# 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:** 28
**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 11, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/541 "2023-10-11T18:29:23Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > > [@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? Boebert et al. can vote “Present.” On the 15th vote last time, the count was 216 for McCarthy, 212 for Jeffries, and 6 Present. A majority of the 434 votes cast would be 218, but if you don’t count the Present votes, he only needed 215. ---
**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, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/542 "2023-10-11T18:32:10Z")
So it requires a majority where the denominator is the total votes cast, excluding those who are absent or those who vote “present”? ---
**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, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/543 "2023-10-11T18:32:31Z")
Say, how do we do quotes from articles in those boxes? ---
**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 11, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/544 "2023-10-11T18:37:36Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > So it requires a majority where the denominator is the total votes cast, excluding those who are absent or those who vote “present”? Yes. As an example of this, the 14th vote last time was 216 for McCarthy, 212 for Jeffries, 2 for Jordan, 2 for Biggs, and 2 Present. 432 Representatives voted for somebody, which means a majority would be 217. There were only 434 because Rep. McEachin had died in late November after having been re-elected and no replacement been named yet. > [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Say, how do we do quotes from articles in those boxes? Those are just weblinks. Just type in an HTML address, then remove any editing that the board does to it. ---
**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, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/545 "2023-10-11T18:44:35Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Those are just weblinks. Just type in an HTML address, then remove any editing that the board does to it. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/546 "2023-10-11T19:01:47Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > ore 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) This morning I had the weekly call with the Israeli office. It’s the first one in two weeks. They’re working from home and will re-open the facility on Sunday. There were about 5 of them on the call and every one of them was literally gushing over Biden’s support. They were genuinely grateful for his words. Kinda sad that 99% of Americans will know what McCarthy thinks of Biden’s statement, but not what the Israelis think. You didn’t ask, but fortunately this particular office hasn’t suffered any personnel losses. ---
**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 11, 2023, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/547 "2023-10-11T19:07:49Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Multiple GOP sources argued that the Trump endorsement [of Jordan] may have helped solidify Scalise’s support with moderates. Unsurprising. Trump’s touch is the kiss of death now. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/548 "2023-10-11T19:43:15Z")
Everything Trump touches dies. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/549 "2023-10-11T19:49:18Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > It doesn’t work that way, does it? I thought it required a majority, not a plurality. The House can elect on a plurality if it looks like no one has any chance of getting a majority. IIRC it has been done once before. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/550 "2023-10-11T19:53:40Z")
Scalise. seems sane compared to Jordan, maybe the Dems can vote him in? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/551 "2023-10-11T19:55:24Z")
Scalise represents a district in Louisiana. I can’t imagine that any cooperation with Democrats would be anything but a death knell for him at his next primary. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/552 "2023-10-11T20:02:08Z")
(Mr Burns voice) _Excellent._ ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/553 "2023-10-11T20:11:18Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > The House can elect on a plurality if it looks like no one has any chance of getting a majority. IIRC it has been done once before. Found it [here](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPRACTICE-108/html/GPO-HPRACTICE-108-35.htm#:~:text=In%20two%20instances%20the%20House,the%20choice%20by%20majority%20vote.) > In two instances the House agreed to choose and subsequently did choose a Speaker by a plurality of votes but confirmed the choice by majority vote. In 1849 the House had been in session 19 days without being able to elect a Speaker, no candidate having received a majority of the votes cast. The voting was viva voce, each Member responding to the call of the roll by naming the candidate for whom he voted. Finally, after the fifty-ninth ballot, the House adopted a resolution declaring that a Speaker could be elected by a plurality. > In 1856 the House again struggled over the election of a Speaker. Ballots numbering 129 had been taken without any candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast. The House then adopted a resolution permitting the election to be decided by a plurality. > On both of these occasions, the House ratified the plurality election by a majority vote. ---
**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 11, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/554 "2023-10-11T20:15:05Z")
(Edited) ---
**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 11, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/555 "2023-10-11T20:15:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Scalise. seems sane compared to Jordan, maybe the Dems can vote him in? Maybe the Republicans can. There’s enough of them, if they actually care about filling the speaker’s chair. ---
**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, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/556 "2023-10-11T20:32:51Z")
The House recessed without voting. Obviously Scalise doesn’t have the votes yet to be elected, and I imagine they don’t want to go through the same clown show they did back in January. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/557 "2023-10-11T20:35:10Z")
According to the NY Times, the floor vote has been delayed as too many Jordan supports came out and said they would not support Scalise. So right now Scalise is in the same position as McCarthy in January, i.e. fucked. ETA: I think the big question is what the “moderate” (ha!) GOP house members will do if Scalise is unable to wheel and deal his way into the Speakership. Will they buckle under and vote for Jordan just to get someone in there? Or will they stick to their guns like the crazies are doing? I’ll take “buckling under” for $1,000, Alex. ---
**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, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/558 "2023-10-11T20:36:24Z")
Apparently, they also had the problem that some moderates were determined to vote for McCarthy as a protest against last week’s shenanigans. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/559 "2023-10-11T20:37:08Z")
[![](https://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2011/05/popcorn_yes.gif) ](https://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2011/05/popcorn_yes.gif) ---
**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 11, 2023, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/560 "2023-10-11T20:39:20Z")
Right. I love the whole “Democrats should fix this” routine. Let some Republicans support Jeffries, and the Democrats would love to help Republicans fix 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=27) [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=29)