# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/121 "2023-10-03T15:54:10Z")
I remain torn here. The opportunity for the Democrats to engage in epic trolling by supporting McCarthy is hard to pass up, but in the longer term they have more to gain by acting like the adults in the room and simply continuing to all vote for Jeffries and let the Republicans flail about acrimoniously. ---
**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, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/122 "2023-10-03T15:55:36Z")
Looks like the Dems have come to consensus amongst themselves: > **[Kevin McCarthy removed as House speaker in unprecedented vote](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/03/kevin-mccarthy-house-speaker-vote-motion-to-vacate/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjk2MzA1NjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjk3Njg3OTk5LCJpYXQiOjE2OTYzMDU2MDAsImp0aSI6ImFkNzBmODE5LTA4YjQtNGEzNy1iZWY1LWExYjQ2Nzk2OWZlOSIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDIzLzEwLzAzL2tldmluLW1jY2FydGh5LWhvdXNlLXNwZWFrZXItdm90ZS1tb3Rpb24tdG8tdmFjYXRlLyJ9.Al5m2l9H9urJpwdbE7dOmhvWAoqy0BYMWSXFdZWq0v8&itid=gfta)** > > The dramatic vote was the culmination of a long power struggle between McCarthy and hard-line GOP lawmakers. McCarthy later said he would not seek the position again. > [@](#): > > “We are ready, willing and able to work together with our Republican colleagues, but it is on them to join us” Jeffries told reporters after an hours-long Democratic caucus meeting. ---
**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, 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-2023-10-03/990958/123 "2023-10-03T15:58:07Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > simply continuing to all vote for Jeffries and let the Republicans flail about acrimoniously. But voting for Jeffries isn’t the first vote, is it? I understood the first vote is an up and down “Does Kevin stay Speaker?” Do the Dems want to vacate the chair, not knowing who the next Speaker will be, or do they want to stay with the devil they know? ---
**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, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/124 "2023-10-03T16:01:00Z")
From that article: > [@](#): > > Jeffries’s call to action came just hours after McCarthy told Republican lawmakers that the House will vote Tuesday afternoon on a motion to table a resolution to remove him as speaker. So it’s not really clear, but I cautiously predict the votes will be like this: 1. MOTION TO TABLE THE MOTION (the “Shut the fuck up, Gaetz” motion): Dems will vote nay. 2. MOTION TO OUST THE SPEAKER (the “Fuck you too, McCarthy” motion): Dems will vote aye. 3. MOTION TO ELECT A NEW SPEAKER (the “Didn’t we just do this, you morons?” motion): Dems will vote Jeffries. I think it’s extraordinarily unlikely that #3 will result in anyone to the right of McCarthy. The rage at Gaetz’s shenanigans will be through the roof. The likeliest outcome, IMO, is that McCarthy eventually wins the speakership back (assuming the rules allow that). Less likely is that a different weasel Republican, unaffiliated with Gaetz, wins. Less likely is that a Republican switches to Independent and garners some Democratic votes as well as Republican votes and wins. Less likely is that a Democrat wins with the support of some crossover Republicans. Everything else is vanishingly unlikely, IMO, although we live in the weirdest timeline so who the hell knows. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/125 "2023-10-03T16:01:12Z")
From the Democrats’ standpoint it doesn’t matter - no matter who the Speaker is, if it’s a Republican they will never reach across the aisle on anything material. Whereas a massive bunfight amongst the GOP will keep them occupied and prevent them from doing anything characteristically stupid for a little while. Yes, the vote to remove doesn’t involve Jeffries; it’s the vote for the new Speaker where he’ll be getting Dem votes. ---
**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 3, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/126 "2023-10-03T16:02:05Z")
Let’s play hypothetical. McCarthy is out. What Republican(s) would the Dems like to see as Speaker? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/127 "2023-10-03T16:02:33Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > But voting for Jeffries isn’t the first vote, is it? I understood the first vote is an up and down “Does Kevin stay Speaker?” I think the first vote is for if they do the procedure at all. It’s a motion to table the resolution or to go forward. If it’s not tabled, they vote on whether or not to remove him. If they remove him, they vote for Speaker again which could be McCarthy. There may be more potential intermediate steps. ---
