McCarthy "is open" to bring Speaker again.

Simple majority. But I think they wouldn't even get the votes for it. In no way would that satisfy the cabal that ousted McCarthy. Those people want blood, even more so now that Gym's been rejected.

 

"Jim Jordan Reverses Himself and Will Push for a Third House Speaker Vote
In a day of whiplash and uncertainty on Capitol Hill, Mr. Jordan said he would pursue another vote to become speaker just hours after he announced he would support Representative Patrick McHenry to temporarily lead the House."

Even the clowns don't know where they're driving the clown car!

 

Thrashing around like a dying catfish.

 

Scratch that. I'm sympathetic to the catfish.

 

Maybe. My initial reaction was, "Well, he must have the votes, then. Why else would he do it?"

Then I remembered who I was talking about, so....who knows?

 

So no one else can do it of course. The guy is a textbook nihilist.

 

According to the Washington Post, the plan was to temporarily empower the interim guy (McHenry) until early January, giving him some powers to move key legislation and time to Jordan to gather the 217 votes he needed. But, there wasn't even enough support for that, and McHenry isn't exactly loved by his peers. It was an approach Gym approved of. So, you know, another loss for him.

Before each vote I get a tug in my stomach: He must have the votes this time, right? They're not going to go through yet another public undressing, right? And then they do.

And while this has been fun theater--especially if you're a Democrat--this is causing long-term problems both domestic and international for our country. I would appreciate it if they'd get their act together. In the future I would appreciate that they were not returned to power.

 

Jordan is losing again. No doubt he thinks these votes are being stolen too.

 

"Breaking news: Jim Jordan fails in third vote for speaker, paralyzing the House", 12:12pm ET"
"Breaking news: Jim Jordan loses secret ballot to remain G.O.P. speaker nominee" 2:36pm ET"

Cool cool cool cool.

Hakeem Jeffries anyone?

 

Us sneaky Democrats even forced the secret ballot count to be tabulated against Wrestler Gym Jordan. [cue evil laugh]

 

Yes, but it has dawned on me that every time 200 odd GOP Representatives DID vote for Jordan. Most of the caucus would be fine with having an insurrectionist and election denier as Speaker.

 

The GOP will have to sort this out themselves I think.

 

It won't be Jeffries. Nor will it be some sort of coalition. The House is built for neither. It is designed to be run by the majority alone.

There is still the possibility of a dark horse, compromise, let's-get-out-of-here candidate. But the Republican Party isn't a party anymore. It's two parties. One wants to legislate and govern conservatively. The other wants to burn it all down. Not exactly a lot of middle ground there.

I'd say a deal with the Democrats is becoming more likely. They trade their support for a non-lunatic Republican Speaker for some concessions. But it would have to be what the vast majority of Democrats want, and there would have to be mechanisms in place to ensure they don't renege.

My money is still on "do nothing." That's what they're best at, and that's what a significant portion of their caucus wants, enough to thwart anything else requiring 217 Republican votes.

 

Yes, burn it all down just to get some news cycles and then activate their email fund raising.

 

"Non lunatic Republican"? Isn't that like "non fat half and half"? Not entirely real, I mean?

 

I'm not sure.

I like to think they're like the Winkies, behaving a certain way until someone throws water on their witch.

Other times I think they're just opportunists, riding the prevailing wave of White supremacy and anti-governmental ire that has engulfed their party.

But it's hard to resist when you're on the team. When I worked in a private prison, I could preach the virtues of such institutions. For example, corporations would often build the prisons and then contract with whatever government to run it, thus relieving said government from having to get a bond passed for something (building a prison) unpopular.

But now that I'm no longer working for one--and haven't since 2000--I can clearly articulate all the reasons I now oppose private prisons. Not having one's paycheck come from that source can do wonders for one's perspective.

That's why, even though I maintain that Trump is a symptom of a deeper disease that has consumed part of the electorate, I wonder if they might actually recover (somewhat?) once he leaves the scene.

 

Very refined and diplomatic. I like Bill Huffman's phrase - "falls over dead."

 

From hemp overdose or lead poisoning?

 

Likely, "a surfeit of cheeseburgers." Like King John's overdose of peaches.
John was a vile man and I don't think anyone regretted his passing.

 

Hmm. That sentence could come back to haunt me -- maybe on my tombstone.