Trojan Duck@BlackAzizAnansi I'm still waiting to see if there is anyone in their caucus who can get 218 votes. Doesn't look like it will be McCarthy. Not entirely inconceivable that a few saner members of the GOP split off to caucus with the Dems and a compromise speaker is selected. There has been a wee bit of scuttlebutt along those lines.
Toxteth O'Grady@todwest @BlackAzizAnansi The name "Liz Cheney" keeps coming up, in that regard...
Auntie Denier@cordeliane @BlackAzizAnansi @toxtethogrady you don't need to be an elected member of the house to be elected speaker.
@todwest @cordeliane @BlackAzizAnansi And that's what those floating her as a compromise alternative are banking on. But I sense the Republican backup plan is Steve Scalise...
https://www.fox8live.com/2022/11/12/questions-about-mccarthy-speakership-fuels-speculation-about-scalise/
https://www.fox8live.com/2022/11/12/questions-about-mccarthy-speakership-fuels-speculation-about-scalise/
@toxtethogrady @cordeliane @BlackAzizAnansi I think they will probably find a detent, but it probably won't last long. We could see several different people wielding the gavel between now and Jan 2025.
@todwest @cordeliane @BlackAzizAnansi I don't think anyone will be able to corral 218 votes for long. However, if Cheney rounds up the votes, there will always be 5 Republicans willing to side with the Democrats and keep her there. Bonus is she will resist all efforts to shut down the government...
@toxtethogrady @cordeliane @BlackAzizAnansi I agree that it's entirely possible that the GOP is outmaneuvered on this vote. Probably a 1-in-4 chance. Still unlikely, but it could definitely happen.