# 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:** 66
**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, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1301 "2023-01-05T21:55:02Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Oh lord another speech. Let’s start a drinking game for nominating speeches. I’ll start. Drink if you hear any of the following: Fentanyl Washington is broken Protect our borders ---
**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, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1302 "2023-01-05T21:57:28Z")
how did they put it in “firefly”? " **Da Shiong La Se La Ch’Wohn Tian** explosive diarrhea of an elephant. ---
**Author:** ![2nd\_Law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f475e1/32.png) [@2nd\_Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2nd_Law)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1303 "2023-01-05T21:58:46Z")
Listening to this nominating speech for McCarthy, I’d say the chances of any Democrats voting for McCarthy, considering stuff said like “investigating the executive branch,” are exactly zero. ---
**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, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1304 "2023-01-05T21:59:06Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > This post (from Dec 23) is looking pretty silly itself about now, don’t you think? Given the moderation, I won’t respond here other than to quote myself from **two days ago** : > [@House Speaker Contest](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/436): > > Well, there goes one of my predictions: I expected McCarthy would likely clinch it on day one. Very happy to be wrong about that! partying_face ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1305 "2023-01-05T22:01:35Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > That being an act of war, we (the US) would need to declare war in order to retaliate. But only Congress can declare war. And that’s why the US hasn’t gone to war since 1945. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1306 "2023-01-05T22:03:00Z")
Kevin loses the 9th round. Will Kevin McCarthy’s campaign for speaker last longer than a head of wet lettuce? Will someone nominate the lettuce? Would it get more votes than Kevin? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1307 "2023-01-05T22:04:17Z")
The Taliban 20 might be holding out for inclusion in prominent investigations to come. Because that silly bunch ran for Congress to get on tv, get famous and then get rich. Grilling Hunter is non-serious and non-productive but by god their faces will be in front of the cameras screeching nonsense that gets Maga Nation all moist. The problem is that a portion of McCarthy’s bloc has told him that even one gavel in the hands of the crazies will lead to their immediate defection. The Dems and an outside candidate may be his only move. ---
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1308 "2023-01-05T22:04:49Z")
NOW he’s pathetic?!? I think he’s been pathetic for a while. ---
**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, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1309 "2023-01-05T22:05:11Z")
McCarthy, Jeffries, Donalds, and Hern again. I’m starting to feel like Biff Tannen in the _Back to the Future_ movies. I’ve got the Sports Almanac, and can safely predict the outcome of something that hasn’t yet happened. ---
**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, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1310 "2023-01-05T22:05:49Z")
I wonder if the 11th round will happen later today or tomorrow. It really does seem pointless to continue today. ---
**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, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1311 "2023-01-05T22:06:42Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > The GOP is brilliant at falling into line. Interesting that this bit comes up because I’ve been pondering it today. You were absolutely right when you said that, and I **still think you’re right**. I think what we’re seeing is the formation of a genuine third party. But instead of it coming from a Trump-tantrum, _the call is coming from inside the house._ The Freedom Caucus is showing that they have no interest in being part of the GOP anymore. And, absurdly, I think they could actually make a go at creating a legitimate voting bloc as a legitimate third party because I don’t think it’s out of the question for them to get re-elected as members of a “Freedom Party.” Especially if they could convince Trump to come with. The GOP is still falling in line. The holdouts have effectively left the party. ---
**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, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1312 "2023-01-05T22:07:43Z")
> [@StraightTalk](#): > > NOW he’s pathetic?!? I think he’s been pathetic for a while. Well, yeah - he was a pathetic but successful politician. Now he’s just pathetic. ---
**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, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1313 "2023-01-05T22:09:06Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > That being an act of war, we (the US) would need to declare war in order to retaliate. But only Congress can declare war. > > We’ve got no House of Representatives, so how could we proceed? Well President doesn’t need a declaration of war or permission from Congress to retaliate, even with nuclearweapons. Indeed technically the _Governor of Hawaii_ could take action without waiting for the federal government (_that_ provision made more sense in 1788.) ---
**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, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1314 "2023-01-05T22:13:54Z")
CSPAN doesn’t have the tally visual this round. I miss it. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1315 "2023-01-05T22:14:11Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > _the call is coming from inside the house._ Well done ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1316 "2023-01-05T22:20:58Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > > [@Railer13](#): > > > > That being an act of war, we (the US) would need to declare war in order to retaliate. But only Congress can declare war. > > And that’s why the US hasn’t gone to war since 1945. Nope. “Declare war” and “make war” are completely different things. I don’t know where the myth came from that not declaring war somehow prevents fighting or makes it illegitimate or some such nonsense. ---
**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, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1317 "2023-01-05T22:20:58Z")
Some sort of hold up in the roll . . . ---
**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, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1318 "2023-01-05T22:21:09Z")
Anyone know what’s happening? They stopped calling names. ETA: the graphic is back, and they’re calling names again. Maybe they were waiting for it to update or something. ---
**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, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1319 "2023-01-05T22:21:21Z")
> [@gnarator](#): > > Well done 🤭 ---
**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, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1320 "2023-01-05T22:27:02Z")
Hern’s picked up a couple more votes from Donalds this round, looks like he’s got all the momentum! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=65) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=67)