U.S. Politics January 2023: Kevin McCarthy's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Life

so, donalds voted from himself, which, props to him.

but now it's starting to make me doubt the sincerity of the frequent freedom caucus claim that they want to vote for someone who didn't seek the position. people like george washington. and...*coughs*...jim jordan

Karl, please! You can never doubt the sincerity of the Freedom Caucus.

Biden notes that newly elected Rep. @GregLandsman couldn't come to bridge because of ongoing votes:

“He's dealing with trying to figure out who's gonna be the next speaker… Wish him lot of luck. He may be the first freshman ever elected Speaker of the House representatives.”

— Justin Sink (@justinsink) January 4, 2023

So if McCarthy withdrew — which I know isn't likely — is there some other actual candidate who could get enough GOP votes? It seems kind of crazy for them to be going through all this when there's no serious alternative.

Scalise was the name floated, but who knows.

PaulRyanBarbell.jpg

Victoria Spartz (R-IN) must have someone else in mind. she just voted "present" (which costs McCarthy another vote), so i guess she didn't want to vote for Donalds, either.

Spartz_Drinks_Sparks.bmp

Watch, they'll end up picking Trump.

With the Spartz "present" vote, McCarthy gets his lowest vote total yet on this round!

This seems to be pure speculation, but:

My money is on Rep. Patrick McHenry of NC. Was a fire-breather, now an operator with a bow-tied pseudo-intellectual act that is viewed by wingnuts as Gingrichesque. @DavidCornDC https://t.co/43JK9lu4mo

— Jonathan Alter (@jonathanalter) January 3, 2023

is there any reason they won't just repeat day 1 - keep nominating Donalds, similar vote margins, then it's time to adjourn for some footlongs at subway?

*footlings

they should nominate one of the children in the rotunda. do they want the position? no. check. do they have a basic respect for governmance? no, they don't even know what that means yet. check. do they want to be on tv? sure, check. are they willing to kick and scream on the floor until they get their way, even if they don't even remember what set them off in the first place? at least one of these kids does, check. let the children run the show!

xp The main reason is that it keeps them from the important work of sweeping away the last remnants of the old Republic.

* governmancer, LVL9

they could probably all agree on electing a footlong

what about Jared from Subway? he and Gaetz are natural allies

tell me he's in jail still

The NYT reporters should never describe Matt Gaetz as "gesticulating with great force."

lol one GOP voter voted present, so as a result, Jeffries only missed by 5 votes this time

like McCarthy keeps saying he's close but he's lost a vote since yesterday and that's the extent of his progress.

Kevin's on track. going backwards is what the Republican party is all about

the next pivot is "do we really need a House of Representatives"

here we go again. round 5.

mccarthy is nominated. his nominator describes himself as "an army ranger and business guy", starts with "why would i nominate mccarthy?" and then talks about the dangers of dehumanizing opponents (in his own party). now he's talking about americans sending in reinforcements. he needs to learn about football as well, get the ball deep into the red zone and then go for 2. fuck going for one. go for 2.

not having a rule reducing the number of candidates each time is the problem, like if you could nominate an unlimited amount of people in round 1, then top 3 go to round 2, then top 2 from then on, that would probably solve this thing, but the way it is, I think we're headed for 735 rounds.

describes himself as "an army ranger and business guy"

that won't fly with QAnon. they know that the army and business are in cahoots to groom young men and pretend to sell pizza

this nomination speech for mccarthy has, at least twice now, spoken of people in his own party "cannot trust mccarthy". i like this message, he should keep repeating it

xp follow the pepperoni trail!

McCarthy told CNN earlier that he was not worried if his opposition grew on the fourth ballot. “It doesn’t matter — I have the most votes,” he said.

second-most

Boebert with the nom!

Meanwhile I just saw a clip of Jeffries speaking, which I guess I'd never seen before, and man his hand gestures are super annoying and distracting. Another one of these guys who studied the Bill Clinton Body Language book and just repeats it robotically. (Small complaint, I know, but I hate when politicians can't even seem human in front of a camera.)

I thought he spoke well while noticing his gesticulating with great force.

lol boebert nominates Donalds. she is wondering why the freedom caucus had to "fight so hard" in the negotiations for the house rules with mccarthy. uuuuuuuuuhhhhhh because you were in a fucking negotiation in which you had 20, they had 200, and they already caved to your demands? then she gets jeered at the end

https://i.imgur.com/nuB7dAi.png

she also took aim at trump (heavily recommended tactic) by saying that he should be supporting the freedom caucus.

Boebert says Trump needs to call McCarthy and tells him he should withdraw. Boos.

xpost

New York Times keeps repeating this stupid line:

Mr. McCarthy could win the speakership with fewer than 218 votes by persuading lawmakers who do not want to support him to instead vote “present” or to not vote at all.

that would only work if DEMS also voted present, ya dumbfux. if McCarthy's Republican detractors all voted present, Jeffries would win a majority of the votes cast.

and so far it doesn't seem like Dems are gonna do that.

I think Boebert's nom speech was the only one so far to get no applause

Who is that to Boebert's right/our left? That's an awesome dress, she looks like a superhero.

I thought he spoke well while noticing his gesticulating with great force.

He did speak well, I agree. Was just distracted by the theatrics.

Dunno, but I'm having fun trying to interpret the expression on her face. xp

Matthew 10:36: And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

(the only bible verse I know)

Going to be weird if this continues on January 6.

unless some Dems vote present, McCarthy has already lost on this ballot as well

Man this thread title is really delivering.

it's like fish in a barrel with these guys

mccarthy starting to remember that old saw about wrestling with a pig

Should I watch the NYT livestream like I did yesterday afternoon? These charlatans enervate me and this thread's funnier.

lol you clueless bimbo

Justin Amash, who left the Republican Party and the House a couple years ago, arrived and is floating himself as an alternative. "If they can’t decide on someone from their own conference, and they’re hesitant to pick someone from the other caucus, I’m an independent option."