2y ago

Megapost: House Speaker vote:

So here we go again...

Please direct all comments and links regarding the actual VOTING to this thread.

Edit Confirmed, Mike Johnson is the next speaker after running the table of all present and voting Republicans, 220 to Hakeem Jeffries 209.

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

I'll leave this pinned for 24 hours so everyone can catch up, then take it down.

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/

176 comments

The guy described HIMSELF as “David Duke without the baggage.” I’ve never seen a word do as much lifting as the word “baggage” as he used it.
- I really want to know, what's left when you take away the baggage from "David Duke".
  Did he have any redeeming qualities?
  
  No.
  
  It reminds me of that Christopher Hitchens quote. "If you gave Jerry Falwell an enema, you could bury him in a matchbox."
- Who's David Duke?
  
  Failed politician and former Grand Wizard of the KKK.
  
  He was the 1970s inspiration for men to wear really tight, closely-cut jean cutoff shorts.
  
  David Duke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DavidDuke - The first sentence: "David Ernest Duke (born July 1, 1950) is an American politician, white supremacist, antisemitic conspiracy theorist, and former grand wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan."
  
  You’re one internet search away from knowing.
  Guarantee if you search that with no other context, the first result will be the right one.

So, the Republican Party is down with the KKK. The mask is off, isn't it?
Will the "liberal media" please catch up?
- Good people on both sides...
- https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/gabrielle-hanson-defends-white-supremacist-active-club-tennessee-1234851308/
  I’d say so, yeah.
- I repeat, will the “liberal media” please catch up?
  We’re gonna have a problem here.
- the liberal media is too busy calling everyone who thinks a country shouldn't cut off food and water to civilians is a terrorist enabler....
- The liberal media are enablers, they're not going to catch up.
  
  They basically help create the personas of these people to generate engagement. Obsessive liberal media coverage of Trump in January-March 2016 that immediately treated him as a frontrunner and amped up his persona. Coincidentally this was the coverage that Trump's base consumed for entertainment. Almost all the MAGA Trump video montages at the time were "shocked" liberal media personalities.

There's only one person who deserves to be speaker.
HAKEEEEEEEEM JEFFRIES!
- with a nice backup of Jamie Raskin

Scalise beat Jordan 113-99.
Democrats unanimously renominated House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.,
To win the gavel, a candidate needs support from a majority of the House members present, meaning the eventual speaker will need 217 votes if every one of the current members votes and does so for a candidate by name. There are currently 433 members, with two vacancies, so a majority is 217.
If members are absent, or if some vote present instead of supporting a candidate, that decreases what the majority vote needs to be. The House is intended to have a total membership of 435 members, so a majority is usually 218.
- I'm looking forward to watching the Democrats stay united behind Jeffries for every single vote. Again.
  
  They will.
- Steve Scalise barely beat Jim Jordan, who *if I'm not mistaken, is the guy that helped cover up a bunch of sexual abuse? That Jim Jordan?
  
  Jim Jordan is the sexual abuse cover up guy at OSU. Scalise is the blatant white supremacist who speaks at hate group events (see European-American Unity and Rights Organization which was founded by David Duke who used to head the KKK) and also compared himself to David Duke.
  
  It's Gym Jordan. You don't wanna keep confusing people what his name is.

It's a long shot, but Moderate Republicans and McCarthy supporters could cast a vote for Democrat Jefferies as a FU to the Freedom Caucus. They would likely be able to get things done as a result.
- Honestly, I'm really don't understand why this didn't happen last time.
  Surely there have to be a few Republicans in Blue leaning districts that just barely got voted in and are at risk of losing their seat next election.
  There is just so much to gain by putting country above party under those circumstances.
  
  They'd lose their primaries. Republicans have gotten to the point where if you can win a primary, you can't win the general unless it's a red state.
  
  Oh sweet summer child
- That will never happen. It's much more likely IMHO for Democrats to throw some votes at a moderate Republican to get them over the line. Not Kevin, probably not Steve Scalise.
  Becoming Speaker is only part of the story, though. The Speaker sets the agenda (meaning the day's schedule) but that agenda is subject to a vote and needs a majority every single time. So any Democrats who support a Republican (or vice versa) would have to be relied on to vote in favor of that speaker's scheduling, otherwise nothing can be scheduled.
  
  Very unlikely to happen
  
  The only way one side is voting for the other's nominee is if they get a deal with some real concessions. I don't see it happening.
- Gotta try this guy at least a dozen times first.
- Jeffries was picked by the House Democrats. It's not a long shot, it's 100% fever dream impossible that any Republicans would just vote for the Democrat option.
  The long shot is getting a group of half moderate Republicans and half moderate Democrats and picking a Republican speaker who is moderate. That's not going to happen either.
  The barely realistic possibility of bipartisan Speaker votes is a few moderate Democrats vote for a Republican candidate.
  
