# 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:** 79
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1561 "2024-03-22T16:20:35Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I propse the Republicans just make MTG the Speaker. That’d show her. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1562 "2024-03-22T16:27:29Z")
I believe we’re mostly joking about MTG as speaker, but it’s a terrifying thought. For all of their solar-flare glaring flaws, Johnson and McCarthy cared about their legacy as politicians. They didn’t want to see it all burn down _while they would bare the blame_. MTG and her fellow travelers, with flaws that blaze like a sun going nova, would gladly take credit for burning down the government and dancing in it’s ashes, riiiight up until they, like the rest of us, are fighting over a rat to roast over a literal dumpster fire. (and even then, they’d be proud to have done it, just say something, as their eat a rat, that they’d have done it a bit differently if they had the do over, probably some self-excusing BS about how they should have purged all the (D) team and THEN of course it would have magically all worked out) ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1563 "2024-03-22T16:28:05Z")
It would be so awesome if this resulted in Jefferies as Speaker, and in the two days before he’d have to vacate they passed all kinds of legislation (e.g., Ukraine, etc.)…. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1564 "2024-03-22T16:46:22Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > CNN is reporting that MTG has filed a motion to vacate. Apparently, though, she did not file it as a privileged motion, which would force the House to vote on it. As it is, Johnson can just decline to bring it to a vote. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1565 "2024-03-22T16:48:29Z")
The coward. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1566 "2024-03-22T16:48:56Z")
Are we sure if she knows the difference? ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1567 "2024-03-22T16:51:12Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Apparently, though, she did not file it as a privileged motion, which would force the House to vote on it. As it is, Johnson can just decline to bring it to a vote… Ah, it’s just performance art for the rubes then. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1568 "2024-03-22T16:56:19Z")
Yes, it is a chicken shit move. She can refile as privileged anytime she wants to, but why wouldn’t you do so out of the gate if you were serious? And due to vacancies (and assuming all Democrats support the motion), she would only need two other Republicans’ support for it to pass. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1569 "2024-03-22T17:00:49Z")
Maybe she forgot. Not like she’s the sharpest crayon in the box. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1570 "2024-03-22T17:06:31Z")
Today is the day Mike Johnson became Speaker of the House ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1571 "2024-03-22T18:50:18Z")
And Republican Rep Mike Gallagher announcing today that he’ll retire from the House next month, officially reducing Republican’s margin to “wafer thin.” ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1572 "2024-03-22T19:11:20Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Edit: I guess she’s pissed that the R’s are actually doing something to run the country. This is exactly it. You have nailed it. Only Greene sees it as cooperation with Democrats, which, for any reason, is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1573 "2024-03-22T19:21:12Z")
We do, but the sentence was (as worded) about the R’s actions. Sorry if I missed where you were going with it. So addressing their motivations is reasonable in that context. The fact that we (and anyone with three functional brain cells) aren’t fooled doesn’t seem particularly noteworthy, except perhaps in a thread about scammers. Of course, thinking about it, this whole thread could be considered to be precisely that, given the Republican Party’s relationship with the electorate and the process of governance. Which is truly fucking sad. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1574 "2024-03-22T19:36:49Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > And Republican Rep Mike Gallagher announcing today that he’ll retire from the House next month, officially reducing Republican’s margin to “wafer thin.” Why aren’t they just finishing their terms? Are they really trying to stick it to the MAGAs? ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1575 "2024-03-22T19:43:07Z")
They want to land their post-congress jobs before there’s a rush of other members on the market? ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1576 "2024-03-22T19:44:52Z")
i will laugh and laugh if they end up with speaker jeffries. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1577 "2024-03-22T19:45:29Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Why aren’t they just finishing their terms? Are they really trying to stick it to the MAGAs? Why spend their time and energy fundraising for those fuckers? Seriously, if they stay through the next election, they have to play nice, raise money, sing praises of people they likely hate, and the rest. Leave now and they can wash their hands of it and still have whatever political / lobbying / etc secondary career with less stress AND risk. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1578 "2024-03-22T19:59:43Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Why spend their time and energy fundraising for those fuckers? Plus, any money they fundraise for the RNC now goes straight into Trump’s pocket. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1579 "2024-03-22T20:07:14Z")
Good emphasis, after all, from all reporting, a lot of those leaving now fully recognize that Trump wanted to play his own game on THEIR court, and by doing so, screwed it up for them. So, why fundraise for the stupid git who screwed it all up, and his lackeys? It will never be used for _their_ benefit one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1580 "2024-03-22T20:16:42Z")
Moderate Republicans in the House must enjoy kingmaker status now. With a 1-vote majority they can exert immense clout. [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=78) [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=80)