# The Great Ongoing Revolving Speakership of the 118th Congress {Mike Johnson is new speaker as of 2023-10-25} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 12, 2023, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432 "2023-10-12T02:05:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/301 "2023-10-17T13:34:51Z")
Christ. They’re really going to do it. Gym Jordan will be Speaker. I’m surprise they aren’t going for MTG. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/302 "2023-10-17T13:39:14Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > If a majority of the House decides they have the authority to pass an amendment to the rules while under a Speaker pro tem, then they have that authority. If you can organize a majority to make this guy sort-of-Speaker, why wouldn’t that same majority just vote him in as regular Speaker? The whole problem here is that no one (so far) has had a majority to do anything. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/303 "2023-10-17T14:20:40Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > But the point is, they can’t adopt new rules without a proper Speaker in place. So how do they change these rules? Why not? The pro tem may not have the full power of the Speaker but he still is the presiding officer and the House is still a deliberative body. I don’t see any reason why they could not pass rules relating to the power of the Chair. > [@Horatius](#): > > If you can organize a majority to make this guy sort-of-Speaker, why wouldn’t that same majority just vote him in as regular Speaker? Because “sort-of-Speaker” implies limited powers; just enough to make the House functional. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/304 "2023-10-17T14:23:33Z")
Everyone load up C-SPAN at 12 noon EDT to see the fireworks. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/305 "2023-10-17T14:28:28Z")
Keep your vomit bucket handy. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/306 "2023-10-17T14:34:33Z")
I expect not a bang, but a whimper. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/307 "2023-10-17T14:49:12Z")
As of now he looks like within a margin very close to McCarthy’s near the end and getting closer. Alas the “mainstream” Rs have proven _they_ don’t have it in their gut to hold out for multiple days and ballots. The FC’s advantage in this fight is that while a “mainstream” candidate would have to grovel and humiliate himself for those last few votes —see: McCarthy, Kevin—, a radicalcore candidate can feel comfortable going hardball on the offensive. Can’t blame Scalise for deciding he was in no position to do either, especially with his health issues. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/308 "2023-10-17T15:00:46Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I expect not a bang, but a whimper. I fully expect I will be whimpering. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/309 "2023-10-17T15:27:40Z")
The holdouts, if there are still any, will fold quickly, i predict. What reason could they publicly give for opposing Jordan that wouldn’t get them in trouble with the cult? He’s an election denier? The mob loves that. He was an integral part of trump’s Jan 6 plan? That’s only a bonus! He’s a far-right lunatic fringe MAGA nut who wants to blow up the world? Yes, and…? ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/310 "2023-10-17T15:57:04Z")
We go live in a couple of minutes. Looking forward to playing along with you all. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/311 "2023-10-17T16:06:42Z")
I can’t believe that we open government sessions with a fucking prayer. At least it was generic. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/312 "2023-10-17T16:17:36Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I can’t believe that we open government sessions with a fucking prayer. … Turns my stomach as well. I guess the Repubs really want to dispel any lingering notion that there might be such a thing as a reasonable moderate Republican who is interested in responsible governance. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/313 "2023-10-17T16:21:47Z")
Buck, Bacon, Kelly, Diaz-Balart and Gimenez are supposedly still NO. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/314 "2023-10-17T16:26:58Z")
You mean that we “…_still_ open…”. It has been the case for who knows how long and good luck being the one who stops it. Though the other day the guest chaplain was from the Sikh Temple so at least it was different. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/315 "2023-10-17T16:27:37Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > The holdouts, if there are still any, will fold quickly, i predict. What reason could they publicly give for opposing Jordan that wouldn’t get them in trouble with the cult? If there are 100 who don’t want him, they could take turns with a different 5 each time. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/316 "2023-10-17T16:27:48Z")
Buck, Bacon, Diaz-Balart, Kelly, Lawler, and Gimenez are expected to be NO on the first ballot which is enough to sink him. Per Politico, this is expected to take multiple ballots. > **[Jordan prepares for multiple speaker ballots with detractors dug in](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/10/17/congress/jordan-remains-short-00121937)** > > At least five GOP members are still vowing to oppose him in a public floor vote Tuesday, though some predict he'll see success in subsequent ballots. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/317 "2023-10-17T16:29:55Z")
Why do the members dick around long after the clock hits zero to register their vote? ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/318 "2023-10-17T16:30:24Z")
Love how they set a 15 minute time limit on the vote which is totally ignored. Most of us would be fired if we were habitually late to meetings like that. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/319 "2023-10-17T16:46:48Z")
This nominator is literally a liar and evil. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/320 "2023-10-17T16:51:26Z")
Here we go again… [![](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmgoblog.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fusers%2Fuser202636%2F2022-10%2Fout%2520123.gif&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=2fc667b852d64200d299605f3e7df40ba12f1c97877cff6e065127becfbe8151&ipo=images) ](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmgoblog.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fusers%2Fuser202636%2F2022-10%2Fout%2520123.gif&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=2fc667b852d64200d299605f3e7df40ba12f1c97877cff6e065127becfbe8151&ipo=images) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432.md?page=17)