise candidate having any more power than Kevin would have, ie none to speak of. (Sorry.) The only way Congress is going to function over the next 2 years is for the Howler Monkey Caucus to be ejected (You are **not** of the body!) The House has that power. It’s just that none of the Republicans (at this point) are willing to take that step and piss off the nutballs in their own constituency. Buckle up, folks. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/989 "2023-01-05T15:47:41Z")
Sorry, joining late and not aware if these points have been addressed. What if the republicans can’t decide on anyone, would Nancy remain the Speaker by default? Could another Republican be moderate enough to form a coalition with the help of Democratic votes? If so, who could that be? ---
**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, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/990 "2023-01-05T15:48:29Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > would Nancy remain the Speaker by default? There’s no ‘remain.’ There is no speaker right now. There aren’t even representatives, if I understand correctly. Just representatives-_elect._ ---
**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, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/991 "2023-01-05T15:49:49Z")
Hence my grumping about who exactly authorized the removal of those metal detectors. I know McCarthy prematurely moved into the Speaker’s Office. I wonder what else he did prematurely… ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/992 "2023-01-05T15:55:10Z")
Moving in the office before being elected was a bonehead move, a self-own. Certainly not something one does when looking to move the fence-sitters to your side. If your detractors already think you’re a dick, why provide evidence that you are indeed a dick? ---
**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 5, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/993 "2023-01-05T15:56:32Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > At this point I don’t see any compromise candidate having any more power than Kevin would have, ie none to speak of. Why? The impotence of the position is inherent in the rules that are being demanded. If a dozen “centrist” Republicans compromise with the Democrats then the compromise includes both the person and the rules, with current ones which make snap vote to change difficult. Both want the craziest defanged. It doesn’t seem like there is too much the R craziest can demand and get, but if there was a line, and they crossed it, they would have their seats and soapboxes but not any power. ---
**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, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/994 "2023-01-05T15:56:54Z")
at this point the options are that enough republicans or democrats become “indisposed” to drive down the count so that the number of votes needed goes down. that was done with boehner who was able to get the needed votes due to weather issues and a funeral. ---
**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, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/995 "2023-01-05T15:59:55Z")
this is what really hardened the opposition. the meeting before the first round of voting did not go well as kevin had entitlement moments. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/996 "2023-01-05T16:01:15Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Both want the craziest defanged. That’s just it. Even if the compromise candidate got in with no give-aways, the HMC will be there throwing shit and screwing up a vote whenever they can. The Speaker will be unable to guarantee a majority, which makes them weak to the point of irrelevance. Unless the 20 are **controlled** , chaos is the order of the day. At this point, the only possible control I see is the threat of total expulsion. Of course, the Supremes cut that off with _Powell v McCormack_. So I don’t know what the Speaker could do except refuse to give them any committee assignments, and we saw how well that worked with MTG. ---
**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, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/997 "2023-01-05T16:13:34Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > threat of total expulsion. Of course, the Supremes cut that off with _Powell v McCormack_. Sidebar, but _Powell v McCormack_ on applies to the House refusing to seat a member. The House can expel a member for any reason if they can get the necessary 2/3 vote. ---
**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 5, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/998 "2023-01-05T16:14:34Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The Speaker will be unable to guarantee a majority, which makes them weak to the point of irrelevance. The most a Speaker in this House can be hoped to get done is get budgets and debt limits handled. Maybe name a post office or so. A compromise candidate can prevent the Howlers from blocking those things and can block them from making every day an impeachment day. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/999 "2023-01-05T16:14:45Z")
There you go then. Impossible, but _possible_. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1000 "2023-01-05T16:17:07Z")
It’s a long standing tradition that the presumed office holder moves in early. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=51)