# 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:** 82
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1621 "2024-03-24T03:59:16Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The problem with anyone switching from R to D or vice versa is that it is probably the end of their career. Because not only would you lose all your original voters, but you wouldn’t get many votes from your new party either. The only way it would work is if trump announced he’d be primaring out him/her anyway. Or if they started getting death treat from far right MAGAs. > [@hajario](#): > > But you’re screwing your party. I’d stay until the end and keep voting. If the glorious leader of the party has announced he will be screwing you- might as well get in a little sweet vengeance first. > [@Stratocaster](#): > > A majority of even a couple of days could get a lot of stuff done. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1622 "2024-03-24T12:59:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Stratocaster](#): > > > > A majority of even a couple of days could get a lot of stuff done. > > Yep. If Democrats were to secure a temporary majority through Republican resignations, they would need to move to vacate the Speakership in order to take control of the chamber. That alone would take a couple of days. Once removed, whomever Johnson has designated as Speaker Pro Tem would take the gavel. As we saw with the previous Speaker race, the Speaker Pro Tem can simply adjourn the chamber until he decides its time to have a vote. Even after taking the gavel, they would need to reconstitute committees (especially the Rules Committee) to give themselves majorities in order to advance any legislation to the floor. I’m not saying that Democrats couldn’t get some things done, but they’d need more than a couple of days. ---
**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 24, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1623 "2024-03-24T15:31:52Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > If Democrats were to secure a temporary majority through Republican resignations, they would need to move to vacate the Speakership in order to take control of the chamber. I was reacting to the reported concern that some of the Republican reps expressed to MTG that her motion to vacate could inadvertently conclude with Jefferies as Speaker. This may be far fetched, but a boy can dream. ---
**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 24, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1624 "2024-03-24T16:26:09Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I was reacting to the reported concern that some of the Republican reps expressed to MTG that her motion to vacate could inadvertently conclude with Jefferies as Speaker. She has also made public calls for Gallagher to be expelled before April 19 so his seat can be covered before the end of term… Some of these wackos still feel it’s a good idea to hold the _majority itself_ hostage, and so what if it mean triggering the scene described by **flurb** two posts up, that works for them by making it so NOTHING can get approved if they can’t force the Conference to impose an Absolute MAGA Rule for how to vote. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1625 "2024-03-24T17:05:41Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > She has also made public calls for Gallagher to be expelled before April 19 so his seat can be covered before the end of term… S As I recall it takes 2/3 vote to expel from the House. I’m pretty sure that would not pass. Why would Democrats vote to expel? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1626 "2024-03-24T18:10:48Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > As I recall it takes 2/3 vote to expel from the House. I’m pretty sure that would not pass. Why would Democrats vote to expel? As MTG said about Johnson, “It’s not a pink slip, it’s a warning.” i.e. The threat is a message but I’m not sure what message she’s trying to send. To me, the message is “You did the right thing leaving like you did.” ---
**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 24, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1627 "2024-03-24T18:24:49Z")
I think this is mostly MTG wanting to look strong ( a big point for MAGA ) and not caring if it makes Johnson and the rest of the (R) team look weak. Which… well, is consistent with the actions to date of the Freedumb Crazies. ETA - changed to Freedumb. I’ve decided to be better about fully expressing my disgust about MAGA sorts redefining a perfectly valid and oft-admirable word for their own version only. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1628 "2024-03-24T19:42:57Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > The threat is a message but I’m not sure what message she’s trying to send. ‘I’m Maaaaaaad. You’re supposed to do what I waaaaaant!’? Um, no, they aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1629 "2024-03-24T20:16:04Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > As MTG said about Johnson, “It’s not a pink slip, it’s a warning.” i.e. The threat is a message but I’m not sure what message she’s trying to send. There seem to be variations on this quotation. Here is [Time Magazine](https://www.aol.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-files-surprise-164746324.html): > [@](#): > > “We need a new Speaker,” Greene told reporters outside the Capitol on Friday after the House passed a $1.2 trillion government funding deal with mostly Democratic votes. "I filed the motion to vacate today, but it’s more of a warning and a pink slip.” I think she will be talking with like-minded members, during the current recess, trying to get a few more to join with her to oust Johnson and replace him with someone of similar views but more stubborn. If she fails, she can say it was just a warning. But she means to replace him. I was pleasantly surprised that Johnson did not insist on a shutdown. MTG may have been unpleasantly surprised by the same. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1630 "2024-03-24T20:22:41Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > As MTG said about Johnson, “It’s not a pink slip, it’s a warning.” i.e. The threat is a message but I’m not sure what message she’s trying to send. If he remains, she can say he agreeably straightened up in response to getting a warning from her. If he doesn’t, she can say she upgraded it to a pink slip when he _didn’t_ respond to a warning from her. [Edited to add: ninja’d!] ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1631 "2024-03-24T20:34:49Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > As I recall it takes 2/3 vote to expel from the House. I’m pretty sure that would not pass. Why would Democrats vote to expel? Question is WHO? I bet Marge might garner the necessary 2/3rds to get expelled. . ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1632 "2024-03-25T11:52:01Z")
