# 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:** 2
**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 1, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/21 "2023-10-01T18:54:48Z")
> [@](#): > > I think you might be right but then I wonder, if this will be the case, why McCarthy didn’t break their hold till now? My guess is that he actually thought he could make it work. From the statements he’s made in the media lately, I think he’s just given up on that — he and the rest of his caucus have reached the « Fuck it » point. A lot of the GOP Congress critters have been saying variants on « They keep moving the goalposts », « They won’t take ‘Yes’ for an answer » and « They want to burn the place down; I’m here to work for the people that elected me. » Maybe the rest of the caucus has just accepted that they can’t be held hostage by 15 or 20 extremists? Also, he now can say to GOP supporters that he tried his best and there was no working with them. ---
**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 1, 2023, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/22 "2023-10-01T19:04:27Z")
McCarthy was obviously under the delusion that his concessions to gain the Speakership - which gave huge powers to the Freedom Caucus - would be sufficient. They have indeed taken advantage: see the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. Chairman. Jim Jordan and the Oversight Committee’s inquiry into impeachment. Chairman James Comer. Two ridiculous political propaganda showpieces chaired by two the most vicious and stupid thugs in Congress. McCarthy probably thought that would divert all their attention, and that he could handle the rest especially after getting the debt limit ceiling passed despite them. In hindsight that belief is ludicrous. Additionally, McCarthy demonstrated over and over that he didn’t have the spine necessary for control. Maybe - _maybe_ - he’s desperate enough now to take charge. Bringing the vote for a new Speaker to the floor requires a couple of procedural hoops that he should be able to raise out of reach. The House has more than 100 of what they call moderates, way outnumbering the Freedom Caucus. Maybe - _maybe_ - he’ll find a way to bind them into a counterforce. Can we cheer for the lesser of two evils? Tune in tomorrow, all times, all channels. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/23 "2023-10-01T19:04:30Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > The alleged commitment is that McCarthy would not bring measures to the floor if they would _only_ pass because of Democratic votes. Even now, there are lots of bills that pass the House with broadly bipartisan support. This is put much better than my flawed attempt at explaining the promise made. Gaetz and company are looking at it from the point of view that if ANY Democrats vote yes then Kevin is breaking his promise. The truth is, though, if 5 Republicans vote no and the motion still passes then it in actuality _did_ only pass due to the Democrats’ support. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/24 "2023-10-01T19:08:28Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > [@ASanders](#): > > > > against any hope of reaching functional democracy. > > …which is actually the whole point. Right. They run on a platform of “Government doesn’t work”, and then do everything in their power to sabotage effective governance (allegedly in the name of “fiscal responsibility” or “eliminating needlessly beaurocratic regulation”) in order to prove to their voters that government indeed doesn’t work. Why anyone would vote for them is beyond me. It’d be like hiring a nudist to be your tailor, or a putting Genghis Khan in charge of Housing and Urban Development. Or making Dan Carlin the Pope. You can’t put someone who is fundamentally opposed to what an organization is in charge of that organization and expect things to work out. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/25 "2023-10-01T19:41:05Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > McCarthy gave them three seats in the Rules Committee (I may have the number wrong). That gave them a disproportionate role over what bills could come forward. Kick them off the committee, put in McCarthy loyalists, and that may make things better. He did appoint three members recommended by the Freedom Caucus – Chip Roy, Thomas Massie and Ralph Norman – to the Rules Committee. Those three, combined with all of the Democrats on the committee, is enough to block a rule. I will say that while those three are very right wing and not above hostage taking to achieve their goals, they are generally not part of the nihilist clown show of Gaetz, MTG, Rosendale, etc. Changing the membership of the Rules Committee would require the full House to adopt a resolution, which raises the same issues as the motion to vacate – with dozens of Republicans likely to oppose, it will take Democrat votes to get it done. Why should they go along with it? ---
**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 1, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/26 "2023-10-01T19:41:11Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Or making Dan Carlin the Pope. George Carlin was a cardinal. [![](https://i.imgur.io/tYFBm7l_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium) ](https://i.imgur.io/tYFBm7l_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/27 "2023-10-01T19:46:34Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > they are generally not part of the nihilist clown show of Gaetz, MTG, Rosendale, etc. Wasn’t MTG ousted from the Freedumb Caucus? Does that change any political calculus (or remedial arithmetic)? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/28 "2023-10-01T19:56:12Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@Babale](#): > > > > Or making Dan Carlin the Pope. > > George Carlin was a cardinal. God damn it, I meant George Carlin. Making Dan Carlin the Pope would just turn Sunday Sermon into a six hour history lecture. Actually, I’d be down for that religion. