# 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:** 56
**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 24, 2023, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1101 "2023-10-24T18:40:17Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Bring Biden’s legislation for Ukraine & Israel to the floor even if a majority of his caucus opposed it. Hastert Rule. Got it. ---
**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 24, 2023, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1102 "2023-10-24T18:47:58Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Yeah, Donald’s schedule seems pretty open right now. Can’t imagine why he wouldn’t be able to run the House of Representatives. That was exactly my thought. I don’t believe that legally there is anything stopping them from naming him to be Speaker, but I don’t think that he’ll have time to actually do the job, so it wouldn’t be all that different from not having a Speaker at all (which is the situation they’re already in). ---
**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 24, 2023, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1103 "2023-10-24T18:55:49Z")
> **[Rep. Mike Johnson elected speaker, breaking weeks-long stalemate](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/24/house-speaker-vote/#link-UJSJUPPRS5F2HKTFJGA4EHFQHY)** > > Late Tuesday, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) became the fourth Republican pick for the post since the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) three weeks ago. > “He never respected the Power of a Trump Endorsement, or the breadth and scope of MAGA — MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” Trump said in the post, adding that he believes Emmer “has now learned his lesson, because he is saying that he is Pro-Trump all the way[.]” > > “[B]ut who can ever be sure? Has he only changed because that’s what it takes to win?” Trump asked. Trump is hating on Emmer. I’m not sure how much power he has in the Speaker race. Probably much less than he’d like. He backed Jordan and that went down in flames. Even Gaetz is reportedly shilling for Emmer now. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1104 "2023-10-24T18:56:17Z")
More insanity: > House GOP Whip Tom Emmer’s bid to be speaker is on the verge of collapse amid opposition from the right flank of his conference over his past votes on fiscal and social issues — and amid fresh attacks waged by former President Donald Trump, according to multiple Republicans. > > Several Republicans who oppose Emmer say they will not move off their opposition and are calling for a new candidate. ---
**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 24, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1105 "2023-10-24T18:56:36Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > > > Yeah, Donald’s schedule seems pretty open right now. Can’t imagine why he wouldn’t be able to run the House of Representatives. > > That was exactly my thought. I don’t believe that legally there is anything stopping them from naming him to be Speaker, but I don’t think that he’ll have time to actually do the job, so it wouldn’t be all that different from not having a Speaker at all (which is the situation they’re already in). Without trying to create a thread tangent, I can think of a reason some people would want him to be Speaker, and, well, let’s just say that “100 days” is probably just long enough for Trump to be Speaker at the next State of the Union Address, where President Biden and Vice-President Harris would just happen to be standing pretty much right beside each other… ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1106 "2023-10-24T19:05:33Z")
From the [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/10/24/us/house-speaker-vote): > [@](#): > > Immediately following his nomination, about two dozen right-wing Republicans indicated that they did not intend to vote for Mr. Emmer on the floor, denying him the majority he would need to succeed in a vote of the full House. Then as he met with holdouts to try to win them over, the former president issued a scathing statement on social media expressing vehement opposition to Mr. Emmer, calling him a “Globalist RINO” — short for “Republican in name only” — whose elevation would be a “tragic mistake.” . . . > > “I believe he has now learned his lesson, because he is saying that he is Pro-Trump all the way, but who can ever be sure?” Mr. Trump wrote. Good to me. I can forgive an awful lot, but am still hung up on the [Nancy Pelosi death threat](https://news.yahoo.com/cbs-margaret-brennan-tears-gop-112511590.html). Emmer is the moderate? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1107 "2023-10-24T19:16:36Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Good to me. I can forgive an awful lot, but am still hung up on the [Nancy Pelosi death threat](https://news.yahoo.com/cbs-margaret-brennan-tears-gop-112511590.html). Emmer is the moderate? I believe the thinking from the GOP is that only a RINO moderate would have made a _threat_. A REAL Republican would have followed through. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1108 "2023-10-24T19:34:17Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > Well, he voted to protect same sex marriage, he voted to certify the election, he voted to fund the government to name a few… Yeah, he is deeply conservative, but he seems sane. ---
