Patterico's Pontifications

12/1/2022

Kevin McCarthy Works To Secure Republican Votes In Bid For Speaker

Filed under: General — Dana @ 11:03 am



[guest post by Dana]

Ah:

Representative Kevin McCarthy, the California Republican who is attempting to become the next House speaker, on Wednesday warned the special committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol that members of his party planned to launch an inquiry of their own into the panel’s work next year when Republicans assume control of the chamber.

In a letter sent to the committee’s chairman, Mr. McCarthy instructed the panel to preserve its records — an action already required under House rules — including any recorded transcripts of its more than 1,000 interviews. The missive was the first official indication that newly empowered House Republicans plan not only to end the inquiry at the start of the new Congress, but also to attempt to dismantle and discredit its findings — the latest piece of a broader effort the party has undertaken over the past two years to deny, downplay or shift blame for the deadly attack by a pro-Trump mob.

It comes as Mr. McCarthy toils to shore up his position with hard-right Republicans in his conference who have refused to support his bid for speaker, imperiling his chances of being elected in January.

Mr. McCarthy pledged in the letter that he would hold public hearings scrutinizing the security breakdowns that occurred during the assault, when a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, disrupting Congress’s formal count of electoral votes to confirm Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s election as president.

Here are the hard-right Republicans who have said they are not voting for McCarthy (who needs their votes):

Rep. Andy Biggs (Arizona)
Rep. Matt Gaetz (Florida)
Rep. Ralph Norman (South Carolina)

Reps. Bob Good of Virginia and Matt Rosendale of Montana have expressed doubts about McCarthy becoming the next speaker as well.

Additionally:

One House Republican said they’re aware of a handful more members who are keeping their opposition private until just before the January vote. And while some of McCarthy’s fiercest public critics have openly claimed that there are about 20 hard nos in the conference, others believe the Californian will likely chip away at his opposition.

McCarthy certainly has his work cut out for him.

–Dana

55 Responses to “Kevin McCarthy Works To Secure Republican Votes In Bid For Speaker”

  1. Hello.

    Dana (1225fc) — 12/1/2022 @ 11:03 am

  2. I can’t imagine anyone I’d rather see sweat this out.

    Appalled (db3721) — 12/1/2022 @ 11:16 am

  3. He doesn’t need 218 votes. He needs a majority of those present and voting

    Sammy Finkelman (5a21a3) — 12/1/2022 @ 11:40 am

  4. Isn’t that a distinction without a difference, Sammy? All the Dems will show up and vote their candidate. The GOP rebels really don’t get to stage a walkout or the result is a Democrat.

    Appalled (03f53c) — 12/1/2022 @ 12:13 pm

  5. I can’t imagine anyone I’d rather see sweat this out.

    Sure you could: Nancy Pelosi.

    DCSCA (839885) — 12/1/2022 @ 12:35 pm

  6. @2. Going RINO?

    “Kevin McCarthy has no ideology. He has no core set of beliefs.”- Adam Schiff

    The ‘ol ‘Young Gun’ has no ideology?

    Pshaw. Bless populism. There IS a God.

    DCSCA (839885) — 12/1/2022 @ 12:39 pm

  7. #5

    Pelosi is a female Mitch McConnell. Gifted in the dark arts of politics — and yet a convenient symbol of what folks hate about DC. I actually respect her, because she is good at her job. (just in service of the wrong policies.)

    McCarthy is just — hapless and supine. The way he handled the Trump impeachment. It will someday be legndary.

    Appalled (03f53c) — 12/1/2022 @ 12:45 pm

  8. I’m thinking the constant leaks to the media of witness testimony is a violation of the law, and the self anointed Rule of Law (TM) advocates here will applaud an investigation enthusiastically

    JF (4fda19) — 12/1/2022 @ 12:45 pm

  9. #5 Now that you mention Schiff — yeah, I wouldn’t mind him in a McCarthy situation. As long as it wouldn’t make him Speaker.

    Appalled (03f53c) — 12/1/2022 @ 12:48 pm

  10. I’m thinking the constant leaks to the media of witness testimony is a violation of the law…..

    Unless the information is classified, there apparently is no statute that makes leaking closed door testimony illegal. Which is why you don’t hear Republicans in Congress calling for investigations or prosecutions of Committee leaks. It’s part of being in Washington. Both sides leak to their advantage.

