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Behind-the-scenes hunt builds for McCarthy Speaker alternative
The Hill ^ | 12/12/22 6:00 AM ET | BY EMILY BROOKS

Posted on 12/12/2022 3:34:46 AM PST by RandFan

Searches for a Speaker alternative to House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) are slowly building momentum as he faces opposition that threatens to sink his bid.

On one side, McCarthy’s fiercest detractors are teasing that there are people interested in being a viable GOP consensus substitute for the current minority leader. On the other, members say preliminary conversations are happening among Republicans and Democrats about a possible contingency candidate if McCarthy cannot win the gavel after multiple ballots in the new GOP-majority House next month.

Neither side will name names, fearing that anyone mentioned as a candidate would get intense blowback.

“If somebody were to come out now and we didn’t deliver enough votes to stop Mr. McCarthy, that there would be a real potential for blowback,” said Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), a former chair of the House Freedom Caucus who has mounted a protest challenge to McCarthy for the House GOP nomination, a bid he is continuing as he searches for an alternative. “They want to be very careful. So I think I think people are interested. They’ve expressed it to some of us … I think people are being wary.”

Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) told Fox News there are a number of candidates who have come to McCarthy’s conservative opponents privately to say they’d like to be considered for Speaker once it is clear he cannot win the votes. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has publicly called for other House Republicans to step up as an alternative.

Biggs thinks there are still around 20 House Republicans members who will be “hard no’s” on McCarthy, which would be enough to deny him a majority of total lawmakers.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
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Now sinking in he isn't getting the gavel...

He should step aside and do the decent thing or Jan 3. will be a circus.

1 posted on 12/12/2022 3:34:46 AM PST by RandFan
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To: All

Scalise of Louisiana is probably the only one who can unite the conference.

But I doubt he will go for it until McCarthy is gone and the deck is clear.

That’s if he wants it....


2 posted on 12/12/2022 3:38:34 AM PST by RandFan
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To: All

Whatever happens “business as usual” in Washington is under threat.

A good minority of House Republicans are now saying enough is enough with the big spending bills, etc.

I think this is what it’s all about.


3 posted on 12/12/2022 3:44:22 AM PST by RandFan
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To: RandFan

That abd they want old rules regarding bills re-implemented.


4 posted on 12/12/2022 3:54:11 AM PST by vivenne
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To: vivenne

The rules changes are good and should be implemented. McCarthy wants to rule the place like Pelosi i.e all power in his hands or his special committee which he controls.

It won’t happen if they stay strong and 5 have said they will .


5 posted on 12/12/2022 3:58:59 AM PST by RandFan
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To: RandFan

Jim Jordan

Stephan Miller

Kellyanne Conway

Sarah Palin

Kari Lake

The Speaker does not have to be an elected member of Congress.


6 posted on 12/12/2022 4:06:30 AM PST by Candor7
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To: RandFan

Controlled opposition and forever war fans hardest hit.


7 posted on 12/12/2022 4:07:20 AM PST by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative)
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To: Wilderness Conservative

Lobbyists in general who write those 3,000 page bills.

This is what has to change I think.

Will be interesting.


8 posted on 12/12/2022 4:10:39 AM PST by RandFan
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To: RandFan

So if McCarthy doesn’t get it, does this mean Frank Luntz will try to room with the person who does?

Amazing how one piece on Tucker Carlson exposed Luntz and made him an absolute liability to McCarthy. Yet, McCarthy didn’t get it. Now he’s toast.


9 posted on 12/12/2022 4:31:08 AM PST by FlipWilson
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To: RandFan

Here is why he shouldn’t be speaker.
https://news.yahoo.com/kevin-mccarthy-privately-suggested-twitter-171111423.html


10 posted on 12/12/2022 4:38:41 AM PST by mongrel
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To: RandFan

Scalise gives me the creeps, despite being shot by a communist maniac. I would have thought this would put him on high alert as to the danger we are in.


11 posted on 12/12/2022 4:48:22 AM PST by JonPreston
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To: mongrel

Paul Ryan 2.0


12 posted on 12/12/2022 4:49:38 AM PST by ronnie raygun
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To: RandFan

“Biggs thinks there are still around 20 House Republicans members who will be “hard no’s” on McCarthy, which would be enough to deny him a majority of total lawmakers.”

Hallelujah. It’s shameful, though, that only 20 brave conservative souls will come forward.


13 posted on 12/12/2022 5:36:21 AM PST by SharpRightTurn (“Giving money & power to government is like giving whiskey & car keys to teenage boys” P.J. O’Rourke)
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To: RandFan

If we want another McConnell, we can simply go to the bathroom and take a bodacious Obama. Eff McCarthy and the RINOville that he came from.


14 posted on 12/12/2022 5:42:50 AM PST by Da Coyote
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To: Candor7

Drivel.

A non member such as say Sarah Palin would be walking around in a fog of incompetence. She would have no clue as to how to manage and run the House


15 posted on 12/12/2022 5:48:37 AM PST by bert ( (KWE. NP. N.C. +12) Juneteenth is inequality day)
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To: RandFan

The only short term antidote for RINO is to MAKE THEM PAY.


16 posted on 12/12/2022 5:52:42 AM PST by anton
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To: RandFan

Louis Gohmert


17 posted on 12/12/2022 5:56:49 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: RandFan

“Country first” isn’t a popular concept with the elite. See, McDaniels, Ronna. The question is…. Will he go nuclear? He just needs 218 votes, and it doesn’t matter where he gets them. Would he really cut a deal with the rats for him to get the votes he needs?


18 posted on 12/12/2022 6:43:22 AM PST by j.havenfarm (22 years on Free Republic, 12/10/22! than 6500 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: j.havenfarm

There is talk of that in the article. It’s quite a long one.

It’s unprecedented though so not sure.

We will soon see!


19 posted on 12/12/2022 6:50:22 AM PST by RandFan
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To: RandFan

McCarthy lit this fire when he shot down every rule change proposal the conservatives wanted over last few weeks. He was already on thin ice ad it showed arrogance and contempt for the conservatives who are already sick of getting the screw job from the GOPe. Many have not forgotten McCarthy was Ryan’s hand picked successor.


20 posted on 12/12/2022 7:08:20 AM PST by iamgalt
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