Jay KuoJan 4, 2023
Kevin McCarthy’s chances were never very strong after committing three huge errors going into this leadership battle. I explain where he miscalculated, misstepped and messed up, then plot some probable courses for what’s in store, in today’s piece.
https://statuskuo.substack.com/p/kevin-mccarthy-made-three-big-mistakes?sd=pf
Kevin McCarthy Made Three Big Mistakes. Can He Overcome Them?

Democrats watched with amazement and glee as Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) tried three times to roll the heavy, treasonous GOP ball up the Hill, twice failing by 19 votes and finally by 20 votes to reach the 218 needed to ascend to his long-sought role as Speaker.

The Status Kuo
Show threadKelleyJan 4, 2023
@jaykuo yes! Error #2 is the biggest one, in my opinion. It really shows he has no competency to be speaker. That’s such a monumentally foolish error.
Show threadMichael GemarJan 4, 2023
@11kelleyk @jaykuo He has no control over the scheduling of the Speaker vote, so I don’t understand how this applies in this instance.
Show threadKelley
@michaelgemar @jaykuo I was referring to error #2 stated in the article, where he went in not knowing for certain if he had the votes. He had weeks to shore up the votes. Yesterday was the deadline. If he knew he didn’t have the votes, he should’ve stepped aside or found a different Speaker. Him stepping aside would look much better than the current debacle.
Jan 4, 2023 at 5:14pmMastodon for iOS
Show threadMichael GemarJan 4, 2023
@11kelleyk @jaykuo Right, but he was the clear frontrunner, so it would have been silly not to run. No one else seemed likely to command a majority, at least until actual voting showed the real sense of the causus, and forced some horsetrading.