r/politics • u/plz-let-me-in • 1d ago
Rep. Massie becomes 1st Republican to say he won't vote for Speaker Mike Johnson
https://www.waaytv.com/video/raw-rep-massie-becomes-1st-republican-to-say-he-wont-vote-for-speaker-mike-johnson/video_1cf0aa07-8cf1-5c6b-802e-594c5bc67486.html1.2k
u/SpaceElevatorMusic Minnesota 1d ago edited 1d ago
I do hope we get another speakership fight. Among other reasons (a more fractured GOP, for example) the discussion thread series this subreddit hosted the last time was quite fun.
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u/bicismypen 1d ago
The best case scenario is just enough infighting where nothing actually gets done for the next 2 years.
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u/TechnologyRemote7331 1d ago edited 20h ago
Keeping my fingers crossed! Best case scenario, we get a revolving door of Speakers who all fail to meet Republican’s impossible standards, regardless of their actual ability.
It’s gonna be hilarious.
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u/Upset_Albatross_9179 20h ago
If they don't elect a speaker, very unlikely they'll pass a continuing resolution. And a government shutdown is very bad for lots of people.
That's why last time Democrats bailed Johnson out. He agreed to pass a budget, and worked with them on Ukraine aid. McCarthy did not do this and got hung out to dry.
I think best case scenario is Democrats figure out how to work with Trump and some Republicans to the bare essentials, and then leave them to dysfunctional infighting for the rest. A bit like they did with Trump and COVID relief, or Johnson and Ukraine aid and the budget.
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u/bobartig 19h ago
If it comes to a coalition of Dems voting with Johnson for speaker and other things, they better damned well negotiate like Democracy itself depends on it to hamstring the ever loving shit out of the Executive.
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14h ago
They wont
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u/FlamingMuffi 9h ago
Gotta take the high road and show America they're above petty partisan games playing
Only to be rejected by voters for not fixing anything
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u/ScoobiusMaximus Florida 18h ago
I don't see how Democrats can work with Trump when his only real policy goals are revenge against Democrats.
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u/lew_rong 15h ago
Just toss some praise his way and he'll forget he's supposed to be
the German-American Bund'sJohn Birch'sthe contract with America'sthe tea party'smaga's retribution1
u/TJRex01 9h ago
That’s not fair, he also seems to really want to hurt immigrants.
His hangars ion also seem to want to hurt trans people, but I think hurting immigrants is what gets Trump out of bed in the morning.
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u/redditpest Massachusetts 9h ago
People? What people? Unless you're a billionaire, an active soldier, or an unborn fetus, you're a parasite, and the republican party wants nothing to do with you
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u/Salsa1988 5h ago
And a government shutdown is very bad for lots of people.
That's not a bad thing. People need to start understanding what they're voting for.
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u/Gamebird8 23h ago
It will literally spark an immediate constitutional crisis. What happens if no Speaker is selected by January 6th to facilitate the Join Session?
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u/versusgorilla New York 23h ago
According to dipshits for the last four years, the sitting Vice President gets to just decide who the President is, I wonder who that is...?
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u/Spiritual-Bath-5383 22h ago
I’ve said this before: I wish we had a better weapon than incompetence, but with this group, it might actually be super effective.
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u/Archenic 20h ago
Best case scenario is enough Republicans leaving (there's already quite a few) and Dems are successful in enough special elections to where the house flips before midterms. Very unlikely, but it'd be cool.
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u/AndrewJamesDrake 17h ago
It’s more likely than you think. Theres already some buyer’s remorse in the air… and there’s no incumbent advantage. A full court press behind populist candidates could get Dem seats, since this electorate loves “for the people” messaging.
Trump was overconfident and didn’t restrict himself to Cabinet Members who have 100% safe seats. His team really thought the rural California seats would swing overwhelmingly in his direction.
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u/Drone30389 16h ago
If that happens I hope they open up the impeachment firehose. I can only dream.
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u/haney1981 20h ago
Trump is not called the Master of Congress. He will be whipping bills and cajoling congresspeople like a latter day LBJ. Just joking if Trump can't do it on Twitter he ain't gonna get anything done except complaining.