  Jeffries is probably closer than Scalise.
  When they finally do a vote, I can see the ranking of Jeffries #1, Scalise #2, whoever else is dumb enough to run #3.
  With none of them getting 217, but Jeffries hitting 209 or 210.

There we go! One of the Dems had the balls to call him what he is. A fucking insurrectionist. Fuck Gym Jorden and the Republican party.
- Two of them, now.
  Should be every single one, but I'll take it.
- Also, I'm surprised Gosar didn't throw out a Sig Heil when voting for his fellow Nazi.

You all should see the picture in "Jim Jordan fails to win the speakership on first ballot" at CNN. Absolutely hilarious.
Oh man, my day has absolutely been brightened.
EDIT: Here, I'll try posting a picture:
- That's gonna be a meme
  
  I tried my best.

Jeffries is still closer to Speaker than Jim Jordan.
- Jim Jordan is still closer to being Speaker than I really want him to be.

Jim Jordan just dropped out for Speaker. Republicans are back to square one with no nominee.
- It's okay though, they're hurting the right people. Themselves.
- A politician and a political party has two domains they operate in: policy and governance. Policy is where a politician stands on issues, and typically where almost all of the campaigning happens. Where does this politician stand on healthcare, gun control, environment, etc.
  But governance is as important, both for the individual and for the political party. For the politician: can they build consensus? Can they prevent alienating their constituents. Can they set goals that are big, but achievable. And for the political party, governance is how well they develop their members. Identifying who fits best in each elected position. How to help members gain experience for other offices. How to identify up-and-coming politicians.
  The GOP is currently experiencing a failure of governance. The HOR is unable to operate because the GOP can't effectively govern. And time is ticking on one of the core HOR duties: approving the budget. The GOP is not getting high quality people into the correct positions, and has too many obstinate people in place to govern.

Jordan says he's going to keep trying. $10 says he actually loses votes as this goes on
- At least one member said they were switching from McCarthy to Jordan on the second vote, so sadly we're probably not going to get a revolt.

jim jordan: this is the worst day of my life
kevin mccarthy: the worst day of your life so far

LMAO!! HE ALREADY LOST!!
- He already lost again.
  Let's not forget yesterday's monumental achievement.
- Looks like he gained 3 votes (including someone who wasn't present yesterday), and lost 4, so he ended up at 199.
  (John Boehner got a vote, lol)
  
  As if Boehner isn't blasting bongloads of dank bud in his shed right now.
  He ain't got time for this bullcocky.
- At this point I'm just hanging out to see if he bleeds more votes which I think he will
  
  AND HE DID! WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT FROM THE ASSHOLE FROM OHIO!

Johnson, one of the most conservative options imaginable, won probably because Republicans were sick of the chaos.
They are currently in the fuck around phase, and when it comes time to do the budget, will find out. Johnson will either trigger a shutdown and get all the blame onto the Republicans by refusing to compromise (and further prove the crazies have taken over the party) or he'll get a deal with Democrats and then Gaetz will yeet him again.
I give it until... Dec 1. Until speaker elections begin again.
- Honestly, it might be presumptive to think he'll last that far ahead.
- Personally I prefer this to just two united parties, that's how stuff like the PATRIOT Act got enacted. It also leads to compromises being bipartisan rather than non-partisan. There is a preferable way the parties could be divided, but this is better than nothing.
- I am thinking new years.
  
  Then we've got a bet!
- 12/1 is also the deadline for motions in the Trump Georgia case. We might get a trial date then.

- This makes me feel warm inside

Someone fill me in. I don't know shit about this guy.
I'm watching the vote live, and the in-video chat are all saying the guy is an election denier, full blown MAGA, and would promote a government shutdown. If this is the case, MAGA wins and will be emboldened to pull this shit again and again, knowing that they'll get their way in the end because the moderates of the party will eventually cave.
Good luck getting any kind of debt ceiling bill passed. This guy isn't gonna cut a backroom deal to get a bill passed knowing full well that they'll just hold another motion to vacate the minute they even sniff him trying.
EDIT: Yup, full blown MAGA. Swallows the Trump mushroom dick right down to the balls. MAGA wins. They have officially taken over the GOP.
- Not just a Trumper, but part of Trump's legal team during the impeachment and tried to help overthrow the 2020 election:
  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/25/who-is-mike-johnson-republican-2020-election
- This is what the country gets for giving the Republicans more seats in the mid terms. Congrats, you played yourselves.
- There will be one. They need to pass aid for Israel, Ukraine, and fund border security. The donors demand it. After that? Good luck
  
