# 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:** 19
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/361 "2023-10-17T18:06:48Z")
“This is all because of the Biden crime family.” ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/362 "2023-10-17T18:07:20Z")
I think they overestimate the power Trumpism still has over the GOP. Trump endorsed Jordan before the majority of Republicans voted for Scalise in the nomination vote. Only 99 Republicans voted for Trump’s hand picked candidate. More voted against. He (and Trump) probably thought that if they got in public and had to vote they would be scared of them and the MAGA cult, but that fear seems less potent than it once did. Still 200 voted for him, so it worked for a lot of them, but not all of them. Yet. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/363 "2023-10-17T18:15:00Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Why do the members dick around long after the clock hits zero to register their vote? Usually, it’s so they can see how everyone else has voted, so they can cast the “deciding” (usually the 218th) vote. Never mind that, in an electronic vote, there is no record as to the order in which votes are cast. ---
**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, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/364 "2023-10-17T18:15:19Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > So, those who know more about politics than I do… > Did Jordan and his cronies think they actually had enough votes to win this? > Or did they just need to know which arms needed extra twisting? > Or is there some other reason to bring a doomed vote to the floor? He was undoubtedly surprised by the number of defections and where several of them came from. His hope was that a public vote would bully more of them into supporting him. Now he needs to figure how to corral them into his corner. ---
**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, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/365 "2023-10-17T18:17:25Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Unless there’s something I’m missing, it seems like this is just more of the Rs showing themselves for the dysfunctional clowns they are. At some point they have to bring something to a vote, or even the dimmest of their supporters will begin to realize that there is no Speaker entirely because of Republican dysfunction. This vote lets them blame the failure to have a Speaker on a few “RINOs” and/or “Democrats who refuse to compromise their radical leftist agenda”. That keeps the idiot voters in line, since they now have someone else to blame. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/366 "2023-10-17T18:17:55Z")
The Democrat War on America continues. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/367 "2023-10-17T18:19:00Z")
I’m late to this (necktie) party. Can someone summarize the outcome and the implications thereof? ---
**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, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/368 "2023-10-17T18:20:50Z")
Jim Jordan received 200 votes, well short of the 217 he needs to be elected Speaker. He needs to convince 17 of those Republican members who voted for someone else to switch their vote prior to another round of voting. When that will take place isn’t clear. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/369 "2023-10-17T18:24:50Z")
Vote tally from NYT: ```auto LIVEHouse Speaker Vote Tally » Representative Total Dem. Rep. Jordan 200 0 200 Scalise 7 0 7 McCarthy 6 0 6 Zeldin 3 0 3 Emmer 1 0 1 Garcia 1 0 1 Cole 1 0 1 Massie 1 0 1 Jeffries 212 212 0 ``` Congratulations to Hakeem Jeffries, who won the vote according to plurality voting rules, used to elect most officeholders. Let’s review Jim Jordan’s bio: - two-time [NCAA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Collegiate_Athletic_Association) [Division I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_I) [wrestling champion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_Wrestling_Championships) at University of Wisconsin-Madison - Master’s Degree in Education at Ohio State University - Earned Law Degree, but never took bar exam - Assistant wrestling coach, Ohio State University, 1987 to 1995 - Elected to Ohio State House 1994 - Elected to Ohio State Senate 2000 - Elected to US House of Representatives, 2004. In terms of legislative accomplishments, he’s 4th from bottom on the Republican list. This isn’t a guy with policy chops, or negotiating chops. What are they thinking? His sole virtue for the GOP caucus seems to be moral flexibility. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/370 "2023-10-17T18:26:17Z")
Plus nastiness. ---
**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, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/371 "2023-10-17T18:29:08Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > His sole virtue for the GOP caucus seems to be moral flexibility. And the tough-guy mirage, along with the perception from the rubes that he can own the libs. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/372 "2023-10-17T18:48:03Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > This isn’t a guy with policy chops, or negotiating chops. What are they thinking? His sole virtue for the GOP caucus seems to be moral flexibility. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Plus nastiness. Our two weapons are moral flexibility and nastiness … and ruthless efficiency. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/373 "2023-10-17T18:49:27Z")
Our three strenghts are moral flexibility, nastiness and ruthless efficiency… and an almost fanatical devotion to the Orange One… ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/374 "2023-10-17T18:49:37Z")
I’m not sure I’d use ‘ruthless efficiency’ as a description of recent House GOP activity. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/375 "2023-10-17T19:07:14Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > He needs to convince 17 of those Republican members “I just want to find 17 votes, which is one more than we have…” ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/376 "2023-10-17T19:44:44Z")
I’m hearing rumors that a GOP member has said that they personally know 5 members that were yes votes on Jordan that will be no votes now. It may get worse for him from here. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/377 "2023-10-17T19:46:32Z")
I propose Nancy Pelosi as a comprise candidate. Why, you may ask? For maximum comedy! ---
**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, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/378 "2023-10-17T19:48:13Z")
Is 20 a large enough number that the “I am Spartacus” effect dilutes MAGA threats? I think it might just be, but it’s marginal. I’ll feel a lot better if the next vote goes up from 20 rather than down. ---
**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, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/379 "2023-10-17T19:50:03Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I propose Nancy Pelosi as a comprise candidate. Why, you may ask? For maximum comedy! Since we’ve established that it doesn’t have to be a member, why not Obama? His availablity is better than Trump’s. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/380 "2023-10-17T19:52:13Z")
It might. GOP reps in swingy districts are screwed here. They vote for Jordan, they lose next year. They don’t vote for Jordan, they get primaried by a MAGA who can’t win the general. I am starting to think Gaetz didn’t really game this all out before he pitched his tantrum. I really feels like Trump and MAGA still think they have the exact same grip over the entire GOP that they had during 2016 to 2020, but it just doesn’t seem that way. Maybe they still do over most of them, but it’s starting to look like there might just be a certain percentage of their conference that are done going along with whatever Twitler orders them to do. [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=18) [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=20)