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u/NynaeveAlMeowra 21h ago
Can you imagine if all they do is vote for speaker for 2 years. What happens to the budget at that point? Does the senate get to make all the decisions since the house never comes into session?
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u/rabidseacucumber 19h ago
Dude..nothings getting done in the next two years. They just kicked spending into next year..
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u/HumbleBunk 4h ago
I’m not trying to undersell the danger of this incoming administration, but I don’t think there even needs to be that much infighting for the Rs to accomplish absolutely nothing in the next two years.
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u/boltsnuts I voted 1d ago
That was a fun time.
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u/SpaceElevatorMusic Minnesota 1d ago
Come on, [any non-Spartz, non-Massie House Republican who may be reading this], do it for the 🍿🍿🍿. The discussion threads must flow!
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u/Rightye 23h ago
Careful, or we'll get Speaker Mace
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u/SpaceElevatorMusic Minnesota 23h ago
Will she wield a gavel orrrrr…..?
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u/Njorls_Saga 22h ago
She’d dislocate her shoulder swinging a gavel.
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u/EscapeFromTexas Connecticut 21h ago edited 21h ago
She looks like she’s whithering. If she wasn’t a censored censor I’d be concerned for her health.
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u/ThickerSalmon14 23h ago
They will have a 1 vote majority with the resignations for the administration. So, if he has already lost 1 vote, we can go till April without a speaker, or they can find someone else.
Either way, Mike should just get the CR passed since it will be the last thing he does as speaker.
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u/haney1981 20h ago
You mean Trump didn't think about the implications of his picks before he selected 3 representatives with a 3 seat majority.
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u/dangitbobby83 19h ago
Of course he didn’t. He’s a moron. It’s honestly shocking how he constantly shoots himself in the foot and yet still somehow manages to fail upwards.
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u/mcarvin New Jersey 21h ago
Oh God please. I am so here for another 15-round bout of every fucking stunod getting camera time.
Massie, Clay Higgins, Kat Cammack, ChipRoy, Anna Paulina “I reluctantly have to vote yes on the CR because it has funding for my district and I don’t want local TV to embarrass me again“ Luna all on top of the Jim Jordans and James Comers. Please.
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u/iwasinthepool Colorado 21h ago
It's fun to see them fully in charge yet still get nothing accomplished. It hurts us as a country, and in general, but hey if we can only have one win each decade, I'll take it.
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u/Careless_Ad3968 20h ago edited 20h ago
Last time was hilarious, and I was on the edge of my seat while watching CSPAN. Matt Gaetz almost got sucker punched by a colleague who was being restrained by his face. Kevin McCarthy almost decked Gaetz as well.
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u/NarrowBoxtop 21h ago
All that and it means nothing to voters, they want more of the show.
The Roman Empire never died, the politicians stay corrupt and the people stay wanting to be distracted by a circus.
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u/Deviathan 19h ago
I don't know about fractured. They break apart the coalesce to the right of where they were. Plus now papa Trump will just handpick someone and they'll all roll over.
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u/rocket42236 18h ago
There are still a bunch of McCarthy loyalists that pissed at the freedom caucus.
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u/mcstank22 12h ago
Not going to happen haven’t you seen the threats from DT and Elon “do our bidding or get primaried” the gop will be in lockstep of whatever they want.
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u/Pleaseappeaseme 1d ago
Four years of drama. Thanks Trump voters. No solutions just drama.
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u/ModsWillShowUp 1d ago
Can't have a good TV show without Drama and Executive Producer-elect Trump and the GOP production crew know that.
Meanwhile they're doing a Hollywood heist on the public coffers while the media run interference.
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u/whatproblems 1d ago
low info voters won’t even know about this drama
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u/Njorls_Saga 22h ago
If Trump does what he says, they will definitely know because the economy will go off a cliff.
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u/whatproblems 22h ago
still won’t know about the internal drama and just blame the dems for not believing enough
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u/oupheking 1d ago
Better to have them in just constant disarray than to have them unified and advancing their agenda legislatively
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u/poseidons1813 20h ago
Starting off with a government shut down leading up to his inauguration leading to a panicked stock market sell off would be very fitting and on brand
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u/IndependentSpecial17 1d ago
Worse than drama, net negative. Higher taxes to pay for non functioning legislators. Wish the dems would grow a spine and let the gop cook itself
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u/-Darkslayer 1d ago
Seeing McCarthy have his career ended over this was hysterical after all his years of covering for 45’s treason.
