# 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:** 37
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/721 "2023-10-20T03:07:36Z")
One last time. And then I give up. I never said that the big donors controlled the party anymore. I have said that upthread, especially in relation to the FC, that their individual funding enables their “watch the world burn” attitude. But the big funders and corporations -do- have influence. And the shutdown is not good for them. So I made a _specific_ example where they talk to the ‘moderates’ who ARE a lot less likely to be funded by individuals and crazies, that they’d lose their sinecure if they didn’t improve things. As the FC has proven, getting just half a dozen to a dozen individuals to do their own thing is enough to have huge consequences in our system. And if you think there aren’t at least that many in the current House, well, then we see things -quite- differently. ---
**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 20, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/722 "2023-10-20T03:20:13Z")
Exclusive picture of the inner workings of the GOP conference meeting [![](https://i0.wp.com/www.patspropaganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dumpster-fire-pic.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1) ](https://i0.wp.com/www.patspropaganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dumpster-fire-pic.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1) ---
**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 20, 2023, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/723 "2023-10-20T03:41:11Z")
That’s an insult to dumpster fires. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/724 "2023-10-20T03:44:22Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > No, and as @LSLGuy themselves pointed out, it means that if they can’t rule by technically legal means, they’ll abandon those for illegal ones with enough of a fig leaf to con their carefully insulated supporters. Or more direct methods. They will make empty threats. They will not take to arms in a Civil War. They are cowards. ---
**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 20, 2023, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/725 "2023-10-20T04:30:44Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > CO Rep Ken Buck said the lease on one of his offices was cancelled due to the vote against Jordan. How is that possibly legal? Cancel a lease because of a purely political action? So much for the party of “free speech”. ---
**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 20, 2023, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/726 "2023-10-20T04:34:23Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > > One congressman even left the meeting early to pray for an end to the madness. I just found footage of that! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FvjJj6ToAMo/hqdefault.jpg "Alan Rickman has "to go pray"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvjJj6ToAMo) ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/727 "2023-10-20T06:01:44Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I’m not saying the big dollar boys aren’t influential, but Republican politicians have to pay at least as much attention to the desires of their small-dollar donors. Money in general has become less important in politics as we’ve increasingly become hardened in our views and demographics and gerrymandering has made elections increasingly uncompetitive. The few races every cycle that are truly impactful have torrents of money flowing in far more than what either candidate knows what to do with (even longshot races like 2020’s Mitch McConnell vs Amy McGrath where 50M and 90M was poured in from each side respectively to produce a 20 point loss). Academia has been skeptical of the influence of money in politics for a long time but I feel fairly confident in asserting that in 2023, until you get down to very local levels, money is much more of a consequence of success than it is a cause of it. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/728 "2023-10-20T06:42:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > That’s an insult to dumpster fires. [How about this](http://www.mtfr.org/images/toilet-fire.jpg), then? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/729 "2023-10-20T07:09:33Z")
The rule that allows a single representative to trigger a vacate vote on the SotH is bonkers. During this crisis, has there been any talk of ditching it, once a new Speaker gets elected? ETA: if that ever happens, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/730 "2023-10-20T10:06:56Z")
I don’t get how Congress and a few constituents feel need to fight over a speakership. You know what works for me in calming down over politics? Taking a tab of melatonin always puts me right out. I’m sure the firebrands could cope in some fashion for sure. ---
**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 20, 2023, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/731 "2023-10-20T10:43:14Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > the Jordonaires blame the Democrats > [@hajario](#): > > They’re all shook up ![](https://media.tenor.com/ti5W9Mm0DZYAAAAC/captain-america-i-understood-that-reference.gif) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/732 "2023-10-20T10:44:13Z")
It’s not congress as a whole, it’s those wacky Republicans. You’ll notice that Democrats have been voting in unison. ---
**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 20, 2023, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/733 "2023-10-20T12:23:06Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The rule that allows a single representative to trigger a vacate vote on the SotH is bonkers. During this crisis, has there been any talk of ditching it, once a new Speaker gets elected? I wonder about this, too. AIUI, the rule (and everything else Kev gave to the Gaetz contingent) was agreed to at the start of this session, so stays in place until the next session. I hope I am wrong on that. > [@Horatius](#): > > How is that possibly legal? Cancel a lease because of a purely political action? Ah, yes! Cancel culture is rampant among Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/734 "2023-10-20T12:45:35Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I wonder about this, too. AIUI, the rule (and everything else Kev gave to the Gaetz contingent) was agreed to at the start of this session, so stays in place until the next session. I hope I am wrong on that. Fairly sure those rules can be changed, but it takes a vote by the entire House, not just a vote by the Republican caucus. And can’t be done until a new Speaker is elected. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/735 "2023-10-20T12:48:42Z")
This is correct. Once adopted, the rules can only be changed by a majority vote of the chamber. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/736 "2023-10-20T12:59:24Z")
The one vote challenge is just an internal rule for the Republicant Cactus. Dems and the independents have no say in deposing the speaker. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/737 "2023-10-20T13:05:14Z")
That’s not correct. The rules of the House as adopted by the full chamber in January allow any one member to introduce a motion to vacate the chair as a privileged motion that must be voted on by the body. ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/738 "2023-10-20T13:20:32Z")
Pretty much nobody fails to see Jordan is there mainly to protect Trump. Threads: "If you are wondering why Jordan wants the speaker’s gavel so bad and why 199 Republicans are unflinchingly behind him… " > [ > > > > Post by @tobyben1472 > > View on Threads > > ](https://www.threads.net/@tobyben1472/post/CyjMfZ0gs2J) ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/739 "2023-10-20T13:22:52Z")
Maybe this has been answered upthread, but if there’s no Speaker in place, is the senate pro tempore 2nd in the line of presidential succession? If Biden and Harris were incapacitated, would Patty Murray become president? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/740 "2023-10-20T13:24:09Z")
Correct. Cite: [How does presidential succession work with no House speaker? - CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-speaker-presidential-line-of-succession/#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20leading%20the,the%20Senate%20president%20pro%20tempore). Of course there would likely be legal challenges to determine for sure whether McHenry qualifies. [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=36) [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=38)