# 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:** 78
**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 6, 2023, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1541 "2023-01-06T17:02:13Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Why is it that none of the 20 never-Kevins (nevers-Kevin?) has tried nominating Scalise to try to crack the McCarthy block? Because … Scalise would at this point instruct his supporters to vote McCarthy. He bides his time. No need to stab Cesar when Cesar will end up holding the door for you, instructing his supporters to follow you through. And they will wring out every imaginable concession from McCarthy first assuming that those will follow through to Scalise. ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1542 "2023-01-06T17:04:33Z")
Here we go again. McCarthy is slinging more babble in the press. ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1543 "2023-01-06T17:10:31Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > > There are currently 19 or 20 votes blocking McCarthy, not 5. > > Everyone keeps talking about Scalise as a possible fallback. Why is it that none of the 20 never-Kevins (nevers-Kevin?) has tried nominating Scalise to try to crack the McCarthy block? THEORETICALLY, the process is supposed to go “people are nominated; members vote; votes are tallied. No one wins? Make some deals. Lather-rinse-repeat.” THEORETICALLY, someone could nominate Scalise or some other Republican, and we could see the votes start creeping towards the new member until they get enough. IN REALITY, the 202 Republicans have pledged their support to McCarthy. They probably all voted for him as House Majority Leader. It would be a show of party disloyalty if they voted against him (or even ran against him). Since McCarthy holds the fundraising purse strings, they would like some of that sweet sweet campaign cash, they’re not going to piss him off. Isn’t that why one of the “Never Kevins” is in the group - McCarthy didn’t give him any help after he primaried an incumbent (R)? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1544 "2023-01-06T17:11:07Z")
What prevents McCarthy from just promising whatever these 20 hardliners want, and then promptly withdrawing them once he does become Speaker? Are the promises going to be written and signed on paper with the force of contract? ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1545 "2023-01-06T17:11:58Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > Isn’t that why one of the “Never Kevins” is in the group - McCarthy didn’t give him any help after he primaried an incumbent (R)? I saw this in an article interviewing Bob Good, ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1546 "2023-01-06T17:12:39Z")
275 present so they have a quorum. They are calling for the clerks to take their seats. Vote 12 to begin. McCarthy nominated. ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1547 "2023-01-06T17:13:22Z")
Apparently God wants McCarthy as Speaker but last I checked, God wasn’t a Representative-elect. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1548 "2023-01-06T17:14:04Z")
They’re back in session now, and the clerk announced there were 275 members present. It’s enough for a quorum, but unless a lot of members are out in the hall somewhere, that’s going to make vote counting tricky. ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1549 "2023-01-06T17:14:25Z")
It is my understanding that the maybe Kevin group want it in writing and read on the floor. The never Kevin group don’t care. ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1550 "2023-01-06T17:15:07Z")
Those 20 will go public with what they were promised, and then publicly and relentlessly flog McCarthy for welching on those promises, further dividing the party and creating distractions. Hmm, put that way I am in favor of your suggestion! ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1551 "2023-01-06T17:16:51Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > And no help from Republican PACs until they’ve shown they can play nice - let them go out and raise their own contributions. One of the commentators on CNN yesterday was a retired GOP Representative. He said that most of the Never Kevins were in such safe GOP seats that they didn’t need any Party assistance. Their own fund-raising was more than enough to keep them competitive. ETA: Wall Street Journal article makes this point: [https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-big-money-donors-cant-reel-in-gop-rebels-11673012291?mod=djemalertNEWS](https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-big-money-donors-cant-reel-in-gop-rebels-11673012291?mod=djemalertNEWS) > [@](#): > > Big Republican donors haven’t been much help in pushing California Rep. Kevin McCarthy over the finish line in [his bid to become speaker](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/house-speaker-vote-kevin-mccarthy-gop?mod=article_inline) of the House of Representatives. > > The reason: [His dissenters](https://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-blocking-kevin-mccarthy-unlikely-to-face-blowback-at-home-11672922674?mod=article_inline) don’t need them. > > About half the Republicans opposing [Mr. McCarthy’s bid for House speaker](https://www.wsj.com/articles/kevin-mccarthys-house-speaker-bid-heads-to-fourth-day-as-talks-continue-11673002595?mod=article_inline) fund their campaigns through small, online contributions instead of counting on major donors and corporate political-action committees, a Wall Street Journal review of Federal Election Commission reports found. > > Those streams of $5 and $10 donations can turn into a flood when a lawmaker stakes out a contrarian position and [stokes political drama](https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-house-speaker-drama-has-one-winner-c-span-11673017215?mod=article_inline). > > “Many of the holdouts do not rely on major donors, PACs and the traditional offerings that a political party can provide,” said Ken Spain, a corporate adviser in Washington and former communications director of the National Republican Congressional Committee. “There’s a perverse incentive for members to elevate their personal brand at the expense of the governing majority.” ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1552 "2023-01-06T17:18:32Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > They’re back in session now, and the clerk announced there were 275 members present. It’s enough for a quorum, but unless a lot of members are out in the hall somewhere, that’s going to make vote counting tricky. A similar thing happened yesterday. I feel like they just count until they are sure that there are enough and stop counting. ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1553 "2023-01-06T17:19:02Z")
Well, that remark about “staying at home and proxy voting” won’t endear McCarthy to the Democrats. ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1554 "2023-01-06T17:19:50Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > They’re back in session now, and the clerk announced there were 275 members present. It’s enough for a quorum, but unless a lot of members are out in the hall somewhere, that’s going to make vote counting tricky. It’s a quick count until they establish a majority of members are present. It is not inclusive of all members. That is a Quorum Call which is different than a Point of Order to establish a quorum exists. ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1555 "2023-01-06T17:20:20Z")
Yep, don’t expect help from the other side. ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1556 "2023-01-06T17:20:38Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Well, that remark about “staying at home and proxy voting” won’t endear McCarthy to the Democrats. Note to McCarthy: Don’t have an asshole give your nomination speech. ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1557 "2023-01-06T17:21:12Z")
Too late for that x12. ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1558 "2023-01-06T17:21:35Z")
Ohhh, a big gun on the dem side. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1559 "2023-01-06T17:22:38Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > a big gun on the dem side. who? Who, I say (thanks Discourse) ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1560 "2023-01-06T17:23:10Z")
James Clyburn of (I believe) South Carolina. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=77) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=79)