# 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:** 5
**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 2, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/81 "2023-10-02T17:04:32Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > neuter the stray dogs Neutering Gaetz in particular would be good news for teenaged girls and their parents/guardians. ---
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/82 "2023-10-02T17:17:19Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > _Both_ parties? Nice try, but wack-job amoral Democrats are not a major problem in the House or Senate. šŸ™„ Iā€™m fully aware of that, donā€™t worry. I donā€™t have any illusions that the parties are at all operating on equal footings. I just wish ā€œbipartisanā€ meant something other than one or two votes being scraped over from the other party and then that being seen as a betrayal. (Although I donā€™t watch the House closely so Iā€™m sure it happens more often than I knowā€“itā€™s just these awful exceptions that make the noise that get the attention.) The initial point remains: Itā€™s truly sickening that any Speaker would ever be asked to make an actual promise not to work with the other party and that one would do so. This timeline sucks. ---
**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 2, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/83 "2023-10-02T17:18:13Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Iā€™m beginning to think heā€™s bluffing. Of course theyā€™re bluffing. Thereā€™s not enough of them in the Freedum Caucus to actually do anything, if the rest of the Republicans were to tell them to fuck off, and actually negotiate with the Democrats to get something done. Their power comes entirely from peopleā€™s reluctance to confront them, and as soon as the other Republicans figure that out, the FC will be entirely irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/84 "2023-10-02T17:24:05Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Iā€™m beginning to think heā€™s bluffing. Matt Gaetz is, fundamentally, a coward. Whenever itā€™s time to put up or shut up, he lacks he courage of his supposed convictions. I remember during the Speakerā€™s race they had already given up for the day and were voting to adjourn for the weekend. McCarthy was still talking to Gaetz, and you could see Gaetz just physically surrender. McCarthy immediately jumped up and told Republicans to vote against adjournment because he now had the votes. ---
**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 2, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/85 "2023-10-02T18:02:22Z")
Gaetz and his closer freakshow allies also love to talk about ā€œagreementsā€ and ā€œunderstandingsā€ to the effect that they would have their way or else, that however nobody can call them ā€œcite?ā€ on ā€˜cause thereā€™s no damn cite to point to. They just want to rattle everyone because if everyone else is rattled it proves they are ā€œstrongerā€. ---
**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 2, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/86 "2023-10-02T18:18:29Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Maybe I misinterpreted, as I considered that option 1. > [@DSeid](#): > > You are correct. The option seemed to me to refer to Democrats getting involved in the actual vote on the motion. I believe that the backlash to Gaetz may prevent the vote from being needed. [https://www.npr.org/2023/09/30/1202713718/kevin-mccarthy-motion-to-vacate-gaetz-house-speaker](https://www.npr.org/2023/09/30/1202713718/kevin-mccarthy-motion-to-vacate-gaetz-house-speaker) > After introduction, a lawmaker would have to go to the House floor and request a vote on the resolution, which would be considered privileged and therefore require a vote to occur within two legislative days. Party leadership can determine the timing of the vote, and it could happen as soon as itā€™s introduced. > > The resolution is subject to motions that could ultimately block it from getting a vote. For example, motions to table the resolution, or refer it to committee would be in order. If any of those intermediary steps succeeded, then a vote on the resolution to vacate the speakership would not occur. > > If the blocking motions fail, and a vote on the resolution is called, it requires a simple majority of lawmakers present and voting to succeed. If it passes, the speakership is immediately vacated. Would Democrats be necessary at these stages? Probably. The drama might be interesting, but thereā€™s too much potential for a bad result. But I didnā€™t think Option 1 covered every possibility. ---
**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, 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-2023-10-03/990958/87 "2023-10-02T19:55:55Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I think the Democrats should start wielding their power of numbers more and start pulling on that leverā€¦ > > Hakeem: _You are going to have to work with us, tho. What say you?"_ Gaetz says that McCarthy doesnā€™t keep promises. Iā€™m thinking he is right about that. ---
**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 2, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/88 "2023-10-02T22:15:34Z")
So whatā€™s to stop him from just refusing to step down if a Freedomer tries to oust him? ---
**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 2, 2023, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/89 "2023-10-02T22:37:35Z")
Everything that is going on in US politics can be summarized as one side playing Calvinball while the other side is still trying to play traditional football by the traditional written rules. The Calvinballers use the rules when they are helpful to their cause and ignore them or act like the donā€™t understand them or make side deals to change them when that is more convenient to their cause. The other team is trying to play by the real published rules, and the unwritten rules of traditional bounds of decency. Unsurprisingly, the other team is getting their ass handed to them. The problem is the only way to win at Calvinball is to be better at changing / ignoring / making up the rules than the other guys. Two problems: A) thatā€™s a tall order for real statesmen and pols not grifters, and B) that way lies simple armed insurrection and competing warlords. ---