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/29 "2023-10-01T19:56:48Z")
LOL, that’s right, she was. For calling Lauren Boebert a little bitch. Classic Marjorie. Doesn’t really change much. “Freedom Caucus” is being used as a shorthand in these conversations for the group of right-wing Members who are implacably opposed to McCarthy but there are Freedom Caucus members who are more willing to work with McCarthy as well as non-Freedom Caucus Republican who have been part of his opposition. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/30 "2023-10-01T20:47:15Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > McCarthy was obviously under the delusion that his concessions to gain the Speakership - which gave huge powers to the Freedom Caucus - would be sufficient. They have indeed taken advantage: see the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. Chairman. Jim Jordan and the Oversight Committee’s inquiry into impeachment. Chairman James Comer. Two ridiculous political propaganda showpieces chaired by two the most vicious and stupid thugs in Congress. Appeasement always works so well. /s ---
**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 1, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/31 "2023-10-01T21:01:24Z")
McCarthy might not be the one who needs to worry about his job. > **[House GOP members seek to expel Gaetz amid renewed threat to vacate House...](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-gop-members-seek-expel-gaetz-renewed-threat-vacate-house-speaker-mccarthy)** > > House Republican members are seeking to expel Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is moving to call for a vote of no confidence in House Speaker 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 1, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/32 "2023-10-01T21:26:47Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Appeasement always works so well. /s Actually appeasement works a remarkable percentage of the time. It’s overwhelmingly effective, at least in smaller things. Only at the ultimately huge scale does it tend to fail. > [@Smapti](#): > > McCarthy might not be the one who needs to worry about his job. This will go nowhere, but it’s a sign that his camera-hogging is getting on peoples’ nerves. ---
**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 1, 2023, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/33 "2023-10-01T21:31:54Z")
At this point, the long term plan for the R should be to admit the schism, agree they are two parties now and kick the minority far right Trumpers to their own special powerless party. Then begin the long process of rebuilding by convincing voters they have regained their sanity. It will take a few election cycles, and then Trumpism will fade into obscurity (eventually) as they realize they have no power and no hope of ever getting it. The politician clowns and grifters and morons will move on to other more traditional grifter roles like talk radio or televangelist ---
**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 1, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/34 "2023-10-01T21:38:40Z")
Except that Trump dominates among their voters. If there’s a schism, the Trump faction will have a majority of support. ---
**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 1, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/35 "2023-10-01T21:47:47Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > a majority of support. …among the right wing. Any schism dooms them to obscurity for a decade or more. So bring it on! ---
**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 1, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/36 "2023-10-01T21:57:25Z")
Here’s a phrase from out of the past: Marjorie Taylor Greene is demanding that McCarthy uphold the “Hastert Rule” and prevent any Ukraine aid bill from being brought to the floor of the House unless a majority of Republicans support it. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/37 "2023-10-01T22:08:02Z")
That Fox story had one of the least flattering pictures of Gaetz I’ve seen, which is saying a lot. Maybe Fox is sick of him too. [![](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/10/1862/1046/AP23272673314185.jpg?ve=1&tl=1) ](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/10/1862/1046/AP23272673314185.jpg?ve=1&tl=1) ---
**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 1, 2023, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/38 "2023-10-01T22:39:25Z")
In that photo he kinda looks like [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4D17aUTU_btJ4HNNvdHEbpncqioDE6Fsfug&usqp=CAU) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4D17aUTU_btJ4HNNvdHEbpncqioDE6Fsfug&usqp=CAU) Reprising his role as “The Joker” I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/39 "2023-10-02T00:09:43Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > That Fox story had one of the least flattering pictures of Gaetz I’ve seen He was naturally born with the perfect face for the Hollywood role of “guilty scumbag denying heinous crimes at press conference”. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/40 "2023-10-02T00:20:01Z")
> **[Gaming out Matt Gaetz’s bid to oust Kevin McCarthy](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/01/mccarthy-gaetz-speakership-battle-00119355)** > > Both Republicans likely need the support of Democrats to prevail in their battle over the speakership. Here’s how that could shake out. Implication of my link seems to be that Democrats will be even more divided on McCarthy continuing as speaker than the Republicans. This is in contrast to the last speaker crisis, when the Democrats united behind Jeffries. My idea is that Democrats should take the position that in a House this closely divided, the speaker should be a non-partisan figure — maybe the current House parliamentarian. It would at least look better to vote for the parliamentarian than hopelessly voting for Jeffries, as they did last time. Theoretically, only a few Republicans would have to be peeled off for it to work. However, nobody else seems to be for this. It actually seems more likely the Democrats will prop up McCarthy. [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=1) [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=3)