# 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:** 87
**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 6, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1721 "2023-01-06T22:17:44Z")
Yes, to be clear I agree with you. The way the house conventionally works is a bit of a wrinkle, but the default to majority rule is why letting McCarthy embarrass himself even if he eventually wins the speakership is good for the outcome of wanting to pass the bills that need to be passed. ---
**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, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1722 "2023-01-06T22:18:31Z")
The person is an idiot scum and a liar but that just looks like raising his hand “here” to me. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1723 "2023-01-06T22:19:25Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > but that just looks like raising his hand “here” to me. It’s not what he’s doing with his right hand; it’s the gesture he’s making with his left hand, under his right elbow. ---
**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 6, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1724 "2023-01-06T22:22:23Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > If McCarthy will be elected Speaker eventually, would it have not been strategically better for the Democrats to vote for him before he gave the 20 Magas more power through promises and committee assignments? They wouldn’t have to vote for him; just not show up for the vote. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1725 "2023-01-06T22:43:17Z")
The concessions that McCarthy has made – particularly seeding the Rules Committee with Freedom Caucus whackos – all but guarantees that a “clean” debt ceiling increase will never see the floor of the House. Any such bill will be absolutely larded up with FC priorities – massive domestic spending cuts, eliminating environmental protections, gutting the IRS, etc. – precisely because it’s a “must pass” bill and that’s their point of highest leverage. ---
**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, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1726 "2023-01-06T22:46:57Z")
Ah. And huh? Assume that someone claiming to be “Jew-ish” is actually a White Power racist. WHY signal it? Makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1727 "2023-01-06T22:53:37Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Makes no sense. Oh, sweet summer child. You are expecting a Republican to make sense? This is the party that perfected talking out both sides of their ass, sometimes in the same sentence. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1728 "2023-01-06T23:05:52Z")
I’m not much of a racist, so I might be too dumb to get it. “Santos” from Brazil is flashing white power signs? To signal what? Does he think his buddies think he’s white? Why does he want to belong to a club whose raison d’être is that they hate him and everybody like him? ---
**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, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1729 "2023-01-06T23:06:13Z")
It appears that special council smith has won another round against trump obstruction. How interesting will it be when some of these house members are arrested? Like perry, who was way up over his head in trying to help trump over throw the election. From the Jan 6 report, enough of them could be charged to toss the majority to the dems. Of course I don’t expect them to step down even if they are convicted. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1730 "2023-01-06T23:07:43Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > I’m not much of a racist, so I might be too dumb to get it. “Santos” from Brazil is flashing white power signs? To signal what? Racist, jew-ish, brazillion etc, doesn’t matter. It’s a dog whistle to let the racists know you’re on their side. ---
**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 6, 2023, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1731 "2023-01-06T23:08:01Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > Why does he want to belong to a club whose raison d’être is that they hate him and everybody like him? Consider it this way: This is what amounts to fundraising in the GOP nowadays. ---
**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 6, 2023, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1732 "2023-01-06T23:09:01Z")
Moderating: This thread is for discussing the House Speaker election process. It is not a catch-all thread to discuss George Santos and his white power sign, the DOJ investigation into members of Congress or other hijacks. Anyone engaging in these discussions needs to find an on-topic thread or create one. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1733 "2023-01-06T23:10:41Z")
Nevermind ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1734 "2023-01-06T23:10:57Z")
Not down the road he can’t. The Republican margin of 10 votes isn’t large enough that they can afford to just ignore however the howler monkeys vote on future things. There’s not a lot of slop with a 10 vote advantage, and even less with 5 who are voting the other way, abstaining, generally being obstructionist, etc… That extremely narrow margin is why this is such an absolute knock down, drag-out fight. It’s setting the stage for whether or not the howler monkeys will be able to control the GOP by virtue of just being petulant and refusing to vote for stuff the party wants, but they may not personally want. ---
**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, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1735 "2023-01-06T23:15:05Z")
Kevin says he has the votes. The absent two will be back in time and he has at least two more. > **[Kevin McCarthy elected US House Speaker after 15 rounds of voting](https://www.yahoo.com/news/kevin-mccarthy-says-votes-become-221643181.html)** > > The Republican is finally chosen after a week of chaos and angry scenes between colleagues in his own party. ---
**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 6, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1736 "2023-01-06T23:20:12Z")
So let’s say KevMac wins this thing. But he’s lowered the threshold on the motion to vacate down to 1. What’s stopping Gaetz or anyone else from making a motion to vacate multiple times a day for the rest of this Congress, forcing votes on KevMac keeping his office on a daily basis? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1737 "2023-01-06T23:22:46Z")
Wouldn’t Gaetz have to be recognized by the speaker to present his motion? ~Max ---
**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 6, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1738 "2023-01-06T23:23:41Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > What’s stopping Gaetz or anyone else from making a motion to vacate multiple times a day for the rest of this Congress, forcing votes on KevMac keeping his office on a daily basis? Oh, don’t worry, silly. They promised not to abuse it. /s As you’ve divined, the _real_ shit show starts _after_ McCarthy gets the gavel. But let’s save that for another thread, I think. ---
**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 6, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1739 "2023-01-06T23:25:57Z")
Fair enough ---
**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 6, 2023, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770/1740 "2023-01-06T23:30:35Z")
What’s the mechanism for only allowing Republicans to make a motion to vacate? Is this just a caucus rule? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=86) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-speaker-contest/974770.md?page=88)