Posted on 10/11/2023 5:53:42 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The House GOP’s long and embarrassing nightmare is over. Or has it just taken a pause? After more than a week of leadership battles and a moribund House, the Republican caucus nominated Steve Scalise as the next Speaker of the House.
It was not by acclamation, needless to say:
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is the GOP’s next pick for speaker.
The Louisiana Republican defeated Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in a secret-ballot vote on Wednesday, securing a simple majority of the GOP conference.
The 113-99 vote count came from Rep. Darrell Issa, although it is not yet official. The split raises the obvious question — can Scalise unite the caucus when it comes to the floor vote, presumably later today? The fact that the final vote total looks to be nine short of the House GOP caucus’ total of 221 seems a bit of a caution on that assumption.
On the other hand, perhaps the events in Israel have provided more of a humbling context in which to proceed. Scalise and Jordan are only really different in temperament; they both supported Kevin McCarthy, and both will face the same obstacles McCarthy did. Having flexed their muscles on McCarthy and facing a choice between going back to work and facing even more scorn over their unseriousness, even the Gaetz Eight and/or the Freedom Caucus has to figure that there’s not much more juice in this squeeze, if there was any at all from the beginning.
Or … maybe not:
Still, given the slim margin, it was not entirely clear whether that coalition would be enough to propel him to victory on the House floor, where he must win a majority to claim the speaker’s gavel. Some Republicans already were vowing to force a fight on installing Mr. Jordan, the far-right co-founder of the Freedom Caucus.
“I’m not switching my vote,” said Representative Max Miller, Republican of Ohio. “I’m Jim Jordan all the way.”
Well, that’s just peachy. Isn’t that why the caucus held a nomination process in the first place? This is nonsense, and it only makes Republicans look more unserious than their Democrat counterparts.
Anyway, we’ll add updates as events merit, although the actual speaker election in the full House will merit its own post. Meanwhile, let’s hope seriousness prevails, especially as Americans die and are held hostage in the Middle East. That matters a little more than House members’ butthurt over personalities and process.
Addendum: Don’t forget that a Scalise promotion to Speaker will require new elections for House Majority Leader, and that could cascade into a full recalculation on House GOP leadership.
Update: Matt Gaetz has had enough, though:
Update: Rep. MattGaetz said he will support Steve Scalise in the House floor vote. https://t.co/oNyWeEEFqX
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 11, 2023
Hopefully, this will grease the skids for a one-ballot election, and everyone can get back to business.
Update: This is even better news:
NEWS — JIM JORDAN just offered to nominate Scalise on the House floor.
JORDAN getting behind Scalise.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 11, 2023
Holy cow, folks, House Republicans appear to have learned a lesson!
Well with gaetz & jordan lining up behind scalise he may end up speaker
Not even hot Democrat lead in his belly could light a conservative fire in Scalise’s belly. He sucks. The worst.
So what? I'm sorry he had to go through that but it doesn't make him Ronald Reagan.
Why do people call this ‘Chaos’ or an ‘embarrassment’ or ‘republican traitors siding with Democrats’ ?
This is how it is supposed to work.
McCarthy is hired based on the promises he made, a few months later he breaks his promises and he is fired.
Two guys want to be his replacement and the republicans in the House choose one, Scalise.
And now all will present a united front when the vote goes to the House floor.
Where is the fault on that? Great job.
These fake headlines really rot. Very misleading.
Yes, we can't have an interruption to the Uniparty's efforts to destroy the country.
This is the loser who has made a career out of casting “principled conservative” votes against bills that pass by margins of 420 to 5.
Yes, my FRiend, and sadly so.
We live in such vulnerable times, and maintaining our thin majority in the House is so very, very critical.
And, acting in unity is so very, very critical.
The view farther down the road eludes many (very fine) folks.
Inevitable now. Perhaps they got him alone and twisted his arm...
Plus, I hate to say this, but he is not a well man and may not last long in that position.
Why is it embarrassing? We are taking care of business. I am not embarrassed.
.
“These fake headlines really rot. Very misleading.”
No kidding.
If he can get elected....AND if he is better than McCarthy. There have been so many disappointments.
It absolutely not acceptable if Scalise tries to do the same.
RE: These fake headlines really rot. Very misleading.
Can you tell us exactly what’s fake about the headline?
How great.....Are you for real?
LOL...business as usual.
Is that you, Liz Cheney?
:-)
what is the outcome for ukraine funding from all of this?
That’s only 212 votes. Wher are the rest of the Republicans?
They don’t like each other personally, but they’re essentially the same guy politically.
Kevin McCarthy liberty rating: 54% F
Steve Scalise liberty rating: 58% F
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