Posted on 01/04/2023 12:25:30 PM PST by Red Badger
Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Kevin McCarthy lost for a fifth time his bid to lead Republicans as speaker of the House on Wednesday.
During the fourth and fifth ballots on Wednesday, McCarthy received 201 votes, while the Democratic Nominee, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, received 212 votes from Democrats as he did in each vote on Tuesday.
However, this time it was Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, instead of Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who took votes away from McCarthy. Donalds received 20 votes on the fourth and fifth ballots.
Opposition to McCarthy has been growing with each ballot. A total of 20 Republican colleagues opposed McCarthy during the third vote on Tuesday, which wrapped up shortly before 5 p.m., an increase from 19 during the second vote. He had collected 202 votes on the third ballot on Tuesday, one more than Wednesday's fourth ballot.
Rep.-elect Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., voted present in the fourth and fifth votes, voting for McCarthy in previous rounds.
It's unclear if there will be a sixth ballot on Wednesday.
Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., nominated McCarthy for the fourth vote on Wednesday, saying he was the best choice to lead the party as the House convened for a fourth vote to settle the chamber's leadership.
"I believe that in my bones, nobody has done more to lay out a plan for how we restore the basic functioning of this institution than Kevin McCarthy," he said.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., nominated Jeffries for both the fourth and fifth vote, while Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, nominated Donalds.
"We do not seek to judge people by the color of their skin but rather the content of their character," Roy said. "There's an important reason for nominating Byron, and that is, this country needs a change."
Tuesday's vote marked the first time in 100 years a speaker has not been elected on the first ballot.
McCarthy expressed optimism on Tuesday night that he would still emerge victorious, even though some Republicans have suggested that McCarthy could lose more votes.
"This isn't about me," McCarthy told reporters. "This is about the conference now because the members who are holding out ... they want something for their personal selves."
McCarthy also told reporters that it doesn't matter if he loses more votes.
"It doesn't matter -- I have the most votes," he said.
Donalds had voted for McCarthy during the first two rounds, but voted against him during the third round. He suggested that McCarthy could lose more votes the longer voting goes on.
McCarthy has reportedly said that there is no scenario where he pulls out of the race for speaker, noting that he could seek a path in which he does not need to secure 218 votes, but rather a smaller majority by convincing some of his detractors to vote "present."
"You're sitting on 202 votes, so you need technically just 11 more votes to win," he said. "Democrats have 212 votes. You get 213 votes, and the others don't say another name, that's how you can win."
Ahead of Tuesday's votes, McCarthy had announced several concessions in a proposed House rules package, including changes to how the speaker could be removed, in an effort to gain the necessary votes. The concessions would allow any five Republican party members 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.
Despite the concessions, several Republicans followed through on their plan to vote for Jordan.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia criticized fellow Republicans who opposed McCarthy, noting that even Jordan is supporting McCarthy.
"How did 19 Republicans not respect that?" Greene said. "I think 19, or 20 now, should respect Jim Jordan's wishes."
Former President Donald Trump said the Republicans should vote for McCarthy.
"I think it is a dangerous game, and, frankly, if they are not happy with him, they can do something about it at a later date," Trump told Fox News Digital in an interview. "I support [McCarthy] and I support getting the deal done. What I don't support is allowing this to continue onward."
When their affair was discovered, she lost her job and he got promoted...
In the words of Achilles, “are there no others”
This old man
He plays six
He plays knick knack on my sticks
With a knick knack paddy wack
Give a dog a bone
This old man came rolling home.
That’s because this system is specifically designed to create accountability for the voters. They want you to be able to tell how your representative voted so that you can decide if you still want them representing you. Free elections are designed to not have voter accountability, so nobody can take revenge on you for how you voted. Congress are supposed to be elected by free elections but are not supposed to HAVE free elections.
Given that 20 people are opposed to McCarthy, his motion to vacate proposal should work out just fine. With 20 people currently opposed to him, it would be easy enough to get 5 to move to vacate if he decides to be his usual wussy self. All he needs to do is to change his mind on border enforcement, and I would start casting my ballot for him. JMO.
McCarthy
Aughtta’
Go
Away
exactly — my delight in this matter is unfortunately rooted in cynicism.
Trump is not a god,his choices are not obligatory to others.
And I find McCarthy as bad a choice as McConnell.
ISWYDT!...................
Do they ever have a private meeting together, of the GOP caucus, and talk things over?
What about a compromise candidate, such as Steve Scalise or Jim Jordan? I know Jordan says he doesn’t want the job, but in a meeting of the minds, perhaps he would be agreeable? Or Scalise or someone else not on the radar right now?
It would be good to see, that the caucus emerge united and knowing the results of the next vote. This business of ballot after ballot with no resolution accomplishes nothing.
After the 1st and 2nd ballot, it becomes absurd after a while, to keep voting, when everyone knows there will be no finality.
Perhaps what can happen, to shake things up, would be for McCarthy to withdraw, and urge his supporters to support another, such as Jim Jordan.
Renee is old news and is hopefully going forward in life.
If there were someone else who is new news that might be something for the Republicans to deal with, but one would never go there oneself, if one had heard of such a thing. That wouldn’t be nice.
Well, some people already have hats.
Yes, the last ‘meeting’ they had was last week and sparks flew if reports are to be believed.............
No, he won’t.
He thinks it’s his right.
Another reason to question whether I will be supporting Trump in 2024.
vote #5 going down gain McCarthy does not get enough votes.
what do they call it when doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result... CRAZY AS HELL.
Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., nominated McCarthy for the fourth vote on Wednesday, saying he was the best choice to lead the party as the House convened for a fourth vote to settle the chamber’s leadership.
“I believe that in my bones, nobody has done more to lay out a plan for how we restore the basic functioning of this institution than Kevin McCarthy,” he said.
McCarthy: time to withdraw from the race. You’re clearly not representative of a majority of the House, and it is clear that 20 Republicans understand that you’re not a leader for the present circumstances. Maybe you would have made a fine Speaker in the 1960s, but not now.
And all Americans.
I, for one, am sick and tired of the GOPee screwing over the MAGA base.
So what did it mean when trump endorsed McCarthy?
Nice idea but before that can happen someone(s) has gotta go to Kevin and tell him it’s over, period.
Then go forward with new blood. Not Scalise, not Jordan, for different reasons.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.