the 2023 speaker of the house voting thread of implosion

[Gengs1 2,583]

 

[Dbeasy 15,051]

When was the last time a significant number of democrats voted for a republican for speaker or vice versa?

[Chuckie Finster 22,694]

What’s been sort of eye-opening to me is how widespread the delusion is. I’ve always kind of assumed there were a handful (or two) of true loonies and then a bunch of smart but spineless politicians who recognize that acting like a lunatic is the key to reelection. Watching some of these interviews, A LOT of Republicans genuinely think Jim Jordan is a widely popular figure and seem truly confused as to why this is happening. It’s hilarious and terrifying.

[Pato del Muerto 52,498]

Which democrat was it that introduced the motion to vacate?

[G650 14,256]

10 minutes ago, Gengs1 said:

 

That's honestly hilarious

[Macanudo 12,978]

5 minutes ago, Chuckie Finster said:

What’s been sort of eye-opening to me is how widespread the delusion is. I’ve always kind of assumed there were a handful (or two) of true loonies and then a bunch of smart but spineless politicians who recognize that acting like a lunatic is the key to reelection. Watching some of these interviews, A LOT of Republicans genuinely think Jim Jordan is a widely popular figure and seem truly confused as to why this is happening. It’s hilarious and terrifying.

I used to think that there were some Republicans who were just laying low hoping all of this Trumptard shit would blow over.   Seeing how many are backing Jordan shows that there are none.

[Francisco 2.0 32,393]

https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2023/10/house-jordan-gop-voters/675688/

 

Quote

Like many Americans, I have been both fascinated and horrified by the inability of the Republican majority to elect a new speaker of the House. I admit to watching the votes like I’m rubbernecking at a car wreck, but perhaps that’s not a good analogy, because I at least feel pity for the victims of a traffic accident. What’s happening in the House is more like watching a group of obnoxious (and not very bright) hot-rodders playing chicken and smashing their cars into one another over and over.

 

Quote

As I watch all of this Republican infighting, I wonder, as I often do, about GOP voters. What is it that they think will happen if Jim Jordan becomes speaker? Jordan has been in Congress for 16 years, and he has almost nothing to show for it. He’s never originated any successful legislation, never whipped votes, never accomplished anything except for appearing on Fox and serving up rancid red meat to his Ohio constituents and MAGA allies.

 

 

Quote

And therefore, as speaker, he would … what? Order up more impeachments, perhaps of Biden-administration officials? Shut down the government? Pound the gavel and prattle on for hours in his never-take-a-breath style? (Jordan’s the kind of guy who probably would have interrupted the Sermon on the Mount.) Perhaps from a position of greater power, he could more effectively assist Donald Trump in undermining yet another election in 2024.

Maybe that’s why Trump endorsed him for speaker.

 

 

Spoiler

Is that what Republican voters really want? Apparently so; as my friend Sarah Longwell, the founder of the anti-Trump Republican Accountability Project, told my Atlantic colleague Ronald Brownstein, “Even if he doesn’t make it, because the majorities are so slim, you can’t argue that Jim Jordan doesn’t represent the median Republican today.”

And that is the part we tend to overlook when we’re focused on the drama inside the Capitol: The disorder in the GOP caucus is not some accident or glitch triggered by a handful of reprobates, but rather a direct result of choices by voters. The House is a mess because enough Republican voters want it to be a mess.

This accusation might seem unfair: Jordan is just one member from a super-red (and blatantly gerrymandered) district, and many of his Republican colleagues are furious about this humiliating bungle. But right-wing voters have shown no inclination to punish people such as Matt Gaetz and other political vandals; indeed, Gaetz and his like-minded colleagues are rapidly becoming folk heroes in the Republican Party.

It’s not much consolation to recognize that the Republicans are now the party their voters want them to be. Their antics endanger us all, especially during multiple international crises when the United States needs to be unified and effective both at home and abroad. But to treat the GOP as merely dysfunctional is worse than a distraction; it is a fundamental error that offers the false hope that a mature and governing majority is somehow within reach, if only Jordan or Gaetz would get out of the way.

The real problem is that many Republican voters have now completely internalized the cynicism of Trump and the GOP opportunists around him, and they draw no connection between national politics and the ongoing health and security of the United States. These voters rely on everyone else (including those Americans they deride as the “deep state”) to keep the country functioning. They vote for masters of performative nonsense, such as Jordan and Gaetz, who do nothing for the “forgotten” working families in the places that the MAGA movement claims have been left behind by the rest of us.

The twists and turns of the Trump years, in which many elected Republicans became big spenders, critics of law enforcement, and apologists for the Kremlin, illustrated that MAGA voters have almost no interest in anything like conservatism, or even in coherent policy. Instead, they want to indulge resentments and grievances that have little to do with government and everything to do with boredom and dissatisfaction in their own lives. A few years ago, I wrote a book about how such voters project that anger and sourness onto everything around them. Their ennui spurs their desire to see chaos, so they argue that the existing order needs to be shaken up, or burned down, or defunded.

