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The Speaker of the House can be chosen by a plurality - but we may have to wait awhile.
House Practice ^

Posted on 01/04/2023 3:40:50 PM PST by FarCenter

...

In two instances the House agreed to choose and subsequently did choose a Speaker by a plurality of votes but confirmed the choice by majority vote. In 1849 the House had been in session 19 days without being able to elect a Speaker, no candidate having received a majority of the votes cast. The voting was viva voce, each Member responding to the call of the roll by naming the candidate for whom he voted. Finally, after the fifty-ninth ballot, the House adopted a resolution declaring that a Speaker could be elected by a plurality. 1 Hinds Sec. 221. In 1856 the House again struggled over the election of a Speaker. Ballots numbering 129 had been taken without any candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast. The House then adopted a resolution permitting the election to be decided by a plurality. 1 Hinds Sec. 222. On both of these occasions, the House ratified the plurality election by a majority vote.


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To: NWFree

Tom Cruise for Speaker.


21 posted on 01/04/2023 4:13:38 PM PST by spokeshave (Proud Boys, Angry Dads and Grumpy Grandads.)
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To: guido911
This whole thing is getting ridiculous. I understand the message, but I really want to get to law making and government oversight

Why???

What makes you think the current crop of GOP House Members are going to do anything worthwile?
22 posted on 01/04/2023 4:13:53 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: FarCenter

The conservatives just need to know how far they can go to get McCarthy to commit as many things as possible, in writing, in a way that he can’t get out of. 20 votes are not going to elect anyone else. Whatever they do, they need to put him in maximum pain. Not sure he’s feeling it yet.


23 posted on 01/04/2023 4:16:01 PM PST by old-ager
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To: FarCenter
RINOs did not give a fig if MAGA candidates were defeated by Democrats, even if that meant losing the presidency and Senate.

But now we're being told non-stop that MAGA is evil for not falling into line with the RINO coronation of McCarthy, and --shock, horror-- a Democrat might become Speaker!

Burn it down! Let the RINOs have a taste of their own medicine for a change.

24 posted on 01/04/2023 4:21:28 PM PST by HandBasketHell
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To: HandBasketHell

Burn it down?

Good grief.


25 posted on 01/04/2023 4:23:01 PM PST by Fury
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To: spokeshave
Tom Cruse practicing dropping into the House Speakers Chair


26 posted on 01/04/2023 4:24:10 PM PST by spokeshave (Proud Boys, Angry Dads and Grumpy Grandads.)
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To: vpintheak

Some Elder Republicans need to take him some morals.


27 posted on 01/04/2023 4:26:29 PM PST by OKSooner (Don't try to beat the cops at their own game.)
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To: HandBasketHell

Gotta start somewhere. If you don’t stand for something, then you don’t stand for anything. Too many right now only stand for themselves.


28 posted on 01/04/2023 4:27:14 PM PST by Equine1952
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To: grumpygresh
Caligula made horse a Senator so there could be a precedent here.

Yep, and Pennsylvania made the north end of a southbound horse a Senator, so that's an even more recent precedent.

29 posted on 01/04/2023 4:28:11 PM PST by SFConservative
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To: CrazyCatChick

“I thought they couldn’t do anything before they elect a Speaker.”

The floor is open for motions. But committees have not been formed.

This was referred to as the Committee of the Whole in our early history.


30 posted on 01/04/2023 4:31:50 PM PST by TexasGator (!!!)
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To: qaz123
it would be awesome if one of the folks not voting for him went to one of the podiums and nominated Pres Trump

There was some unofficial chatter after today's adjournment that Rep Biggs would do just that. Cannot say, cannot confirm. FWIW.


31 posted on 01/04/2023 4:33:34 PM PST by C210N (Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.)
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To: SoConPubbie

My thoughts as well.


32 posted on 01/04/2023 4:35:39 PM PST by MachIV
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To: FarCenter

THe speaker does not need to be a member of the House of Reps.

I say Speaker Donald J. Trump...


33 posted on 01/04/2023 4:38:14 PM PST by Ouderkirk (The modern world demands that we approve what it should not even dare ask us to tolerate.)
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To: C210N
There was some unofficial chatter after today's adjournment that Rep Biggs would do just that. Cannot say, cannot confirm. FWIW.

If nothing else, it would be fun just to watch the leftists’ heads exploding.

34 posted on 01/04/2023 4:39:03 PM PST by Allegra
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To: guido911

I’m confused by all of this. First everybody bashes Congress for their antics, i.e. budget deficits, pork barrel projects, etc. Yet when a few members actually say STOP...we want to get things under control and actually try and pass stand alone bills, reign in the excessive powers of committee chairman, and so all of a sudden everybody wants them to just fold and put McCarthy in power.

Politics can be messy and challenging. Yet when it plays out in public everybody gets all upset. I applaud the Congressman that are at least trying to get some changes made in how legislation is crafted. And how power seems to be held by all of the senior members who get to dictate amendments, and so on are allowed or not.

Everyone talks about sending a message from the American people to Congress. Yet when those in Congress actually try to do that they are attacked and accused of being traitors or something equally stupid. Yes they may fail but I would rather they try and not just go along like little sheep.


35 posted on 01/04/2023 4:41:19 PM PST by oldguy1776
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To: SoConPubbie; guido911

“Why???

What makes you think the current crop of GOP House Members are going to do anything worthwile?”

Exactly. They will put on a good show, but in the end it will be the same “business as usual” which equals nothing accomplished at all for the people.


36 posted on 01/04/2023 4:41:37 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: FarCenter

In 1856, no party held a majority. Speaker was Nathaniel Banks, American Party (also called the “Know Nothings”).


37 posted on 01/04/2023 4:52:04 PM PST by scrabblehack
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To: grumpygresh

A horse? Ridiculous. Is there a right to horse arms? NO! but there IS a right to bear them!


38 posted on 01/04/2023 4:56:07 PM PST by AndyTheBear
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To: FarCenter

Which means it would go to Jeffries.


39 posted on 01/04/2023 5:04:26 PM PST by ScottinVA
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To: Openurmind; MinuteGal; M Kehoe

“Exactly. They will put on a good show, but in the end it will be the same “business as usual” which equals nothing accomplished at all for the people.”

Nothing will be accomplished anyway until September 2023, if then, as the vote for the Omnibus bill precluded having any monetary leverage over anything; the budget is locked in and was passed by the traitor RINO’s in the Senate, led by Mitch McConnell, and the RINO traitors in the House.

You want an example of the power of the few? How about those turncoats in small numbers in the Pub Party that allowed the Omnibus bill to be passed in both Houses? And those same traitors are now squawking about what our small number of Pubs are fighting for we the people in the Speakership battle?

Well, now we have our own handful of Pubs in the House who can call the shots too, only ours are Patriots trying to prevent further occurrences of such as the passing of the Omnibus bill. Our Freedom Caucus guys are on the side of the Angels; the Pubs that helped the Dems pass the 2023 spending bill were on the side of the Devil.


40 posted on 01/04/2023 5:06:56 PM PST by flaglady47 (Trump knows where all the bodies lie - just sayin......)
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