**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, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/128 "2023-10-03T16:02:47Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And let’s be clear, what the Lunatic Wing wants IS for everything to break down so there IS a major painful crisis to blame on “the Establishment”. And maybe get their face on the TEEVEE some more! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/129 "2023-10-03T16:05:53Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > McCarthy is out. What Republican(s) would the Dems like to see as Speaker? Are there any non-extremists left in the party? Anyone willing to promote bipartisan bills and not just engage in petty obstructionism? Because if there are, I’m not aware of them. The worst thing that could happen to Matt Gaetz is that he could win. I mean, he’d be an appalling Speaker but he may find (as McCarthy did) being the guy in charge isn’t as much fun as he might think… ---
**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, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/130 "2023-10-03T16:06:46Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > There may be more potential intermediate steps. I think you missed the part where the Freedom Caucus enters the room driving a teeny-tiny car and then 15 of them get out of the tiny car, and run around congress pretending to throw a bucket of water on one of them, but it turns out to contain confettii. ---
**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 3, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/131 "2023-10-03T16:10:14Z")
I’d almost have chosen Romney. ---
**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 3, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/132 "2023-10-03T16:11:38Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Are there any non-extremists left in the party? Anyone willing to promote bipartisan bills and not just engage in petty obstructionism? Because if there are, I’m not aware of them. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) for one. That’s just off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/133 "2023-10-03T16:13:12Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I’d almost have chosen Romney. Wrong House; otherwise I would have too (also, he’s stepping down at the next election). ---
**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, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/134 "2023-10-03T16:18:58Z")
Can the Democrats nominate someone not even in the House? If they could make Liz Cheney Speaker, with a few Republican votes, that would another epic troll! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/135 "2023-10-03T16:22:25Z")
We did this in -orama part one. The Speaker is not required to be a member of the House. It could be a former Representative or anyone. If I have the time later I’ll look in the old thread for names seriously floated. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/136 "2023-10-03T16:26:14Z")
I think McCarthy will likely lose the vote today and be out on his ear. I predict someone to his right will wind up with the gavel. This crap where McCarthy plays George McFly and Gaetz plays Biff has gone on long enough. The trouble is that any Speaker has to agree to give the loony caucus a sword to hold over his head to even get the gavel in the first place. They next guy is going to be just as screwed as McCarthy was. Fortunately, there is hope that Jeffries gets the speakership in 2025. ---
**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, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/137 "2023-10-03T16:30:05Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > They next guy is going to be just as screwed as McCarthy was. Fortunately, there is hope that Jeffries gets the speakership in 2025. And that’s the thing here - should the Democrats decide to keep McCarthy, they know what they have and know nothing will get done, good or bad, before then. Sure, it sucks to be part of an organization so dysfunctional it cannot even do the basic work it was hired to do, but at least damage will be limited. If a wackier nut job than McCarthy ends-up in the seat, perhaps real problems can emerge. Another couple years of Republican civil war could be considered a positive here. ---
**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 3, 2023, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/138 "2023-10-03T16:32:16Z")
Expected vote to table the motion at/after 1:30pm ET today. ---
**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 3, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/139 "2023-10-03T16:34:36Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > They next guy is going to be just as screwed as McCarthy was. They’re going to be even more screwed, in fact. If McCarthy does get tossed, it just proves that the FC really is the group with the power, and anyone else who wants to become (and stay) Speaker will have to be entirely beholden to them. We won’t get even the half-assed pushback that we’ve been seeing from McCarthy. ---
**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 3, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-attempt-to-oust-speaker-mccarthy-10-1-2023-patrick-mchenry-is-now-speaker-pro-tempore-2023-10-03/990958/140 "2023-10-03T16:37:32Z")
i was hoping someone would do that in the first go round in january. i bet at some point trump’s name will be thrown in. [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=6) [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=8)