They think this way because they have never had to live under a government that has actually been shaken up, burned down, or defunded. Jordan and his colleagues (who have made entire careers out of encouraging such nihilism) are poor leaders but good politicians. They deliver what their voters really want: show trials and passion plays, and, mostly, to see other people unsettled and angry. These citizens vote not for determined legislators with complicated plans—that stuff is just so boring—but for entertaining rogues who can liven up the Fox prime-time hours.

Years ago, I thought that Republican voters would demand changes from the party if the GOP lost enough elections. But even losses don’t seem to matter in a party that is clearly more comfortable with performance art centered on imaginary grievances than with actual governing. The shenanigans of the past two weeks might even cost the Republicans control of the House in the next election—that’s one reason Jordan’s colleagues are trying to stop him—but that political collapse might not matter to right-wing voters. They’ll get another episode of their favorite show—and for them, maybe that’s enough.

 

[Doc Sam Beckett 5,793]

20 minutes ago, Gengs1 said:

 

 

Jesus tap dancing christ, the south needs to be cut off. Go do you, you fucking shitbag reds 

[Surly Bevo 24,908]

Yep people like their reality TV and social media cynicism, angst and shit talking and can no longer separate how it’s one thing in those fantasylands and another thing in the real world.

[Aqua Buddha 14,596]

I'm stunned that having your minions threaten other members and their families didn't win people over.

[The Dog 44,051]

[Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand 13,585]

Stop biting rocks, 6figs

[Longhorn_Fan68 33,870]

31 minutes ago, The Dog said:

he has that "I cut my own hair to save money" look, but has toddler-level skill at it

Edited October 19, 2023 by Longhorn_Fan68

[Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand 13,585]

1 hour ago, Gengs1 said:

 

Majority Party Alpha Male scurrying to the warm, safe teat of victimhood and grievance.

Edited October 19, 2023 by Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand

[atomheartbevo 89,668]

1 hour ago, Chuckie Finster said:

What’s been sort of eye-opening to me is how widespread the delusion is. I’ve always kind of assumed there were a handful (or two) of true loonies and then a bunch of smart but spineless politicians who recognize that acting like a lunatic is the key to reelection. Watching some of these interviews, A LOT of Republicans genuinely think Jim Jordan is a widely popular figure and seem truly confused as to why this is happening. It’s hilarious and terrifying.

Plenty of them know better, but they are laying low and trying to get through their next re-election without having to blow through their campaign war chests in their primaries.

Jordan put himself out there with Trump's support - if Trump had went with Scalise or somebody else, we wouldn't be having this discussion, but Jordan pulled in that endorsement and was using it to bludgeon other Republicans over the head.

[YGIFS 19,450]

He'll enjoy the wide open spaces.  He loves to run, and run, and run...for Speaker (3:19 mark)

 

[Gatorubet 30,238]

40 minutes ago, The Dog said:

10 minutes ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

he has that "I cut my own hair to save money" look, but has toddler-level skill at it

Pretty decent humble brag. It must be nice to have a whole bowl with no missing parts of the edge.

[Gatorubet 30,238]

Just imagine how much a person must hate gays and Brown and Black people to put up with this collection of loathsome, incompetent, flawed human beings as your appointed representatives.

[The Dog 44,051]

When you’ve lost Catturd…

[tx 3 putt 76,958]

 

[Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand 13,585]

Catturd just poopball in litterbox of life

Add 2024 and there's your viable 3rd party flag

[TDunk 590]

37 minutes ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

he has that "I cut my own hair to save money" look, but has toddler-level skill at it

MAGA flowbee style. 

[henrygandorf 29,191]

21 minutes ago, The Dog said:

When you’ve lost Catturd…

i'd settle for a viable 2nd party.

[henrygandorf 29,191]

2 hours ago, Js1 said:

Probably came from a Florida, Georgia and Colorado number. Someone let Granny get into the liquor cabinet again 

[atomheartbevo 89,668]

33 minutes ago, Gatorubet said:

Just imagine how much a person must hate gays and Brown and Black people to put up with this collection of loathsome, incompetent, flawed human beings as your appointed representatives.

People do strange things for easy money.

20 minutes ago, Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand said:

Catturd just poopball in litterbox of life

Add 2024 and there's your viable 3rd party flag

[Chopper 17,235]

2 hours ago, cactusflinthead said:

Obligatory picture of pizza delivery meant to signify a willingness to stay at the designated location to gather for work.

Actual significance

Ongoing hostage situation

As Paul Harvey used to say, here's the rest of the story.

Tune in again tomorrow for the big question yet to be tackled: Will there be a republican conference meeting -- with pizza -- on Thursday?

