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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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?
This post (from Dec 23) is looking pretty silly itself about now, don’t you think?
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.
someone not kevin.
at this time the 20 have decided to stick together, going with what ever that q anon motto is.
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.
Is that really necessary?
If Spartz (or somebody else) votes present, then McCarthy only needs 217 to win, so he could lose five and not care.
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.
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 
.
Moderating:
Let’s not use this thread to needle others about making wrong predictions. There’s a Pit for that.
I on the other hand will dance the Dance of Smugness.
I was certain they’d move to adjourn. But here we go again!
Oh lord another speech.
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”.
If they just abstain, then doesn’t Jeffries become Speaker?
“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.