# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/441 "2023-10-18T02:49:45Z")
I will say, today’s vote has been very useful for me. I tend to take an overly cynical view of what motivates politicians – generally a bloodless, craven calculation of whatever’s in their short-term political interests. But personal relationships among Members still mater. And sometimes, every now and again, they’ll vote against you just because they don’t like you. ---
**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 18, 2023, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/442 "2023-10-18T03:02:43Z")
Translation: Stop being mean to me and let me be the boss! ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/443 "2023-10-18T03:02:51Z")
Deleted, redundant ---
**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 18, 2023, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/444 "2023-10-18T03:13:06Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > They need to use the time to get all the clowns back into the tiny car, so they can pop out tomorrow for our general amusement. They need to get funny clowns like Clarabelle and Bozo instead of evil clowns like the Joker and Pennywise. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/445 "2023-10-18T04:02:57Z")
This has to be fake. It is currently 11:02 PM on 17 Oct 2023 in the Central Time Zone. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/446 "2023-10-18T05:15:20Z")
Embedded tweets show as UTC. QED; > ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/447 "2023-10-18T09:44:46Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Thanks for that explanation. It is probably a sign of my age that my first association for SALT was the [SALT Talks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Arms_Limitation_Talks) of the 1970s. I was thinking, surely those aren’t still a sticking point. Same. We’re officially old. ---
**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 18, 2023, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/448 "2023-10-18T11:14:04Z")
Looks like we’re reaching the point where Jordan assembles a mob to storm the Capitol to overturn the Speaker election. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/449 "2023-10-18T11:57:27Z")
I think you mean “invite some tourists to peacefully wander around the Capitol and ensure that only legal votes (defined as ‘votes for Jim Jordan’) are counted and certified”. ---
**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 18, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/450 "2023-10-18T12:29:58Z")
Oh, come on now! At least he accepted the results of the first vote! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/451 "2023-10-18T13:08:52Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I’m skeptical whether the resistance will hold, though of course I’ll be thrilled if it does. But I think that article makes a good point that a reason why these tactics aren’t having the desired effect is that Members realize this is a preview of _anytime_ they end up opposed to what a Speaker Jordan wants to do. Anytime they refuse to be steamrolled on a vote, he’s going to turn the right-wing ecosystem against them. They have no reason to believe or trust him when he tries to distance himself from these attacks. Yes. It’s quite evident Jordan is running for Dictator of the House, not Speaker. Fascists are like that. The problem is the Rs are rapidly running out of non-Fascists. Either to be Speaker or to vote for a Speaker. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2023, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/452 "2023-10-18T14:07:05Z")
Let’s assume that Jordan does not get the votes and the McHenry as Speaker occurs. How does he manage the threat of suffering the same fate as McCarthy? Does he? Can he force through rule changes as part of agreeing to take the job that otherwise only a fool should want? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/453 "2023-10-18T15:05:37Z")
My understanding is he would not be elected Speaker but rather granted extra powers for a limited period of time. Likely with Democratic support. So you would basically have a quasi-unity government situation to vote on a limited set of bills through the end of the year. Or until the GOO can elect a real speaker. And McHenry wouldn’t be deposed because the Democrats and sane Republicans would vote down any motion to give him the boot or limit his powers. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/454 "2023-10-18T15:06:49Z")
House Freedom Caucus chairman trying to lower expectations ahead of the vote: > ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/455 "2023-10-18T15:42:48Z")
I read somewhere yesterday that after today’s vote, Jeffries will have received the most votes for Speaker ever, even more than anyone who has actually been speaker. ---
**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 18, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/456 "2023-10-18T15:51:09Z")
Maybe that one person is intentionally holding out because there are negotiations going on. But it’s a Democrat… ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/457 "2023-10-18T15:51:34Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I read somewhere yesterday that after today’s vote, Jeffries will have received the most votes for Speaker ever, even more than anyone who has actually been speaker. Unlikely, William Aiken was voted on 133 times over the course of 2 months in 1855 before finally being defeated 103 - 100 by Nathaniel Banks. > **[The Longest and Most Contentious Speaker Election in House History | US House...](https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/The-longest-and-most-contentious-Speaker-election-in-its-history/)** > > At the conclusion of the longest and most contentious Speaker election in House history, the House elected Representative Nathaniel Banks of Massachusetts as its presiding officer for the 34th Congress (1855–1857). Sectional conflict over slavery and... ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/458 "2023-10-18T15:54:43Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Maybe that one person is intentionally holding out because there are negotiations going on. But it’s a Democrat… If a Democrat genuinely isn’t present, that reduces Jordan’s vote total needed to 216. ---
**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 18, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/459 "2023-10-18T15:55:51Z")
First lie: “the honorable Jim Jordan” ---
**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 18, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/460 "2023-10-18T15:59:48Z")
A scorecard for our use today. Those Republicans who voted for someone other than Jordan yesterday, so we can keep our eyes on them. 1. **Rep. Don Bacon,** of Nebraska, was the first to cast a vote for McCarthy. 2. **Rep. Ken Buck, of Colorado** , voted for Emmer. 3. **Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer** , of Oregon, voted for McCarthy. 4. **Rep. Anthony D’Esposito** , of New York, voted for Zeldin. 5. **Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart** , of Florida, voted for Scalise. 6. **Rep. Jake Ellzey,** of Texas, voted for Garcia. 7. **Rep. Andrew Garbarino** , of New York, was the second to vote for Zeldin. 8. **Rep. Carlos Giménez, of Florida** , voted for McCarthy. 9. **Rep. Tony** **Gonzales** , of Texas, voted for Scalise. 10. **Rep. Kay Granger,** of Texas, voted for Scalise. 11. **Rep. John James** , of Michigan, voted for Cole. 12. **Rep. Mike Kelly** , of Pennsylvania, voted for Scalise. 13. **Rep. Jennifer Kiggans** , of Virginia, voted for McCarthy. 14. **Rep. Nick LaLota,** of New York, voted for Zeldin 15. **Rep. Doug LaMalfa,** of California, voted for McCarthy. 16. **Rep. Michael Lawler** , of New York, voted for McCarthy. 17. **Rep. John Rutherford** , of Florida, voted for Scalise. 18. **Rep. Michael Simpson** , of Idaho, voted for Scalise. 19. **Rep. Victoria Spartz,** of Indiana, voted for Massie. 20. **Rep. Steve Womack,** of Arkansas, voted for Scalise. **Rep. Gus Bilirakis** , of Florida was absent from the vote. I wonder if he asked Cole to give the nominating speech because he was one of the people who received a protest vote. Scalise reportedly wouldn’t give it. [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=22) [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=24)