[W:#690]McCarthy falls short in first vote for House speaker

[Demon]

The thread title needs updating.

 

[Rexedgar]

 

[multivita-man]

Of course it didn't. Being united in hating the country and wanting to destroy it is not a good thing.

Here's the thing: nobody - not even most Republicans, who today voted for McCarthy - know just what the **** these nutbars really want. You think that's loving one's country? No, it's called not knowing how to govern. Republicans are totally ****ing useless. Republicans are literally more likely to vandalize and commit violent crimes inside the House than pass legislation, so don't ****ing go around blaming the other party.

 

[soap box]

It makes more sense when there's a clear cause, but what Boebert stated earlier about the reasons her and the others weren't going along, it was a missing the forest for the trees moment. It also reveals what future "negotiations" are going to look like for the House regardless of who is Speaker. What will be interesting to see is how any of this changes the dynamic in the Senate, because it does seem like the GOP members there are looking at this fiasco's impact on the party going forward.

Yes , the cause is .... ?
It was funny today someone started arguing about whether or not McCarthy is a conservative , and I don't how anyone can tell. What does he stand for , and for how long? It also seems like the opposition is very personal, they don't like him or trust him.

McConnell and Biden had a pleasant day together, with lots of compliments and harmony at the bridge in KY. I'm getting the idea the senators don't want to get involved, maybe 'above the fray'.

Yeah, future negotiations, oh boy !

 

[soap box]

View attachment 67430357

OMFG that's. that's... That's... Him!

REX! don't go messin with me like that!

 

[multivita-man]

Poor Kevin. He keeps whiffing and keeps coming back for more, only to keep getting the Lucy treatment by his own party.

 

[yankintx]

6th round

What a cluster f**k the GOP are

 

[Hamish Howl]

They should do so in exchange for rules and committee concessions. They have votes that Kevin needs. They should be available for a price. The right concessions could be a step toward some bi-partisanship, which could be good for Democrats (keep congress somewhat functional) and Republicans (because right now, they do not look like they know how to govern), not to mention the country.

Kevin should approach them as they are his only path to the speakership. A mere willingness of McCarthy to talk to Democrats will neutralize the 20 MAGA malcontents. It his McCarthy's only move at this point. That said, he doesn't have the balls.

Balls. If they can locate a candidate that isn't morally bankrupt, then the dems should get involved. McCarthy will not keep any promises he makes.

 

[Plasmaball]

Republicans would label the Democratic outrage "howling."

They might but it would tarnish McCarthy more

 

[Fiddytree]

If I were Dems, I would try to force a couple more votes before the night is out.

Just put more pain on them. They think breaking is “therapeutic” for them and getting out of the mess.

Just keep letting them have it against each other.

 

[Cardinal]

They might but it would tarnish McCarthy more

In terms of working with Democrats? Breaking a promise to Democrats would rehabilitate his image in the eyes of the right.

 

[Cardinal]

If I were Dems, I would try to force a couple more votes before the night is out.

Just put more pain on them. They think breaking is “therapeutic” for them and getting out of the mess.

Just keep letting them have it against each other.

Not a bad idea in this instance. That type of strategy wouldn't work in the Senate though, with more than a few members able to remember the Civil War.

 

[ElChupacabra]

Yes , the cause is .... ?

That's the broader question for those opposing McCarthy. Boebert claims it's because he did not agree to guarantee his stance on certain points. Whether it makes sense to scuttle the entire leadership election process for something she and others can negotiate later is certainly fair to debate. I think their current approach does more harm than good.

It was funny today someone started arguing about whether or not McCarthy is a conservative , and I don't how anyone can tell. What does he stand for , and for how long? It also seems like the opposition is very personal, they don't like him or trust him.

The bolded has been expressed by some and mainly because McCarthy originally talked about Trump resigning, then went down to Mar a Lago and changed his tune. McCarthy isn't an ideologue, and much like Trump, he's more interested in advancing politically than governance.

McConnell and Biden had a pleasant day together, with lots of compliments and harmony at the bridge in KY. I'm getting the idea the senators don't want to get involved, maybe 'above the fray'.

Yeah, future negotiations, oh boy !

I suspect the same, and mainly because it's a great way to let the Freedom Caucus types bloody their own noses so the rest of the party can find more reasons to extricate them and those aligned with Trump. I'm sure McConnell is viewing this as a great way for them to do the tough work for him.

 

[Chomsky]

The non-MAGA Republicans are tired of losing. MAGA lost the house in 2018, lost the presidency and the senate in 2020. Then what should have been a red wave in 2022 turned into a red trickle. One could argue that 2022 was a blue trickle. The Dems gained a senate seat, 2 governor seats while limiting the house loses to 9 seats. The historical average when a president was hovering around 42% overall job approval, Biden was at 42%, is the loss of 48.5 house seats, 6 senators, 4.25 governorships.

