Posted on 01/04/2023 1:26:12 PM PST by Red Badger
Edited on 01/04/2023 1:32:08 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
WASHINGTON — For a second consecutive day, a band of 20 ultraconservative rebels blocked GOP leader Kevin McCarthy from winning the speaker’s gavel, just hours after former President Donald Trump called on House Republicans to back him and "close the deal."
Between Tuesday and Wednesday, six votes were held on the House floor to choose a speaker; each time, the rebels stuck together and voted for someone else, denying McCarthy the 218 votes he needed to win.
With both McCarthy allies and foes deeply dug in, it ensures that chaos will reign in the House for the foreseeable future under the new GOP majority.
During the fourth, fifth and sixth ballots on Wednesday, McCarthy — a California Republican who has served in leadership for the past 14 years — received support from more than 90% of the 222 GOP members. Earlier in the day, he was nominated by Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus who warned his fellow conservatives that their opposition will end up hurting their cause.
"We're on the precipice of such a destructive argument today. I plead with all— all of my Republican colleagues, let cooler, more rational heads prevail. Let us unite as Republicans to elect the next Speaker of the House," Davidson said.
But the McCarthy foes showed no signs of backing down. In the three votes Wednesday, they rallied behind Rep. Byron Donalds, a Black Florida conservative who won his second term in November.
Firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., nominated her fellow Freedom Caucus colleague, Donalds, saying she was not swayed by Trump — "my favorite president" — calling her to tell her to "knock this off."
"The president needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that, 'sir, you do not have the votes and it’s time to withdraw,'" Boebert said of Trump to scattered boos.
Kevin McCarthy in the House Chamber during the third round of votes for House Speaker at the U.S. Capitol
DO NOT want Hakim-—
Want someone with the balls to recognize that these items are of UTMOST importance:
BORDER SECURITY
BALANCED BUDGETS
and-—thanks to the behavior of Dems:
TERM LIMITS
There are more-—but going up & down the same old path is nuts.
A famous saying is “there’s no such thing as ‘bad publicity’”.
In McCarthy’s case, that may not be true. After the past two days, he should consider doing a Richard Nixon: -— throw in the towel and say, “You’re not going to have Kevin McCarthy to kick around any longer”.
With a little attitude adjustment and a few years, he MIGHT become acceptable to enough of his caucus to become its leader again.
They take office at noon on January 3rd. They take the oath and are sworn in “as soon as the Speaker is elected and sworn in,” which is usually the 3rd., too, which is why all the kiddos showed up for the ceremony that never happened.
Speaking of democrats throwing in with RINOs
There is nothing preventing the democrats from voting in McCarthy. Right now they are all voting for the lead democrat (I forget his name) but McCarthy could make a deal with the democrats for 20 votes. Then claim that he was elected speaker with “Bipartisan” support.
Unfortunately, the UniParty is evil enough to do that.
THERE should be NO PROXY ballots.
IF NOT there-—NO VOTE.
Good news! Thanks for posting.
I called it downright TACKY
THEY SAID THAT IT COULD NOT BE DONE
by Benny Hill
They said that it could not be done,
He said, “Just let me try.”
They said, ‘Other men have tried and failed’,
He answered, ‘But not I.’
They said, “It is impossible,”
He said, “There’s no such word.”
He closed his mind, he closed his heart...
To everything he heard.
He said, “Within the heart of man,
There is a tiny seed.
It grows until it blossoms,
It’s called ‘The Will To Succeed’.
Its roots are strength, its stem is hope,
Its petals inspiration,
Its thorns protect its strong green leaves,
With grim determination.
“Its stamens are its skills
Which help to shape each plan,
For there’s nothing in the universe
Beyond the scope of man.”
They thought that it could not be done,
Some even said they knew it,
But he faced up to what could not be done...
And he couldn’t bloody do it!
If true I agree. I am not sure about Boebert.
Like Tucker said McCarthy’s constituency is a bunch of DC lobbyists.
From your keyboard to God's monitor!
GOOD POINT-—
THEY HAVE “NO STANDING”.
Maybe McCarthy needs to contact Katie Hobbs for some of those 19” ballots for the Freedom Caucus. /s
I always thought that Axe was a male contraceptive. Or was that Nancy Pelosi?
At any rate, the center-left Freedom Caucus and the moderate 21 Republicans only hold the power to say No!. I’m in favor of them hanging on to their power. I’d swear in all the new Congresscritters, and start up one committee to investigate the sewer, and wait for the sewer report before taking any hasty actions. Vote to pay the judges - it’s Constitutionally required - and a modest fund to keep the military and pensioners fed, clothed, and in weapons. By modest, I mean small enough to have the MIC scream.
Everything else - have the House adopt previous Senate rules of unlimited debate. 21 Congresscritters can talk a streak until November 2024. Turn off the spigot long enough and the People win.
I can think of three possible reasons why President Trump would endorse McCarthy as Speaker:
1) He really wants McCarthy to be Speaker, and believes his opinion as de facto leader of the Republican Party and the MAGA movement will sway some Republicans to vote for McCarthy.
2) He believes that since McCarthy has over 200 votes, no other nominee has any chance of beating McCarthy… and a protracted battle over it is pointless and only hurts the Republican cause.
3) He believes the 20 rebels will eventually have to concede, and McCarthy will win. By endorsing the winner, he will build his status as “kingmaker” in the Republican Party, which makes him more powerful leading up to 2024.
If I had to guess, I’d say it’s a combination of 2 and 3. Not 1.
a band of 20 ultraconservative rebel 🤡s blocked GOP
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