What Can be Done With This House of Representatives ?
Obviously the only thing any reasonable person would do is point and laugh at the Republicans. I am not that reasonable person, so I will try to think of a solution.
Obviously one very boring possibility is that the Republicans will finally get their act together and elect a speaker. This is the most likely outcome, but very far from optimal.
The other possibility is that a speaker will be elected by a bipartisan majority like the majority which prevented default and delayed the government shutdown. I think this would be very good and want to figure out how it might possibly happen.
One possibility is that number 1 vote getter Hakeem Jeffries picks up 5 more votes and is elected speaker. This requires finding 5 Republican Representatives who are totally sick of it and want to leave (they will never win a Republican primary and Democratic voters will probably prefer a real Democrat) and who are also responsible, public spirited, and moderate. I do not believe that there are 5 such Republicans. I don’t think it will happen (for one thing the penalty might not just be the end of a career but also the end of a life or two).
A more likely possibility is for a Republican representative to be elected speaker with the support of some Democrats. I guess this will mean all (or almost all) Democrats and a few Republicans. I am pretty sure that the speaker will not be elected to the next Congress and nor will the few Republicans. But I think this could be very attractive to someone who is sick of the mess in the House and wants to quit. That person will quit as a hero statesman (or woman) who saved the House. That means post career (in distant 2025) invitations to appear on TV talk shows and an income as a lobbyist more than the usual 10 times a Representatives salary. The other at least 4 have to be compensated too, without even getting the gavel.
I think this is a very attractive option for the Democrats even if they get nothing explicit in exchange for their votes. The fact that they gave the speaker the gavel means they can take it away (I think they can count on at least 5 nutso Republicans who will never ever forgive the bipartisan speaker — in any case the bipartisan speaker probably wouldn’t want to pull two partisan shifts (that looks like ambition crazed politician not noble statesman and this person will almost certainly be looking for a new line of work on January 2025).
There are advantages for the few other Republicans who sacrifice their careers by voting with Democrats. They get to be considered bipartisan statespersons too. Also they get to blackmail the new speaker who needs their support. In Italy politicians all try to be “l’ago del bilancio” (the needle of the balance — that is the thing in the middle which decides who wins). Gaining that position which winning the praise of all the very serious talking heads should be highly attractive.
OK so I assume that doesn’t work and there is no Republican representative who wants a gavel given by Democrats. The speaker does not have to be a member of Congress. My next choice would be an eminent Republican supreme court justice (two birds one stone – not gonna happen). Then some Republican judge bored with working on an appeals court. None are likely to be available.
Now I get to my actual proposal: Speaker Dolly Parton. Everyone likes Dolly Parton. She actually is a stateswoman willing to do a thankless job. She would need to brush up on the rules of the House, but I think she’s a quick study.
I nominate Dolly Parton for Speaker of the House of Representatives.
I’m not even 100% sure I am joking.
Update: assuming Ms Parton knows what’s best for her and refuses, I have other desperate thoughts.
Susan Collins: Represents a state with a Democratic Governor. Two birds. One stone. Definitely not available but a man can dream.
From the same state, how about Olympia Snowe: already ejected from the party for an objectively pro-Democrat interest in actual policy. Is used to enormous power based on Barack Obama’s devotion to bipartisanship. Currently not busy as far as I know.
Mitt Romney: already a dead Republican walking. Looks the part. Able to work with Democrats as he demonstrated when he enacted Obamacare in Massachusetts long before most people had heard of Obama. Really really hates Donald Trump. Reminds other Trump hating Republicans of the time before Trump. Can afford the pay cut (actually I think Speakers make as much money as Senators). As senator always votes with the other Republicans so it doesn’t matter that he will be replaced by an ultra conservative a few years earlier than is inevitable.
George Santos: would be worth it just for the laughs. Sadly voting for him would discredit the Democratic party, but still might be worth it just for the laughs.
My daughter suggests there might be 5 Republicans so eager to really really stick it to the freedom caucus that they would vote to make Michelle Obama speaker. I’d do it, but I’ve already decided to retire, so I don’t care about future employability.
Update II: This is serious. I have secretly been hoping for speaker Tom Cole. I admit the reasons are two. FIrst he is Native American ( Chickasaw ). Second he thought it was unfair that the Trump tax cuts gave even more money to the rich (OK he voted for them but at least he said it was unfair).
