# 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:** 65
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1281 "2023-01-05T21:40:18Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > > > isn’t Jeffries getting 213 votes every time? > > 212 votes every time, from every Democratic representative-elect who is present. > > (They would have 213, but Donald McEachin of Virginia died in late November, after winning re-election.) OK, so they would need all 6 of the “5 or 6”. Still, shit or get off the pot - that’s the quickest way to not have Kevin as speaker. You hate him so much, put up or shut up. I _almost_ wouldn’t want this to happen just because it means I would have to give Gaetz and Bobert credit for doing something good. Almost. ---
**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, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1282 "2023-01-05T21:40:54Z")
he spoke to her to ask if it was true that they were talking to democrats or saying democrats would help mccarthy. it was not true at that time. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1283 "2023-01-05T21:42:14Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > He absolutely needs a sufficient number of those 20. Otherwise, he won’t have enough votes for whatever legislation he needs to get accomplished. That’s not a bug, it’s a feature. The Freedom Caucus is predicated on obstructing everything and focusing on their “investigations” > Gaetz says if Republicans don’t immediately begin impeachment of Biden and Cabinet officials if they get the majority “our voters will feel betrayed” heading into 2024, “and that’s why it should be investigations first, and policy as a far, far diminished priority.” > [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > he’d be still be a useless figurehead of a joke but with a fancy title. Yep. Whether he gives in and gives all of the power to the loonies or reneges and faces obstructions at every turn he would indeed be in impotent figurehead with a fancy title. ---
**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, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1284 "2023-01-05T21:42:45Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Do they? Whatever concessions the Freedom Circus had gotten from McCarthy were from him, alone. If McCarthy does step aside for Scalise to run, don’t the negotiations have to start over? Suppose Boebert, et al., tell Scalise they expect the same committee appointments that McCarthy had promised and Scalise tells them to pound sand. I suspect, in the scenario we’ve outlined, they say “We’ll vote for Scalise but all current offers (hands list) remain valid. Yes/no?” And if they’re told to pound sand, they say fine, and the same 20 ish hold out while the Drama continues. They’re enjoying showing their power. And even if 3/4 of the 20 cave, that still leaves the needed 5 to fuck it up for the rest. The schadenfreude. ---
**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, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1285 "2023-01-05T21:43:21Z")
I gotta wonder — if McCarthy really did cave on all the things reported this morning — what the hold up is on the dozen or so “hard core FC but not Never Kevins” voting for him or abstaining. Are they just working on the details or holding out for more? And if so, what more is there to give? ---
**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, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1286 "2023-01-05T21:44:02Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > I would absolutely be willing to put a decent amount down that McCarthy will be voted in as Speaker by the end of the first day of voting. There’s a non-zero chance that the ultra-crazies will make him sweat it out for a few votes to make a statement, but I bet they fall into line quickly. The GOP is brilliant at falling into line. > > IMO, every other possibility is so remote as to be silly. This post (from Dec 23) is looking pretty silly itself about now, don’t you think? ---
**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, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1287 "2023-01-05T21:45:32Z")
CSPAN is reporting that Buck didn’t vote because he has a doctor’s appointment and won’t be able to vote through tomorrow. Hern’s mother died recently and he has to attend the funeral and will not be available to vote on the weekend if there are votes then. One other GOP rep whose name I missed. His wife just gave birth. It’s unclear what his voting status will be. ---
**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, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1288 "2023-01-05T21:45:35Z")
someone not kevin. at this time the 20 have decided to stick together, going with what ever that q anon motto is. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1289 "2023-01-05T21:45:37Z")
Just for fun I looked up the Congressional Record from December 1923 and the Speaker election. For two days the votes remained very steady with Gillett and Garrett both hovering between 195 and 198, Cooper with 17, Madden with between 4 and 6, and 3 or four “present”. On day three Cooper read into the Record the terms of an agreement he and his fellow holdouts had made with the Majority Leader (Longworth) regarding a 30 day process to revise House rules. Also recorded was Longworth’s confirmation of the agreement. Roll was called again and the Cooper votes went to Gillett, who became speaker. ---
**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, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1290 "2023-01-05T21:46:03Z")
Is that really necessary? ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1291 "2023-01-05T21:46:40Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > And even if 3/4 of the 20 cave, that still leaves the needed 5 to fuck it up for the rest. If Spartz (or somebody else) votes present, then McCarthy only needs 217 to win, so he could lose five and not care. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1292 "2023-01-05T21:47:36Z")
AOC said their conversation was just a “fact check”. Apparently McCarthy was hinting that some Democrats were ready to vote for him, and she was assuring Gaetz that wasn’t true. They weren’t actually negotiating about anything. ---
**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, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1293 "2023-01-05T21:47:56Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > CSPAN is reporting that Buck didn’t vote because he has a doctor’s appointment and won’t be able to vote through tomorrow. > > Hern’s mother died recently and he has to attend the funeral and will not be available to vote on the weekend if there are votes then. > > One other GOP rep whose name I missed. His wife just gave birth. It’s unclear what his voting status will be. Representative Fitzpatrick is on CNN right now saying that we’re at the point that various members will not be present going forward for various reasons. Things are likely to get even crazier, with the math changing on any given day 😬. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1294 "2023-01-05T21:47:56Z")
Moderating: > [@slicedalone](#): > > This post (from Dec 23) is looking pretty silly itself about now, don’t you think? Let’s not use this thread to needle others about making wrong predictions. There’s a Pit for that. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1295 "2023-01-05T21:49:10Z")
I on the other hand will dance the Dance of Smugness. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1296 "2023-01-05T21:50:02Z")
I was certain they’d move to adjourn. But here we go again! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1297 "2023-01-05T21:51:44Z")
Oh lord another speech. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1298 "2023-01-05T21:51:58Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > > [@ShadowFacts](#): > > > > There’s a non-zero chance that the ultra-crazies will make him sweat it out for a few votes to make a statement, but I bet they fall into line quickly. The GOP is brilliant at falling into line. I absolutely would have agreed with that 7 years ago, but then Donald Trump was unleashed on the world. The Donald didn’t fall in line with the establishment Republicans - remember his whole “drain the swamp” thing? He _led_ the establishment Republicans into new and terrifying places - showing them that they could do whatever they wanted with no repercussions. Yes, he drained the swamp of all the 'gaters there; he then re-stocked it with piranhas. Unfortunately the Freedom Caucus thinks they are just like Trump; the problem is that they have no _real_ power. They can’t lead, they can only “blow up”. ---
**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, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1299 "2023-01-05T21:53:20Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I gotta wonder — if McCarthy really did cave on all the things reported this morning — what the hold up is on the dozen or so “hard core FC but not Never Kevins” voting for him or abstaining. If they just abstain, then doesn’t Jeffries become Speaker? ---
**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, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1300 "2023-01-05T21:54:01Z")
“Where else but in America could I have a shot at the United States Congress?” Ummm … no other country in the world has a United States Congress. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=64) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=66)