    Depending on the source of leaks relative to the Justice Department investigation into 1/6 and MAL, it depends on the source. Leaking of grand jury testimony is illegal by DOJ lawyers or grand jurors, but a witness or outside lawyers discussing testimony is not illegal.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 12/1/2022 @ 1:06 pm

  11. Now that you mention Schiff — yeah, I wouldn’t mind him in a McCarthy situation. As long as it wouldn’t make him Speaker.

    Appalled (03f53c) — 12/1/2022 @ 12:48 pm

    Schiff is full of himself.

    norcal (862cdb) — 12/1/2022 @ 1:07 pm

  12. @7. Pelosi is a female Mitch McConnell. Gifted in the dark arts of politics — and yet a convenient symbol of what folks hate about DC. I actually respect her, because she is good at her job.

    Ho,Ho, Ho-Chi-Minh was ‘good’ at his ‘job,’ too. She’s an ancient, finger-wagging Royalist and part of the problem creators, not a source for solutions. .Especially when she babbles idiocy like this:

    “I trust his [Biden’s] judgement.” – Nancy Pelosi

    Storm the castle.

    DCSCA (839885) — 12/1/2022 @ 1:13 pm

  13. Sammy

    Some are saying you have to have 218 votes or more

    EPWJ (650a62) — 12/1/2022 @ 1:24 pm

  14. Scalise is the only viable alternative. It won’t be one of the fire-breathers. And I think Scalise has more hard opposition from the center.

    This could break the party into Trump and not-Trump. Something that might end up differently than one expects. It could even elect Jeffries speaker in some kind of fragile coalition.

    This is a dangerous game of chicken going on. Of course, the House Freedom Caucus has blocked most GOP proposals since 2017. They are actually an internal opposition party. Eject them and move on.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/1/2022 @ 1:59 pm

  15. I can’t imagine anyone I’d rather see sweat this out

    Getting Speaker Gohmert would be your just deserts.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:01 pm

  16. All the Dems will show up and vote their candidate.

    Maybe the Dems get to pick the Republican, in exchange for some added committee seats or something.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:02 pm

  17. Some are saying you have to have 218 votes or more

    The speaker can be removed at any time by a majority vote, although it has never happened. Getting the job with a mere majority of those present and voting seems fragile.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:06 pm

  18. > Maybe the Dems get to pick the Republican, in exchange for some added committee seats or something.

    I think it would be hilarious if the Dems united with Valadao and one or two other centrist Trump-disliking Republicans to make Cheney speaker.

    aphrael (4c4719) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:08 pm

  19. “Kevin McCarthy has no ideology. He has no core set of beliefs.”- Adam Schiff

    You cannot be an ideologue and be Speaker unless your party is unified behind you. At this point in time the only thing I’m sure of is that the next Speaker will be a weathervane.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:09 pm

  20. I think it would be hilarious if the Dems united with Valadao and one or two other centrist Trump-disliking Republicans to make Cheney speaker.

    Funny, but unstable. See the 1-vote CA GOP majority of 1995-6, where Willie Brown trolled the CA GOP by doing just that, twice. Both Dem-elected speakers were quickly recalled and defeated, but the turmoil wrecked the state party.

    Neither recalled “speaker” ever held office again. Cheney hates Trump, not the GOP.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:13 pm

  21. I think it would be hilarious if the Dems united with Valadao and one or two other centrist Trump-disliking Republicans to make Cheney speaker.

    aphrael (4c4719) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:08 pm

    All I want for Christmas!

    norcal (862cdb) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:17 pm

  22. @21 There will be a few slimy democrats who will male a deal with mccarthy to get him speaker, Its done all the time. That slime ball in south texas will be one of them cuellar.

    asset (ca6c71) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:26 pm

  23. As I’ve said before, the sh!tshow will continue until the voters improve.

    It’s not the “swamp”, the “establishment”, or evil conspiracies. The politicians are merely a reflection of the voters. It is poppycock to think otherwise.

    norcal (862cdb) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:38 pm

  24. Kevin

    As I Understand, 8 democrats have not been in DC for several years – allowed to vote remotely by Nancy. Most think these have staff voting for them as they are running business’s and doing other things.

