Do or die for Johnson...[w/udates]

[mystery-ak]

Do or die for Johnson
by Alexis Simendinger and Kristina Karisch - 01/03/25 6:20 AM ET

Today is Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) moment of truth.

On the first day of the 119th Congress, will his fellow House Republicans let him keep the Speaker’s gavel? Or will Johnson’s quest to remain in charge of a fractious conference look more like that of his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who endured a 15-ballot odyssey to win the post?

Late Thursday, Johnson, who has received President-elect Trump’s crucial endorsement, was still scrambling for votes. In the 119th Congress’s razor-tight GOP majority, he can afford to lose only one Republican vote provided there’s full attendance, and all Democrats vote for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

He’s already lost that one vote: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has repeatedly said he won’t vote for Johnson. And he faces another critical skeptic in Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), who recently called on Johnson to make a series of public commitments on spending issues.

“I think those are your big two right now,” a senior House Republican told The Hill of Massie and Spartz.

more
https://thehill.com/newsletters/morning-report/5064945-speaker-mike-johnson-do-or-die/

[mystery-ak]

Johnson faces hard-right calls to name Roy rules chairman for Speaker votes
by The Hill staff - 01/03/25 9:44 AM ET

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is facing demands from hard-right members of his conference to name conservative Rep. Chip Roy to the House Rules Committee to win their votes.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who has withheld support for Johnson, told former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) in an interview on his new show on One America News Network that a commitment from Johnson to making Roy chair of the House Rules Committee would “secure the vote on the first round with no significant battle.”

Johnson has a narrow margin for error in Friday’s vote.

Assuming all members are present and voting for a candidate, Johnson can afford to lose only one GOP vote — and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is widely seen as an immovable “no.”

Roughly a dozen other conservative Republicans are undecided.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5064718-live-updates-johnson-speaker-vote-new-congress/

[ScottinVA]

This will be an opportunity for Republicans to show they are actually capable of governing… but they’ll eff it up, as a hardcore few insist their personal agendas are more valuable than moving forward with the hard-won mandate awarded them by the electorate.  The GOP doesn’t have any room for error in the House.  Johnson has done a good job and they should retain him.

[Free Vulcan]

This will be an opportunity for Republicans to show they are actually capable of governing… but they’ll eff it up, as a hardcore few insist their personal agendas are more valuable than moving forward with the hard-won mandate awarded them by the electorate.  The GOP doesn’t have any room for error in the House.  Johnson has done a good job and they should retain him.

Sorry, but that's just too boilerplate for me. Johnson has done a crap job all the way around, but the problem is the usual one - who is agreeable and conservative enough to replace him?

The real question is how much do we really need Congress for the next couple of years? Much of the work that needs done can be done within the Executive branch with existing laws.

So how much does it matter who is Speaker right now?

[corbe]

Live updates: Memo detailing Johnson ‘fails’ circulating among Republicans ahead of Speaker vote

by The Hill staff - 01/03/25 11:38 AM ET

A five-page, 26-point memo detailing “fails” under Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) leadership is circulating among House Republicans as the first ballot draws near.

A copy of the document obtained by The Hill reads: “The House must be organized to deliver on the historic mandate granted to President Trump and Republicans. It currently is not – as demonstrated many times over the last year and, most recently, the week before Christmas.”

Johnson has a narrow margin for error in Friday’s Speakership vote.

Assuming all members are present and voting for a candidate, Johnson can afford to lose only one GOP vote — and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is widely seen as an immovable “no.”

<..snip..>

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5064718-live-updates-johnson-speaker-vote-new-congress/

[mystery-ak]

Here we go...Johnson needs 218 votes...

[corbe]

   The dems love him, so he will get it after 4 failed votes, IMHO.

[mystery-ak]

Joe Concha
@JoeConchaTV
·
4h
So what’s Massie’s plan after he defies the incoming president? Who does he think can be the next speaker? Where are the votes for this person?

There is no plan. The election won’t be certified. Trump enters chaos. This is all about Massie’s ego & putting on a show. Nothing more

[mystery-ak]

Bret Baier
@BretBaier
I am told President-elect Trump this morning has made calls to a few so-called "undecided" Republicans on the speaker vote.  We are told ALL of those calls were "positive" for Johnson -- notably NOT on the list was Rep. Thomas Massie who has made his no vote clear.   There is cautious optimism in Trump world that Johnson will be elected as Speaker on the first ballot.  But- they acknowledge there is some doubt.  The President-elect is engaged and watching - and may make more calls.

[mystery-ak]

She was a hold out...

https://twitter.com/TheCalvinCooli1/status/1875229400310091858

[mystery-ak]

Jamie Dupree
@jamiedupree
·
2m
433 members present.  Rep. Hank Johnson D-GA did not vote.  If he is absent, then Speaker Mike Johnson will need 217 votes for a majority.

[rustynail]

She was a hold out...

https://twitter.com/TheCalvinCooli1/status/1875229400310091858

Wonder if she is ever called Spaz?

[mystery-ak]

Leading Report
@LeadingReport
·
3m
BREAKING: Mike Johnson cannot be elected Speaker on the first ballot.

Second ballot or a Jeffries win


Johnson 175

Jeffries 175

Other      3

[Right_in_Virginia]

Here we go...Johnson needs 218 votes...

Republicans have 219 seats.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Joe Concha
@JoeConchaTV
·
4h
So what’s Massie’s plan after he defies the incoming president? Who does he think can be the next speaker? Where are the votes for this person?

There is no plan. The election won’t be certified. Trump enters chaos. This is all about Massie’s ego & putting on a show. Nothing more

Massie is a special kind of stupid.

[mystery-ak]

Johnson 210

Jeffries   212

other      3

[mystery-ak]

Another circus

[Right_in_Virginia]

Roy just voted for Johnson.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Johnson's at 217 according to Fox.

[mystery-ak]

final vote...they have it since a Dem is not in DC

johnson  217

jeffries    213

other    3

Brett Baier stated this earlier

[Elderberry]

Gunther Eagleman™
@GuntherEagleman

BREAKING: Ralph Norman votes for Jim Jordan for Speaker.

These people I swear.

https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1875247281794117925

[Right_in_Virginia]

Change your damn vote, Massie.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Another circus

And, for no reason.

[mystery-ak]

damnit....Johnson 216

Jeffries 214

this is the official tally

[Right_in_Virginia]

Meanwhile..

https://twitter.com/JDVance/status/1875252347443552518