Now we’re getting somewhere. The plot is definitely thickening. Bob Good has been saying for days that there would be another candidate put up for Speaker. He said that the name of that person would be announced on the second ballot, which took place yesterday. It was not.
It was speculated at that time that Fred Upton might be the person he was talking about. Upton is officially retired, at least for one day, but that doesn’t mean he can’t serve as Speaker, if in fact that was the will of the GOP.
Donald Trump got wind of this and went nutzo.
Naturally, that’s not what happened. Upton voted to impeach Trump and so he ended up on Trump’s hit list along with the rest of them. Upton’s district got redrawn and between that, and the hate messages left on his answering machine over the impeachment vote, he decided to leave.
However, he was in the House for 35 years and he is well respected. The establishment GOP is dead and this may be their attempt at rising from the ashes.
This hour before next Speaker vote —>
NBC: “You wouldn't rule out if there was a consensus among Democrats & some Republicans to turn to you in need of a Speaker of the House, you wouldn't rule out & potentially serve?”
Fred Upton: “I have not ruled it out.“ https://t.co/e1KkyASr9W pic.twitter.com/nZR2ximjnD— Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) January 4, 2023
Speculation now is that Upton is looking to broker a plan with Democrats whereby they would have some degree of power sharing in the House if they join to elect him and end the gridlock over McCarthy.
I have to say, this sounds like the sanest thing I’ve seen so far. There’s no way in hell Jim Jordan or Andy Biggs are going to win the Speakership and McCarthy is toast. If I believe one thing in this world right now, it is that Kevin McCarthy is absolutely gone. It’s just a question now if he will accept the situation and bow out, or if he’ll fight to the death — and who knows what that would look like?
Hell, this was the only real offramp I saw out of here from jump. McCarthy is too weak to be taken seriously and is too stupid to know how to count votes. Give five Republicans a sane enough candidate, throw the very unified Dem House caucus behind said candidate and you just outmaneuvered the crazies.
I honestly believe that will happen. Jim Clyburn was discussing such a thing yesterday. That’s the direction this is going to go. McCarthy sold his soul to the Devil for nothing. But isn’t that how it always goes?
Oh, indeed, Ursula. The devil will always give you what you ask for but never what you need. And he collects regardless. Too bad, so sad…
It would make my day if we could dispose of that spineless shill!
Hang in there, Brakester. We may just get our wish yet.
As you say, the plot thickens. McCarthy is in a helluva spot this very moment. He didn’t want any votes at all today. But wound up having to sit through a fourth humiliation. Right now he’d love to close things out but doing so would be a double-edge sword. The same time he’d use to try and gain support can be used by semi-sane Republicans to whip up a decent sized block of votes for Upton. KKKevin is caught between the ole rock and hard place.
It looks like he’s chosen to go with another vote right now instead of adjourning. It looks like he doesn’t want to give any “draft Upton” movement to get going. I think it’s gonna wind up being a long day. As I write this the nomination speech for McCarthy is being blathered on my TV screen. Wouldn’t it be fun if someone decided to, after Donalds is renominated then nominate Upton? If so copious amounts of brown organic matter will be interfacing with giant rotary oscillators!
Aaaand he lost the fifth round. My mother and I have a bet on how many he ultimately goes through. I’m saying seven, she’s saying eight.
I keep saying I refuse to make predictions on this “process.” However, if they decide to make Idiocracy 2 I think McCarthy could be the “Ow! My Balls!” guy – or maybe play his dad!
Oh, I have a very firm prediction…McCarthy will never have the votes. Dragging this out to 8PM tonight will have little effect on that.
It’s just a question now if he will accept the situation and bow out, or if he’ll fight to the death – I’m waiting for him to pull a Trump/Lake move and declare the votes were rigged.
The second scenario is actually called “delaying the inevitable” at this point.
I would hope that the Dems have already talked it over and wrangled all their own factions into line before any talk of backing any GOPer.
I mean, if Pelosi faced challenges from members of her own party (many of whom are still in the House IIRC), it seems a bit tough to believe that those members would be willing to back any GOPer (who would, by definition, be even less acceptable than Pelosi).
Unless you’re seeing signs of dissension in the Dem ranks I’m missing, it’s safe to assume they’re all on the same page Jeffries is. Unless McCarthy REALLY blows it, you best set aside any hopes you got of Jeffries being Speaker right now. That’s likely a few years down the line.