# The Impending Attempt to Oust Speaker McCarthy {10/1/2023}; Patrick McHenry is now Speaker Pro Tempore {2023-10-03} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 1, 2023, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958 "2023-10-01T15:58:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**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 3, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/221 "2023-10-03T21:21:15Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > How many Scaramucci’s did he last ? 269 days, so around 27 Scaramucci’s ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/222 "2023-10-03T21:24:54Z")
We now have a new short-term time unit: “Hey, man, haven’t had a cigarette for 1 1/2 McCarthys. Think I might have kicked my smoking habit”. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/223 "2023-10-03T21:34:59Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > 269 days, so around 27 Scaramucci’s Well, that is more than a head of lettuce. I can see a new series of threads here … " ̶K̶e̶v̶i̶n̶ ̶M̶c̶C̶a̶r̶t̶h̶y̶ Patrick McHenry tries to lead the Republican House Caucus." I really want to see a Pelosi news conference where she exclaims “We FIRED Kevin McCarthy!” 🤣 ---
**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 3, 2023, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/224 "2023-10-03T21:39:43Z")
I did not imagine McCarthy would have allowed this to go on without a plan. Unless his plan to get get voted out, this was exactly the worst decision. From a guy who backed down at the last minute and allowed government to work against the wishes of the crazies. What was he thinking? Where are the Republicans going? This is crazier than a Trump Truth. ---
**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 3, 2023, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/225 "2023-10-03T21:42:53Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Where are the Republicans going? Round and round and in-and-out of the clown car. While amusing music plays. ---
**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 3, 2023, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/226 "2023-10-03T21:43:54Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Well, according to the vote results, the Speaker has been removed. Final tally: > > Yea: 216. > Nay: 210. If I am reading the results right, Davidson, Mills, and Spartz voted to conduct the vote, but voted not to remove McCarthy. Also, Gooden of Texas voted to table the motion to vote, but did not participate in the final vote itself. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/227 "2023-10-03T21:51:19Z")
According to Politico, McHenry [has all the powers of an elected speaker](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/10/03/congress/new-temporary-speaker-mchenry-00119758) Really? Third in line to the presidency? > [@](#): > > The pro tempore is kept as a secret, held by the clerk of the House, until a speaker is removed or incapacitated, a process designed after Sept. 11, 2001, to ensure continuity of government. What about the deals McCarthy made with the far-right in January? Are they still in place? Is it possibly the case that Gaetz has shot himself in the foot by putting in a new speaker who will be stronger then the last one? Doubt it, but just asking. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/228 "2023-10-03T21:58:12Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I did not imagine McCarthy would have allowed this to go on without a plan. Assumes he had the ability to stop it, an assumption not based on the facts. Again, this has been hanging over his head ever since the concessions were made to get him into the Speaker’s role in the first place. Your next point though is a good one. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > From a guy who backed down at the last minute and allowed government to work against the wishes of the crazies. Maybe he thought the Democrats would bail him out, as the lesser of evils after his show of minimal responsibility. I think it’s more likely he thought that Gaetz wouldn’t go through with it, just make a lot of noise for his adoring fans. But that brings us a possible answer for my earlier question about Gaetz’s reasons for going through with it, even if there’s not really a lot more he can get out of McCarthy or any replacement: From [CNN.com](https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/matt-gaetz-kevin-mccarthy-house-speakership-10-03-23/index.html) > GOP Rep. Garret Graves on Tuesday criticized Rep. Matt Gaetz for using the vote to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as a means to fundraise for himself and not donating to fellow Republican lawmakers. > > While speaking in defense of McCarthy on the House floor, Graves held up his phone to show fundraising emails Gaetz has sent in the lead up to announcing a motion to oust McCarthy. > > “It’s disgusting,” Graves said. > The majority of House Republicans cheered Graves, as many are frustrated that Gaetz has focused on fundraising for himself and not donating to the team. > > Gaetz responded by saying, “I take no lecture on asking patriotic Americans to weigh in and contribute to this fight.” > > He went on to accuse House Republicans of being owned by lobbyists and special interests, which elicited boos from other Republicans. > > “Boo all you want” Gaetz yelled back. > One source pointed out to CNN that Gaetz has only given about $85,000 to the House Republican campaign arm since he was elected and hasn’t given anything in the 2022 or 2024 cycle. So, it may just be grift and self-interest, as it isn’t exactly likely he’d get much funding beyond the minimum from the Republican party as a whole and McCarthy in particular after his obstructionism. So nothing more than burn it all down and enjoy the flames while he’s showered with money by his fans. ---
