GOP Speaker race (October '23): Live coverage

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Uh, you do realize that this country is generally run on democratic principles, which means that, unless the Constitution says otherwise, the majority rules.  8 didn't do jack-shit other than piss all over the floor and make a right mess of things.

Those 8 were always going to be matched by at least as many who would support a CR before shutting down the government.   That was never going to change no matter who is the Speaker.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Thomas Massie
@RepThomasMassie
Surprises are for little kids at birthday parties, not Congress. So, I let Scalise know in person that he doesn’t have my vote on the floor, because he has not articulated a viable plan for avoiding an omnibus.
1:49 PM · Oct 11, 2023

And he wasn't even one of the eight who voted to remove McCarthy.   I wonder how those folks are going to vote.

[Cyber Liberty]

....and the charger (I seem to always forget one).

Well, I know her phone is in the car, and I CAN'T FIND IT!!!! 

[mystery-ak]

Benny Johnson
@bennyjohnson
🚨As of now, at least 9 House Republicans plan to vote against Steve Scalise in a Floor vote for Speaker, despite him wining the Conference’s closed-door nomination:

-Boebert
-Greene
-Miller
-Massie
-Luna
-Gimenez
-Cloud
-Nehls
-Roy
1:37 PM · Oct 11, 2023
·
164.8K
 Views

[mountaineer]

I would vote Jordan over Scalise, fwiw.

[mystery-ak]

I would vote Jordan over Scalise, fwiw.

So would I..

[roamer_1]

I would vote Jordan over Scalise, fwiw.

So would I. But reality says it is going to be Scalise.

[Kamaji]

Benny Johnson
@bennyjohnson
🚨As of now, at least 9 House Republicans plan to vote against Steve Scalise in a Floor vote for Speaker, despite him wining the Conference’s closed-door nomination:

-Boebert
-Greene
-Miller
-Massie
-Luna
-Gimenez
-Cloud
-Nehls
-Roy
1:37 PM · Oct 11, 2023
·
164.8K
 Views

So they're going to drag the shit-show out in public over and over again, in pursuit of something they simply do not have the numbers to accomplish.  Way to give the House to the Democrats in 2024.

[mountaineer]

So they're going to drag the shit-show out in public over and over again, in pursuit of something they simply do not have the numbers to accomplish.  Way to give the House to the Democrats in 2024.

Newsflash, Republicans: Even Scalise is better than any Democrat.

[Cyber Liberty]

Right where we started with McStupid.  Now nothing will ever be done.

[PeteS in CA]

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Benny Johnson
@bennyjohnson
🚨As of now, at least 9 House Republicans plan to vote against Steve Scalise in a Floor vote for Speaker, despite him wining the Conference’s closed-door nomination:

-Boebert
-Greene
-Miller
-Massie
-Luna
-Gimenez
-Cloud
-Nehls
-Roy
1:37 PM · Oct 11, 2023
·
164.8K
 Views

That's weird as hell.  All 8 of those people voted to retain McCarthy, which means that all 8 of the people who voted to oust McCarthy approved Scalise despite him not making any promises.  Looks like the White House isn't the only branch of government with a lot of poopy diapers.

[mystery-ak]

 Greene, Boebert among pro-Jordan holdouts despite Scalise nomination
by Nick Robertson   10/11/23 3:47 PM ET

Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) are among the at least half dozen Republicans who have committed to not voting for Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) in Speaker of the House votes this week, despite a secret ballot process which saw the Majority Leader nominated as the caucus’ choice.

The pair committed their votes instead to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Scalise’s opponent in the caucus vote.

“I just voted for Jim Jordan for Speaker on a private ballot in conference, and I will be voting for Jim Jordan on the House floor,” Greene said on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday. “I like Steve Scalise, and I like him so much that I want to see him defeat cancer more than sacrifice his health in the most difficult position in Congress.”

Scalise announced that he has a form of blood cancer in late August and is undergoing treatment. He described the cancer as “very treatable” and has continued to work.

“I lost my father to cancer and it’s a very serious battle,” Greene continued. “We need a Speaker who is able to put their full efforts into defeating the communist democrats and save America.”

Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Michael Cloud (R-Texas) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) have also announced that they will not back Scalise.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) initially came out against Scalise, but said she will now back him after a personal meeting late Wednesday.

The secret ballot voting process held earlier Wednesday resulted in Scalise — viewed as a successor to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) — winning the caucus nomination over Jordan with a vote of 113-99.

