The shitshow has begun

[Burning Petard]

Well, it is lasting a little longer. On the 8th ballot, still no majority and Jeffries got more votes than McCarthy. If you are a political junkie, suggest watching it on C-Span. The rules for C-Span coverage prohibits the cameras showing anything beyond the person speaking. No panning around the room to show how empty is usually is, or who is talking to who in an aisle.

These rules have been set aside for this process and you get to see much of that stuff, even if they do not have a hot mike.

snailgate

[MajGenl.Meade]

Also on youtube PBS live stream

[Econoline]

[BoSoxGal]

sPEAKER gEORGE sANTOS.jpg

[Scooter]

For those who were Schoolhouse Rock fans:

[Scooter]

[Burning Petard]

I have to share (steal?) the lead sentence from a column in the NYTimes yesterday by Michelle Goldberg:

"As we approach the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack, it’s been grimly amusing to see that the party of insurrection can’t even manage the orderly transfer of power to itself. Rarely does karma play out so neatly."

snailgate

[Sue U]

They should hurry up and elect McCarthy as Speaker; I've already bought a head of lettuce.

[BoSoxGal]

[Econoline]

Sue -

[Econoline]

An oldie but a goodie. And quite appropriate...again.

[Big RR]

Sue

[ex-khobar Andy]

I still think that the only explanation for L Graham's change of heart (I use that expression loosely) is that he was reminded in late 2016 of some pictures of him doing naughty things in a Trump-owned hotel. And for the record I am by no means suggesting that said naughties were sexual in nature, nor that our great President 45 had anything to do with hidden cameras or secret files during the time he was a top-rated hotelier.

[Bicycle Bill]

OK, here's the plan.  Someone loudly announces on the House floor that there's a vendor on the Capitol steps giving out FREE January 6th commemorative merchandise, MAGA hats, AR-15s, and Trump NFT trading cards.  Once 12 or more Republicans rush out to take advantage of this incredible opportunity, the remaining representatives call for an immediate vote, and Hakkeem Jeffries wins, 212 to 211 (or better).

-"BB"-

[MajGenl.Meade]

Meanwhile in the Republican dominated Ohio House, a surprise awaited the (almost) anointed Republican Speaker, Derek Merrin:

22 of the (Republican) caucus’s 67 members, including three from Mr. Merrin’s northwest Ohio backyard, sided with all 32 Democrats in the chamber to instead elect Rep. Jason Stephens from rural Lawrence County on the opposite side of the state from Toledo.

Or to put it another way, 32 Democrats pulled a fast one, aiding 22 disaffected Republicans who didn't want Merrin in the hot seat. And the Dems got some useful positions out of the deal which otherwise they would have lacked.

[Econoline]

OK, here's the plan.

Jim Wright (on Facebook) has a similar plan and realistically I think this could work and might be Jeffries' best shot:

Find 6 Republicans and offer them whatever they want, committee memberships, committee chairs, whatever pork they want for their district. Name a battleship after them, I don't care, and elect Hakeem Jeffries Speaker of the House.

[Scooter]

[ex-khobar Andy]

I'm watching the shit show. They've just had the 14th vote where McCarthy was one vote short. The idea that the speakership is in the hands of a total fucking asshole like Matt Gaetz is just insanity.

[ex-khobar Andy]

Just watched Hakeem Jeffries' speech as he handed over the gavel. I haven't paid much attention to him and I don't think I could have picked him out of a lineup until this week, but I am impressed with what I have seen.

[Burning Petard]

IMNSHO, the Speaker of the House is a significant job just on principle -- they are next in line for POTUS, after the Vice-President.

With that in mind, Jeffries has one quality that puts him at the top of my list -- He does not want the job, either Speaker, or President.

snailgate