He is currently chairman of the ruled committee. He is always described as respected by both Republicans and Democrats. Given his current standing in the Republican Party he is certainly not willing to get elected speaker with the actual votes of actual Democrats. However I think there are dozens of Democrats who would be willing to vote for him (as the best of bad options) if it were necessary.
I think there are 217 Republicans who are willing to vote for him given the understanding that he will be elected speaker with or without there votes, with the votes of Democrats if necessary, and they wouldn’t like a speaker to be elected with the votes of Democrats.
I think Democrats can even pass on the roll call to make it clear that they will vote for Speaker Cole if that is necessary and do you really want to be the Republican responsible for a speaker being elected with the votes of Democrats “honorable” member Gaetz ? Aren’t you in enough trouble already ?
I’ll second that nomination … beats what we’ve got
Whatever.
As I suggested earlier, it would be possible to get Jeffries elected without GOP reps voting for him, since he usually gets more votes than the GOP candidate does. What that would take is a largish number of GOP reps voting ‘present’. But it seems they don’t actually want to have a Dem Speaker for what would still be a GOP-controlled House, more or less. Go figure!
Want something different? Elect more Dems to the House, fewer GOP. I am all for that.
Seriously, the other thing that could be done is for Dems to vote present the next time (if ever) the GOP puts up somebody half way decent, if they do. When/if that decent choice has a majority of the GOP votes. Get the House functioning again.
In other words, it’s in Dem hands to get the House functioning again, it seems.
Make it happen. Maybe Romney.
Hmmm
No on Susan Collins. She dithers, worries too much about kids chalking her sidewalk. Is responsible for almost killing the USPS. Feet made of sand.
Tom Cole sounds pretty kool. Yes vote.
Mitt Romney? I guess that might work for at least till the next election.
Dolly is country and her folksy approach would stymie politicians. Yes, could work.
Snowe looks like a person not to be fooled with. The House needs a woman with a rubber-tipped wooden pointer (like they used in schools of the fifties) to whack them on the head for misbehaving or slap on the pulpit to silence them. A crack on the pulpit with a wooden pointer is a sharper sound than the thunk of a gavel.
It could also be used to point out the troublemaker in the House.
Santos flawed entry to the House could be reflective of how many of the others arrived there. Election chicanery is rampant in states.
Can we not find anyone younger?
I am too uninformed about Republican politicians. Is there one who recently retired without first alienating Republican voters?
The politically aware celebrities (who are not bigoted xenophobes) seem to lean too far to the left for Republicans.
How about a resident non-citizen? Shakira seems remarkably capable. Prince Harry?
Maybe Arnold Schwarzenegger? Republican, but not crazy. Some government experience.
Second no on Susan Collins. Not trustworthy, IMO.
Is there a problem with someone in the Senate serving as Speaker of the House? Legally?
@Jane,
There’s nothing in the Constitution that specifies that the Speaker has to be a member of the House. Some House Republicans have suggested Donald Trump as speaker.
@Jane,
OTOH, the Constitution *does* stipulate that the POTUS must be a natural-born citizen, and that the Speaker is second in line for succession after the VPOTUS. So no Arnold for you.
Reminder: “The speaker is second in the United States presidential line of succession, after the vice president and ahead of the president pro tempore of the Senate.”
Arne,
Thanks for the reminder. While s/he needn’t be an elected member of the House, s/he must be a natural-born US citizen. Ergo, Arnold is disqualified.
He’s not disqualified for Speaker but they’d skip him if they had to get to #3 as President.
Is that true? When Kissinger was Secretary of State under Nixon, he was technically in the order of succession – under the old rules – but not qualified to actually serve. This was a major plot point in a hilarious National Lampoon comic book insert starring Claude S. Brinegar, the Secretary of Transportation, plotting in Kind Hearts and Coronets fashion to take over the presidency.
It seems likely to me that a non-native born person who is unqualified to serve as President could still serve as Speaker, they would just have to be skipped over in the presidential succession. The native-born requirement applies to the Presidency, not to the Speaker’s post.
Tom Emmer , of 3rd ranking GOP rep from Minnesota, at least did not assert Trump won in 2020, has put his name up for Speaker, has support from Kevin McCarthy.
Tom Emmer Didn’t Help Trump Steal the 2020 Election.
Mother Jones – Oct 21
I didn’t know that. If Trump hates him, I’m all for Emmer.
Often I find things I ave been seeking in the most obvious possible place.
Soeaker Emmer is the most obvious solution and maybe also the correct solution.