Scalise needs to secure 217 votes on the House floor to be elected Speaker. Democrats are all expected to support Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) for the job, so Scalise can only afford to lose four votes from Republicans — assuming all members vote.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4250485-greene-boebert-among-pro-jordan-holdouts-despite-scalise-nomination/

[mountaineer]

John Hasson
@SonofHas
Nancy Mace today: “I cannot in good conscience support Steve Scalise”
Nancy Mace last year: Received $10K from Scalise’s Super PAC for her reelection

[Maj. Bill Martin]

John Hasson
@SonofHas
Nancy Mace today: “I cannot in good conscience support Steve Scalise”
Nancy Mace last year: Received $10K from Scalise’s Super PAC for her reelection

And I'm sure there a dozen or so who can't support Jordan on the other end.

[jmyrlefuller]

There's a solution:

Start putting out names. Poll the caucus and make sure that said person has 218 Republicans who would vote for him (or her) in the main vote. If there are enough objections to sink the vote, disqualify them and pick another name.

If no one can prevent objections like we're continuing to see here, then dissolve the caucus. Let the Democrats try to elect a speaker, and then repeatedly vote against them, too, because Hakeem from Harlem doesn't have the votes either.

At that point, a coalition would have to be formed.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

There's a solution:

Start putting out names. Poll the caucus and make sure that said person has 218 Republicans who would vote for him (or her) in the main vote. If there are enough objections to sink the vote, disqualify them and pick another name.

If no one can prevent objections like we're continuing to see here, then dissolve the caucus. Let the Democrats try to elect a speaker, and then repeatedly vote against them, too, because Hakeem from Harlem doesn't have the votes either.

At that point, a coalition would have to be formed.

That would take 420 or so votes.  Doesn't seem very efficient.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Chad Pergram
@ChadPergram

 Speaker Pro Tempore McHenry after adjourning the House for the day without electing a Speaker: “It’s not over yet.”


7:01 PM · Oct 11, 2023

[Right_in_Virginia]

Thomas Massie
@RepThomasMassie
Surprises are for little kids at birthday parties, not Congress. So, I let Scalise know in person that he doesn’t have my vote on the floor, because he has not articulated a viable plan for avoiding an omnibus.
1:49 PM · Oct 11, 2023

Chad Pergram
@ChadPergram

McCarthy on Scalise: Steve's going to have to talk with them all. See what the concerns are. But I'm supporting Steve


7:46 PM · Oct 11, 2023

[Right_in_Virginia]

Catturd ™
@catturd2

The Republican Party could F-up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.


1:29 PM · Oct 11, 2023

[Right_in_Virginia]

Rich Baris "The People's Pundit"
@Peoples_Pundit

The McCarthy Caucus attempted to ram Steve Scalise down everyone's throats with blackmail essentially and railroad Jim Jordan.

And as of now, they don't have the votes anymore.

They look so stupid. Should've just went with Jordan who had a broad spectrum from the beginning.


7:26 PM · Oct 11, 2023

[Right_in_Virginia]

Catturd ™
@catturd2

Republican voters overwhelmingly wanted Jim Jordan over Steve Scalise for Speaker - so naturally the Republican Party did a secret ballot behind closed doors to pick Steve Scalise. ...

And now they still don’t have the votes to even take it to the floor and vote.

Train wreck.


8:34 PM · Oct 11, 2023

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Why should the majorities that preferred McCarthy, and now Scalise, give in to the minority that preferred Jordan?  To reward those who threw their tantrum, and let the tail wag the dog yet again?

Pretty sure there is a solid contingent of McCarthy/Scalise supporters who would never vote for Jordan because of that.  If the hardliners want to play "we're not going to respect the votes of the majority, and will blow up the House if you don't give us our way" a second time, I suspect there are more than enough people pissed off -- and more than enough who just don't like Jordan period -- to hold their ground for as long as it takes.

As they should.  Otherwise, this concept of a small minority trying to dictate to the majority on leadership issues will never stop. Voters elected these representatives to represent them in Congress.  If it turns out the voters don't like the people they elected, they can vote them out in 2024.  But until then, those are the representatives of the people who elected them.

[libertybele]

Well, I know her phone is in the car, and I CAN'T FIND IT!!!!

Hey....it's ok -- It'll all work out @Cyber Liberty

[jmyrlefuller]

That would take 420 or so votes.  Doesn't seem very efficient.

It could be done quickly: put up the name, ask the caucus "is there anyone in here that wouldn't vote for this man as Speaker?" If the number of hands is more than four, go on to another name. In theory, it should only take a couple hours AT MOST to go through the entire caucus.