**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 3, 2023, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/229 "2023-10-03T22:05:45Z")
[![](https://y.yarn.co/76ad6280-3862-4d8e-8977-82df09c5c4aa_text.gif) ](https://y.yarn.co/76ad6280-3862-4d8e-8977-82df09c5c4aa_text.gif) Just follow the money ---
**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 3, 2023, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/230 "2023-10-03T22:16:15Z")
Maybe McCarthy can go meet with Trump at mar a lago like he did _after_ Jan. 6 and pick up some genius level political advice. Seriously, fuck that guy. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/231 "2023-10-03T22:21:39Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > What about the deals McCarthy made with the far-right in January? Are they still in place? I assume that McCarthy out means Gaetz has, ahem, shot his wad. But yeah, I am wondering about this as well - has Gaetz played all his cards at once? Another question - while this list of replacement speakers is kept secret, do any of them know they are on the list? Did McHenry know he was at the top of McCarthy’s list - was today a surprise to him? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/232 "2023-10-03T22:24:59Z")
Like i said upthread, Gaetz is doing this because he’s going to run for governor of Florida. There is no downside for him causing a shit storm in the House, and all upside. He has this planned out to benefit no one but himself. Money, headlines, and the Miller High Life-breathed cheers of whackadoo Florida Men. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/233 "2023-10-03T22:40:37Z")
Gee, why didn’t the Democrats want to save his sorry ass? > **[McCarthy Blows Off Dems’ Request to Attend Feinstein Funeral](https://www.yahoo.com/news/mccarthy-blows-off-dems-request-192028826.html)** > > McCarthy appears to have other things to worry about with a vote set to take place for his job as speaker. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/234 "2023-10-03T22:51:03Z")
I’m guessing that what we have now is McHenry as the speaker pro tempore all the way until the next Congress is seated after the elections. Naming a “real” Speaker will have to come up for a vote every so often, at which point all of the Democrats will continue to vote for Jeffries and all of the Republicans will continue with their spherical firing squad, so every one of those votes will fail and we’ll continue with McHenry. The only way it could go otherwise would be for the Republicans to unite, which I don’t think is possible, or for the Democrats to support some Republican, which they have no reason to do (McHenry is probably about the least-bad Republican they could get). ---
**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 3, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/235 "2023-10-03T22:53:01Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > The majority of House Republicans cheered Graves, as many are frustrated that Gaetz has focused on fundraising for himself and not donating to the team. So Matt didn’t bring enough gum to share with the rest of the class. ---
**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 3, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/236 "2023-10-03T22:53:19Z")
That makes sense, in this weird situation. Is there any provision in the House rules for a motion to vacate the chair when held by an interim Speaker? ETA: replying to Chronos. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/237 "2023-10-03T22:58:49Z")
McHenry is in the district next to mine. And he’s…not crazy? I mean, his views are solidly awful. But I don’t think he is anything like Madison Cawthorn. he believes in constituent services, and in governing well, and at this point, that puts him above many other Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/238 "2023-10-03T23:05:23Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > How many Scaramucci’s did he last? A notable expert weighs in… > > > Mary L Trump @MaryLTrump ---
**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 3, 2023, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/239 "2023-10-03T23:07:21Z")
I skipped some posts so this may have been mentioned but CNN just announced that McCarthy will not run for Speaker again. So any suggestions of plans that he would emerge from the chaos as the savior are blasted. For now. At 7:00 I turned on Fox News to see what they had to say. They led the hour with NYC being crime-ridden. Now they did switch to McCarthy but that says everything. Ha. They’re blasting Gaetz for running out a Speaker and making Republicans look bad when they had been doing so well with the impeachment inquiry. ---
**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 3, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/240 "2023-10-03T23:13:58Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m guessing that what we have now is McHenry as the speaker pro tempore all the way until the next Congress is seated after the elections. According to a Fox actual newsperson, the House can not do anything - not even a resolution for the Girl Scouts - until a permanent Speaker has been elected. Committees can still run, however. Looking online, I found the opposite statement: > “The Speaker pro tem could stay in the chair,” Josh Huder, a senior fellow at the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University, [wrote on X,](https://x.com/joshHuder/status/1709227030670192861?s=20) formerly known as Twitter. “There’s not [a] forcing mechanism for a new election, nor are there any overt restrictions on the power the pro tem would wield. The support of the conference would dictate the durability of this.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958.md?page=13)