Yes, the numbers are unequivocal.

MAGA is only going to make a statement, probably win primaries, but lose general elections. I consider 2022 to be a Democratic Victory, perhaps even a huge victory when comparing what happened to the historical average. A GOP gain of 9 house seats instead of 48, a loss of 1 senate seat instead of a gain of 6 and a loss of 2 governorships instead of a gain of 4. Rounding here. All because of Trump.

It was a huge Dem victory anyway you measure it, and it sealed Trump's fate and released his hold on the Party. The mid-terms were clearly a turning point, a point of delineation, of inflection.

On DeSantis, he’s on Trump enemies list. He can keep quite about Trump, tip toe around him much like Youngkin in Virginia. DeSantis is very political savvy; he doesn’t have Trump’saggage or dislike. DeSantis can attract and win the independent vote, Trump can’t. DeSantis acts and behaves like a presidential candidate should instead of a 4-year-old spoiled brat.

If DeSantis can win the GOP nomination for 2024,

"If"?

From where I'm siting, barring a Black Swan Event, a DeSantis nomination appears to be fait accompli. I'm that confident (for al the reasons you mentioned).

DeSantis is going to portray his record in FL as the record Trump aspired to, but never could do. And he's going to do it in a statesman-like manner. Conservatives everywhere, and those residing south of the Mason-Dixon, are going to suck-up every bit of it! Mark my words!

I follow a wide range of media, and especially enjoy recon'ing Conservative and Trump media. I'm politically Liberal in a Liberal city, I know what Liberals and anti-Trumpers are thinking. My interest is in what Conservatives and MAGA's are thinking! And in the public comment section of these media sites, I'm seeing a groundswell away from Trump and to DeSantis. It's not occasional, it's endemic. And it's coming from serious Trump voters & supporters. They're tired of losing. They don't want to lose again in '24.

I’d say he’d be favored over Biden and over Harris looking at the favorable/unfavorable ratings. But there’s a long way to go.

It's indeed possible DeSantis carries the Presidential. Especially against Biden, and in spades against Kamala. The optics of a prime-of-life, virile, eloquent, DeSantis on the same stage as an octogenarian stumbling Biden, will not be a good look for the Dems.

But if Biden wants to run, Dems will be in a jam. How do you turn your back on an incumbent President? With all the inherent incumbent advantage? You need a good reason to do so. As to Kamala, she's an empty skirt lacking gravitas.

Biden however, is quite beloved within the party, so I believe he does have a lot of Dem support. And as we saw with Fetterman, Dems, Liberals, and ostensibly some Indies, will vote for a liked candidate despite their physical incapacity. But, let's not forget the problems with Fetterman's opponent!

I'm thinking Newsome might be the guy for the Dems. In a way, he's the Liberal / Dem counterpart to DeSantis. Their situational similarities, despite policy differences, are pretty remarkable come to think of it. And Newsome is a fighter too, well seasoned in battle, and pretty sharp with a great deal of executive experience.

An election between these two men would give the citizenry two highly defined & contrasting, seasoned. successful candidates, each well representing the two wings & ideologies of the country & their parties. I'll argue Americans would finally have two good choices, and this would be good for the country.

And this I will add about DeSantis:

My God, the man has a stellar resume, a dream resume. He's a very, very, accomplish, educated, intelligent guy. Really. Lucky him!

 

[yankintx]

Balls. If they can locate a candidate that isn't morally bankrupt, then the dems should get involved. McCarthy will not keep any promises he makes.

But who ?

It would need to be a moderate GOP

Who is willing to negotiate with the Dems in good faith

Are there any ?

 

[eman623]

The goal for the GOP for the next two years is to block the Dems'. Seems like they are off to a great start. We may go the next 2 years without any action from the House at all.

 

[Hamish Howl]

But who ?

It would need to be a moderate GOP

Who is willing to negotiate with the Dems in good faith

Are there any ?

I would - with reservations - be okay with Scalise. Or Emmer.

 

[yankintx]

Womp womp

Republicans are such loosers

McCarthys sad ass puss is so worth this

Kevin, move those boxes lol

MAGA 2024 all the way

 

[Visbek]

Here's the thing: nobody - not even most Republicans, who today voted for McCarthy - know just what the **** these nutbars really want.

Actually, it's pretty clear by now that it's not about policy or procedure.

