# 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:** 64
**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 25, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1261 "2023-10-25T17:18:12Z")
The Republicans finally seem united. Who was the Democratic speaker who stated that attempts to overthrow an election should preclude someone from leading the house? ---
**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 25, 2023, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1262 "2023-10-25T17:22:51Z")
so far this looks like it may work. ---
**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 25, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1263 "2023-10-25T17:31:03Z")
So… Back to obstruction, grifting, vote suppression and sucking up to Trump? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1264 "2023-10-25T17:31:17Z")
We’re well past half the count and no defections, they do seem to have figured this was not going to be getting any better. ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1265 "2023-10-25T17:36:06Z")
I’m not 100% sure, but I think it was Angie Craig from Minnesota who said that. Her last name began with a C and she voted after Judy Chu. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1266 "2023-10-25T17:50:39Z")
Yep. Business as usual again. ---
**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 25, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1267 "2023-10-25T17:53:49Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > As someone said a hundred posts and 12 hours ago, the optimal play for the Ds is to induce enough Rs to resign that there’s now a D majority. That’s got to be even less likely than enough R’s voting for Jeffries. ---
**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 25, 2023, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1268 "2023-10-25T17:58:13Z")
johnson has clinched it. he is speaker. ---
**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 25, 2023, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1269 "2023-10-25T18:01:27Z")
Yes, I am reading he received 220 votes. Now, let’s all watch as he refuses to work with Democrats and we experience a government shutdown. Info on Johnson: > **[Who is Rep. Mike Johnson, the House GOP's latest speaker nominee? | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/25/politics/mike-johnson-speaker-nominee/index.html)** > > Rep. Mike Johnson, Republicans’ latest nominee to be the next speaker of the House, has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump and was a key congressional figure in the failed efforts to overturn the 2020 election. ---
**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 25, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1270 "2023-10-25T18:02:50Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Yes, I am reading he received 220 votes. > > Now, let’s all watch as he refuses to work with Democrats and we experience a government shutdown. Reportedly, he has already said that he will support a CR through at least mid-January if they can’t get their spending bills through by 11/17. ---
**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 25, 2023, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1271 "2023-10-25T18:03:20Z")
Reading over Johnson’s political views, I have a hard time reconciling it with his First Core Principle of Conservatism 1. Individual Freedom The birth of our great nation was inspired by the bold declaration that our individual, God-given liberties should be preserved against government intrusion. That same conviction informs our conservative policy decisions still today. In America, we proclaim the self-evident truths that all of us are created equal and granted by God the same inherent freedoms, such as the natural and unalienable rights to life, liberty, conscience, free speech and the free exercise of religion, and the ability to pursue happiness, own property, build wealth and defend ourselves and our families. The purpose of government is to secure these rights, and the ideas we advance should always aim to maintain and increase the liberty of the American people. But don’t be gay and don’t get an abortion and don’t vote against Trump in Pennsylvania. ---
**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 25, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1272 "2023-10-25T18:04:01Z")
Well that’s at least something. He at least has enough brain cells to kick the can down the road and avoid watching his party steer the country into a cliff, at least not right away. That is, if he follows his word, and the Freedom Caucus doesn’t fling poo around again. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1273 "2023-10-25T18:04:20Z")
Yeah it was _never_ going to be Jeffries and the only question was how far to the right of McCarthy would be someone everyone in the Conference could live with. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1274 "2023-10-25T18:08:56Z")
Good luck to Johnson. He’s going to need it. ---