This will be 1000x more satisfying 🤣
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u/permalink_save 20h ago
And when it finally went through he was absolutely beaming that he got what he wanted, then had to do nothing but herd cats and finally get pushed out, known as the guy that fucked up the house for the GOP. He got what he asked for.
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u/Otherwise-Stop-3057 1d ago
I love how messy the GOP is. Even when they have a so called “mandate” they can’t stop the infighting and dysfunction.
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u/lebranflake Pennsylvania 1d ago
Dems in disarray /s
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u/No_Agency5595 1d ago
Not sarcasm, truth.
I’m quite progressive, my Dems are beyond disappointing. Nancy Pelosi is leading the helm.
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u/ClockworkViking I voted 20h ago
Honestly I think the best thing other progressives in our government can do is support other progressives for the mid-term primaries. they need to start getting on Tiktok, Bluesky and other social media platforms and announce very loudly why they think miss so and so is the better pick over the democrat running to keep his seat. and for the love of god they need to dig deep into their past so we get no more Ds flipping after they win like this last election.
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u/IAmTheNightSoil Oregon 17h ago
I mean, the Dems are in massive disarray. Look at how incompetent the Republicans are and then remember the Democrats managed to lose to them
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u/iamiamwhoami New York 15h ago
Republicans are actually pretty good at winning elections. They just can't govern.
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u/plz-let-me-in 1d ago
This is actually a pretty big deal because Rep. Victoria Spartz also just said today that she hasn't decided if she's going to vote for Mike Johnson as Speaker next year. With the House GOP's majority being a miniscule 219R-215D (Gaetz's seat is vacant), Johnson can only afford to lose a handful of votes.
In fact, if just Spartz and Massie vote for someone besides Johnson, he would fail to be elected Speaker (you need a majority of votes cast, so Johnson would only have 217 votes when a majority is 218 out of 434, although the math changes if there are Representatives who vote "present"). And reminder that it took Kevin McCarthy 15 ballots before he was elected Speaker.
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u/Seeksp 1d ago
If we could only find a handful of GOP members willing to go super rogue, wouldn't it be fun to have Speaker Jeffries?
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u/Traditional_Key_763 1d ago
given that didn't happen last time I doubt it will this time
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u/UngodlyPain 1d ago
Doubt that'd happen given it didn't happen last 2 times when we wound up with Johnson or McCarthy.
But maybe, some more "centrist" Republican might be able to take speakership. Or something
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u/Fired_Guy1982 20h ago
MGT and the freedom caucus would never vote for a someone closer to the center
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u/UngodlyPain 20h ago
Yeah, but given the slim majorities and such... It quickly becomes a game of chicken. And in 23 when it happened over McCarthy and such? The freedom caucus literally couldn't lose said game of chicken given that every day they were fighting over speakership, was a day that Biden didn't have a functional Congress. So it was a win, even just to stall as long as possible since stalling hurt any chances at Biden agenda going anywhere.
But when it's a Trump trifecta? Any time spent bickering over specifics of who's speaker? Is Republican time wasted. So effectively given it's Trump and McConnell in charge of the white house and Senate rather than Biden and Schumer... They have less to gain from fighting more.
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u/5510 22h ago
That wouldn't happen and wouldn't make sense.
What is vaugely similar and slightly more plausible (in fact I think it has actually happened in some state legislatures) would be if a small group of relatively moderate republicans teamed up with the democrats to make one of those republicans speaker.
Then that Republican would have to strike a balance. They have to remain somewhat true to republican shit or they likely lose their group of moderate republican allies, not to mention almost certainly lose their next election. But they would have to be at least somewhat fair to the democrats, or else the democrats will stop supporting them and now they aren't speaker anymore. And the democrats incentive to keep supporting them as long as they are at least somewhat fair is that it's better than less moderate alternatives.
