Althouse: "Matt Gaetz rises to nominate Jim Jordan, who just urged his colleagues to vote for Kevin McCarthy."

January 3, 2023

"Matt Gaetz rises to nominate Jim Jordan, who just urged his colleagues to vote for Kevin McCarthy."

"Gaetz says Jordan’s speech nominating McCarthy displayed 'more vision than we have ever heard from the alternative.'"

Reports Catie Edmondson at the NYT.

54 comments:

cubanbob said...: Jordan is better than McCarthy. So is Andy Biggs. So is Steve Scalise, after being shot a Democrat I doubt he is willing to roll over and play dead with the Democrats.; 1/3/23, 1:46 PM
RideSpaceMountain said...: There will be no more 'business as usual'. Ever again. Buckle up.; 1/3/23, 1:48 PM
Butkus51 said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.; 1/3/23, 1:51 PM
traditionalguy said...: The shot heard round the Washington DC establishment. First time anyone since Jackson has ever said no to professional looting of the American people.; 1/3/23, 1:51 PM
Enigma said...: This is a necessary phase of party realignment. It may be kabuki theater, but it had to happen and it happened.

My biggest question for the Republicans in 2024 is whether they transform and recombine into a unified party or whether they will experience another divided G.H.W. Bush versus Ross Perot 1992 year (via a rebellion of Trump and friends).

My biggest question for the Democrats in 2024 is whether they continue to violate every ideological principle per their blind hatred of Trump. Impeach. Impeach. Kangaroo court. Release his taxes. Recommend criminal prosecution. Their grade-school ideological questions include (1) whether any Democrat can ever be wrong, and (2) whether any Democratic supporter can ever be punished for doing wrong.; 1/3/23, 1:54 PM
Ampersand said...: It's bad enough to be a showoff. When what you're showing off is egotism and poor judgment, you've hit the daily double.; 1/3/23, 1:56 PM
John D said...: Until there is a speaker we have a House of Representatives that can't do any business whatsoever.

Hmmm. Could that somehow be preferable to a house that *can* do business?; 1/3/23, 2:04 PM
Left Bank of the Charles said...: The Republican holdouts could keep this up for the whole two years of this session of Congress. They won’t, but let’s say they did. Sufficient incentives could be offered for Democrats to vote for McCarthy and for Republicans to vote for Jeffries. What would be enough?; 1/3/23, 2:29 PM
Douglas B. Levene said...: The strategy of McCarthy’s opponents is to create chaos in the hope that out of chaos they might be able to exert some power or make some change. That’s a lot like Trump’s modus operandi but it seems to me that the public voted against the proponents of chaos in the last election and going down that road will not work out so well for the GOP.; 1/3/23, 2:50 PM
Readering said...: It took 3 attempts for Biden to get elected president. Perhaps McCarthy, 57, can be elected Speaker in 20 years.; 1/3/23, 2:54 PM
Gravel said...: I'll give these folks all the credit if they manage to get a better, more conservative person elected Speaker, but by the same token they get all the blame if they somehow manage to get a democrat elected.; 1/3/23, 2:57 PM
Gunner said...: Whoever impeaches Biden twice has my support in perpetuity.; 1/3/23, 2:58 PM
Wince said...: A shot across the bow or a real challenge?

Hopefully what it means is the hard goodbye for Ronna Romney McDaniel.; 1/3/23, 2:59 PM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: Could you imagine this group doing any sort of governing when they can't even pick a speaker? Cmon man, Jim Jordon is a flame thrower never put together any piece of legislation just loves to hear himself talk. HE WOULD NEVER BE SPEAKER. The once great GOP is burned to the ground and even the newcomers know it. If McCarthy loses even more votes than 2nd loss, he will need to get a bus ticket to nowheresville. This is supposed to be a ceremonial procedure not a circus this is the trump 35% party that will take decades to heal. If they don't nominate trump he'll burn it down even further, (3rd party tease guaranteeing a wipeout)) take his ball and go home (with his trumpeters) 2024 will be a joke for a Republican after the people watch this non governing group. The Frankenstein monster is running loose, and the countryside can't catch him. Sometimes you do get what you deserve. Get someone in there that gets shit done like Nancy did, not a spineless yes man.The election result deniers are too strong in this grouping. Like I said this morning it's an embarrassment that hasn't been seen in 100 years, give it to the party of the previous loser to set the new records. Tune in tomorrow to see what bi partisanship can do for the country as sleepy Joe gets shit done (and Moscow Mitch at his side)The new people coming in want to govern not whine about everything and rehash history,some republicans do want to govern but are stifled by the Biggs,Bobberts ,Jordons,Taylor Greens etc.Gonna take time to purge the poison.; 1/3/23, 2:59 PM
Achilles said...: The Republican party has a choice between their voters and the Globalist Oligarchs.