  Border security? Yeah. Israel? Probably. Ukraine? I'm not so sure.
  Biden wants all the aid in one package. The GOP want to split it up so they can vote on border security and Israel and ignore Ukraine.
  And then there are other holdouts who just want deep cuts everywhere and are willing to watch the world burn to get it. If these morons have all consolidated around this guy, that means he promised them something. And if it's MAGA that's asking for it, you know it's not going to be good. These people just learned that if they hold out long enough, they'll eventually get their way. You think after that they're going to be willing to negotiate on anything? No, they're going to make their demands, and will force a government shutdown until they get their way. Again.

Groundhog day:
The House adjourned without a vote for a new speaker. The Republican caucus have not reached the necessary 217 votes within the conference to elect Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who leads in the GOP with 152 in favor. [link]
- His supporters are arguing that going to a floor vote would pressure others to support him, but I'm not so sure.
  
  This aged beautifully!
  
  Really? What an excuse!

I wonder if Scalise can beat McCarthy's record fifteen votes? I'll bet he can!
- I have a feeling it doesn't matter who runs, anyone will beat that record lol

Looks like Jordan lost the first round.
Who knew that "know-nothing" applied to whipping your own vote?

My day is made immeasurably better by Jim Jordan's failure. This entertainment is surely the best thing he's ever done for the country.

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/dumba-foxs-brian-kilmeade-caught-on-hot-mic-fuming-after-house-republican-votes-against-jordan/
Oo they mad.
- The jackals at Fawx News have only themselves to blame. They fed the beast that has ate their party.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/10/11/us/house-speaker-vote-news
Speaker ElectionHouse Delays Vote on Speaker After G.O.P. Nominates Steve Scalise
It became clear after the No. 2 Republican in the House won a secret ballot to become his party’s nominee that he did not have the votes to win the gavel.
- We'll leave the Megapost up for now just in case there are some surprise midnight shenanigans, but nice catch!

There really is a very simple solution to all of this.
All the people refusing to vote for Jordan simply vote "Present". This lowers the threshhold for Jeffries to take the speakership without actually needing a single Republican vote. Those who vote Present will be able to say that they didn't vote for Jeffries and are waiting to throw their support behind a different candidate.
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.
When the GOP finds a new speaker, they can introduce a motion to vacate the chair and elect their own speaker.
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.

Kowtowing to terrorists has worked so well for everyone that has ever tried. Good job Republicans!

At this point, Gym Jordan is not going to be speaker of the US House.
- I don't want Jordan as the Speaker, but I wouldn't get comfortable just yet. It's possible that some holdouts from swing districts wanted to vote against Jordan in the first round to "prove they aren't all in on MAGA" (so as to not drive independents away) before voting for Jordan (to show they play well with Republicans).
  Of course, there could also be Republicans who agreed to vote for Jordan in the first round only and now feel free to vote for someone else in future rounds.
  I won't feel safe until Jordan removes his name from consideration.

And that's a wrap: nobody got a majority. Looks like we get to wait for vote 2

Will Jordan drop out so that the next, somehow even less popular, Republican can try?

That's it, Scalise withdraws.

Watching the current vote. Jordan has already lost and he only has 82 votes so far. Already 13 votes for 'others' and not Jeffries or Jordan.
- What's hilarious is they TOLD him that's what would happen.
  
  Yep. And the 'other' votes are all over the map. I have no idea how they'll ever get anything done unless some Republicans cross the aisle and vote for Jeffries.
  
  I don't think Jim Jordan got to where he is today by listening to what he is told ....
- Gym Jordan is in track to losing more votes.
  
  He already has. As of this time- 11:31 AM EST- 19 votes for 'other.'
  11:34 - 20. A vote for McHenry. They're only in the Ms in an alphabetical vote.
  EDIT: Damn, snuck a 21st in when I wasn't paying attention! There were supposed to be only 20 holdouts.
  11:40 - 22! A vote for Scalise!
  11:41 - 23! Scalise again! Jordan is getting CREAMED!
  11:43 - 24! A vote for Bruce Westerman whoever that is.
  
  Already lost 21...

CNN: "Jordan is continuing his strategy of 'the beatings will continue until morale improves'."

Final Vote:
Jordan: 194
Jeffries: 210
Others: 25
- Don’t like seeing Jeffries went down by 2.
  
  I checked the voter roles. It looks like 2 Democratic Members didn't vote. Presumably they were absent for this inconsequential vote?
  Vicente Gonzalez
  Donald M. Payne, Jr.

