So here we go again… Please direct all comments and links regarding the actual
VOTING to this thread. Edit NEXT STEPS: Mike Johnson is the current nominee.
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/house-speaker-vote-live-updates-10-24-2023/
[https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/house-speaker-vote-live-updates-10-24-2023/]
43 of the 44 votes against Johnson went back to Kevin McCarthy and there are
accusations that he, or his supporters, are organizing opposition against these
other nominees.
[email protected] [
[email protected]] dug up
the Cspan link, as of 10:03 AM Pacific, they are still in the nominating
process. https://www.c-span.org/video/?531374-1/house-session&live
[https://www.c-span.org/video/?531374-1/house-session&live] Mike Johnson is
getting key votes who defected to other people in previous votes. He might have
it wrapped up. We’ll know shortly. Currently 176 to 155, Johnson to Jeffries,
with no defections on either side. None of the other votes made it this far
without enough defections to block the nominee. Looking inevitable at this
point. If you’d like to know more about Mike Johnson, here’s a good link:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/25/who-is-mike-johnson-republican-2020-election
[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/25/who-is-mike-johnson-republican-2020-election]
1st vote count is in: Hakeem Jeffries - 212 (217 needed to win)
Jim Jordan - 200
Steve Scalise - 7
Kevin McCarthy - 6
“Others” - 7
Jordan could have only lost 4 votes, he lost 20. 2nd vote: Jeffries - 212
Jordan - 199
Scalise - 7
McCarthy - 5
Zeldin - 3
“Others” - 7 (one each)
Edit 3rd vote is in, House in recess.
Jeffries - 210
Jordan - 194
Scalise - 8
McHenry - 6
Zeldin - 4
Donalds - 2
McCarthy - 2
“Others” - 3 (1 each)
Matt Gaetz has vowed to oppose expanding the powers for McHenry:
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4265284-gaetz-will-do-everything-possible-stop-empowering-mchenry/
[https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4265284-gaetz-will-do-everything-possible-stop-empowering-mchenry/]
There really is a very simple solution to all of this.
2a) Jeffries takes the gavel and gets us through the debt ceiling and aid for Ukraine and Israel.
2b) While this is going on, republicans take the time to find a speaker they can all agree on. Since they’re in the majority, Democrats wouldn’t be able to pass any other legislation without GOP votes anyway, reducing Jeffries to keeping the gavel warm.
Problem solved.
Number of Republican votes cast for a Democrat candidate: 0
Number of Republican votes cast for a Democrat bill outside of Ukraine/israel aid and the debt ceiling: 0
Number of other bills Democrats will be able to pass in the meantime: 0
And they can take back the gavel any time they want it. Heck, they can even spin it in the next election by “showing how Jeffries was ineffective as speaker” or whatever other spin they want to put on it. At least we’ll be able to get back to business in the interim, and the GOP can take as long as they want fighting their little civil war.
I know it’ll never, ever, ever happen. But it would at least work.
It’s a brilliant proposal, but the key flaw is assuming the Republicans want the government to function. :) At their core, they don’t believe it can or should work.
Of course. It’s exactly why I said I know it’ll never, ever, ever happen.