Trump is supporting McCarthy.

Someone needs to run against him from the side of the voters.

We already have enough globalist oligarch pets.; 1/3/23, 3:00 PM
rehajm said...: Democrats had their squad for a time too. Think they got squished like a bug…; 1/3/23, 3:04 PM
rehajm said...: John D said...
Until there is a speaker we have a House of Representatives that can't do any business whatsoever.

Hmmm. Could that somehow be preferable to a house that *can* do business?

I like the way you think…; 1/3/23, 3:06 PM
Readering said...: If Jordan elected, think he'll put on a jacket?; 1/3/23, 3:20 PM
Drago said...: DINKY DAU 45: "Could you imagine this group doing any sort of governing when they can't even pick a speaker?"

OMG!!!

Deliberations occurring in one of the greatest deliberative bodies on Earth!!

Un-possible! Unprecedented!

Why cant everyone just agree about everything all the time...like in North Korea or Cuba or China?

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"

Next up for Dinky Dau: Why Romper Room is the preferred model for "debate" in Constitutional Republics, including the use of Magic Mirrors and safe spaces to "protect" participants from hearing opposing views.; 1/3/23, 3:27 PM
Drago said...: Achilles: "Trump is supporting McCarthy.

Someone needs to run against him from the side of the voters."

As mentioned before, no one has the guts to go after Trump from an even more populist position despite it being clearly the best strategy.

That's generally because all potential 2024 opponents are establishment creations, including DeSantis until he proves otherwise. Though that might be difficult given who his campaign advisors and major funders happen to be.; 1/3/23, 3:31 PM
Kevin said...: Tammy Metzler: Who cares about this stupid election? We all know it doesn't matter who gets elected Speaker of the House. Do you really think it's going to change anything around here? Make one single person smarter or happier or nicer? The only person it does matter to is the one who gets elected. The same pathetic charade happens every two years, and everyone makes the same pathetic promises just so they can put it on their Wikipedia page. So vote for me, because I don't even want to have a Wikipedia page, and I don't care, and as Speaker I won't do anything. The only promise I will make is that if elected I will immediately dismantle the House of Representatives, so that none of us will ever have to sit through one of these stupid C-SPAN episodes again!

[the House erupts in huge cheers. They start chanting "Tammy! Tammy!"]

Tammy Metzler: Or don't vote for me! Who cares? Don't vote at all!

[they all rise to give her a standing ovation]; 1/3/23, 3:42 PM
wendybar said...: Remember this tomorrow when Mitch McConnell stands with Joe Biden to gloat about stealing trillions from us for yet another infrastructure bill that they will flush down the toilet like they usually do. Remember Obama's?? Shovel Ready jobs that weren't shovel ready, so they just blew through it as fast as their greedy little hands got it.

Mitch McConnell is at fault. Rub your nose in THIS Mitch. Suck eggs.; 1/3/23, 3:45 PM
Drago said...: Douglas B. Levene: "The strategy of McCarthy’s opponents is to create chaos in the hope that out of chaos they might be able to exert some power or make some change."

What's "chaotic" about advocating for a different vision for House leadership and then following House rules to advance your position?

Douglas B. Levene: "That’s a lot like Trump’s modus operandi but it seems to me that the public voted against the proponents of chaos in the last election and going down that road will not work out so well for the GOP."

