Rep. Andy Biggs challenges Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House vote on January 3rd

[SimplyMe]

I think that this whole theatre is a wonderful example for how the best strategy for US politics shapes out to be: get into a minority position that can obstruct the majority, make ridiculous demands, then refuse to budge until all your demands are met.

Truly a genius way the founding fathers set things up.

It's why I've truly come to appreciate the European Parliamentary system. You have an election where Parliament (or Congress) is chosen, the majority (or a combination of) party sets up a government and chooses a Prime Minister. At that point, the majority party is responsible for the government -- they can't blame the minority for any failures or for bad policies. At the next election (or even before, if there is a vote of no confidence), if people decide to make a change, the other (or a different) party takes control and is responsible for the decisions made. It is a difference of government set up to do something and be responsible, as opposed to a government set up to do nothing and avoid responsibility.

 

[Desk trauma]

Will 14 be the lucky number?

 

[SimplyMe]

Will 14 be the lucky number?

No, 14 is not the lucky number. We will be going to 15 -- though McCarthy did managed to get half the votes this time (but not a majority). I guess Gaetz, with his newfound power, wants to adjourn until Monday. It looks like a fight just to try and adjourn.

 

[Desk trauma]

Oh, so close kev.

 

[Desk trauma]

No, 14 is not the lucky number. We will be going to 15 -- though McCarthy did managed to get half the votes this time (but not a majority). I guess Gaetz, with his newfound power, wants to adjourn until Monday. It looks like a fight just to try and adjourn.

Nail biter on the ajornment.

 

[Desk trauma]

Ooh, Kev looks happy, what did he promise Gaetz, a kidney?

 

[Desk trauma]

Reps voting Nay, must be a deal. Wonder if it goes down in flames...

 

[Desk trauma]

Taking selfies, chanting, clapping. What a good time you're having there, would hate for someone to vote someone else and befoul things.

 

[Desk trauma]

Who's going to be the thumbs down McCain?

 

[Desk trauma]

Kev is in.

Next order of business, how many days until the first no confidence vote?

 

[Nithavela]

Kev is in.

Next order of business, how many days until the first no confidence vote?

First time he doesn't give one of the never Kevin people what they want.

 

[KCfromNC]

First time he doesn't give one of the never Kevin people what they want.

The question then becomes : Do they know what they want?

 

[Nithavela]

The question then becomes : Do they know what they want?

I think they're mostly looking at the democrats and then demand the opposite.

 

[wing2000]

I think that this whole theatre is a wonderful example for how the best strategy for US politics shapes out to be: get into a minority position that can obstruct the majority, make ridiculous demands, then refuse to budge until all your demands are met.

Truly a genius way the founding fathers set things up.

The founders presumed the American people would elect men and women of good faith.....

 

[wing2000]

No, 14 is not the lucky number. We will be going to 15 -- though McCarthy did managed to get half the votes this time (but not a majority). I guess Gaetz, with his newfound power, wants to adjourn until Monday. It looks like a fight just to try and adjourn.

...it seems Rep Rogers of Alabama finally had enough of Gaetz....and had to be restrained (frankly, I'm suprised it took 14 rounds to reach this moment...kudos to the AP photographer)

 

[Tuur]

So they finally chose a Speaker of the House. Glad I didn't buy more popcorn.

 

[Desk trauma]

So they finally chose a Speaker of the House. Glad I didn't buy more popcorn.

May want to stock up anyway, with any rep now able to instigate a no confidence vote we’re in for more circus than you can shake a stick at.

 

[wing2000]

May want to stock up anyway, with any rep now able to instigate a no confidence vote we’re in for more circus that you can shake a stick at.

...and if you have any business with the Federal Government, do it in the next couple of months....

 

[essentialsaltes]

Finally the wrap up and Monday Morning Quarterbacking can begin​

Kevin McCarthy wins House speakership on 15th vote​

“That was easy, huh?” McCarthy joked after receiving the speaker’s gavel from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
[Now we know why Pelosi stepped aside.]

The deals McCarthy struck with a group of fewer than two-dozen hard-line Republicans will empower the far right of his party ahead of a congressional term that promises contentious battles over funding the federal government and increasing the debt ceiling.

[As 14th vote was failing] Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) was restrained by a colleague after approaching Gaetz. [Lovely pic upthread.]

At one point, Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) tried to hand Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) her cellphone: Former President Trump was calling. But Rosendale waved her off.

-getting to the 15th and successful vote-

The nature of McCarthy’s final bargain was not immediately apparent. But the rules package House Republicans hope to pass next week will reportedly allow a single member to force a vote to oust the speaker.

On the final vote, all six holdouts voted “present,” lowering the total number of votes cast to 428 and the majority required to win the gavel to 215. Those six “present” votes ensured that by holding on to the same 216 votes he received on the 14th ballot, McCarthy could secure the speakership.

The newly minted speaker swore in members of Congress as a group shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday, but the next test of how united House Republicans are now will come after a debate on the rules package Monday.

“I am a NO on the house rules package,” Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) tweeted earlier Friday. “Welcome to the 118th Congress.”

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

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