# 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:** 60
**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, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1181 "2023-01-05T19:45:54Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Kevin Hearn apparently. That was the joke. > > I am voting for Kevin…Hern. If they really want to make that joke, they should vote for Kevin McAllister 😜. ---
**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 5, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1182 "2023-01-05T19:47:51Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Except that the nation will fall apart when we default on our debt and have to shut down the federal government because the House couldn’t address these issues without a Speaker. Of course, the House may be unable to address them _with_ a Speaker so maybe it doesn’t matter. Maybe this is the Republicans’ end-game, with all the “drain the swamp” talk. They’d rather burn it down than have to compromise. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1183 "2023-01-05T19:48:11Z")
Yes but, and hear me out, that may create a market for killer robots. Huh? Huh?!? See. Yeah. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1184 "2023-01-05T19:49:16Z")
This is my lovely wife’s theory. ---
**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, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1185 "2023-01-05T19:49:29Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > What in the Republican agenda … Is the only possible to do things on their agenda? Again, there will be an outcome. What outcome is best for the world, the country, the Democratic Party? For none of them is is a prolonged lack of a government that can pay their staff or respond to a crisis. The howlers having more power is a bad outcome for all. A step away from hyperpartisanship OTOH serves all those parties and not the howlers or even the GOP in general. It even helps Biden. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1186 "2023-01-05T19:50:02Z")
same as it ever was ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1187 "2023-01-05T19:51:46Z")
McCarthy has already offered the 20 all that he basically can. At this point he just needs to remove himself from nomination. ---
**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 5, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1188 "2023-01-05T19:52:05Z")
I’m not convinced that can’t be addressed by President Biden. [I posted this upthread about a similar situation from when Obama was president.](https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2013/10/14/president-obama-should-issue-an-executive-order-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling/) And if Republicans in Congress want to challenge his executive actions on the debt limit on up to the Supreme Court, let them. It’ll just shine a brighter light on a dysfunctional Republican Party that’s stacked the USSC with stooges and toadies who would rather play petty politics than keep our Republic afloat. I suspect there are enough mechanisms in place to make sure minimal levels of the federal government can still keep operating without a functioning House. Let this go on for another two years, and let this be the death of the modern-day GOP. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1189 "2023-01-05T19:52:14Z")
You are correct. They are nihilists. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1190 "2023-01-05T19:53:57Z")
“Into the blue again, after the money’s gone” ---
**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, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1191 "2023-01-05T19:56:13Z")
kevin the 8th i am i am. kevin the 8th i am. ---
**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 5, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1192 "2023-01-05T19:56:23Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > You are correct. They are nihilists. 😁 “Nihilists! F\*ck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it’s an ethos.” - Walter Sobchak ---
**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, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1193 "2023-01-05T19:59:47Z")
It may be that a debt ceiling crisis can be avoided without Congress (but even then it would be at significant cost to our democracy), but the Constitution is clear that money cannot be appropriated for the government without Congress. When the current budget runs out in September of 2023, it will require Congressional action to keep the federal government operating. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1194 "2023-01-05T20:03:55Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I suspect there are enough mechanisms in place to make sure minimal levels of the federal government can still keep operating without a functioning House. It’s not just a non-functioning House; it’s a non-functioning Congress. If the House can’t pass legislation, neither can the Senate and no bills land on Joe’s desk. About all that can happen is judicial and other appointments being approved by the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1195 "2023-01-05T20:08:15Z")
CNN is reporting that Andy Biggs is sending out fundraising e-mails today: “Fellow American! We blocked Kevin McCarthy from becoming Speaker …” ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1196 "2023-01-05T20:12:49Z")
Yep, every time I mention nihilists there are plenty of Lebowski replies. But still, at the end of the day, people like Gaetz, Boebert, Gosar, Good, etc just want to take McCarthy and the party establishment down. They keep railing about the “swamp” and have all said no way they vote for Kevo. There are at least 5 in this camp and that’s all it takes to stymie things. If McCarthy drops out, I don’t even know if the replacement would be likely to get elected. Even someone like Scalise because he’s just as swampy as the other guy. I’m no longer clear on how this ends. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1197 "2023-01-05T20:13:13Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > He can redirect funds from one department to another as needed, especially if it means keeping the government functional as Republicans in Congress fiddle. Eventually, the other departments will run out of money, as well. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1198 "2023-01-05T20:17:29Z")
I’d be surprised if he and the others _weren’t_ fundraising off this mess. At the end of the day, that’s what this is all really about. Keep getting the rubes to open their wallets. ---
**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 5, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1199 "2023-01-05T20:18:00Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I’m no longer clear on how this ends. I think the more sane of the GOP, the establishment ones, will eventually walk across the aisle, hat in hand, and offer some sort of compromise candidate, and some major concessions to the Democrats. Like some of the things mentioned in this thread. They’ll never offer to vote for a Democrat, but they would have to acknowledge the nincompoops in their party have dropped turds in their punchbowl and they want to kick them to the curb. I know it’s a slim chance, but there is a sliver of light going this path. The way they are going now is madness. ---
**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 5, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1200 "2023-01-05T20:19:07Z")
The Democratic play, AFAICT, is: 1. Stay firm in supporting Jeffries as long as the alternatives are loathsome scum like McCarthy or Donalds. 2. Keep saying, “Hey moderate Republicans, our door is open as soon as you’re ready to negotiate.” 3. Re-evaluate this plan if it looks like the country–not Congress, the country–is in trouble. This is smart. McCarthy is a dirtbag, and having him in control would be a disaster. He would deliberately stymie things that would be good for the country, out of a mix of naked ambition and cowardice. Donalds has said he doesn’t want the job, and he’s obviously not going to get the position. We don’t even need to discuss him: his candidacy is a prop. Other candidates might be acceptable to Democrats, **but it’s not up to them to suggest a Republican candidate**. Indeed, any candidate that’s nominated **by a Democrat** has almost no chance of success. If moderate Republicans want an alternative to dirtbag McCarthy, it will only succeed if they’re the ones making the suggestion. McCarthy will do real damage to the country, from the perspective of someone on the left like me, and presumably from the perspective of someone to my right like most Democratic representatives. The only reason to vote for him is if the lack of a Speaker is doing more damage than McCarthy could ever manage to do–and that point is a long way off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=59) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=61)