It appears you are defining "chaos" as opposition to democratical policies and priorities which the GOPe fully supports and works diligently behind the scenes to deliver.

I suspect that is no accident. Mustn't allow the GOPe/dem alignment to be too transparently obvious.

This isn't Kevin McCarthy's first rodeo in terms of not inspiring a majority. Recall Kevin McCarthy was "next in line" after Boehner and McCarthy was tossed aside like a sack of potatoes for the even more underhanded dem-lite and younger Ryan.

There was a reason why the loathsome Frank Luntz's roomie and apprentice failed then and is failing now.

And now its clear that McCarthy only truly represents the establishment which has been fully weaponized against the republican base voters. So some principled representatives have finally decided to represent their voters interests instead of George Soros' or Pierre Omidyar's interests or whatever Frank Luntz is peddling for his woke corporate sponsors.; 1/3/23, 3:49 PM
Kevin said...: Jim McAllister: Larry, we're not electing the fucking Pope here. Just tell me who won.; 1/3/23, 3:49 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The freedom caucus will get us a good democrat in the spot.
What a cluster-F>; 1/3/23, 3:50 PM
Ambrose said...: This could be one interesting Congress.; 1/3/23, 4:04 PM
Drago said...: HBTPFH: "The freedom caucus will get us a good democrat in the spot.
What a cluster-F>"

Shorter HBTPFH: Surrender to the dems faster to "conserve conservatism"!

Not to worry HBTPFH. Your GOPe-er heroes are already lined up to surrender on a half dozen more core republican base issues regardless of who is Speaker so you'll have those issues to taunt the icky republicans with soon enough.

And a final observation HBTPFH: If we end up with a democratical as Speaker it will be because your "quiet" and "dignified" and "respectable" republicans cut ANOTHER deal with their democratical allies.

As always.; 1/3/23, 4:10 PM
Drago said...: wendybar: "Remember this tomorrow when Mitch McConnell stands with Joe Biden to gloat about stealing trillions from us for yet another infrastructure bill that they will flush down the toilet like they usually do."

Tomorrow will be quite the impressive Dem/GOPe victory celebration.

And just you watch, by tomorrow afternoon all the usual suspects will be laying the blame for this latest (of so very many) GOPe betrayals on Trump and the Freedom Caucus and those icky republican base voters that you can just smell when you walk into a Walmart.; 1/3/23, 4:15 PM
RoseAnne said...: This is the position 3rd in line of succession to the Presidency. 4th in line is also in his 80's. Don't care at all for Kevin McCarthy so I am not rooting for him. Do think a serious 3rd party candidate would have a chance in 2024. By that, not merely someone who lost the primary or a single issue candidate.

Just a thought: Mitch Daniels stepped down from Purdue I think. Don't know why on earth he would take the position for a term (apparently you don't actually have to have a seat in Congress to be the Speaker according to Justin Amash) but he would be better than virtually every other name I have heard mentioned.; 1/3/23, 4:23 PM
fairmarketvalue said...: McCarthy was damaged goods in 2019 when the uniparty selected that little GOPe weasel Ryan. After 3 ballots, he's worse off today, regardless of what happens. This fight is the first significant event of the realignment of the 2 uniparty components. Any "damage" resulting it is necessary, despite "conservative" Dan Crenshaw's protestations to the contrary. After all, we lived through Pelosi's drunken rants, so let's settle this thing finally and allow the RINOs to see how much disgust the base feels over their transparent fecklessness.; 1/3/23, 4:37 PM
Ficta said...: I love it. The populist caucus may all be posers (I don't have an informed opinion about that, I regard all congressmen as inveterate liars) but even lying about support for the working class is a step up from totally ignoring them. A populist crippling a party for decades is not unprecedented in American history; see W H Brand's excellent column comparing Trump to William Jennings Bryan.; 1/3/23, 4:38 PM
Achilles said...: Left Bank of the Charles said...

This has already happened.

There is no real difference between the globalist democrats and the globalist Republicans.

What Left Bank is talking about here is just making an open secret not secret anymore.