**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 2, 2023, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/90 "2023-10-02T23:30:14Z")
> **[Matt Gaetz files motion to oust Kevin McCarthy as House speaker](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/02/kevin-mccarthy-matt-gaetz/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjk2MjE5MjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjk3NjAxNTk5LCJpYXQiOjE2OTYyMTkyMDAsImp0aSI6ImEwOTIwMjQ0LWYzZmUtNGYwMS1hZjk4LTY4ZGY2Y2RjMGRmNiIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDIzLzEwLzAyL2tldmluLW1jY2FydGh5LW1hdHQtZ2FldHovIn0.1B0sZd71PoWkumSpTcVXq3cIO2veMOaZtjs-14G7tlc&itid=gfta)** > > Rep. Matt Gaetz and other hard-right Republicans for months have threatened to go after Rep. Kevin McCarthyā€™s speakership if he relied on Democratic votes to pass any funding legislation. ---
**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 2, 2023, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/91 "2023-10-02T23:57:27Z")
At this point is it possible Gaetz is just trying to create as many headlines with his name in them as a precursor to his run for Florida governor? I donā€™t think he has an actual plan in regard to his congressional office. ---
**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, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/92 "2023-10-03T00:12:54Z")
I donā€™t think Gaetz has much planning ability. ā€œLook at meā€ is about the limit for these muppets, IMO. The others will get jealous soon, and do some poo-flinging to try to grab the spotlight back. I think at this point the Democrats should just say ā€œ we have seen this idiocy recently with the nomination of the speaker, where the Republicans could not organize their way out of a paper bag. They should let us know when they are ready to work. In the meantime, we shall vote ā€œpresentā€, as it is their problem to fix. We are ready to get to work once they have their house in order. ā€œ ---
**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 3, 2023, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/93 "2023-10-03T00:45:03Z")
[https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4233982-gaetz-moves-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy/](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4233982-gaetz-moves-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy/) > [@](#): > > Gaetz earlier Monday warned that he would continue to force votes on McCarthyā€™s ouster if the first one fails. > > ā€œIt took Speaker McCarthy 15 votes to become the Speaker. So until I get to 14 or 15, I donā€™t think Iā€™m being any more dilatory than he was,ā€ Gaetz said. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/94 "2023-10-03T00:48:14Z")
Gaetz needs to spend more time making sure we still have a functioning government in a few weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/95 "2023-10-03T00:58:27Z")
His caucus seems not to care whether there is a functioning government. ---
**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 3, 2023, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/96 "2023-10-03T01:07:25Z")
More accurately, they would prefer there was not a functioning government. Theyā€™re simply vandals. ---
**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, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/97 "2023-10-03T03:54:45Z")
Exactly right. This is the ā€œcanā€™t do anything rightā€ government the Republicans have been mewling about since the Reagan era. The Democrats havenā€™t been delivering the goods, so now theyā€™re taking things into theyā€™re own hands and grabbing that bull by the horns. Yee-haww! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/98 "2023-10-03T12:16:16Z")
Is there any real chance McCarthy will be removed? Or is this all just hot air and blustering? Like, are we talking a 5% chance or is he actually at a 50-50 point here? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/99 "2023-10-03T12:56:16Z")
If all the Dems vote him out, along with the FC guys, heā€™s a goner. ---
**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, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/100 "2023-10-03T12:59:18Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I think at this point the Democrats should just say ā€œ we have seen this idiocy recently with the nomination of the speaker, where the Republicans could not organize their way out of a paper bag. They should let us know when they are ready to work. In the meantime, we shall vote ā€œpresentā€, as it is their problem to fix. We are ready to get to work once they have their house in order. ā€œ On January 6, 2023, every one of the 212 voting Democrats voted for Jeffries. Only Republicans voted present: [Roll Call](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/01/04/us/politics/house-speaker-vote-tally.html) High non-unanimous GOP support for McCarthy, is a given, as is the impossibility of Jeffries winning. Under those circumstances, a present vote is effectively a half-vote for McCarthy. In other words, a Democrat voting present bails out a divided GOP caucus. (By contrast, my idea of Democrats voting for a non-partisan non-member speaker, such as the current parliamentarian, does nothing to help the GOP.) If I am missing something, I will soon learn šŸ™‚ [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=4) [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=6)