**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 25, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1275 "2023-10-25T18:13:15Z")
Seems to me the problem now is: Either they manage to get a proposed budget through the House without cooperating with Democrats or they don’t. If they do manage to do so, it’s almost certainly DOA in the Senate. Hello shutdown, here we come. If they don’t manage to do so, and sit there stalemated without passing anything: shutdown, here we come. If they don’t manage to do so, and instead pass, with the cooperation of Democrats, a budget that can also pass the Senate: yeehah for the budget and no shutdown! But – isn’t Johnson then going to be kicked out by the FC and all this shit starts up again? during which, maybe whatever got into the budget gets paid, but effectively the USA has no legislative branch. And could the FC kick Johnson out when they saw that coming, and so prevent a budget with even slight compromises from being brought to the floor? In which case: shutdown and no legislative branch. It would be nice to think that this mess is at least over. But I suspect that it isn’t. ---
**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 25, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1276 "2023-10-25T18:14:04Z")
Overall, the Dems acted appropriately after the Republican House coalition collapsed. They offered a very mild power-sharing arrangement, far less than most parties would have demanded. Then they stayed firm and united. The Republicans considered Dem support to be a poison pill during GOP primary season and never pursued it. The GOP scrolled down its alternatives. In the beginning the RINO Chaos Caucus told the GOP: “You obey rules. We don’t. Sucks to be you. Jordan 2023.” That went over ok with the vast majority of Republicans, but unfortunately for Jordan’s supporters (about 40% of the House GOP), a little over 20 were averse to abuse and domination. Most Republicans were fine with that though. Various nominees came and went before they landed on a far-right guy who wants to ban abortion nationwide - but seemed willing to cut deals. This could create some heat for swing district Repubs in 2024 (or not) but it also might keep the government open for at least 90 days. If skeletons emerged from Johnson’s closet at the last minute, it would have been [Elise Stefanik](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elise_Stefanik)’s turn. After that, they might have seriously considered people who were not House members, but honestly it’s hard to think a good candidate. The scenario where 10 Republicans jump ship and join the Dems would have been unprecedented: something like that would only happen if the GOP was collapsing under its own weight. We’re not there yet. If Johnson is a professional (which I suspect given his resume) his personal beliefs will recede in importance. Whether he’s able to bridle the Crazy 8, giving them opportunities for TV exposure without real power, remains to be seen. ETA: I suspect that the Crazy 8 won’t cause too much additional trouble this year. They’ve already sent a letter to their colleagues requesting punishment. [House rebels say, “Punish us.” – Kevin Drum](https://jabberwocking.com/house-rebels-say-punish-us/) Letter: [https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018b-4df7-df06-a9cb-ddff2ffc0000](https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018b-4df7-df06-a9cb-ddff2ffc0000) ---
**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 25, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1277 "2023-10-25T18:17:33Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > If they don’t manage to do so, and instead pass, with the cooperation of Democrats, a budget that can also pass the Senate: yeehah for the budget and no shutdown! But – isn’t Johnson then going to be kicked out by the FC and all this shit starts up again? during which, maybe whatever got into the budget gets paid, but effectively the USA has no legislative branch. Precisely. We can’t forget what got this mess started in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1278 "2023-10-25T18:19:30Z")
It’s interesting to see that there are apparently no computers in use, everything is done by “tellers” using handwritten journals and spreadsheets. The most “high tech” device is the stenographer machine. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1279 "2023-10-25T18:22:50Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > And could the FC kick Johnson out when they saw that coming, and so prevent a budget with even slight compromises from being brought to the floor? In which case: shutdown and no legislative branch. That’s why I was wishing him good luck. I don’t see any good outcome for him or the ongoing operations of the government with the Howler Monkey Caucus circling him ready to fling poo. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1280 "2023-10-25T18:25:06Z")
I’ve started a new thread to discuss what Johnson’s win as Speaker will mean so as to not hijack this one, here: > [@What is the Import of Mike Johnson's Win as Speaker of the House?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097): > > Not wishing to hijack this thread: But I have some thoughts. I hope I’m wrong, but I fear from this outcome that the takeaway is that Republicans will devote all their efforts to steal the next election in 2024 in the same way they attempted to steal it in 2020. Johnson was a key architect in the 2020 effort (gift link): I believe Republicans will spend the next year putting as many fixes in place as they can to do “legally” this time what Trump was unable to accomplish in 2020. Between… [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=63) [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=65)