More Democrats supported Rep. Jeffries than Republicans supported McCarthy, so we’re all on the edge of our seats right now.
No one. NO ONE – knows how today will play out.
Consider:
- Yesterday, McCarthy “moved” into the Speaker’s Office on the second floor of the US Capitol — no, he hadn’t been elected yet, nor has he been now.
- Yesterday afternoon, McCarthy held meetings in his new office (“almost his” new office).
- Today, at noon, the House convened.
- First order of business, the Clerk of the House gavels the House to order.
- The Clerk oversees the calling of the roll.
- Next, the vote for Speaker.
- McCarthy lacked the votes.
- The House went to a second ballot.
- No change — McCarthy lost again.
- If McCarthy continues to fail, he will have to move OUT of the Speaker’s Office, and his fate as part of leadership is unclear.
- McCarthy caved to the ultra-right wingers’ demands but this bought no joy. No wins. Just embarrassment — it’s been 100 years since a House leadership election created this much chaos.
- If smart (doubtful), if R “crazies” (election deniers, extremists, ultra-right, et al.) continue to vote against McCarthy, he should strip all the concessions he made in the “Rules” package and stick it to them. We doubt that he will.
- Assuming McCarthy continues to be defeated, traditional conservative Rs have publicly hinted that they’ll walk across the aisle and cut a leadership deal with Ds – leaving the ultra-right-wingers behind. This would be fun and a step in restoring the House’s capabilities to govern.
- The “Rules” package, also to be voted today (maybe), directs the Archives to return all docs, materials, and records from the January 6 Committee. Should it pass, this would allow Republicans to vote to amend or alter the final report and scour for publicly unidentified “enemies” they could punish. Of course, almost all those “enemies” of the right-wing are Republicans.
Fasten your seatbelt.
To be continued.