# What is the Import of Mike Johnson's Win as Speaker of the House? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [October 25, 2023, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097 "2023-10-25T18:20:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/141 "2023-11-03T19:49:41Z")
The Johnson principle is when you are promoted deliberately due to your incompetence. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/142 "2023-11-03T19:51:17Z")
I thought I said that. Anyway, a reason to call this the Johnson Principle. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/143 "2023-11-03T19:57:39Z")
What i mean is as opposed to the peter principle (where people see that you’re competent and promote you up until the point you stop getting promoted and get stuck at the level where you are incompetent) in the Johnson principle people see that you’re incompetent and deliberately promote you for exactly that reason. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/144 "2023-11-03T19:59:16Z")
Cool. Do you guys suppose he was the only one they could agree on, on one of many insignificant guys the could agree on? ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/145 "2023-11-03T20:08:40Z")
My wild guess is that it was mostly him being in the right place at the right time and a lot of RWers could have made it, but in some ways he seems perfect just because he’s clearly a true believer that the Gaetz faction could support but is just unknown enough that he had no major rivals or enemies and the McCarthy faction could live with him. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/146 "2023-11-03T20:13:39Z")
He could have been the only one who raised his hand when the exasperated Republicans said: “OK, is there anyone here who even fucking wants it anymore??” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/147 "2023-11-03T22:28:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Do you guys suppose he was the only one they could agree on, on one of many insignificant guys the could agree on? Just fatigue. > [@bobot](#): > > He could have been the only one who raised his hand when the exasperated Republicans said: “OK, is there anyone here who even fucking wants it anymore??” and this. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/148 "2023-11-03T23:40:53Z")
And he actually thought they were asking “who wants pepperoni?” on the Dominos order they were about to submit. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/149 "2023-11-03T23:54:09Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > In fact, on his latest filing he doesn’t report having any financial assets at all, even though his House salary alone puts him in the top 12% of American earners and he had years of practice as an attorney prior to assuming electoral office. Curious. This is being obliquely discussed in a “Factual Questions” thread, but I feel I have to stay strictly factual there. Looking at his financial disclosures, while you can squint and say they are conceivably true, I am having a hard time seeing reasonable doubt in the idea they are incomplete. In 2018 he did submit a correction for one of them. Maybe he will have to do that again. If they are complete, this means that before he was a member of congress, when he was (per his first disclosure) making about $215,000 a year in low-cost-of-living Louisiana (not counting his wife’s income), he was putting away zero dollars for his younger children’s higher education. 529 accounts are reportable and he reports none, and, as you mention, no other investments! To me, this is worse than failure to report a checking account making minimal money interest (and thus not creating any real legislative conflict of interest). If not a reliable financial steward for his family, how can he be such for the country? But, then, almost all politicians are flawed. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2023, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/150 "2023-11-04T00:54:48Z")
Let us all wonder together why the new speaker wants to pull funding from the IRS. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2023, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/151 "2023-11-04T01:08:08Z")
Bog standard Republican plank for decades now is that the IRS is an obstacle to freedom. The freedom to be a tax cheat that is. All rights, no responsibilities sells real well to both smart psychos and stupid people in general. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2023, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/152 "2023-11-04T03:50:43Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What’s the syndrome or term for people promoted beyond their level of competence? The Peter Principle ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/153 "2023-11-04T04:53:54Z")
Bigoted MAGA kooks Laura Loomer and Stew Peters come out against Mike Johnson. They think Johnson supports Ukraine _too much_ despite the IRS defunding poison pill. They furrow their eyebrows at an old vid where he doesn’t freak out over critical race theory. One of his new staff members donated to Ron DeSantis. MAGA can’t govern; it can only oppose. So it makes sense that the monetizers would want position themselves quickly against the newly congealed GOP establishment, even if the former chair of the Republican Study Committee was completely off their radar a couple of weeks ago. > **[Trumpworld Is Already Suspicious of New Speaker Mike Johnson](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumpworld-is-already-suspicious-of-new-speaker-mike-johnson?ref=home)** > > Ukraine, Israel, Critical Race Theory, and a Ron DeSantis-aligned hire—Mike Johnson is already testing the far right’s patience. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/154 "2023-11-04T13:05:40Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Looking at his financial disclosures, while you can squint and say they are conceivably true, I am having a hard time seeing reasonable doubt in the idea they are incomplete. In 2018 he did submit a correction for one of them. Maybe he will have to do that again. I agree, it’s unlikely that these disclosures are complete. I know there’s a lot of harumphing on the right about how critics don’t understand what it is to live paycheck-to-paycheck in America, but Johnson is solidly middle class. It would be unusual for him to be without _any_ assets – savings accounts, investments, insurance policies, IRA/401k, trusts, etc. – that would be reportable. Interestingly, he apparently reported a retirement account up until 2021, but it was not reported on his 2022 report. Meaning he either failed to report it or cashed it out. The consensus seems to be that he either isn’t reporting correctly, or he’s massively overspending his income. Either one has implications that voters should be aware of. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2023, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/155 "2023-11-04T13:30:21Z")
The money he’s getting from Russia is unreportable since it’s going directly into his account in Switzerland. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/156 "2023-11-04T14:50:59Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > . . . his account in Switzerland. Now that could be interest-free: > **[Interest rates and card and account fees | Credit Suisse Switzerland](https://www.credit-suisse.com/ch/en/private-clients/account-cards/services/interest-fees.html)** > > Here you'll find all important information about interest rates and fees for Credit Suisse accounts, cards, and banking packages. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/157 "2023-11-05T05:35:29Z")
> **[Playbook PM: Mike Johnson's fuzzy math](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook-pm/2023/11/01/mike-johnsons-fuzzy-math-00124773)** > > And Democrats prepare to break through Sen. Tommy Tuberville's military promotion blockade. **Of course, it’s unlikely Johnson doesn’t actually have a bank account.** _What’s more likely is Johnson lives paycheck to paycheck — so much so that he doesn’t have enough money in his bank account to trigger the checking account disclosure rules for members of Congress.”_ _ **FWIW:** _ “_House Ethics Committee filing guidelines state that members must disclose bank accounts they have at every financial institution, as long as the account holds at least $1,000 and the combined value of all accounts — including those belonging to their spouse and dependent children — exceeds $5,000.”_ So, since he has to get paid by Direct Deposit, he likely does have a bank account but not enuf $$ to report. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/158 "2023-11-05T13:26:55Z")
I think he just to decided to apply the new GOP policy towards the disclosure rules: “What if we didn’t?” ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/159 "2023-11-05T15:27:46Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So, since he has to get paid by Direct Deposit, he likely does have a bank account but not enuf $$ to report. The FQ thread suggested that if the reporting date is annual, it might be easy to get around this rule. I know I have to report to the IRS if my bank account goes over $10 K at any point in the year (because us dirty ex-pats are all secret money launderers trying to hide our vast wealth, you know), but I don’t know how their reporting requirements work: ever above $5000 or above $5000 on a certain date? ---
**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:** [November 5, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097/160 "2023-11-05T16:23:03Z")
“Assets” are reported as of end-of-reporting-year; “transactions” as of any time in the reporting year. For reference, the form: [Final Financial Disclosure Form A CY 2022.pdf (house.gov)](https://ethics.house.gov/sites/ethics.house.gov/files/documents/Final%20Financial%20Disclosure%20Form%20A%20CY%202022.pdf) The instructions document meanwhile is a whole125 pages long. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-import-of-mike-johnsons-win-as-speaker-of-the-house/992097.md?page=9)