Mccarthy made it a while before stabbing everyone in the back and becoming the first speaker ever voted out
Scalise didn't make it out of their closed door voting
Jordan got humiliated 3 times and withdrew
Emmer also lost
Now we're onto Mike Johnson, and I don't see him making it either
What a joke republicans are
- It's amazing how low the House has fallen. It's always been dysfunctional, but this seems like a new low point. The question is "Is it THE low point? Or is it simply A low point?"
  
  I'll have to admit, I'm surprised Mike made it
  Now all his insane views have come to light though, we'll see how well he can actually wrangle the party and work with dems (since any legislation has to pass the senate/president)

He just got kicked out of the position lol

This has me wondering how much longer is this going to go on before the Republicans end up with mass calls to step down and resign from the House of Representatives and let the Democrats take over. When the Government runs out of funds and is forced to shut down November 17th?
- Aaaand Emmer is out...
  https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/house-speaker-vote-10-24-23/index.html

Can I say how super bizarre it is to hear my name spoken on the TV over and over again?
- It must be even more bizarre to want to boo your own name.
  
  It is!

Couldn't shake this feeling last time, seems equally appropriate now:
"Master of the house, doling out the charm
Ready with a handshake and an open palm
Tells a saucy tale, makes a little stir
Customers appreciate a bon-viveur
Glad to do a friend a favor
Doesn't cost me to be nice
But nothing gets you nothing
Everything has got a little price!"
https://youtu.be/je40MqKMD8U#t=1m05s
- https://youtu.be/tXoJd4BoZTQ?si=36V71EkuO35viJxX

House Republicans pick Tom Emmer as their next speaker nominee
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/24/house-speaker-vote/
- .....Annnnnnnnnd now he's dropped out.
  Emmer Drops Speaker Bid After Right-Wing Backlash https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/24/us/politics/house-speaker-election.html
  
  He probably got multiple viable death threats to his family.
  How the fuck are these nutjobs still out there? Are there really that many people willing to throw their lives away by declaring a death threat to a politician? Truly insane.

relevant hamilton

Representative ~~Senator~~ from the worst ranked state in the US what could possibly go wrong. Edit Derp
- It'd be weird if a senator became speaker of the house
  
  It's possible though, there's no rule that it has to be a member elected to speaker. But you're right.

Will ~~Scalise~~ ~~Jordan~~ ~~Emmer~~ Johnson drop out so that the next, somehow even less popular, Republican can try?

The normal holdhouts are not holding out. They are going for johnson en-masse.
- I'm betting they threatened anyone who didn't vote for him with being primaried and no funding.

Emmer is a 26 No during roll call vote. As a result, they're thinking of putting in Donald Trump.
- If the moderate Republicans thought the death threats from voting against Jordan was bad...
- .....but he's not Of the House. You can't just say Robert of Wisconsin if Robert's not from Wisconsin
  
  The Constitution does not explicitly require the speaker to be an incumbent member of the House of Representatives, although every speaker thus far has been.
  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/can-outsider-be-speaker-house-n441926

https://www.mediaite.com/news/breaking-jim-jordan-on-track-to-lose-third-speaker-vote/

https://www.mediaite.com/politics/foxs-trey-gowdy-reports-house-republicans-are-at-each-others-throats-and-trying-couples-counseling-for-people-who-want-to-kill-each-other/
- It sounds like some people don't respond well to strong-arm tactics. Even if it works and he bullies his way to be Speaker, there may be lasting bad blood between members of the caucus. I hope so, at least.
  
  He better move with a quickness on the single member vote to remove rule too.

Could all the republicans just drop out of the entire government since they obviously don't want to govern? They should just skip a few steps and (ghost) write their books ffs
Bunch of toddlers

House Republicans pick Rep. Mike Johnson as their fourth speaker nominee
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/24/house-speaker-vote/
- Ah shit, here we go again.

All this stupid applauding for votes. They should just get in with it.
- I think the applause was for when he crossed the threshhold into officially losing.
  
  It's also when past speakers (and nominees) are voting for their candidate.

So when will we know results?
- The public vote has been delayed since although Scalise got enough votes to be the nominee, he doesn't have the votes to win.
  If he's smart, and he seems smart, he won't go for the vote until he knows he will win.

House Republicans reject Jim Jordan a third time for the speaker's gavel as opposition deepens.

Ugh. This guy is such a piece of shit. I hope he steps on some legos.
- What did legos ever do to you?
  
  Impaled his feet?

Wonder how long this piece of shit's term as Speaker will last.
- Probably depends on how fast he jettisons the rule that lets a single member call for a vote to get rid of him.