# 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:** 61
**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, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1201 "2023-01-05T20:24:13Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 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. This is most definitely true. Any moderate GOP candidate who gets over the line through Dem votes will be immediately suspect, but even more so a candidate the Democrats suggest. Any Republican who voted for them (even moderate Republicans) would destroyed in a primary in 2 years. ---
**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, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1202 "2023-01-05T20:25:59Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > 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. Don’t forget the investigations they want into Hunter Biden and the Biden Crime Family, which is somehow being paid off by the Chinese Communist Party; which will end in the impeachment of Godfather Joe Biden. Revenge, you know, for impeaching Trump. It sounds like an old Western movie: “First we give him a fair trial. _Then_ we find him guilty.” I don’t think Republican moderates are terribly keen on such an idea, but I’d suppose that it’s a good guess that investigations such as described above are one of the concessions the wackos want in exchange for their votes. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1203 "2023-01-05T20:26:34Z")
So who will step up and nominate someone new? ---
**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 5, 2023, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1204 "2023-01-05T20:27:43Z")
Who will put the bell on the cat? ---
**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, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1205 "2023-01-05T20:29:03Z")
How many roads must a candidate walk down before you can call him a speaker? ---
**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, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1206 "2023-01-05T20:30:52Z")
This guy from Montana is actually explaining a real principled objection to current House process, and by extension, the objection to the current leadership. ETA: Matt Rosendale, nominating Donalds. ---
**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 5, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1207 "2023-01-05T20:31:29Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > Ha! Thanks for that. I needed a giggle today. Guess what happened _again_?!? 😁 ---
**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, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1208 "2023-01-05T20:32:55Z")
The fear of what could happen if this drags on long enough that sonething essential needs to be passed and there is still no speaker is something the dems should juat ignore until its actually imminent and then they can cut a deal with more of a position of strength. There is no real downside to letting the Republicans continue to implode until there is a deadline. As for when/how the mainstream ot moderate Republicans decide to change course, my guess is that they would still want to do things the “proper” way where they only change caucus leaders by majority support of the caucus and they don’t use bully tactics out in the open. At some point they will likely coalesce around a successor leader who they hope doesn’t have the same baggage as mccarthy and restart the negotiations with the freedom caucus with the new leadership group. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1209 "2023-01-05T20:34:11Z")
I like this speaker. Maybe **he** should be nominated for Speaker. ---
**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, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1210 "2023-01-05T20:35:45Z")
I was quite confident that McCarthy would end up Speaker eventually, even if the wackos held his feet to the fire for a while to eke out concessions. But it does _appear_ (one can never truly trust what any of them say) that there are at least 5 members who absolutely, positively, stamp-their-feet-and-cry-about-it will never vote for him, and that’s enough to scuttle him. So, now I’m thinking they’re going to bang their heads against the wall for a certain amount of time, then end up with Scalise, which is as face-saving for both sides\* as possible. Take this thought for what it is worth, given my earlier thinking about McCarthy 🙂 \*_Those sides being, of course, crazy GOP house members versus super crazy GOP house members._ ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1211 "2023-01-05T20:37:59Z")
I figure that Kevin has played all his cards. He’s done. He’ll probably continue to push but by say next week they’ll roll out the oft mentioned scalise … And if the Republicans get lucky the freak squad will offer up 5 to 10 votes and the rest present. The never Kevin’s take their win and as many concessions that kevin would have offered. Otherwise if they continue to exert their power then yes eventually some remaining quasi sane Republicans who don’t want to deal with this crap / figure on retiring is a decent move get together and nominate someone after backroom talks with the democrats. One week is drama, two is recoverable but if they get to three those reps not from deep trumpandia are going to be looking at unrecoverable damagre to their campaigns. ---
**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, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1212 "2023-01-05T20:39:31Z")
Boebert now nominating Hearn. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1213 "2023-01-05T20:40:27Z")
Thank God she’s not my Rep. Buck is bad enough. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1214 "2023-01-05T20:40:53Z")
Who nominated Donalds this round? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1215 "2023-01-05T20:41:06Z")
Wouldn’t switching to an exhaustive ballot where after each round the candidate with the least votes inside of letting Representatives write in names on every ballot prevent a crisis like this? Eventually someone would end up with a majority. > [@ISiddiqui](#): > > McCarthy has already offered the 20 all that he basically can. At this point he just needs to remove himself from nomination. Has he tried offering to have sex with a pig on live television yet? ---
**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 5, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1216 "2023-01-05T20:41:29Z")
I got that reference! ---
**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, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1217 "2023-01-05T20:41:35Z")
To be honest, that’s all that was going to happen anyway. The only thing the House Pubs really had queued up were Joe & Hunter investigations. If the House Republicans can’t perform their constitutional duties, the president should declare an emergency and do what has to be done to protect the nation. If that means taking on unauthorized debt to fund the government so be it. Let the courts sort it out afterward while Joe looks like a hero for doing what had to be done in the face of Republican skullfuckery and dereliction of duties. Now, in all likelihood, this shitshow won’t go on for a year or two, but if it did, that’s obviously unprecedented, so likewise Biden’s response would be unprecedented. And it makes Biden and the Dems the sane adults. In short, i don’t see any benefit of throwing the Pubs a lifeline here. Even a worst- case scenario of no Speaker until 2024 wouldn’t likely be the end of our nation if Biden declares an emergency. This seems like a bit of a hijack (the what-ifs of no Speaker for a prolonged period), so I’ll bow out of this line of conversation here. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1218 "2023-01-05T20:42:01Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > And if the Republicans get lucky the freak squad will offer up 5 to 10 votes and the rest present. Believe it or not, this won’t be sufficient. The ‘present’ votes don’t count, so if at least 11 vote ‘present’ and all the Dems stay united, you only need 212 votes to win, which would mean Hakeem Jeffries wins the vote. That limits the number of protest non-votes there can be. ---
**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, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1219 "2023-01-05T20:42:24Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Who nominated Donalds this round? Matt Rosendale from Montana ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1220 "2023-01-05T20:45:07Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I got that reference! [![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9bs0icLXf1qajc4eo1_500.gif) ](https://64.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9bs0icLXf1qajc4eo1_500.gif) Stranger [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=60) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=62)