Just a few minutes ago current Speaker of the House Mike Johnson(R) LA failed the first vote to extend his speakership, besting Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries by only 1 vote (215 – 214) and losing three votes in his own caucus, 2 more than he could afford to lose.
Former Republican House speaker Rep. Patrick McHenry(R), who suffered his own indignities during his stint as speaker and then promptly quit Congress altogether, colorfully described the state of affairs thusly:
He adds: ‘to be a Republican Speaker of the House is to suffer indignities in public…’
— Susan Glasser (@sbg1) January 3, 2025
A second round of voting will be held immediately and the three holdouts will probably relent having embarrassed Johnson and his sponsor Donald Trump and secured their choice of offices in the new Congress.
That will suck if it happens but let us for now bask in the schadenfreude:
JUST NOW: Mike Johnson just left the floor of the House after he failed to win a majority to become the Speaker of the 119th House of Representatives.
This is a HUGE defeat for Trump. pic.twitter.com/ZbnM4OK5In
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) January 3, 2025
— Cynthia Canty (@CyndyCanty) January 3, 2025
🤣🤣🤣
— Dennis Melvin (@DennisMelvin15) January 3, 2025
😆
Poor little Mikey. He was Donny's little Johnson.
— Marty D (@MartinDressel) January 3, 2025
Yup
Widdle Johnson going to his office to bawl his eyes out.
— Mary McCue (@mmccue56) January 3, 2025
🥳
— Barbara (@SpursPixie) January 3, 2025
Sure is.
Watching these clowns trying to govern would be enjoyable if it were not so bad for the people.
Oh, well, elect clowns expect a circus…
Oops, seems I pulled the trigger a bit early on this one, folks:
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was reelected to the top post in the House in a stunning floor vote on the opening day of Congress on Friday, securing the gavel on the first ballot.
But the vote did not come without drama. Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Keith Self (R-Texas) had initially voted for candidates other than Johnson — Norman voted for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Self voted for Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).
The Clerk, though, held open the vote. And after negotiations with Johnson, Norman and Self made their way to the front of the chamber and switched to support Johnson.
Oh, well, I stand by my earlier contention, they are still a pack of idiots.
Your piece read: “Former Republican House speaker Rep. Patrick McHenry(R) …………colorfully described the state of affairs thusly: with an onscreen space: “They peed on the lamppost…..”
I know it was an accident of technology that the space was filled by an advert inset for Scotts tissues with the strapline “picks up their messes quickly and easily”. Oh the joy of irony.