# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/161 "2023-10-13T23:09:04Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > What would prevent a moderate republican approaching Jeffries and saying “give me the support of all Democrats, and a dozen of my Moderate friends and I will be the speaker. Republicans will continue to chair all house committees. In exchange, we will give you no government shut down.” IOW > Hand us R the speakership today and we’ll consider not being totally dysfunctional destroyers of the USA and its credit rating for a whole week. Then after that we’ll forget you (D’s) ever existed. Explain to us again what makes you think this would be a good idea for anyone of any party to agree to? ---
**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:** [October 13, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/162 "2023-10-13T23:11:47Z")
I mean it’s an unprecedented opportunity to get to influence the majority caucus as the minority caucus. I’d also do it for a relatively small victory from a policy perspective - clean funding including Ukraine being the main thing. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/163 "2023-10-13T23:15:21Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > As mentioned above, why should the Democrats lift a finger to help the Republicans? This has been answered. There will be a govt shutdown if we dont. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/164 "2023-10-13T23:15:21Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > What would prevent a moderate republican approaching Jeffries and saying “give me the support of all Democrats, and a dozen of my Moderate friends and I will be the speaker. Republicans will continue to chair all house committees. In exchange, we will give you no government shut down.” This argument’s been done to death. But as a technical matter, it’s up to Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry to decide when the House will vote on a Speaker. He’s a loyal party man, and there’s no way he would let the House vote for a Speaker if he thought the result would be a Democrat-Republican “moderates” coalition. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/165 "2023-10-13T23:20:37Z")
This is how Fox is characterizing the current feel on Jordan. I’d say it’s not good news… > **[House adjourns in disarray as support for Jordan looks weaker than expected](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-adjourns-disarray-support-jordan-looks-weaker-than-expected)** > > The House of Representatives is adjourning for the weekend after selecting House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan as their second speaker-elect in three days. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/166 "2023-10-13T23:26:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@snowthx](#): > > > > As mentioned above, why should the Democrats lift a finger to help the Republicans? > > This has been answered. There will be a govt shutdown if we dont. And negotiating with terrorists always ends so well. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/167 "2023-10-13T23:42:35Z")
Here’s an analysis of the situation by WaPo. > **[Analysis | The bipartisan speaker fantasy](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/13/bipartisan-speaker/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjk3MTY5NjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjk4NTUxOTk5LCJpYXQiOjE2OTcxNjk2MDAsImp0aSI6IjIzMmQ1MWEzLWE3MmUtNDFjZi1iY2YzLTU1NGNkYzVjZWY0YSIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDIzLzEwLzEzL2JpcGFydGlzYW4tc3BlYWtlci8ifQ.OjCGrO4m4WX1D9oCxN9rrjozsNL1vIAyXu2_ucdBN0s&itid=gfta)** > > It remains very unlikely, but certain Republicans appear intent on tempting their colleagues. And mainstream Republicans might ask themselves how their unwillingness to play the same kind of hard ball has panned out. (gift link) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/168 "2023-10-14T00:34:21Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > What would happen in a parliamentary system is that without the support of this third (T) party, the minority (R) government would fall on a budget vote. This would trigger the Governor General to go to the D’s and ask if they have the numbers to form government. If they do not, this would trigger a new election. Not that that system is perfect either - AIUI, Israel’s parliament has been essentially deadlocked for years because no party can win an outright majority. ---
**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 14, 2023, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/169 "2023-10-14T00:40:42Z")
That’s because of their pure proportional representation system, which greatly magnifies the political power of small, single issue parties. PR also played a role in the fall of the Weimar Republic. The German constituent assembly learned from that problem in the Basic Law after WWII, reducing the scope for PR and making confidence motions more difficult, creating greater stability, but within a parliamentary system. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/170 "2023-10-14T00:58:04Z")
I think you’re underestimating the power of money. Regardless of political bent, the name of the game is how to maximize the money. A deadlocked parliament (congress, whatever) is what you want to maximize donations. Both (all) parties are going to change their platforms to try to make as even a divide as possible, because both (all) sides recognize that that is what maximizes income. Israel’s parliament, US HOR, it doesn’t matter. If one side starts getting more support from the citizens, it’s time to redefine the platform. Maximizing income doesn’t occur if everyone agrees that brutal murder is bad. It’s the murder of the wrong people that is bad. Otherwise, well, _comme ci comme ça_. ---