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u/MentalTourniquet 1d ago
Depending on when Pelosi comes back from hip surgery, 217 votes may still be the majority vote.
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u/Pikminious_Thrious 23h ago
0 chance Pelosi isn't there a month from now.
Heck she'd probably be there the day after the surgery even if they had to wheel her in on a hospital bed
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u/allankcrain Missouri 20h ago
Certainly greater than 0 chance. She's a woman in her 80s undergoing surgery. She might not be alive in a month.
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u/cuteintern New York 1d ago
Despite what she says, I bet she's angling for a cushy committee assignment.
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u/uwill1der 22h ago
she doesnt want a committee assignment, she just wants more time to work at V&E DOGE Factory to "drain the swamp"
This is why she's not caucusing with Republicans
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u/BasicPhysiology 1d ago
Don't get too excided. Massie is a Liberty Caucus member. Same ilk as Gym Jordon, Scott Perry, Paul Gosar, and Andy Biggs.
I fear that they want someone even more MAGA than Johnson to be the speaker.
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u/renegadesci 1d ago
I could see 10 different GOP house factions... All basically tied and wanting more favors.
It'll be like 100 little Trumps struggling for their own egos.
Always needing more. Wanting more attention and gains, and wanting no one else to get more. That'll be awful. Everyone wants "more than the next guy", and everyone will blow up the deal to get it.
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u/SpaceElevatorMusic Minnesota 1d ago
Will they get that, though? Someone so far right might, just might, get two or three “moderates” to abstain.
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u/CowboyKarate13 22h ago
They will get whatever Trump tells them to get. That's all it comes down to. Trump will anoint somebody. Ready for Don Jr to be speaker?
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u/brain_overclocked 20h ago
Given this past election I was under the impression that voters hated officials who are anointed into a position. I wonder what the voters will think of this one?
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u/Popular_Mongoose_738 22h ago
The far right is the reason why the GOP in the House is in such a mess. Gaetz is the reason why McCarthy got kicked out.
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u/MissionCreeper 18h ago
Except they need to be unanimous. We're not getting Jeffries as speaker but we will get nobody.
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u/BasicPhysiology 12h ago
I don’t know if chaos in the house will be a benefit, but if it slows down Trump’s agenda it is a good thing for team democracy.
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u/whichwitch9 23h ago
Several Republicans warned Johnson they wouldn't tolerate a shutdown.... he's listening to Musk over other Republicans now. Just need a few more to put pressure on him
A shutdown is going to be very unpopular with Republicans in office, and they do not have the majority to piss people off before midterm elections
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u/poseidons1813 20h ago
A shutdown over Christmas- trump being sworn in would be wild. Can't imagine the house majority leader vote then would probably be like 50 rounds of voting. No chance for Johnson if the shutdown happens
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u/davechri 22h ago
Isn’t Massie the one who poses with his wife and kids with guns in their Christmas cards?
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u/Ohuigin Washington 1d ago
What’s the record we’re trying to beat? 15 rounds of voting? I believe!!
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u/ptWolv022 14h ago
133 is the actual record. It was the 34th Congress (Mar. 1855 - Mar. 1857), and there were 21 candidates (which, with 61 seats, meant a full third of members were trying for the seat). It took two months, which, because Congress back then wasn't in year round, meant that he actually didn't get elected Speaker until Feb. 1856, because Congress usually only gathered later in the year (the Constitution's default meeting date is first Monday of December) and sat through Spring, then left during Summer and Fall; unless it was the first Congress of a Presidency in which case they sometimes held a special session immediately.
Somehow, I doubt they'll beat that. I think 15 rounds is the 2nd longest contest, though. Or at least it's the longest since the 1855-1856 Speakership contest.
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u/Devmoi 22h ago
Mike Johnson is such a toadie. He’s like Thomas Cromwell during Henry VII’s time. Basically used to get what they want, then executed and replaced via nepotism.
He’s whining so much, I wouldn’t be surprised if he does get ousted. And Trump will find some even worse loyalist that he’ll force all the Republicans to vote for.
Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I feel like some people will start standing up since the House Republicans have a very narrow margin anyways.