Who would run for Speaker this time? I should ask, “Who in their right mind would run for Speaker?” Any non-MAGA would know that they’re signing up to be target #1 of the MAGAts, restricted to doing only those things that MAGA approves of. They’d have no real power of their own. Why would anyone sign up for that? And any MAGA who signs up? Well, will they win? They’ve antagonized their own party sufficiently that they will have an incredibly hard time getting enough votes, particularly with the recent resignations. It was like pulling teeth to elect the last two Speakers, and they hadn’t spent months making life unpleasant for everyone else around them. And if they do manage to corral enough votes, then they’re in a spot where people actually expect them to do a job, but “Doing their job” isn’t what the MAGAts are there for. So why take on that hassle? MAGAts want to be the ones throwing bombs, not be the target of the bombs. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1633 "2024-03-25T12:39:06Z")
Given the high level success with the Biden impeachment hearings I would think Comer is a shoe-in. /s ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 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-2023-10-25/991432/1634 "2024-03-25T20:16:39Z")
[https://www.axios.com/2024/03/23/house-republicans-chaos-majority-motion-vacate](https://www.axios.com/2024/03/23/house-republicans-chaos-majority-motion-vacate) [House Republicans](https://www.axios.com/2024/03/13/house-republicans-chaos-mike-johnson) have skipped town for Easter recess with their base enraged, their majority in tatters — and their speaker facing the prospect of a humiliating ouster at the hands of his own MAGA allies. **Why it matters:** _Dysfunction doesn’t even begin to cover it. The [Senate’s passage](https://www.axios.com/2024/03/23/government-shutdown-avoided-senate-passes-funding-budget) of a $1.2 trillion spending bill at 2 am ET — narrowly averting a government shutdown — was perhaps the least dramatic development in a historic day on Capitol Hill._ _ **In a matter of hours:** _ \*\* The Republican-led House [passed the spending bill](https://www.axios.com/2024/03/22/house-passes-spending-bill-shutdown) just before noon Friday and sent it to the Senate — with more than half the House GOP conference, including [many furious hardliners](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4549392-chip-roy-republicans-who-vote-for-funding-bill-are-the-ones-risking-the-election/), voting against it.\* _… \* Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), retiring chair of the House China Select Committee, [announced suddenly](https://www.axios.com/2024/03/22/house-republicans-mike-gallagher-resign) he’ll leave Congress next month — leaving Republicans with an astonishing majority of just one seat._ \*\* Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), who also is retiring early, departed for the final time — but not before [signing a Democratic petition](https://www.axios.com/2024/03/21/ken-buck-ukraine-discharge-petition) to force a vote on Ukraine aid, dealing one last blow to the GOP leadership he detested.\* \*\* House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) — who helped make [impeaching President Biden](https://www.axios.com/2024/03/21/biden-impeachment-republicans-house) one of the GOP majority’s top priorities — [indicated his fizzling inquiry](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4549682-comer-biden-impeachment-vote-not-best-path/) will end without a vote.\* _ **Behind the scenes:** Republicans were left fuming over the early resignations of Gallagher and Buck, with some suggesting it’s now within the realm of possibility for the House majority to flip to Democrats mid-Congress._ Nelson Muntz “Ha ha”. ---
**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 25, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1635 "2024-03-25T20:24:17Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Who would run for Speaker this time? I should ask, “Who in their right mind would run for Speaker?” The answer to the first question is Gym Jordan of course. He was PISSED he didn’t get in earlier. Of course, you’re right, and that the second question would leave him out of the running. But IF Johnson falls, then yes, I’d bet that the Republican/MAGA will pick someone who wants to burn it all down and let the next session post-election figure it out. I used to hope (upthread) that any remaining “moderates” would quietly arrange to be _away_ during the period so the Democrats would sneak Jeffries in but all who might have done so are leaving or likely will shortly. ---
**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:** [March 25, 2024, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1636 "2024-03-25T22:04:58Z")
I find current Republican politics, and “conservative” media, to be analogous to a feedback loop. Their voters get angry about government disfunction, they elect candidates who appeal to that anger, the disfunction gets worse, the voters’ anger gets stronger, new candidates emerge, etc. If teh analogy holds true, the cycles continue, getting worse each time, until a fuse blows. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1637 "2024-03-25T22:21:50Z")
MTGs threat’s make it seem likely that, if Johnson even brought an aid to Ukraine vote to the floor, that would be the end of him, assuming he got no help from Dems. But what if the Dems said, “Bring the aid vote and we’ll back you on the removal vote.”? Couldn’t MTG just make another motion to vacate? This is all so sad since, apparently, the majority of Congress wants to help Ukraine. Some system, huh? ---
**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 26, 2024, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1638 "2024-03-26T06:09:19Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > This is all so sad since, apparently, the majority of Congress wants to help Ukraine. Some system, huh? It’s beyond sad that a handful of Russian operatives/Useful Idiots can influence US policies so much. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1639 "2024-03-26T14:39:27Z")
It seems like Johnson’s out could be just quietly greenlighting some of the establishment Republicans to back the discharge petition for Ukraine aid and then publicly saying “hey what was I supposed to do about it?” No sure if that would actually fly with the Gaetz faction but I’d say it’s worth a shot. Obviously there’s also the issue that if the establishment Republicans don’t think Johnson is going to stay the speaker and they think they’re going to have speaker Gaetz in a month or so there’s no value in a promise from Johnson. (Which of course is what McCarthy set it motion at the start of this session by trading away all of his power.) Also, personally I would be in favor of the Dems cutting a deal to save Johnson if he passes Ukraine aid. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/1640 "2024-03-27T11:27:41Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Given the high level success with the Biden impeachment hearings I would think Comer is a shoe-in. /s Shoo-in. That is all. [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=81) [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=83)