House Republicans brace for doomsday scenario if McCarthy falls short of 218 votes for speaker

[brooklynite]

CNN

As a right-wing faction threatens to tank his speakership ambitions, House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy delivered a promise: “I’ll never leave,” making clear he has no plans to drop out of the race even if the fight goes to many ballots on the floor.

“I’ll get 218,” McCarthy told CNN, referring to the votes he’d need to become House speaker.

But Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, a conservative hardliner who is challenging McCarthy to be the most powerful member of Congress, doubled down on his commitment to stop the California Republican’s ascension.

“I’m not bluffing,” Biggs told CNN on Thursday when asked if he would drop out.

With the increasing likelihood that the speaker’s race could go to multiple ballots – something that hasn’t happened since 1923 – McCarthy’s allies and foes alike are starting to quietly game out the next steps if he can’t get the necessary 218 votes on the first round and they move into uncharted territory.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. I believe he'll get 218 because Repubs would be so scared of uncertainty

Ambiguity is outside their skillset

[Bok_Tukalo]

2. Democrats have an opportunity

They should DEFINITELY be talking about a consensus pick.

[CaptainTruth]

13. Exactly.

[Johnny2X2X]

3. Yawn

We see this nearly every other cycle. McCarthy will easily get his 218 votes, this is a non story.

[70sEraVet]

5. I don't think we've ever seen a majority party in the House, where the majority of the members

want to burn down the government!!!

[quakerboy]

20. Republicans have had house majorities several times.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. This will make life completely impossible for McCarthy

Link to tweet

[Emile]

6. Seeing the republicans record on governing, it would

not amaze me if they fail to get 218 votes.

[Johonny]

8. True

[malthaussen]

7. So, I guess the plan to make DJT Speaker fell through. n/t

[littlewolf]

9. Whoever is speaker

It will b like herding cats.. lol

[kentuck]

10. Should Democrats support another Republican over McCarthy...?

If it could get him or her elected Speaker?

It would be naive to think any of them would ever vote for a Democrat.

Or would it be better to just leave them to their own evil devices?

[Buns_of_Fire]

11. I propose a cage match to settle it. Two men walk in...

...and, with any luck, neither walks out.

[reACTIONary]

17. +10 nt

[republianmushroom]

12. oh darn, but Kevin there is always barber collage. Just saying .

[Ford_Prefect]

14. If the Moonbat caucus will never vote for McCarthy, and they cannot win themselves, what happens?

Kevin will not yield anymore than they will. They will never allow Congress to operate except under their impossible rules. AFAIK there are no responsible GOP members left who could supersede Kevin and make a reliable deal with Democrats. Certainly if there were he'd be kneecapped by the RW crowd. Ronna McDaniel seems to be in no position to usefully influence this either.

It is clear to anyone with a brain, conservative or otherwise, that Trump has shot his bolt and is waiting to see which trial consumes his future first. At which point any assertions of kingmaker evaporate.

I am not sure what if any leverage Kemp or DeSantis may have ATM.

This seems to be a genuine impasse which even McTurtle could not resolve.

In the mean time how does Congress operate? If there is no new leadership do the previous heads of committee along with the prior members operate in a caretaker capacity? I believe that's what happens until a new speaker is chosen. A scary thought is what happens when the next national crisis hits requiring congressional action? We are only a few ticks away from several of those IMO.

[BlueIdaho]

15. Does it surprise anyone

That a party that hates government, a party that wants to make government small enough to drown in a bath tub is having trouble figuring out how to run the government?

Fucking idiots.

[Ford_Prefect]

16. None of them have the least idea how to lead on policy or constructive governance. For the last

30 years the GOP has actively groomed and recruited House and Senate candidates whose first objective was to be loyal the the party over the country and whose policy goals were to deconstruct federalism in favor of serving the interests of their wealthy patrons. Narrowminded attack dogs are poorly disposed to consider new information or methods when confronted with the genuine process of day to day government.

[CitizenZero]

18. Agreed

They are only good at destruction, not creating or good government. They are loyal to party over country and have no principles other than self interest.

[Eyeball_Kid]

19. Doomsday scenario? Huh?

What's "doomsday" about it? The foxes might be in the henhouse, but that's business as usual for the GOP. Besides, are readers supposed to be worried or even concerned about fascists having a bad day? They're not in concert with one another? Oh. That sounds GOOD!

[SWBTATTReg]

21. All we need is our Democratic majority to vote as an unit, and then add 10 like-minded

Republicans and we'll have the House again. A few favors here and there, does wonders for the soul, eh?

The republicans have or are still showing that they can't govern still. Knowing full well in advance that more than likely they were going to win in the midterms. But they barely squeaked by.

Time to take control of the situation and let the adults in the room work.