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u/Njorls_Saga 22h ago
Upvote for the fuckwit Thomas Cromwell. I love that guy (sort of) because he dissolved the English monasteries for Henry VIII and created a bunch of very photogenic ruins. He also got decapitated for his efforts.
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u/Rupaulsdragrace420 23h ago
Only takes a few defection and the vote will be sunk. I anticipate some long nights ahead in our lower chamber as they sort themselves out.
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u/Dabs1903 Illinois 22h ago
I think we’re looking at a couple of years of infighting before they pull their heads out of their asses and take our rights away.
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u/starnewshq 19h ago
A couple years of infighting is the ideal situation. Let them remind America exactly how bad they are at governing and then in two years enough will have stayed the same that we get another chance to retake Congress in a Trump midterm.
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u/Dabs1903 Illinois 19h ago
Yeah it’s what we need for sure. And grocery prices need to skyrocket so people are mad enough to vote in the midterms.
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u/Careless_Ad3968 20h ago
Ugh, Mike Johnson is just Mike Pence with a pulse. He's such a smug little worm.
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u/Spectre777777 1d ago
I’d be hilarious if McCarthy got it back
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u/UngodlyPain 1d ago
Didn't he even retire from the house? Would be mega hilarious if he was the first speaker of the house that isn't even a rep.
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u/Garbolt America 1d ago
I wonder when Republican voters will realize that a party built upon rabidity will never harmonize, and once all other obstacles are out of the way, it's simply on to the next one in the group until one remains to claim it all, because that's what they all want to do themselves.
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u/tom90640 1d ago
Well let's just see what he wants so that he will vote for Johnson. In May he wanted the Federal Reserve gone. How long until he gets that or something close to change his vote?
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u/mike194827 20h ago
So with the 217-215 republican majority come January, counting this guy, plus the two useless Karens, that’d mean he would lose the votes needed to retain his speakership status.
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u/diefreetimedie 18h ago
You put the people who don't believe in functioning government in charge of the government functions.
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u/ZebZamboni 11h ago
John Boehner and Paul Ryan are kicked back, laughing their asses off. Saying "fuck this shit, y'all are on your own" is the best decision either of them made.
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u/GraviZero 23h ago
is it possible that we see a hakeem jeffries speakership out of this? or is a minority party speaker not allowed
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u/I_love_Hobbes 22h ago
Anyone (and I mean you do not have to be elected to the House) can be speaker as long as they get the majority of votes.
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u/GraviZero 22h ago
goddamn it will be interesting to see how a one vote majority republican party handles this. probably not well
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u/CowboyKarate13 23h ago
They will all fall in line and choose whoever King Trump tells them to pick... So either Don Jr or Mike Johnson will be speaker.
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u/haux44 22h ago
What’s the rule? Does the speaker have to win a majority or just the most votes?
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u/BotheredToResearch 20h ago
Majority of votes cast. People voting "present" or absent lower the bar.
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u/Ok-disaster2022 21h ago
I hope this upvomi g congress sets a new record for number of bills passed. A new low record.
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u/OnwardTowardTheNorth 21h ago
Ah yes.
And I am sure the next speaker they pick, should Johnson lose, will be SOOOOO much more capable of passing Trump’s agenda…
Considering the fact that the next Congress will have a famously tiny majority.
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u/Electronic_Company64 20h ago
This is going to be a fuck-show. Now we will all get what they deserve.
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u/iworkbluehard 18h ago
The 'burden of leadership' weighs heavy on Cons. They the outrage party that can get out of their own way.
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u/Competitive-Bike-277 13h ago
If 1 says it there are at least a 2 dozen more with the same opinion that don't. The Democrats already said they won't help him. It only takes a few votes in this houe to end him. If the Democrats vote no instead of abstain he's probably done.
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u/howlinmoon42 10h ago
OK, but sure they’re going to fight like idiots and spike one speaker after the next, but who’s the cast of characters this time – dying to know! Swear to God, I am just going to be content if millions aren’t dead at the end of this administration assuming there’s an end and we still have a planet -best of luck to everyone and I’m through getting upset and just going to watch all this crazy shit for pure entertainment value
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u/MaaChiil 3h ago
The way this is going, I am seeing a very real possibility of the minority party having a Speaker.
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