• They simply can't stand McCarthy
• They're flexing their political muscle
• They don't think they will pay a penalty in the House
• They're playing to the wing-nuts in their districts
• They don't care that they are obstructing the federal government (or actively want to grind it to a halt)

They got pretty much everything they wanted earlier this week, as well as funding from McCarthy's PAC during the elections, and still voted against him. It didn't help that McCarthy has apparently acted like he's entitled to and/or owed the position.

The days of exacting revenge on troublesome Reps ended a long time ago. If McCarthy wins, it's unlikely he will be able to punish those who voted against him, as they'll just call for a no-confidence vote or find other ways to grind the House to a halt.

Plus, the Freedom Caucus has repeatedly driven the House off the road for over a decade now. Because the majority is so slim, a handful of holdouts can demand all sorts of concessions. This is what Sinema and Manchin have done in the Senate for the past 2 years.

They won't pay a penalty for all this chaos with their constituents either (edit: except for Boebert, who I suspect already knows how to move on if she loses in 2024), especially the rabid right-wingers who are more likely to vote in primaries than the moderates.

 

[Sven Karma]

Here's the thing: nobody - not even most Republicans, who today voted for McCarthy - know just what the **** these nutbars really want. You think that's loving one's country? No, it's called not knowing how to govern. Republicans are totally ****ing useless. Republicans are literally more likely to vandalize and commit violent crimes inside the House than pass legislation, so don't ****ing go around blaming the other party.

Almost an answer:

The Political Profile of McCarthy’s Detractors - Sabato's Crystal Ball

KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE — This article is being published following the adjournment of the House on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 4 after the body failed to elect a speaker on 6 roll call votes held Tuesday and Wednesday. The House was scheduled to return at 8 p.m. eastern on Wednesday...

centerforpolitics.org

 

[yankintx]

Actually, it's pretty clear by now that it's not about policy or procedure.

• They simply can't stand McCarthy
• They're flexing their political muscle
• They don't think they will pay a penalty in the House
• They're playing to the wing-nuts in their districts
• They don't care that they are obstructing the federal government (or actively want to grind it to a halt)

They got pretty much everything they wanted earlier this week, as well as funding from McCarthy's PAC during the elections, and still voted against him. It didn't help that McCarthy has apparently acted like he's entitled to and/or owed the position.

The days of exacting revenge on troublesome Reps ended a long time ago. If McCarthy wins, it's unlikely he will be able to punish those who voted against him, as they'll just call for a no-confidence vote or find other ways to grind the House to a halt.

Plus, the Freedom Caucus has repeatedly driven the House off the road for over a decade now. Because the majority is so slim, a handful of holdouts can demand all sorts of concessions. This is what Sinema and Manchin have done in the Senate for the past 2 years.

They won't pay a penalty for all this chaos with their constituents either, especially the rabid right-wingers who are more likely to vote in primaries than the moderates.

Good analysis

 

[Visbek]

That's the broader question for those opposing McCarthy. Boebert claims it's because he did not agree to guarantee his stance on certain points.

Boebert is full of BS. She simply doesn't like McCarthy, and wants to throw her weight around.

We should note that these are the type of antics that nearly got her voted out of office in 2022. I can only assume that she doesn't care if she loses in 2024, as she'll probably either run for higher office and/or join Fox News.

I suspect the same, and mainly because it's a great way to let the Freedom Caucus types bloody their own noses so the rest of the party can find more reasons to extricate them and those aligned with Trump. I'm sure McConnell is viewing this as a great way for them to do the tough work for him.

More likely is that the Senate Republicans are deeply unhappy about this, but know they can't do anything about it. It's making McCarthy look like a loser, and the Republican Party look like a bunch of clowns.

Keep in mind that, at least for the moment, Trump is still backing his lickspittle McCarthy. This process won't flush out the MAGAistas.

 

[ElChupacabra]

Boebert is full of BS. She simply doesn't like McCarthy, and wants to throw her weight around.

We should note that these are the type of antics that nearly got her voted out of office in 2022. I can only assume that she doesn't care if she loses in 2024, as she'll probably either run for higher office and/or join Fox News.

Yeah, I'm not buying her BS either, but at least did the courtesy of citing her "reasons".

More likely is that the Senate Republicans are deeply unhappy about this, but know they can't do anything about it. It's making McCarthy look like a loser, and the Republican Party look like a bunch of clowns.

Keep in mind that, at least for the moment, Trump is still backing his lickspittle McCarthy. This process won't flush out the MAGAistas.

You have to give the "20" some credit in that they've managed to hobble both McCarthy and Trump, since they clearly didn't pay much attention to Trump's tweet earlier about getting behind McCarthy. Maybe they should rebrand themselves as the "Super Extra Freedom Caucus".

 

[Superfly]

This is worth starting a Twitter account over, if you don’t already have one.

 

[Superfly]