In a closed room, no cell phones allowed meeting, Republicans nominated Steve Scalise for House Speaker. The vote was 113-99 in favor of Steve Scalise over Jim Jordan.
Scalise is the current majority leader. Jordan, backed by Donald Trump, is head of the Judiciary Committee.
A vote in the Full House may come later in the day.
Another Long Fight?
It took 15 ballots for the now ousted Kevin McCarthy to win. If no Democrats opt for Scalise (why would they) we may have another long, damaging fight.
It takes 117 for a majority, Five Republican defections would be sufficient to kill reaching majority.
The WSJ notes a possible fight.
“If Jim Jordan does not get the majority within that room, I will go down to the House floor and continue to vote for Jim Jordan,” said Rep. Max Miller (R., Ohio) shortly before the internal vote.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.), who precipitated the leadership crisis when he brought the motion to vacate to the floor, has said he would support either Scalise or Jordan. On Wednesday, Rep. Eli Crane (R., Ariz.), another of the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy, said that he would support either Jordan or Scalise on the floor no matter who he voted for in conference.
Previously, I noted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she would only vote for Trump.
Scalise favors more aid to Ukraine while Gaetz demanded no aid for Ukraine.
House Make Up
There are 221 Republicans (plus 2 non-voting Delegates and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico), 212 Democrats (plus 3 non-voting Delegates), and 2 vacant seats.
The voting members are 221-R and 212-D.
With four defections, the vote would be 217-216.
Linking Aid to Israel and Ukraine
NBC reports House Republicans Pour Cold Water on Linking U.S. Aid to Israel and Ukraine
And the prospects of additional Ukraine funding will likely come down to whether a narrow — and currently leaderless — GOP majority can stomach it, presenting an important early decision that will confront the next House speaker, who is yet to be chosen.
Numerous Republicans lawmakers told NBC News that they’re skeptical — if not outright opposed — to connecting the two.
Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, said Congress should first help Israel in the wake of the attack by Hamas, while continuing to debate the merits of continuing to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s war.
“We’ve got to do something for Israel today if we can, or tomorrow,” he told reporters Monday evening.
Asked why he separates the need to help the two U.S. allies who are under attack, Burgess said, referring to Ukraine and Israel, respectively: “One’s an argument that’s in process. The other is an acute need, and we need to tend to that first.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., an opponent of Ukraine aid, said they mustn’t be linked.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., flatly rejected the idea of linking funding for Israel and Ukraine: “No. I would not connect those two at all.”
He said he supports aid to Israel, but not to Ukraine.
Defections
- Rep. Max Miller, R- Ohio
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida- Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia
- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas
AnnMarie M. Graham-Barnes, Communications Director. U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21), emailed me tonight “Rep. Mast voted for Jordan in the Conference election today, but I’m not sure what source claimed that he would not be supporting Scalise on the floor because that is not true.”
With no more than four defections, Scalise wins. He can also win if Democrats come to his aid or simply vote present.
Then What?
A rule is still in place in which any House Republican can call to vacate the Chair. That is what McCarthy agreed with to become Speaker.
Greene immediately comes to mind as someone who could petition to vacate the Chair. She said she is voting to make Trump the Speaker.
The Most Likely Thing
The most likely thing is more money for everything.
“Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that he’s open to linking aid to Israel and Ukraine in a larger package that tackles various foreign policy goals. “Yeah, I think that’s a possibility — along with China, Taiwan, border security,” said McCaul as reported by NBC.
Here Comes the Big Push for More Money for Ukraine and Israel
On October 9, I commented Here Comes the Big Push for More Money for Ukraine and Israel
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy lost his job for working out a deal with Democrats. A gang of 8 led by GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz pulled the plug on McCarthy.
One of the gang of eight demands is no more money for Ukraine. Care to take bets?
Expect a Congressional deal: More money for Ukraine; more money for Israel, and more money for a wall. It won’t stop there.
No One Will Fix This
“Compromise is always more spending for this in return for more spending on that.”
