# Will Kevin McCarthy be the next speaker? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 1, 2015, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121 "2015-10-01T10:36:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/141 "2015-10-09T03:41:22Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Part of me wonders if he anticipated all of this, and if it was the point of the whole gambit. He demonstrates that the loons can’t replace him, then he plays staying on and retaining the gavel as a sacrifice. He works with the non-insane elements of his party and with the Democrats to get some actual governing done. Maybe he leaves at the end of his term, with some fresh accomplishments and bipartisanship (however minor) to put a shine on his last days in office. > > I don’t actually believe it, but it would be quite a maneuver. I forgot to add this. If it turns out that Boehner has done this to defeat Cruz and Co once and for all, I’ll take back everything I’ve ever said about him. (And it’s enough to choke a blue whale, believe me.) I’d do it gladly though, to see Cruz brought to heel. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/142 "2015-10-09T03:59:19Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > …the Tea Party doesn’t hate him and neither does K street, so why not? Two real good reasons right there. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/143 "2015-10-09T06:21:46Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Here’s another crazy idea: we have over a dozen Presidential candidates. See if one of the ones with experience want to drop out and be 3rd in line from the President. Jindal and Kasich both have House experience and Kasich was fairly high ranking. Kasich would make a fine Speaker. Well if experience isn’t important for the Presidency, it can’t be important for Speaker of the House. I nominate Trump. More seriously, the problem with Kasich is that he’s already governor of Ohio. I’m not sure he would want to give both that and a shot at the Presidency up right now. Jindal is more intriguing, as Louisiana is a bit of a drag on his political fortunes. My take though is that Ryan doesn’t want the (thankless) job, but he might respond to a draft. Though really (and weirdly) Newt is a decent choice. Like Cantor he has establishment, K Street and Tea Party connections. Unlike Cantor, he has the personality to feed the base the rhetoric and symbolic victories that it craves. He wasn’t an exceptional deal cutter, but he has a basic understanding of the job and may be the man for this particular season. ETA: Also this: > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I think this makes the so-called Freedom Caucus a much lamer duck than it makes Boehner. He is free to pass whatever he wants with the help of 30 Democrats, and kick the conservatives to the curb. They haven’t got the power to replace him. They just overplayed their hand and revealed themselves to be impotent. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/144 "2015-10-09T06:21:54Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > …I’ll take back everything I’ve ever said about him. (And it’s enough to choke a blue whale, believe me.) That might not be [quite as much](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nqTbN69244&t=4m18s) as you think. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/145 "2015-10-09T09:12:35Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I understand your reasoning, but Ryan has never been on a leadership track. If that was what he wanted to do, he’d have followed a career trajectory such as Eric Cantor or Steny Hoyer. > > He just doesn’t want to be in the leadership of the House. It’s not his thing. Frankly, I can respect that. > > ETA: And if I were him, I’d be really pissed at Boehner for making this public. REALLY pissed. > [@adaher](#): > > Ryan doesn’t seem to have any ambitions for higher office at this point, so his unwillingness to be Speaker would seem to be for the right reasons rather than pure selfishness. Besides, Boehner actually wanted the job, if Ryan’s a dick for not taking it, Boehner’s twice the dick for leaving it. The difference is that Boehner has already put in his time, nearly 5 years of it, in this difficult position. He’s paid his dues; he’s got a right to say, fuck it, I’ve had enough. Especially given that he really was about to be pushed out by the Freedom Caucus: it’s hard to see his resignation as being anything but the best thing for him and for his party. It was his only way to stand up to them, really. But while under normal circumstances I could buy into Ryan’s argument that it’s just not something he wants, sometimes that’s not the way it works. He may not be cut out for the Speakership, but other than choosing someone who’s not even in the House (theoretically possible, but it would be a clear desperation play), who else is there? He may be the only House Republican who commands the respect of enough of his fellow members to get 218 votes. Sometimes, even when you’re really not the right guy for the job, you’re still the best person available. (I have some recent personal experience with this that I won’t go into, fwiw.) And when that happens, you can step up, or you can be a dick. Those are Ryan’s choices right now. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/146 "2015-10-09T09:36:01Z")
Issa, Sensenbrenner, Price, Rohrabacher, off the top of my head, but Chaffetz is just fine. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/147 "2015-10-09T09:40:06Z")
Can’t speak knowledgeably about Sensenbrenner or Price, but Issa, Rohrabacher, and Chaffetz are (a) lunatics, and (b) wouldn’t have a prayer of getting enough support. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/148 "2015-10-09T09:44:16Z")
