House Speaker election/circus/all ages carnival - ongoing coverage

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dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
26,196
4,869
126
Under current House rules, the Reps would lose control of committee appointments if they did that. That ain't happening.
They certainly won't do it. But given their current situation, it is their best possible option. Even without committee appointments, they can make sure nothing passes this year and use that as a wedge to pick up seats next year. Otherwise, they'll be in for a world of hurt come next November when it is an easy case to blame the GOP for everything.
 
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woolfe9998

Lifer
Apr 8, 2013
16,242
14,245
136
I think the GOP's best strategical move now would be to vote for Jeffries. It sounds counter-intuitive. But, it means that they can sit back this year, vote no on everything (since the GOP still has the most votes nothing that the democrats want will get passed), get all the damage that they want to the US economy/world position, and still get to blame all those consequences on Democrats who would be in charge of the house, senate, and presidency. Seems like the surest way for them to get votes next year while still denying Biden everything.
I don’t think so. They only have a 4 vote majority. If McCarthy leaves after a speaker is installed, which is the rumor, then it’s 3 votes. They’re not going allow dem bills to come to the floor when all the D’s need is a couple R moderates to pass it. For example, on the budget.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,254
55,808
136
I don’t think so. They only have a 4 vote majority. If McCarthy leaves after a speaker is installed, which is the rumor, then it’s 3 votes. They’re not going allow dem bills to come to the floor when all the D’s need is a couple R moderates to pass it. For example, on the budget.
Yes, Jeffries would be a catastrophic mistake for Republicans. They rely on the speaker to prevent popular bills from coming to the floor and passing, as you say.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
26,196
4,869
126
Yes, Jeffries would be a catastrophic mistake for Republicans. They rely on the speaker to prevent popular bills from coming to the floor and passing, as you say.
Now flip that thinking around. You are arguing that in an era of proven mismanaged GOP leadership, a pending internal war over their future between moderates and hardliners, nominating an unpopular presidential GOP candidate for president, an energized electorate angered by the GOP's abortion policies (see their failure in midterm elections, special elections, and now world-wide left movement such as in Poland), that they should PREVENT popular bills from coming to the floor? I can't agree with you that it would be a good strategic move for them to do so.

The GOP needs to lick their wounds, regroup, reconcile in their internal shared hatred of the Democrats, and do what their voters like: saying no to Democrats and the honest ability to blame Democrats with 10 second one-liners. That is their only viable long-term strategy at this point. To do so, requires them to get out of any visible control right now. It would be a painful short-term blow to them. But, in the long-term, preventing popular bills when they have no real power to pass what they want is not going to be a winning strategy.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,254
55,808
136
Now flip that thinking around. You are arguing that in an era of proven mismanaged GOP leadership, a pending internal war over their future between moderates and hardliners, nominating an unpopular presidential GOP candidate for president, an energized electorate angered by the GOP's abortion policies (see their failure in midterm elections, special elections, and now world-wide left movement such as in Poland), that they should PREVENT popular bills from coming to the floor? I can't agree with you that it would be a good strategic move for them to do so.

The GOP needs to lick their wounds, regroup, and do what their voters like: saying no to democrats and ability to blame democrats with 10 second one-liners. That is their only viable long-term strategy at this point. To do so, requires Jeffries.
They are 100% not going to cede control of the legislative agenda to Democrats.

I don't think Republicans should prevent popular bills from coming to the floor as lots of them are good ideas and would help America. I think REPUBLICANS would view these things as bad though because they are aware their agenda is extremely unpopular.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
26,196
4,869
126
They are 100% not going to cede control of the legislative agenda to Democrats.

I don't think Republicans should prevent popular bills from coming to the floor as lots of them are good ideas and would help America. I think REPUBLICANS would view these things as bad though because they are aware their agenda is extremely unpopular.
I agree that they are 100% not going to do so. But, that is their best strategy if they had any ability to strategize.

Their alternative is intensified infighting probably leading to their breakup into smaller powerless groups, made extremely public in a very embarrassing way, and still getting nothing that their supporters want signed into law.
 
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Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,565
1,152
126
Well the fundies be dumb enough to primary members in competitivish districts who don't support Jordan or the next nut job?
That’s the thinly veiled threat that was being used at the grassroots level over the weekend.

Same thing is going on with the Texas GOP. The Patrick/Paxton loyalists are supporting primary efforts against the impeachment managers and all house members who voted to impeach Paxton. Same part of the party is holding school finance hostage unless they get their school voucher bill passed. Essentially the MAGA people are essentially legislative terrorists.

The Republican Party is no longer unified at the state or national level.
 
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GoPackGo

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2003
6,534
607
126
They should elect Chris Christie or another former Republican governor... most at least know how to lead.
 

ivwshane

Lifer
May 15, 2000
33,746
17,401
136
I agree that they are 100% not going to do so. But, that is their best strategy if they had any ability to strategize.

Their alternative is intensified infighting probably leading to their breakup into smaller powerless groups, made extremely public in a very embarrassing way, and still getting nothing that their supporters want signed into law.

You are using logic and sound reasoning and trying to apply that to a party that has disavowed logic and sound reasoning. I’m not sure who is crazier, the crazy people or the people who think the crazy people can become uncrazy.

The Republicans are in a death spiral where they think pushing an extremely unpopular agenda is the best strategy and anyone against their agenda is an enemy and part of a larger conspiracy to silence them. It’s political Darwinism where only the most extreme survive which results in fewer and fewer of them staying alive (politically speaking).
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
74,960
6,802
126
In a competitive system those with the least compassion for others will have the best cut throat skills to rise to the top. In a crowd of average people come election time they will shine but put when you fill a power structure like a government with people who will do anything to maximize their own standing they will find ways to kill each other rather than cede power. They all want the One Ring.
 

trenchfoot

Lifer
Aug 5, 2000
16,142
8,740
136
You know the folks that actually own and operate the Republican party? I really do wonder if what's going on with the conservatives in the House have the effect those GOP power brokers are looking for (and why) or is it that they've actually lost control over those self-serving Freedumb Magats that are whipping up the shit on their side of the aisle.
 
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IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
73,656
35,486
136
You know the folks that actually own and operate the Republican party? I really do wonder if what's going on with the conservatives in the House have the effect those GOP power brokers are looking for (and why) or is it that they've actually lost control over those self-serving Freedumb Magats that are whipping up the shit on their side of the aisle.
They already got their tax cuts from Trump, their stimuli spending from Biden, and they know their judgeships are on hold until the next election. They're set for now.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
53,833
48,565
136
They're going to do this again tomorrow at noon apparently. Jordan still says he thinks he's going to be speaker. Based on what neither he nor I have any idea.
 
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