[jw4381 3,074]

Where's that pizza from?? Does that place have a basement??? Inquiring minds want to know.

[YGIFS 19,450]

Jordan, "Mmmkay, so yeah.  And remember...that Friday is Hawaii'n Pizza day.  So if you want to, go ahead and cast your vote and have pineapple on your pie.  Right..."

[TeeDubya 3,362]

[Horn Under a Bad Sign 20,400]

 

 

 

[Underdog 28,633]

5 hours ago, Chopper said:

As Paul Harvey used to say, here's the rest of the story.

Tune in again tomorrow for the big question yet to be tackled: Will there be a republican conference meeting -- with pizza -- on Thursday?

One bite, everyone knows the rule… 

 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

8 hours ago, Horn Under a Bad Sign said:

 

 

 

This is the icing on the cake for this fiasco.  
 

Do you know how big of a shitcunt you have to be for your fellow party members to conspire a 3D chess scheme to ensure your demise? 

[Bozo_Casanova 26,460]

Wearelaughing.gif

 

 

[Homercles 10,205]

[Celery Man 20,949]

They need all four banners these days

[locodos 5,387]

12 hours ago, LCHorn said:

Count me among the unsympathetic; a) the death threats are coming from your supposed “allies” and b) in 2023 death threats just come with the job.  
 

 

Count me as pissed off that these death threats (against anyone) aren't tracked down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  Put em in a DC jail so that they can wait their turn for a trial after the traitors.

[jimmyjazz 45,952]

18 hours ago, locodos said:

So you're saying he has one of these on his desk?

Are you my (dead) grandmother?

[Dnaguy 11,964]

13 hours ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

 

It’s almost as if the Republican base is a basket of deplorables….

[Dnaguy 11,964]

42 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Wearelaughing.gif

 

 

Aggy AF.

He didn’t lose. He just ran out of time!

[locodos 5,387]

8 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Are you my (dead) grandmother?

No, but if it helps I can send you a birthday card written in impeccable cursive with a quarter in it.

[Ted Lange 16,085]

6 minutes ago, Dnaguy said:

Aggy AF.

He didn’t lose. He just ran out of time!

Gymbo Jordan

[jimmyjazz 45,952]

12 hours ago, G650 said:

That's honestly hilarious

It's astonishing.  Somehow, it's not the 8 Republicans' fault that McCarthy was outed, since 96% of the "no" votes came from Democrats.  Keiler failed to state the obvious, but rather danced around the issue, as usual.

 

[tokamak 6,430]

1 minute ago, jimmyjazz said:

It's astonishing.  Somehow, it's not the 8 Republicans' fault that McCarthy was outed, since 96% of the "no" votes came from Democrats.  Keiler failed to state the obvious, but rather danced around the issue, as usual.

 

That 96% thing is clearly just a talking point someone jotted down on a napkin. "Just keep saying that, it's the best we've got right now"

[jimmyjazz 45,952]

LOL, I typed "outed" instead of "ousted".  Well done, jj.  Ain't fixing it.

[Aqua Buddha 14,596]

Comeback should be "100% of all Republicans voted against Jeffries.  Why aren't you more bipartisan?"

[atomheartbevo 89,668]

Chip Roy ges it - the Republicans are on the path to losing the House next year.   Now why they are on that path, he doesn't get it.

 

[G650 14,256]

13 minutes ago, tokamak said:

That 96% thing is clearly just a talking point someone jotted down on a napkin. "Just keep saying that, it's the best we've got right now"

I was thinking about it last night,  I really want to know what idiot came up with that talking popoint

[Ghost of LL 15,531]

1 minute ago, atomheartbevo said:

Chip Roy ges it - the Republicans are on the path to losing the House next year.   Now why they are on that path, he doesn't get it.

 

Ok--exactly what constitutional concerns?  Seriously, I want a legal cite to the section of the Constitution that could even arguably be violated.

 

 

 

Hint: there isn't one.

[YGIFS 19,450]

I like how the party of Constitutional Originalism is suddenly having a robust and deadly-serious internal debate about the validity of a "permanently temporary Speaker of the House."  Which (checks notes) does not appear anywhere in the Constitution.  Rather, Speaker Pro Tem is merely an emergency stopgap measure in case of several key federal officials being taken out in a terrorist attack and is barely 20 years old.  
 

I would love to hear Justice Thomas' opinion on how this was clearly the framer's intent given the environs of the day 200+ years the position was ever even conceived.  

[atomheartbevo 89,668]

1 minute ago, Ghost of LL said:

Ok--exactly what constitutional concerns?  Seriously, I want a legal cite to the section of the Constitution that could even arguably be violated.

 

 

 

Hint: there isn't one.

Whoever told him that is the person that came up with the "96% of the vote against McCarthy were Democrats and so it's their fault we have this mess" spiel.

I'm just amazed that he gets where this train is headed in the long run.