    Getting them back to DC – with expired credentials will be interesting

    EPWJ (650a62) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:47 pm

  25. @23Generation Z voted twice the rate for democrats as millennials who voted much more for democrats then older generations who are dying off. Only half of generation Z has reached voting age. In AZ 110 latinx turn 18 every day add dreamers 135 every day and almost every one of them hating republicans for their public racism to get anglo votes. Also democrat who can’t afford the cost of living in california are moving here to counter cali republicans who began moving here earlier. In 2016 thanks to trump white vote was 73% instead of predicted 72% allowing him to win. In 2020 white vote was 70% allowing biden to get 8 million more votes then trump. Except in floriduh latinx did not go heavily for republicans. In 2024 white voters will only be 68% of voters. AOC/abrams 2024!

    asset (ca6c71) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:54 pm

  26. asset,

    Are you aware that Latinos don’t like the term “Latinx”?

    norcal (862cdb) — 12/1/2022 @ 3:00 pm

  27. As I Understand, 8 democrats have not been in DC for several years – allowed to vote remotely by Nancy. Most think these have staff voting for them as they are running business’s and doing other things.

    I suspect that this practice will end.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/1/2022 @ 3:18 pm

  28. Are you aware that Latinos don’t like the term “Latinx”?

    I’m waiting for the Left to start using the term “Negrox.”

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/1/2022 @ 3:20 pm

  29. older generations who are dying off.

    The older generation is always “dying off.” But it never goes away.

    The attitudes change, of course. I think there are now more racist Gen X and Millennials than there are surviving “Greatest Generation” folks, almost all of whom fought integration. Boomers mostly lived through the 60’s and were in the streets for change.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/1/2022 @ 3:23 pm

  30. As I Understand, 8 democrats have not been in DC for several years – allowed to vote remotely by Nancy.

    Proxy voting was instituted in May 2020, so it hasn’t gone on for “several years.”

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 12/1/2022 @ 3:42 pm

  31. @30. Defined:

    “sev·er·al [ˈsev(ə)rəl] more than two but not many.”

    December 2022 is more than two years post May, 2020.

    DCSCA (af98ea) — 12/1/2022 @ 4:12 pm

  32. rip,

    3 is several 20,21,22 – to me several means more than 2. Sorry for the confusion. Maybe I’m wrong in thinking that not ever showing up for work is okay.

    EPWJ (650a62) — 12/1/2022 @ 4:33 pm

  33. asset (ca6c71) — 12/1/2022 @ 2:26 pm

    There will be a few slimy democrats who will male a deal with mccarthy to get him speaker,

    More likely, before that happens, Hakeem Jeffries will make a deal with Kevin McCarthy to let a dozen Democrats not cast a vote in exchange for some ability to bring bills to the floor..

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 12/1/2022 @ 4:33 pm

  34. And letting Adam Schiff stay on the Intelligence committee, while he plans to run for Senator from California.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 12/1/2022 @ 4:34 pm

  35. Appeals Court Scraps Special Master Review in Trump Documents Case

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 12/1/2022 @ 4:56 pm

  36. Poor Judge Aileen just can’t grant no relief.

    nk (52bad1) — 12/1/2022 @ 5:10 pm

  37. Cheney is unlikely to ever hold office again, Kevin M. The Republican party has collectively unpersoned her.

    aphrael (4c4719) — 12/1/2022 @ 5:43 pm

  38. Cheney is unlikely to ever hold office again, Kevin M. The Republican party has collectively unpersoned her.

    In a world where Trump is convicted of seditious conspiracy she has maybe a path forward. But I just don’t see her maliciously RFing he GOP. That was never her issue. It would be terribly petty.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/1/2022 @ 6:19 pm

  39. Trumpworld is a cesspool. Nobody who steps in it comes out clean. Cheney and McCarthy are siblings under the skin. Each damaged in their own way.

    nk (52bad1) — 12/1/2022 @ 6:37 pm

  40. It’s time to bring back Boehner. The GOP could use a speaker who’s not delusional.

    John Boddie (18ca17) — 12/1/2022 @ 6:44 pm

  41. Part of what’s going to be difficult and painful over the next several years is that the combination of the slim majority and a large caucus who are clearly delusional will result in it being *extremely* difficult to run the House, for anyone.

    Welcome back to lurching from catastrophe to catastrophe.

    aphrael (4c4719) — 12/1/2022 @ 6:53 pm

  42. Assuming McCarthy actually gets elected Speaker, it won’t be long before Republicans start saying “I miss Paul Ryan”.

    Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 12/1/2022 @ 8:52 pm

  43. Washington insiders have noted the apple never fell far from the tree.
    In 2015, Cheney and his daughter Liz wrote Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America. Colin Powell read the book and had this to say:
    “They are idiots….” Powell wrote in an e-mail to Kenneth Duberstein, the former chief of staff to Ronald Reagan

    steveg (9a8bce) — 12/1/2022 @ 9:14 pm

  44. Uh-oh.
    Actually, I think Gaetz will come around and vote for McCarthy, and he’s doing this to lever himself into better committee assignments. He may be a bouffant hair-do with an eye toward the young ladies, but he can’t be completely stupid.

    Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 12/1/2022 @ 9:18 pm

  45. @29 boomers stopped protesting in the streets and climbed into their bmws! Millennials will be the first generation to do less well then their parents and it will be worse for generation Z. Most young women and minority men are democrats. Its closer with young white males. Non-exploitive capitalism which I practice is the only thing that will save capitalism from socialism. The top 1% has worn out its welcome of buying politicians and corrupting power. The really smart 1% like bezos and gates are moderate liberals to protect their wealth from the democrat party as the republican conservative ideolgy is no threat to them. Biden/pelosi is not a threat AOC and the squad are!

    asset (1c76bc) — 12/1/2022 @ 9:58 pm

  46. It’s time to bring back Boehner. The GOP could use a speaker who’s not delusional.

    You know, if Boehner had let the Tea Party get some traction, we might never have had Trump. But he thought it all a fad.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/2/2022 @ 12:45 am

  47. it won’t be long before Republicans start saying “I miss Paul Ryan”.

    I’ve been saying that since the day he left. And some day, not long from now, we may see him again. Just not as Speaker.

    He’s got a plan

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/2/2022 @ 12:48 am

  48. @45: I bet you have a grandmother who said maybe you’d see the Revolution.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 12/2/2022 @ 12:50 am

  49. @48 I am seeing the revolution. Bernie, AOC and the squad are the beginning a light in the darkness. Non-exploitive capitalism which I am for and democratic socialism are quite similar neither want the government to take over the means of production as true socialism is for. In sweden volvo does better then government owned saab. We had a former gov. symington before he was convicted and forced out of office who wanted the people down at the bottom to be more moral and not greedy like the people at the top because he thought if the little people were just as greedy and corrupt as the people on top it would destabilize az. society and make it harder for the people on top to rip them off! The wealthy class needs a steady access to lower class money when they lose theirs in sceems to get even richer like the .com craze of 2000 the derivitive/housing bubble of 2008 and bit coin collapse of today. As for paul ryan he appeals to economic free trade conservatives of the republican donor class and no one else. Populists loathe his donor class milton freidman economics and they are now 70% of the gop.

    asset (1c76bc) — 12/2/2022 @ 2:15 am

  50. “If Sanders and Ocasio‐​Cortez really want to turn America into Sweden, what would that look like? For the United States, it would mean, for example, more free trade and a more deregulated product market, no Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the abolition of occupational licensing and minimum wage laws. The United States would also have to abolish taxes on property, gifts, and inheritance. And even after the recent tax cut, America would still have to slightly reduce its corporate tax. Americans would need to reform Social Security from defined benefits to defined contributions and introduce private accounts. They would also need to adopt a comprehensive school voucher system where private schools get the same per‐​pupil funding as public ones.”

    I don’t expect to hear any substantive response from asset. This isn’t about details….this is about REVOLUTION…

    https://www.cato.org/policy-report/january/february-2020/swedens-lessons-america

    AJ_Liberty (6a18fd) — 12/2/2022 @ 3:06 am

  51. Gaetz does what Trump tells him.

    nk (223b56) — 12/2/2022 @ 6:06 am

  52. If he (Gaetz) has any particular personal gripe about the Macron dinner, it is probably that in France it is the patrons of prostitutes who are prosecuted and not the prostitutes themselves.

    nk (223b56) — 12/2/2022 @ 6:13 am

  53. #15

    I wouldn’t mind speaker Donald Trump, to be honest. It gets it all out into the open on who and what the House GOP is.

    Appalled (e0c0ee) — 12/2/2022 @ 6:55 am

  54. #52

    His objection was that he wasn’t invited. He wanted Hunters little black book of prostitutes and art dealers.

    Appalled (e0c0ee) — 12/2/2022 @ 6:56 am

  55. I think there are 5 GOP members on record as not intending to vote for Kevin McCarthy for Speaker.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 12/8/2022 @ 4:41 pm


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