# 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:** 27
**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 10, 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-2023-10-03/990958/521 "2023-10-10T21:42:40Z")
“If we need to act as a government…” Republicans, am I right? ---
**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 10, 2023, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/522 "2023-10-10T22:18:39Z")
Sometimes you’re just forced to do something that goes contrary to your basic principles. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/523 "2023-10-11T00:44:16Z")
“If we need to act as a government, we will,” Wow, ain’t that toying with the dark side of elected power. D’ya think there will be much pushback from their base? 🙃 ---
**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 11, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/524 "2023-10-11T12:42:53Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > > “If we need to act as a government, we will,” the acting speaker said. **“IF”?!??!?!?** ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/525 "2023-10-11T15:13:58Z")
More criticisms of Biden from McCarthy. For a guy who was just voted out by his own party, he’s sure acting like someone running for a leadership position: [McCarthy, touting his support for Israel, doesn't rule out returning as speaker - ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mccarthy-citing-support-israel-rule-returning-speaker/story?id=103831124) ---
**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 11, 2023, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/526 "2023-10-11T16:04:39Z")
The Republican Conference is gathered right now — ideally they want to be able to come out by 3pm (when the next House Session is scheduled) with a decision but really who knows… ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/527 "2023-10-11T16:54:41Z")
It only takes a majority of the House Republican Conference to vote for a candidate for that Member to become the “official” Republican candidate for Speaker. BUT, that candidate will still need 217 votes on the floor in order to be elected. Just like last time, if a small group of Republicans refuse to vote for the candidate on the floor, they can block him from becoming Speaker. And some supporters of Jim Jordan are already saying they won’t back Steve Scalise on the House floor even if Scalise wins a majority of the conference. ---
**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 11, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/528 "2023-10-11T17:26:39Z")
[It’s Scalise](https://www.axios.com/2023/10/11/steve-scalise-republican-speaker-nominee). _Scalise defeated House Judiciary Chair [Jim Jordan](https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/jim-jordan-kevin-mccarthy-speaker) (R-Ohio) on a 113-99 vote after days of the candidates working to rally the conference’s support following the [ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy](https://www.axios.com/2023/10/03/house-republicans-remove-speaker-kevin-mccarthy) (R-Calif.)._ -snip- _Multiple GOP sources argued that the Trump endorsement [of Jordan] may have helped solidify Scalise’s support with moderates._ ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/529 "2023-10-11T17:32:07Z")
Almost a tie. That’s a ringing endorsement from your conference! ---
**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:** [October 11, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/530 "2023-10-11T17:33:22Z")
are they going to lock the door or some how get the democrates out of the chamber? ---
**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 11, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/531 "2023-10-11T17:43:01Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Scalise defeated House Judiciary Chair [Jim Jordan](https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/jim-jordan-kevin-mccarthy-speaker) (R-Ohio) on a 113-99 vote They need 217 votes to beat out Jeffries, right? That’s only 212 votes in their caucus (edited because I do math). Max Miller said he’s gonna vote for Jordan anyway. How many votes can they lose to Jordan and still get Speaker Scalise? ---
**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 11, 2023, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/532 "2023-10-11T17:46:44Z")
Heh. Wouldn’t that be something if the Freedum Caucus helped elect Jeffries to Speaker. Heh! It was smart, actually, for the Republicans to hold the vote behind closed doors - that way no one is on record with their vote (e.g. no one had to go on record ‘not’ supporting Trump’s pick). From the results, it can be said the party is fairly split WRT Trump, which I consider good. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/533 "2023-10-11T17:47:59Z")
In theory, the Republican party could have formed a binding caucus before their vote. This would (again, in theory) obligate the members of that caucus to vote as the caucus did, i.e. for Scalise. It may be that Jordan thought he had, or could convince, enough votes within the caucus to be the nominee of that caucus, but didn’t count the votes correctly. So now, assuming caucus discipline holds, Scalise starts with 212 votes, needing to pick up six for the 218. It would be interesting to know which Republican congressmen didn’t join the caucus, or left it before it was bound. ETA: **LHoD** does the math better than I did. I think 217 is the current number, with two House seats unoccupied. ---
**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 11, 2023, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/534 "2023-10-11T18:09:14Z")
Following the “how the sausage is made” metaphor, we are seeing feces-packed offal from a half-decomposed rotting carcass being shoveled up and dumped into the meat grinder. Bon appetit. ---
**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 11, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/535 "2023-10-11T18:15:45Z")
Boebert says she won’t vote for him; Gaetz is urging people to vote for Scalise. > **[Republicans nominate Scalise as next speaker but a fight still remains ahead](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/scalise-jordan-republicans-nominate-speaker-rcna119452)** > > Even if Majority Leader Steve Scalise or Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan win the GOP nod in Wednesday's secret ballot election, they'll still need 217 votes on the floor to seize the gavel. ---
**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 11, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/536 "2023-10-11T18:16:52Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Boebert says she won’t vote for him Nobody has paid any attention to her for a few hours. ---
**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 11, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/537 "2023-10-11T18:17:49Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Boebert says she won’t vote for him Okay, so that’s one extra vote for Jeffries. How many more of these do we need? ---
**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 11, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/538 "2023-10-11T18:19:24Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Following the “how the sausage is made” metaphor, we are seeing feces-packed offal from a half-decomposed rotting carcass being shoveled up and dumped into the meat grinder. Bon appetit. The Republican Caucus: _caca_’s in the carcass. ---
**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 11, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/539 "2023-10-11T18:19:56Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Okay, so that’s one extra vote for Jeffries. It doesn’t work that way, does it? I thought it required a majority, not a plurality. If Boebert and a few others vote for some other Republican, doesn’t that just mean nobody is elected and we need a new vote like the endless attempts we had before? ---
**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 11, 2023, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/540 "2023-10-11T18:22:59Z")
You’re harshing my vibe here. But yah, you are probably right. [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=26) [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=28)