“Neither party will fix the deficits. Neither party will do anything about mounting debt. No one will do anything about anything because the political system is totally broken.” Mish
For discussion, please see Debt to GDP Alarm Bells Ring, Neither Party Will Solve This
Recall that McCarthy was ousted because he used Democrat support to get legislation passed.
Scalise will soon be in the same position.
Correction: AnnMarie M. Graham-Barnes, Communications Director. U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21), emailed me tonight “Rep. Mast voted for Jordan in the Conference election today, but I’m not sure what source claimed that he would not be supporting Scalise on the floor because that is not true.”
Scalise will win eventually. The democrats don’t want the Biden investigation to linger too close to the election. Won’t give them enough time to find a new candidate.
They’re gonna run trump with 90-odd felonies pending.
We’re past that mattering, apparently. Don’t hold your breath.
In a choice between batsh-t crazy and the other guy, looks like Republicans are starting to reject batsh-t crazy.
In other news, Matt Gaetz has been offered a job modelling hairdos for retro 80’s Yuppies style magazines and dating tips for guys looking to find younger “legal aged” women.
..
I would say “bat shit crazy” is continuing on the current sending path.
The radius of the guano ball of crazy shifts constantly, but the shape is retained as it travels along its trajectory. When and where will it land?
Don’t look now, but Gaetz is also lurking behind the scenes for sending bus loads to Chappaqua and Chappaquiddick.
How the hell did megamind end up in congress?
For my fellow Americans, avoid going out this Friday, especially to city centers, big venues and other related activities. If you do go out, make sure you’re packing a firearm or two.
Why? What’s happening?
The founder of Hamas has called for a day of rage for Friday. Protests might get violent or a lone wolf might seek blood.
I’ll limit myself to one. I can’t hit anything dual wielding, but it does make me cackle like a madman… might be a bit of deterrence there.
Now I just gotta keep an eye out for them shifty little fellers.
Don’t forget preemptive strike is the best form of defence.
Shhhh… be vevy vewy qwiet….
Unless you live in a blue state. You’re not allowed to defend yourself.
They make us wear tutus and skip everywhere too. It’s awful. Mine is lavender, and rides up there.
“We’ve got to do something…”
Yes, Rep. Michael Burgess, you dutiful ‘public servants’ and your obligation to act!
The genius in his words is that ambiguity is his friend – ordering lunch, walking the dog, and taking a nap all fit the bill. Doing ‘nothing’ would just be lazy.
Does it mean more warmongering or less? That’s the only difference.
More. It’s war time. World War 3 has been pent up 40 years longer that was reasonable, and it’s gonna be a doozie when it comes uncorked.
I hear Jesus is even coming.
If Hakeem, the regime change clone, votes against Scalise we are going to have
a rudderless house.
Mish, you may very well be right that the R’s capitulate yet again, but I beg you to stop pretending their doing so will somehow work out OK. Also, please stop pretending that voting for more money for Ukraine is actually for Ukraine, when everybody knows it’s for the war industry and the warmongers who vote for more money for Ukraine. How ’bout we start talking about how easy it would be to get Putin to a negotiating table and end this thing?
I think most of it goes to paying Ukrainian government salaries.
some goes silently to Zelensky and his cronies, some to the military which probably is all paid for by US taxpayers. I heard there was a poll with 60% of voters against more money for the mess in Ukraine.
Massie currently isn’t voting for him.
https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1712163488888459762?s=20
So he ded.
The Two Candidates for House Speaker Are Even Worse Than Kevin McCarthy
Oct. 11, 2023
David Firestone
Update, 10/11/23: In an afternoon vote by the Republican caucus, Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana emerged as the choice of most members to be speaker. But it’s not clear whether he will win enough votes on the House floor to get the job. That floor vote may take place in the coming days.
The crisis of terror in Israel has made it even more urgent that the House of Representatives move past its schoolyard infighting, elect itself a speaker and demonstrate that the United States still has a functional government, one that can play a significant role in supporting democratic allies around the globe. So far, however, the Republican House majority has shown no indication it is up to the job.