Trump noticed that Emmer was interested 3 weeks ago and came down hard against him immediately, so his chances aren’t too good and never were.
But if the Dems can tolerate him he can get the job, probably, with their help.
If the Dems decide to do this, they had best keep it a secret before the vote because if the GOP finds out ahead of time, most will never vote for him, alas.
Just to be clear, the Dems don’t have to vote for him, they would just have to vote ‘present’, unless they need to counteract GOP votes against him. That might make them feel better if they find after he wins that he isn’t going to do them any favors.
Note that Minnesota went for Joe Biden with margin of 7.12% in 2020, after choosing HRC in 2016 with a margin of 1.52%; expect miracles.
Is there (a Republican politician) who recently retired without first alienating Republican voters?
Chris Christie maybe?
Chris Christie Tells ‘Morning Joe’ He Doesn’t Care Who the Next GOP House Speaker Is: ‘Pick Somebody and Let’s Go’
What a blowhard. I suggest punishing him by making him speaker.
The MAGA GOP reps would not be happy with Christie since he went all anti-Trump, and Christie no doubt wouldn’t want the job (even with the #3 aspects of it?), but I like his “Pick somebody & go” spirit! If they choose him, he’s got to take it. The new Paul Ryan!
Handicapping U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer’s chances to become the next speaker
Minnesota Reformer – Oct 23
D.C. tipsheets game it out, but one problem emerges: Not Trumpy enough
As observed above, Minnesota often backs Dem presidential candidates and did so in both 2016 & 2020. Perhaps that is sufficient to explain why Emmer disses Trump, who can’t afford to be angry with Minnesota voters generally but can find an outlet.
Divided House Republicans Meet Yet Again to Choose a Speaker
NY Times – just in
The House GOP was meeting behind closed doors to grind through multiple votes to find a nominee for speaker, with seven of their members vying for the post.
Emmer on top after first round of voting for GOP speaker pick
Fox News – just in
Rep. Tom Emmer won the most votes in the first round of voting for the House Republicans’ next nominee for speaker, but is still short of a majority.
Moderate House Dem offering to help Emmer take step towards becoming speaker
A bold step indeed. A Dem rep is offering to vote ‘present’ for his fellow Minnesotan, rather than vote for his Dem leader. Will any other Dems join him? Wait & see. (This would lower the majority requirement to win the Speaker’s post, by one, so far.)
(Despite what Fox wrote, Dean Phillips is a Dem, representing Minnesota’s 3rd district since Jan 2019, says Wikipedia.)
Emmer Drops Speaker Bid After Right-Wing Backlash
NY Times – just in
Tom Emmer, the House G.O.P.’s No. 3 leader, narrowly won his party’s nomination but drew an immediate backlash from right-wing colleagues and former President Donald J. Trump.
If ALL of the Dems had voted ‘present’ after this, then Emmer would be the Speaker, because 117 to 97 would have been sufficient, which means (most importantly) that the House would have a Speaker again. The reality is of course that although the Speaker can make life miserable for the minority Dems, it was always going to be that way until the electorate comes to its senses again.
If it can’t be George Santos, then it’s gotta be Matt Gaetz.
Obviously the last, best choice.
Chris Christie was complaining last night on MSNBC that the Dems brought this on themselves, by insisting on voting for Hakeem Jeffries over Kevin McCarthy.
I think history is probably going to look at it that way.
Seems like both parties are looking to destroy the Congress.
Maybe piece it all back together again from the ashes, to risk mixing a metaphor.
One might ask, how is it the Dems responsibility to rescue the country from MAGA GOP, and the ineffectual few non-MAGA folks in Congress? The GOP has to come to its senses, they seem to be thinking.
They are incapable of doing that. That is painfully pbvious. It was & is the responsibility of the Dems to step in and save the country, and they chose/choose not to do so.
GOP Nominates Mike Johnson for Speaker After Spurning Emmer
NY Times – just in
The selection of the low-profile Louisianian capped a topsy-turvy day, but it was not clear that Mr. Johnson could do any better at uniting Republicans.
Representative Mike Johnson appears to have more support for the speakership than any previous candidate.
NY Times – just in
The selection of the ultraconservative and low-profile Louisianian capped a topsy-turvy day and gave Republicans hope of ending the weekslong deadlock that has paralyzed the House.
Well, that’s over finally.
“A member of the Trump populist wing is now speaker.”