It is time for sunlight. It is time for all of the oligarch pets to be outed for all to see what they really are.; 1/3/23, 4:48 PM
jim said...: How about they break new ground and all vote for themselves for a few weeks?; 1/3/23, 4:56 PM
Drago said...: Tim pool@timcast
wait

whats this

democrats found some absentee ballots after the third vote

the count is now

McCarthy 202
Jordan 20
Jeffries 534,689; 1/3/23, 5:11 PM
Inga said...: How embarrassing for Republicans.

Jeffries for Speaker! Wouldn’t that serve them right? Not saying it could happen, but whoa what a ride that would be.; 1/3/23, 5:45 PM
Big Mike said...: First question: Does Jim Jordan actually want the job?

Second question: Would Jim Jordan be any good at it?; 1/3/23, 5:59 PM
Chuck said...: Jesus Effing Christmas what a den of thieves.

Now Trump is declining to say if he's still backing McCarthy.

https://twitter.com/GarrettHaake/status/1610408754721218561

There have been a lot of days over the past few years that have indicated, dramatically, how broken the Republican Party is, in the Trump era. ("Great!", I can already hear the Trumpists exclaiming.)

The 2020 Georgia Senate runoffs. January 6, 2021. The primary nominations of Kari Lake, Doug Mastriano, Don Bolduc and the Michigan AG/SoS candidates. The 2022 midterms. Et cetera.

But even including the January 6 mayhem, I think that for today's GOP, the abject humiliation and brokenness of today's events top them all. The current six-term Republican from the Ohio 14th District, Kevin Joyce put it succinctly; "Remember that this [the holdouts against McCarthy] is the same brain trust that brought you -- almost two years ago -- January 6, and the fake electors."; 1/3/23, 6:20 PM
Drago said...: To be honest, I feel sort of bad for McCarthy.

He has to sit there while some republicans refuse to worship him (he should pull up Althouse blog! Lots of McCarthy/McConnell worshippers here!) all the while staring wistfully at his democratical allies across the aisle and envying McConnell for being able to openly screw over republicans and have fun events with his democratical allies.

It just doesnt seem fair. And to think McCarthy had already been fully prepped by Frank Luntz on what the GOP (wink wink) priorities would be for 2023/2024: more open borders, more tax cuts for big tech to assist in censoring conservatives, undermining any attempts at holding democraticals/deep staters accountable, more China capitulation, increasing funding to Ukraine, etc.

You know, all the very "respectful" and "dignified" issues all "true principled conservatives" support.; 1/3/23, 6:33 PM
Narayanan said...: with all business in the chamber, even the swearing-in of members, halted until a speaker is chosen.”
=========
does this mean members are in the chamber acting without ''allegiating'' to the Constitution etc.

is this insurrection lite or heavy?; 1/3/23, 6:34 PM
Creola Soul said...: McCarthy made the classic rookie mistake of negotiating with himself. Instead of offering potential negative votes deals, he should have just stood for the first vote, then negotiate so he would know who he had to deal with. The fact that he made this mistake demonstrates how he would run the House, and it’s not a good look. Scalise would be a far better alternative at this point. Good guy, solid credentials and well respected.; 1/3/23, 6:47 PM
Gunner said...: McCarthy's quasi-homosexual living arrangement with Frank Luntz should disqualify him on its own.; 1/3/23, 7:46 PM
Phil 314 said...: Flight 93 keeps crashing, over and over again.

Heroic!; 1/3/23, 8:04 PM
Drago said...: Whitmer Fanboy LLR Chuck: "Jesus Effing Christmas what a den of thieves."

LOL

Yes, our FakeCon Chuck decides today is the best day to mention "thieves" right after his beloved dems and GOPe grifters delivered a hack-tastic grifter omnibus budget while simultaneously his beloved DOJ corruptocrats admit they are holding onto hundreds of documents related to Hunter/"Big Guy" ChiCom dealings AND Chuck's "heroic" democratical Jan 6 Schiff-ty types try to seal ALL Jan 6 committee records for....(wait for it) ....(wait for it).....50 YEARS!