Only two candidates, Representatives Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Jim Jordan of Ohio, are officially running for speaker. Neither seems to have a majority of Republicans locked up yet, and both are trying to appeal to the party’s worst instincts — making it clear they would perpetuate the chaos that was unleashed during the reign of Kevin McCarthy, who was overthrown by a group of far-right rebels on Oct. 3. In several ways, Mr. Scalise and Mr. Jordan would probably be worse.
Both express opposition to the Biden administration’s request for additional military aid to Ukraine. Like Mr. McCarthy, both have cast doubt on the outcome of the 2020 presidential race, and voted against certifying the election results, a permanent stain on their reputations. But for anyone who cares about basic governmental function, the most worrisome part is that they also seem to be repudiating the two moments when Mr. McCarthy defused a fiscal crisis in recent months — over the debt ceiling and the threatened government shutdown. They want the House to use more “leverage” in its battles against President Biden.
…
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/11/opinion/jim-jordan-steve-scalise.html
I read what you wrote and thought “they both looked better”
Democrats voted to oust Kevin McCarthy because they were desperate to stop the Biden bribery investigation. With a new speaker, the bribery investigation will be started again. So, the Dems will do everything they can to stop a new speaker.
Nope. They voted against him because he proved he couldn’t be trusted to back up his word.
The DONORcrats voted against McCarthy even though he had made a backroom deal with them.
I am wondering what effect Robert Kenney’s running as an independent will have?
It will most likely take votes from the Republicans, not the Democrats.
Which, with Trump the likely nominee, even if he would have to govern from a jail cell, would be a good thing.
He is a Democrat so it is possible that he pulls those votes away too. I think it really is up in the air. He also has good financing behind him.
It’s a rare Dem that would vote for this Kennedy. I’d say the ratio might be as high as 90% Pub/10% Dem.
Even all his relatives declined to support him and told him they are voting Biden.
I see Kennedy getting all the disaffected Democrats and never Trumpers votes. That pulls Brandon’s vote down so in states that might have been 52 to 48 in a 2 horse race of Brandon V Trump might become 46:6:48 Brandon:Kennedy:Trump and Trump gets a win.
With 200 million adults you would think that the US could come up with better candidates.
I think he’s going to take more votes away from Biden. People that don’t want to vote Reublican but hate what Biden is doing will vote for an alternative. Kennedy is their alternative.
Some Trump voters might like RFJ Jr. on some issues. But if Trump is on the ballot, no way they’re gonna vote for RFK Jr!
On the other hand, the actual left (mostly independents) is not even going to look at RFK Jr., anymore, because of his pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian stance. So, if anyone is gonna vote for him, it will be a segment of Biden voters.
You’ll be proven wrong as always.
He is unlikely to get on any ballot and will drop out 6 months before the election.
I suspect he’s going to snag votes in the middle from both sides who don’t like either Trump or Biden. The far left and far right already know who they are voting for.
To be honest, it *only* matters in a handful swing states. Think Nader in Florida in 2000 that let Bush win the state and the election.
A Democrat shot him with a gun. Will one shoot him again? We will find out together it seems.
99 for Jim Jordan. Wow.
“Scalise is the current majority leader. Jordan, backed by Donald Trump, is head of the Judiciary Committee.”
So if Scalise wins does this mean Trump is a loser (again)?
And why was the vote done in secret? Don’t repubs want their constituents to know how they voted?
For the same reason all voting is done in secret. So that undue pressure isn’t put on someone to vote for someone else or there isn’t retaliation for voting for someone who doesn’t get the nomination.
ALL voting isn’t done in secret. These are public servants, the ONLY people they should fear and succumb to peer pressure to are the people they are there to serve not their clown peers or clown political parties. What a bunch of cowards.
So, business as usual
Or what’s left of it
No budget is preferable to more spending. At least eight votes agree.
Most of the defense contractors popped 10% since the attack on Israel. Mo money Mo money.