**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 14, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/171 "2023-10-14T01:06:31Z")
What is the point of the nominating committee vote if anyone can vote for anyone in the regular vote? I can understand having a private meeting to settle on someone but if enough of them don’t agree, why go to a regular vote? ---
**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 14, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/172 "2023-10-14T01:10:40Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > That’s because of their pure proportional representation system, which greatly magnifies the political power of small, single issue parties. Yes, thank you. Just came by to post the very same thing. ---
**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 14, 2023, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/173 "2023-10-14T01:40:05Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > Why hasn’t there been shitshow floor votes like we had back in January? Are the rules different now, allowing for secret ballots and such? What happened in January was because electing a Speaker was the first order of business of the initial organization session of the House-Elect. Until that was done _nobody_ could even swear in as members (which I find to be a daft procedural order, but hey, what do I know), never mind carry out _any_ official function including adopting the Rules or naming the committees. Today that does not have to happen because the members are duly sworn, properly voted and approved Rules are in place, and there is a Speaker Pro Tem to maintain a constituted House-in-being until there is a full-time Speaker. The Republican _Conference_ i.e. the gathering of Republican members, has AFAICT always provided for allowing secret ballots for the _internal_ decisions. So the Conference would choose who would be the party-official speaker candidate by majority --if not undisputed acclamation-- and anyone worthy to be Speaker-in-Waiting would have a good idea of who was not all in on him so his team would whip those votes. The second vote to commit to support the presumptive candidate on the Floor, back in Ye Olde Days when Normal People were the Norm, would _politically_ bind any reluctant members to at the very least not prevent the organizing of a majority. At the start of a new Congress, all _that_ would have happened _before_ the first seating on the afternoon of 3 January and they’d show up having that vote already squared away. _However_… **this** Republican Conference is full of people who have realized there is no penalty consequence for Playing Stupid Games. That’s what has caused the waste of this week. And McHenry is not going to start the voting and risk a repeat of last January until his colleagues assure him they got their act together. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/174 "2023-10-14T01:52:47Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > But as a technical matter, it’s up to Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry to decide when the House will vote on a Speaker. Could a majority really not force a speaker vote? ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/175 "2023-10-14T02:14:43Z")
I honestly don’t know. The House isn’t operating anything like it normally should right now. McHenry has just been gaveling in then immediately recessing the body subject to the call of the chair. They haven’t taken a vote on the floor in nearly two weeks. Also, interestingly, the House webpage still lists Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/176 "2023-10-14T02:21:48Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Also, interestingly, the House webpage still lists Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. I assume that the people responsible for updating the website have been sacked and that the people responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked have themselves been sacked. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/177 "2023-10-14T02:59:23Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Also, interestingly, the House webpage still lists Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. Apparently there is still a plate over his office deeming him Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy that is drawing tourists to take selfies in front of. Maybe the plaque department knows something we don’t. Could we be seeing the Once-and-Future ~~King~~ Speaker of the House? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/178 "2023-10-14T10:51:45Z")
Republicans reinvent ranked choice voting: > Rep. Nathan Moran actually proposed that every member in the room write down on a piece of paper their top 10 candidates for speaker and that the conference chair add it all up and report the results out to the conference. > ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/179 "2023-10-14T11:12:16Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@snowthx](#): > > > > As mentioned above, why should the Democrats lift a finger to help the Republicans? > > This has been answered. There will be a govt shutdown if we dont. Also, it’s hard to compare them to toddlers when the Dems can’t act like the grownups. And who knows, maybe a few swing voters will see that and come over. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2023, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/180 "2023-10-14T11:13:38Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > my main worries are the the reputation of the USA as a country that can govern itself is tanking internationally I’m pretty sure the ship has already sailed on that point. At this point, we’re all debating if half your voters can get their heads out of their asses. [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=8) [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=10)