Posted on 01/05/2023 12:16:31 PM PST by Red Badger
For the first time in more than 100 years, the U.S. House of Representatives is unable to elect a speaker.
Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Rep. Kevin McCarthy on Thursday lost the speaker of the House vote for an eighth time.
During the seventh and eighth votes Thursday, McCarthy received only 201 votes, short of the 218 needed for a majority of the full House.
Florida Rep. Byron Donalds snatched up 19 votes and 17 votes, respectively. All 212 Democrats voted for Democratic nominee Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., voted for former President Donald Trump both times, as there is no rule requiring that the speaker is a member of the House. Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., voted present as she did beginning with Wednesday's votes.
McCarthy failed to gather the necessary votes to be elected speaker in a series of six votes that stretched into Wednesday night as lawmakers failed to elect a speaker in a single vote for the first time in more than 100 years.
McCarthy could not gain the support of more than 201 House members in any of the votes cast Wednesday while Democratic nominee Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York received 212 votes in each round and Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., received 20 votes from McCarthy's detractors in the two votes.
Both Donalds and Jeffries would be the first Black speaker in U.S. history if elected. Others, such as former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, put themselves forward as an alternate.
RELATED Biden faces 'grim' prospects with new divided Congress Following Wednesday's vote, McCarthy gathered his allies and some of his opponents and reached an agreement that the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with McCarthy, would not spend money backing candidates in open-seat Republican primaries in safe Republican districts, while the Club For Growth would shift its stance and back McCarthy for speaker.
McCarthy also reinforced his commitment to several concessions he agreed to Sunday in a proposed House rules package, including changes to how the speaker could be removed.
The concession allows any five Republicans to call for the speaker's removal at any time, rather than a threshold of more than half of the House GOP conference that Republicans adopted in an internal rule in November.
McCarthy further addressed a request from the far-right wing to have more representation on committees.
Following the sixth vote on Wednesday night the House voted 216-214 in favor of adjourning until Thursday afternoon. The vote was split mostly along party lines with Republicans wanting to call it a night, and Democrats voting to stay for the crucial vote.
The deadlock leaves much of the U.S. political machinery at a standstill. None of the newly minted congressional leaders, for example, can be sworn in until someone ascends to the role of speaker.
Returning lawmakers also have not had their security clearances renewed and can't receive private briefings from the military and intelligence agencies.
"If there's a real emergency, we couldn't respond," Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said. "Either the Republicans don't understand that, or they do understand that and they don't care. I don't know which is worse, but it is a profound danger to the country as long as it lasts."
Without a speaker, the House also can't carry out oversight of the federal government or other entities or call witnesses before committees.
Because the U.S. Constitution does not spell out what role the speaker plays in an official capacity, the role has largely been shaped by customs and tradition.
The speaker is next in line after the U.S. vice president to lead the nation in the event of a circumstance that would prevent the commander-in-chief from carrying out their duties.
Speaking Wednesday, President Joe Biden said he was frustrated that the United States, a world leader in democratic governance, can't govern.
"You know, to have a Congress that can't function is just embarrassing," he said.
"We've had a lot of trouble with the attacks on our institutions already and that's what worries me more than anything else."
Apart from the inability to govern, the Republican Party looks further divided as, without a speaker, there is no person to relay the party's agenda and explain the various legislative actions that take place on the floor.
This, in turn, could be seen as fractures emerging in a party divided over its future direction after candidates loyal to former President Donald Trump suffered heavy losses in the November midterms.
He took money from FTX bitcoin scammers and spent it to defeat conservatives. That alone disqualified him. No matter what promises that snake makes, send them packing. Also he’s got no backbone.
Good, we’ve already got that b*stard McConnel in the senate. We don’t want his kitchen ***** in the house.
ANYNODY BUT MCCARTHY.
Calling the “Boo Hoo” girl ! bwahhhhaaaa
Slow learners love beating their heads on the wall.
Does it hurt much?
He also suckles-up to the WEF....literally dining with Schwab’s wife.
Watch and see..The Dems will end up with the Speaker. This is the most STOOPID thing I have ever witnessed.
I’ll never forget the time in the joint press conference after January 6 he said something. Liz Cheney stepped up to the microphone and directly and brutally contradicted him. And he stood there like a cuck. And then he never did anything about it later. Total cuck, no backbone. And he shares an apartment with a prominent DC establishment homosexual. Another Hastert if you ask me. Also had dinner with Klaus Schwab. Completely unqualified to leave the conservative movement. No matter what he agrees to, don’t vote yes people!
If he had initially taken the Freedom Caucus seriously there probably would have been a deal made.
He went into this with a "my way or the highway" attitude, now they can't/won't trust him.
He did this to himself.
Now he can go home and cry on Frank Luntz's shoulder....
I’m getting tired of all this winning 😳
🤦♂️😉 Oh, I think he's very qualified to leave!............
Let’s just hope they can keep this up for the next two years.
When congress is in session, liberty is on the chopping block.
Marxist moron speaking now.
And all this time we thought he wasn’t a fighter.
True... but ROTFLOL!
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