Posted on 10/03/2023 4:50:36 AM PDT by FarCenter
Fresh off averting a government shutdown, House members on both sides of the aisle are being thrust into the second historic Speakership battle in a year — forcing Democrats to confront a big political decision.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Monday moved to force a vote on ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), largely based on the handling of a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open on Saturday.
It marks just the third attempt in House history to remove a sitting Speaker — following an unsuccessful move against Speaker Joe Cannon (R-Ill.) in 1910 and one against Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) in 2015 that was also unsuccessful, but contributed to his later resignation.
At least four House Republicans said they will support or are leaning in favor of the “motion to vacate.” In the slim House majority, just a handful Republican lawmakers could be enough to push the Speaker out — largely depending on how Democrats vote.
That means where Democrats stand is the wildcard that could determine whether McCarthy holds onto the gavel or becomes the first Speaker to be voted out.
...
Depending on absences, just five GOP votes in favor of booting McCarthy as Speaker could put the onus on Democrats.
House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) sent a letter to House Democrats on Sunday informing members that, if a motion to vacate is offered against McCarthy, the group “will have a Caucus wide discussion on how to address the motion to best meet the needs of the American people.”
House Democrats are scheduled to huddle during their weekly caucus meeting Tuesday morning.
Democrats could allow McCarthy to remain in the Speakership without directly voting for him by voting “present” — or not at all.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has been coy about the caucus’ plans for a potential motion to vacate, brushing aside questions as hypotheticals and insisting that the group will “cross that bridge” when it gets there.
yeah right.
Let’s not ever do anything or the democrats will get us!
We’re sorry, democrats!
Nothing is going to change until everything is swept off the board. At some point, there will be a reckoning and it won’t be pretty.
The Speakership is already in democrat hands. That is the rub.
Well stated.
Like Gaetz said, “Let the Democrats or the Uni-party own him. I won’t.”
>>Are there more than 218 Democrats?
No but there aren’t 218 Republicans that can agree on anything.
I understand. But the Speaker needs 218 votes. The dems wont have that, and I dont see many Rs voting for Hakim.
That’s going to be part of the deal McCarthy will make with the Dems in order to keep the gavel in his hands. No impeachment, continue to fund the money laundering schemes in Ukraine, whatever they want at the boarder and with the illegals, and a couple of other things. The Dems will own the Speaker.
Ask yourself, what are the top 5 tangible meaningful accomplishments of McCarthy’s speakership....
Thanks, read every word. Loved this paragraph: “Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence; it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to be nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd.”
We are there now.
Why would he start now?
Couldn’t tell you. Didn’t really know who he was until he was put up for Speakership. So, you tell me.
McCarthy has only done window dressing, nothing substantive.
He’s been mediocre at best. But imho he’s a failure as anyone can be mediocre.
If Democrats are smart they vote with Gatez and stall out anything happening in the US House for then next few weeks as GOP infighting stops anything from happening except votes on filling the now empty Speaker’s chair.
For a minority party this is a golden opportunity to be obstructionist without taking any of the blame for the obstructionism,
If you think that you have no business at all every speaking on politics again.
Elections are won in the court of Public Opinion. When 60% think the Biden is guilty because of the information coming out about his family, we are winning that fight
But I know, the Always Whining Choir in Conservative Inc isn’t actually interested in doing anything real. They just want a daily excuse to sit at their keyboard and post the same infantile whining day after day
“House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) sent a letter to House Democrats on Sunday informing members that, if a motion to vacate is offered against McCarthy, the group “will have a Caucus wide discussion on how to address the motion to best meet the needs of the American people.” “
Now, that’s funny!
As to the complaints of unfulfilled Speaker promises, just what is preventing current speaker McCarthy from releasing all Jan 6 capitol security cam footage, advancing clean single issue bills and insisting on tying border wall funding to Ukraine aid or nothing? Why do the Pubbies have to take it in the shorts and not the Dems, ever? When we hold the house, even if only by 4 or 5 votes?
“McCarthy needs to unify the Republican Party if he wishes to remain Speaker of the House. How do you do that? Address all of the grievances, one by one, and state what the party will do. If he cannot or will not agree, then vote him out and find someone who wishes to adhere to the desires of the Party.”
Well said.
He has been a huge disappointment and needs to go.
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