# 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:** 46
**Author:** ![Digger11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Digger11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digger11)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/901 "2023-10-21T05:36:14Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > DINO/RINO: It used to be a silly concept. If you voted with the Dems on procedural stuff, you were effectively a Democrat. Ditto if you were a Republican. > > But now there are actual Republicans in Name Only, congressional members who call themselves Republicans but refuse to vote on rules and the like even when those rules are supported by an overwhelming majority within the GOP House. Ironically, they are all Freedom Caucus members, Gaetz et al. They can’t do that core job that members in the least safe districts can do. They are RINOs: I’ll list them. > > Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona > Ken Buck of Colorado > Tim Burchett of Tennessee > Eli Crane of Arizona > Matt Gaetz of Florida > Bob Good of Virginia > Nancy Mace of South Carolina > Matt Rosendale of Montana. This post is exceedingly silly. Ken Buck is one of the most staunch conservatives around. To call him a RINO is to strip the English language of all meaning. ---
**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 21, 2023, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/902 "2023-10-21T06:21:26Z")
Majority Whip Tom Emmer is said to be the front runner. He has McCarthy’s backing. Anyone interested has until noon on Saturday to put in their name. There will be a vote on Monday amongst the GOP to pick the nominee and a full vote on Tuesday. [https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4268188-tom-emmer-potential-speaker-candidate/](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4268188-tom-emmer-potential-speaker-candidate/) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/903 "2023-10-21T06:29:36Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > If the Dems decide they need to help elect a GOP Speaker, I hope they continue to vote as a bloc and all vote Present. That’s not helping. > [@eschereal](#): > > What if, just to fuck with the Rs, all the Democrats were to abruptly switch to voting for Liz Cheney? She is not in the House. ---
**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 21, 2023, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/904 "2023-10-21T06:38:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > She is not in the House. She doesn’t need to be. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/905 "2023-10-21T07:18:07Z")
Two reasons. 1. The Republicans have a majority (even if it’s a splintered one) so a Democrat isn’t going to get the role. Any Speaker elected is going to be a hard right conservative. 2. At least she’s sane and admits Trump lost, unlike McCarthy, Jordan, or anyone else the Republicans are tossing onto the stage. She’s not likely to bow to Trump’s demands. She’s not going to advance the Democrats’ agenda, obviously, but she’s unlikely to advance the worst of what the Republicans are doing either. Just the slightly less evil stuff. If you want anything better, win back the majority. Until then, take what you can get. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/906 "2023-10-21T07:18:59Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > …for one example, that the budget will not include any anti-abortion riders. But that in turn would drive dozens of Republicans into opposing the deal. There just isn’t enough “middle” left in Congress to forge a centrist governing majority. I’ve been assured for decades that Republicans want the federal government out of the abortion debate and that it be decided by the states. I’ve also been assured, quite recently, that the Freedom Caucus wants separate issues to be decided in separate bills; not lots of things all tied up together in omnibus bills. Could a Republican get away with saying that now? Assuming they can’t, would the Freedom Caucus direct their ire toward the member who dared to take such a position, or would they also take it out on a speaker who worked with such a rogue Republican? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/907 "2023-10-21T07:33:26Z")
> [@Digger11](#): > > This post is exceedingly silly. Ken Buck is one of the most staunch conservatives around. To call him a RINO is to strip the English language of all meaning. A RINO, not a CINO. He’s definitely a conservative - what he isn’t is a Republican. The Republican Party isn’t a political belief system, it’s a political _organization_, and those eight have decided they aren’t part of it. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/908 "2023-10-21T09:05:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That’s not helping. Sure it is. With or without a Speaker, the Dems aren’t getting a debt ceiling bill they can sign anytime soon. The longer this fracas plays out, the weaker the GOP’s hand. The FC overplayed their hand. If Gaetz hadn’t started this mess, the FC could go into the bill negotiations with demands. Now they’re going into it as pariahs. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 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-2023-10-25/991432/909 "2023-10-21T14:07:06Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’ve been assured for decades that Republicans want the federal government out of the abortion debate and that it be decided by the states. > > I’ve also been assured, quite recently, that the Freedom Caucus wants separate issues to be decided in separate bills; not lots of things all tied up together in omnibus bills. > > Could a Republican get away with saying that now? Assuming they can’t, would the Freedom Caucus direct their ire toward the member who dared to take such a position, or would they also take it out on a speaker who worked with such a rogue Republican? The House has already approved a Defense Appropriations bill that includes a rider to overturn Biden administration rules to pay travel expenses for service members and military dependents who had to travel across state lines for an abortion after _Dobbs_. It passed almost entirely on partisan lines. Other budget bills drafted by Republicans would overturn FDA approval of mifepristone as well as draft rules to allow VA hospitals to offer abortion services if the life or health of the pregnant veteran is at risk, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. I feel one of the biggest blind spots of liberals (or really just reasonable people) is thinking that Republicans feel _any_ discomfort with hypocrisy. Especially on abortion. But Democrats in Congress know this is how they are, which gives them a mighty disincentive to hand they keys to the people’s house over to even a “moderate” Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/910 "2023-10-21T16:18:41Z")
I was interested to see how my local congressman voted. Being from a freshman from a swing district that can go either way it’s not surprising Tom Kean Jr is kind of going with the flow. He voted for McCarthy each time he was up. He voted with the majority for Jordan twice. Before the third vote he finally made a public comment and announced he was going to vote for McCarthy. Nothing since ---
**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 21, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/911 "2023-10-21T18:02:07Z")
Mike Johnson (R - LA) and Tom Emmer (R- MN) are officially candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/912 "2023-10-21T18:11:22Z")
Speaker of the House, who’s it gonna be, Maybe it’s a MAGA who is 93! Names are in a hat, pick one any day, Same results are coming no matter what they say. Glad to do a friend a favor Doesn’t cost me to be nice But nothing gets you nothing Everything has got a little price! ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/913 "2023-10-21T19:00:38Z")
Speaker of the house… Keeper of the zoo… Trying to relieve them of a sou or two… It really does fit! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/914 "2023-10-21T20:02:20Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > She doesn’t need to be. Yeah, the Constitutions doesnt specify that. Nor doe it require the speaker to be human. Or alive. So why not Lincoln? He is a republican, right? But no one who isnt a member will ever win, so this is just a fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/915 "2023-10-21T20:38:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But no one who isnt a member will ever win, so this is just a fantasy . At least until nobody who _is_ a member can win…which seems to be the situation we’re in. ---
**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 21, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/916 "2023-10-21T20:41:29Z")
At this rate, no one who is a house Republican will ever win. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/917 "2023-10-21T20:44:03Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > This is unprecedented! I didn’t even think he owned such an item of apparel. He must be in mourning. I’ve seen several clips of him walking the halls carrying his suit jacket. Which is really dumb. Just put in on! Carrying it around is awkward and stupid looking. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/918 "2023-10-21T20:59:36Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I’ve seen several clips of him walking the halls carrying his suit jacket. Which is really dumb. Just put in on! Carrying it around is awkward and stupid looking. It gets really warm in DC. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/919 "2023-10-21T22:24:28Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Carrying it around is awkward and stupid looking. So is he. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/920 "2023-10-21T23:26:03Z")
I always wonder who was the first person to suggest “roll up your sleeves and take off your tie to look like an average person.” Do people buy that? [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=45) [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=47)