Because Jordan can’t give up the dream of becoming Speaker, but doesn’t have the votes to actually achieve it.
The problem is that you are thinking as a rational normal human being, but House Republicans aren’t rational normal human beings. They are a pack of thin-skinned wannabe tyrants and cowardly backbenchers with a healthy dose of conmen thrown in. Placebo Speaker McBowtie with the powers, but not the official title, is likely the only way they can square that circle within their caucus.
Yeah, I’m drawing The Blank on that one
Like Dennis Hastert before him, Gym Jordan is wrestling with the problems of the speakership.
Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) just now: “Most consider it a very dangerous precedent to set that he can without being selected Speaker — cause he was not elected, his name was written down as a continuity of government until a speaker can be elected — that he can takeover the Congress.”
“Continuity of government”: might that phrase not include having a House of Representatives that can vote on legislation? If there is any doubt that current House rules allow for a Speaker Pro Tem to bring legislation forward, let the House vote in rules that give the SPT that authority. If the current rules do not even allow for that vote to be taken, then elect McHenry Speaker, on the understanding that he will resign whenever the House might be ready to vote on a new Speaker, along with assurances to Dems about passing a budget and so forth.
Dem Jim McGovern. He’s also the ranking member of the House Rules committee, which is probably where he’s getting all the private Republican complaints from.
Should Democrats trust McHenery?
Remember Mitch McConnell saying in 2009 that what should be most important to Republicans was not America but keeping Obama from a second term. Anyone think they have different thoughts about Biden?
The leverage Democrats have is because of Republican disfunction.
Unless you think you can trust McHenry, why remove that disfunction?
Making him acting Speaker, or a Speaker who can be easily removed, requires continual aid from Democrats.
Or to put another way, I don’t trust McHenry. Therefore until the important actions of aid to Ukraine and passing a budget in line with the agreement made earlier between Biden and McCarthy are done, Democrats should help only to the extent necessary to get those done.
Otherwise I could see McHenry becoming Speaker and see the crazy Putin caucus still in control.
So any help from Democrats, for now, should be short term until McHenry, unlike other Republicans, shows he can be trusted to put country over party.
Says the asshole that ousted the previous Speaker just for fun.
MAGA is as big a threat to democracy, and is just as wedded to violence, as the Ku Klux Klan and the German-American Bund. The 1870s-era Klan Act should be used to dissolve them and seize the funds that Trump has raised.
These people will not understand how to be civilized until an anvil falls on them.
Chip, you are a shithead
Maybe McHenry is the dream stooge. Maybe he is the real Vladimir Putin.
Too funny. Republicans In Disarray
Gaetz is not popular.
CNN reports things are getting heated. At one point, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was told to sit down by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and refused, then Rep. Michael Bost (R-IL “got all emotional” and “was cussing at him” and “telling him it’s all his fault.”
Moar popcorn, please (although chaos is not what we want or need).
Those dumbasses.
OK. That’s all fair. I think we agree and have similar concerns on the broad points. However, notable that McHenry did vote to certify the 2020 election and also voted against shutting down the government.
Unless they change the rules, the sword of damoclese is still hanging above the speakers head. He walks a fine line with or without a 14 day reappointment window.
He’s an asshole, but they all are.
This most recent quote from Representative Byron McDonalds highlights how dangerous is the current Republican Party:
When asked if Dems might support the resolution, he said he thinks that Democratic support would make it more dead in the GOP conference.
In a sane Party, having support from the other Party would be a good thing.
I originally thought the House rules did allow the Speaker Pro Tem to introduce legislation, as the position was created post-9/11 in case of a terrorist attack wiping our House leadership. However, Dems put forth a good explainer showing how the original authors and debate clearly indicated the Speaker Pro Tem only had the power to hold a new Speaker vote (apparently, they didn’t think that the House would fail to elect a new Speaker making this a perfunctory step.)
That can be fixed by changing the rules, but that will likely require Democratic votes, which is what Republicans are complaining.
The stated GOP position on McHenry power is just complete and total bullshit. Dumb-shits like Jackson are just afraid the new guy will get something done; an act anathema to the Gaetzoids, who get much better mileage out of doing nothing legislative and breaking shit. If they actually have to go on the record about something, their balls shrivel.
Jordan is more like one of Tracy’s nemeses, like Pruneface or Flyface or Gruesome.
Or, take your pick: https://dicktracy.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Villains
I loathe this man. Texas, where all a politician has to do is hate, wear a big hat, and call for blood
We’re supposed to forget the state only joined the US to fight for slavery.
Or that the old, rich Protestant families - see Bush, et al - got their land originally by swearing blind they were Catholic.
Hi, I’m a big talkin’ two-faced bigot who will lie about my faith for money - like my boots?
Cah-tidges!
When asked if Dems might support the resolution, he said he thinks that Democratic support would make it more dead in the GOP conference.
Well then, every Dem should support the entire GOP Conference!!! Support them to death!
Nope, he wouldn’t honor a deal with Democrats anymore than McCarthy did.
What Democrats needs is a commitment from at least 5 Republicans, that they will side with Democrats should anyone from the Republican caucus try to violate the agreement.
That’s why I’ve previously argued that what Democrats really need to do is convince a handful of Problem Solver Caucus Republicans to go independent and caucus with Democrats. Any Republican who agrees to such an arrangement is going to get instantly primaried, so they won’t be able to stay in the party.