LOL

50 years!

You know, in the name of "transparency" and "getting to the bottom of things"!

Too funny.; 1/3/23, 8:21 PM
Maynard said...: Helluva thread! It even drew in the execrable Chuck and Inga.

It confounds dumb lefties who are part of the Democrat hive mind that other people actually have reasonable differences of opinion.; 1/3/23, 8:21 PM
Drago said...: Russia Collusion Truther and Hillary/FBI Hoax Dossier Dead Ender Inga: "How embarrassing for Republicans."

LOL

How awesome that, unlike the New Soviet Democraticals, not all republicans are marching in lockstep per their Maoist leaders directives.

And Jeffries is an "Election Denier" of the highest order!

On a side note, its good to see our long-time moronic lefty allies LLR Chuck and Inga reunited on Althouse blog. That's a pairing that was always made in heaven....or whatever "heaven" looks like to a Whitmer fanboy and a gal that thinks fathers showering with daughters is "perfectly normal".; 1/3/23, 8:27 PM
Mark said...: George Santos just announced that he won and is now Speaker.

Anyone who says otherwise is a denier.; 1/3/23, 8:33 PM
Drago said...: Creola Soul: "McCarthy made the classic rookie mistake of negotiating with himself."

His mistake was not even bothering to begin negotiations in earnest until last night.

That's right. Last night.

Prior to that McCarthy, wearing his McConnell hat, thought the anti-McCarthy/Luntz crew was only 5 people.

Surely he could pick off one of them on the fly. McCarthy was so over-confident he even had his stuff moved into the Speaker's office BEFORE voting began!

Gee, that's stellar messaging there, isnt it?

Imagine McCarthy/Luntz's surprise when it was actually 19 (and later 20 on the third vote) GOP members that refused to rubberstamp GOPe dominance.

Oh No! Now McCarthy didnt have a clear path to Ryan/Romney-ville. The "smile" he was wearing during the voting was such a transparently fake and weak look that only partisan dems and LLR's (but I repeat myself) could be fooled.

This conflict needed to happen at some point and it needed to happen before the GOPe-ers delivered another huge policy win to their democrat allies.; 1/3/23, 8:37 PM
Narayanan said...: speaking of picking strong horse / switch horse mid-stream etc.

does it have to be same dummy in speaker chair every session of ###th Congress; 1/3/23, 9:09 PM
Gahrie said...: This should have all been fought out already. They've had two months to figure this out. The very fact that this is happening supports those who refuse to vote for him. At this point, something bold needs to happen. Picking Trump would work, but you'll never get enough votes from the GOPe.

How about Palin, or McEnany? Or Lake? We need a fighter and a communicator as Speaker right now, we're basically the opposition.; 1/3/23, 10:45 PM
Tom said...: When Jim Jordan was first running for Congress in 2006, I spent a lot of time with him. Really like the guy. He’s still my congressman and while I don’t share all of his politics, I’d 100% support him for speaker.; 1/4/23, 5:39 AM
Aggie said...: To be honest, I hope it gets messier. The Establishment Republicans have done their level best to purge Donald Trump and Trumpism from the party while ignoring the 70 million voters that were on board. In the meantime, they've spent the past 6 years strip-mining the populist data bases and mailing lists for money, which I've come to believe is their only honest motivation. Now they want to (once again) relegate the Deplorable chumps to the corner with promises to throw them a morsel every once so often. It's not going to work anymore, and it's time they were made to admit it.; 1/4/23, 8:55 AM
Cappy said...: Would stooge slaps help.; 1/4/23, 9:13 AM
Drago said...: Dumb Lefty Mark: "George Santos just announced that he won and is now Speaker.

Anyone who says otherwise is a denier."

You misspelled "Stacey Abrams"; 1/4/23, 9:22 AM
Jim at said...: How embarrassing for Republicans.

Uh-huh. It'd be much easier if they fell in line - drooling in unison - and voted for whomever they're supposed to vote for. Without question.

Like Democrats.; 1/4/23, 2:16 PM