**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 24, 2023, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1109 "2023-10-24T19:35:41Z")
The holdouts have listed some of the reasons they are opposing Emmer. > - A few disapproved of his vote to back same-sex marriage. > > - A few don’t like his vote to certify the 2020 presidential election. > > - A few are concerned with his previous support of a popular-vote plan that would eliminate the electoral college. > > - A few don’t like the fact that he’s on the House leadership team. > > - Up to eight are still “big mad” about Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) losing the speakership vote. The situation isn’t looking good, according to some Republicans who have commented off the record. There are around 20 who say they can’t be reassured or convinced by anything to vote for Emmer. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1110 "2023-10-24T19:37:56Z")
I don’t know why he’s rushing the vote. Everyone knows emmer takes a long time to cook. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1111 "2023-10-24T19:48:05Z")
Slowly, slowly, people will be coming to the realization that there is no longer a Republican Party. If they can’t agree on a Speaker… They do not form a coherent group with common goals. They are done. Toast. > The GOP has passed on! It is no more! It has ceased to be! It’s expired and gone to meet it’s maker! > > It’s a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn’t voted for these morons they’d be pushing up the daisies! > It’s metabolic processes are now history ! It’s off the twig! > It’s kicked the bucket, shuffled off this mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1112 "2023-10-24T19:48:25Z")
Trump will never, ever destroy the United States, but he’s doing a damn good job of destroying the GOP. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1113 "2023-10-24T19:49:28Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Trump will never, ever destroy the United States, but he’s doing a damn good job of destroying the GOP… Well, he touched it… therefore it is turning to shit. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1114 "2023-10-24T20:14:31Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Slowly, slowly, people will be coming to the realization that there is no longer a Republican Party. If they can’t agree on a Speaker… They do not form a coherent group with common goals. They are done. Toast. > > > The GOP has passed on! It is no more! It has ceased to be! It’s expired and gone to meet it’s maker! > > > > It’s a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn’t voted for these morons they’d be pushing up the daisies! > > It’s metabolic processes are now history ! It’s off the twig! > > It’s kicked the bucket, shuffled off this mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!! You know, back in 2008 when Obama first got elected and the Democrats took both houses with the evanescent 60-D Senate: there were some jubilant liberals going around foreseeing the end of the Republican party. This was not what they had in mind. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1115 "2023-10-24T20:28:03Z")
This from the Washington Post live updates: _Speaker-designate Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) just stormed out of the meeting and raced to his security detail’s car. He did not answer more than a dozen questions from reporters._ ETA: and he’s officially dropped his bid. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1116 "2023-10-24T20:31:46Z")
oh for cow’s sake. this is getting absurd. ---
**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 24, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1117 "2023-10-24T20:34:53Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Speaker-designate Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) just stormed out of the meeting and raced to his security detail’s car. He did not answer more than a dozen questions from reporters. Was he stomping his feet, pouting and whimpering? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1118 "2023-10-24T20:35:39Z")
We are now dealing in fractions of a Scaramucci Milli-scaramucci’s (MSm) I calculate roughly that Emmer lasted approximately 14 MSm. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1119 "2023-10-24T20:35:42Z")
He’s dropped his bid! Humiliating for Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1120 "2023-10-24T20:36:12Z")
And yet for a party that is destroying itself in real time, and can’t do the most basic things, it’s still entirely possible they win some combination of the House, Senate and White House next year. At least the possibility is much greater than zero. I still don’t understand how that is possible. It’s like a good chunk of the country is looking at a portrait of goatse and thinking, “That would look _great_ in my living room!” Or at the very least, “Well it doesn’t look so bad…” [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=55) [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=57)