Chaffetz seems to be the most plausible guy left standing who is actually willing to take the job. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/149 "2015-10-09T09:56:50Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Chaffetz seems to be the most plausible guy left standing who is actually willing to take the job. Holy fucking shit. Things are worse than I thought, then, and I thought they were pretty bad. “In the GOP leadership fight, I think Obama should arm the moderate rebels.” -a tweet from Michael Dougherty. (I don’t know who he is, but damn. :)) ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/150 "2015-10-09T10:30:57Z")
It looks like Issa wouldn’t mind the job. And according to Issa, Chaffetz could not get 30 votes, much less 200 and something. It’s looking more like Paul Ryan. But the morning joe pundits don’t seem to think anyone can make a real difference. ---
**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 9, 2015, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/151 "2015-10-09T11:05:09Z")
In the background, Sarah Palin clears her throat loudly… ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/152 "2015-10-09T11:07:13Z")
Okay, maybe not Ryan as he has said no, NO, Hell NO. Some folks seem to think Boehner will just stay for awhile longer and maybe even actually start doing his job. I don’t share their enthusiasm. ---
**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 9, 2015, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/153 "2015-10-09T11:55:31Z")
Of course! We should have guessed! [It was all Trump’s doing.](http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/08/politics/donald-trump-kevin-mccarthy-speaker/) ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/154 "2015-10-09T12:12:35Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Of course! We should have guessed! [It was all Trump’s doing.](http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/08/politics/donald-trump-kevin-mccarthy-speaker/) Oh, and here I figured he talked to Pope Frank. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/155 "2015-10-09T13:10:17Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Sometimes, even when you’re really not the right guy for the job, you’re still the best person available… And when that happens, you can step up, or you can be a dick. Those are Ryan’s choices right now. He doesn’t have to choose. 😉 The dick part has already been covered very well, with his budget proposals to gut Medicare and Social Security. > [@Frank](#): > > I understand your reasoning, but Ryan has never been on a leadership track. There \*was \*that Vice President thing, just a couple of years ago. > [@RTFirefly](#): > > But then Boehner jumped rather than wait to be pushed, and McCarthy withdrew, and all of a sudden they’ve got no lever to use on anyone (and no one to use it on if they had it), just ~40 votes that are worthless by themselves. > > Serves 'em right. 🙂 Does it serve \*us \*right too? It’s fun to point fingers and laugh, but they’re doing real harm, to _us_. However, if they won’t vote for anybody but one of their own, and nobody else would, then there can’t be a majority for \*any \*Republican without Democratic support. That’s when Ms. Pelosi goes to work, hmm? ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/156 "2015-10-09T13:10:54Z")
As so many, including myself, have been saying for the last several years…the R’s are headed for a complete meltdown. A significant percent of their members are willing to keep the legislature from doing the things it takes to keep the country afloat (‘shut down’). They are saying, clearly, ‘give us exactly what we want, or we will stop the legislature from functioning. we don’t want compromise, we don’t want temporary extensions, we want what we want and you’d better deliver, or else.’ anyone actually disagree with my characterization of those wingers? Okay, then what happens if they manage to paralyze the operation of the US government? Why, exactly what would happen in any government – the executive, with the consent of the courts, takes on the powers of the legislature. SCotus can do nothing else. There is no choice. If Congress cannot act, we will get some form of dictatorship, a domestic one that will last so long as the military is paid, a military coup with the consent of the American Public if the executive lets things go to hell. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/157 "2015-10-09T13:14:05Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Though really (and weirdly) Newt is a decent choice. Like Cantor he has establishment, K Street and Tea Party connections. Unlike Cantor, he has the personality to feed the base the rhetoric and symbolic victories that it craves. He wasn’t an exceptional deal cutter, but he has a basic understanding of the job and may be the man for this particular season. There is a certain poetic elegance to replacing a speaker who caused two government shutdowns with the last speaker to cause one. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/158 "2015-10-09T13:15:41Z")
Moderate R’s moving across the aisle and Moderate D’s can make it work. Lefties will have to measure their potential gains against the prospect of complete chaos…and go to work negotiating with the suddenly larger moderate wing of their party… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/159 "2015-10-09T13:16:26Z")
It occurs to me that Jon Stewart isn’t doing anything these days. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121/160 "2015-10-09T13:17:31Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > There is a certain poetic elegance to replacing a speaker who caused two government shutdowns with the last speaker to cause one. I hadn’t mentioned bringing in an ‘outsider’ lately. Probably too late for that. No one will get the full support of all the R’s, short of the moderate R’s threatening to caucus with the D’s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-kevin-mccarthy-be-the-next-speaker/733121.md?page=9)