# 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:** 65
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1281 "2023-10-25T18:26:43Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > 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. Gaetz has already said he won’t “fault” Johnson if he does a short-term CR, perhaps even with Democratic support. Why he is OK with Johnson doing it but kicked out McCarthy for doing it? Unclear. Basically it seems to be he just wanted some attention and wanted someone Trumpier in the seat. Why it’s so important to have a more pro-MAGA speaker? I guess that’s a subject for the thread @Aspenglow just started. ---
**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, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1282 "2023-10-25T18:28:00Z")
It is indeed. ---
**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 25, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1283 "2023-10-25T18:35:33Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > as to not hijack this one, here: Eh, this thread is done, right? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1284 "2023-10-25T18:36:51Z")
I’m dubious. Put on “pause” more like, until Gaetz has another temper tantrum. ---
**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 25, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1285 "2023-10-25T18:39:01Z")
Cynical perspective: Possibility one is he is able to rein in the most crazy and work out a deal that can pass the Senate with no or little shutdown and allow a vote for Ukraine aid. Great! Possibility two. A shitshow. He only empowers the craziest the most. Long shutdown. Block of Ukraine aid. Things that piss off the vast majority of Americans. Bad in the short term for sure but leads to correction in the next elections cycle. Maybe even before as public responses will be notable. ---
**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, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1286 "2023-10-25T18:45:19Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Eh, this thread is done, right? Until Gaetz gets up and starts out, “I rise to a question of priviledge …” I give it 2 weeks and ask the mods if they close it now, can they reopen it at that time. ---
**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, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1287 "2023-10-25T18:51:16Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Eh, this thread is done, right? > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I’m dubious. Put on “pause” more like, until Gaetz has another temper tantrum. I think it remains an “open” (ha!) question, whether the thread is done. But it’s done for now. ---
**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, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1288 "2023-10-25T18:56:37Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > 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. Regular votes _are_ done by electronic system. It’s some special cases such as election of a Speaker that by rule or tradition require doing it the old fashioned way. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1289 "2023-10-25T19:00:31Z")
Not sure where to post this, but putting it here since the sentiments I’m referring to are here… Why are some folks so sure Johnson won’t hold onto power? He’s a firm right winger / FCer. ---
**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, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1290 "2023-10-25T19:18:15Z")
See @thorny_locust 's excellent post that articulates this about 10 posts up. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1291 "2023-10-25T19:39:38Z")
> [@MeanJoe](#): > > 1000% this. I cannot believe the number of Dopers on this board calling for the Democrats to bail out and help elect a Republican Speaker. Well, if the Dems had voted for Emmer, we’d have him instead of Johnson. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1292 "2023-10-25T19:40:18Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > > [@JohnT](#): > > > > Eh, this thread is done, right? > > Until Gaetz gets up and starts out, “I rise to a question of priviledge …” It seems like if you are going to replace the Speaker then you should also consider a new set of rules on how to conduct business. Alas, I haven’t seen any indication that they’re doing so. Given how much grief the FC got over the last few weeks for “voting with the Democrats” to remove McCarthy, I don’t think that anyone near the center could afford to use the “one vote” rule to challenge Johnson’s position. Johnson’s going to know that he’s under the heel of the FC. Except, he also has to deal with Schumer and McConnell. That’s where he might need to practice some mystic level two-facery to get anything accomplished with the Freedom Caucus. I assume that the moderates wouldn’t have voted for him if they sensed any true fealty to Trump, election denialism, or anti-Constitutionality, so we should probably assume that he is pretty adept at the two-facery and they’ve seen the other faces showing through behind the scenes - ergo, their acceptance. I’m relatively skeptical that most of the Freedom Caucus has any real policy goals past name making and grifting yokels for money and power. Assuming that to be so, they might decide to go ahead with Johnson and whatever policy he advances and turn their attention to some other method of trolling and name building. So, conceivably, his reign might be fairly uneventful and Deep State (aka reason based) normal. I’m not sure which to vote for at the moment. Probably it depends on how many of the FC get put into committee head positions and as Johnson’s leadership team. The leadership team will probably be the make or break issue in the coming weeks. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1293 "2023-10-25T19:48:22Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@MeanJoe](#): > > > > 1000% this. I cannot believe the number of Dopers on this board calling for the Democrats to bail out and help elect a Republican Speaker. > > Well, if the Dems had voted for Emmer, we’d have him instead of Johnson. When would they have voted for Emmer? He didn’t even get to the floor. ---
**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 25, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1294 "2023-10-25T19:50:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Well, if the Dems had voted for Emmer, we’d have him instead of Johnson. What? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1295 "2023-10-25T20:02:56Z")
So why would the FC care about whether Johnson causes a shutdown, two (plus) of the three possible options outlined in the post? They want it. I’m sure I’m missing something here… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1296 "2023-10-25T20:09:59Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Possibility two. A shitshow. He only empowers the craziest the most. Long shutdown. Block of Ukraine aid. Things that piss off the vast majority of Americans. Bad in the short term for sure but leads to correction in the next elections cycle. Maybe even before as public responses will be notable. At first I thought you meant “block” as in a relatively-grouped-together set of measures for Ukraine aid and wondered why the American public would dislike that. But yeah, it’s possible that not only are the extremists trying to sow their usual anarcho-capitalist chaos, but that there are some pro-Putin right wingers in there who will try to wind down Ukraine aid as well. Although up until now, everyone who isn’t Trump has been quieter on that front that I had expected them to. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1297 "2023-10-25T20:32:07Z")
> [@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. Maybe not. Remember McCarthy’s devil’s bargain to get in the first place was to allow even one member of the caucus to rise to depose the Speaker. If Johnson hasn’t made any such deal, so he doesn’t have to allow one or even five House members to bring a motion to depose the Speaker to the floor. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1298 "2023-10-25T20:34:08Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > If Johnson hasn’t made any such deal, so he doesn’t have to allow one or even five House members to bring a motion to depose the Speaker to the floor. This is part of the House rules. Johnson can’t change it without a vote of the House. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1299 "2023-10-25T20:35:23Z")
I didn’t realize they changed the House rules to allow for it. ---
**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, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1300 "2023-10-25T20:38:25Z")
Yeah, McCarthy really fucked things over in order to bask in the short lived title. [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=64) [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=66)