comment: >
  
  It's a race to see whether he can seek and destroy the last pockets of dignity he has remaining before the 3rd.  I have faith that he will dig deep and completely abase himself in time, but if he can't pull it together, it could actually crack the party.
context: “A lack of an alternative GOP Speaker candidate, McCarthy allies say, is the biggest sign that he will ultimately become Speaker. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) is running as a protest challenger to McCarthy, but even the “Never Kevin” Republicans acknowledge that he is not a viable alternative.”
  It’s either a negotiation tactic or they are planning on grinding everything to a halt as it sound like the next most likely rep isn’t super likely. As another person pointed out, you don’t have to be in congress so maybe they pick trump or some other nut job they find palatable? Guliani? >
  
  It's Steve Scalise.  He can't run openly because he's McCarthy's #2.  But if McCarthy can't get there, Scalise can unify Republicans without a problem. >
  
  Thats a good point. Though I’ve not seen him as indistinguishable from McCarthy enough to think he won’t still have enough pushback from the radical radical right, you are probably right. Think the bobert would go along with him? >
  
  Yes, he was in the Tea Party Caucus and he's on the Republican Study Committee, so he has conservative credentials.  Especially with the assassination attempt on him, he has universal appeal among Republicans. >
  
  Another good point. Maybe they picked McCarthy in the first place because he has better hair then. >
  
  They picked McCarthy because has the support of almost all of the caucus. >
  
  That’s true. The perplexing part is that they didn’t work all this out behind closed doors ahead of time and are sort of airing their dirty laundry in public because this definitely doesn’t look good. I guess the real question I have is did they not see this coming from their extremes, because surely they would want to hide the infighting? Someone like Mitch McConnell never would have let this stuff get out in the Senate (which is probably why he is where he is. >
  
  Well McConnell won his leadership election with about the same amount of support as McCarthy.  But, there is no Senate-wide election for Majority Leader.  So even to become Majority Leader, McConnell doesn't have to navigate this situation that McCarthy does where, on top of needing a majority of his caucus to be elected Leader, he then needs a majority of the House to be elected Speaker.  So that's why it seems like McConnell handles things so much better. >
  
  Anyone can be speaker. You don't have to be a Congressperson. So I nominate Levar Burton for House Speaker. >
  
  I want the pwiest from Pwincess Bwide. >
  
  He'll be thah Speakahhh.... fohevahhh >
  
  I do hope it takes him WEEKS to become Speaker. Let him earn the nickname the Nobbled Speaker. >
  
  That's the funny thing, he already is. I suspect he will still end up being Speaker, but this story has been in the news since the election, and now the national image of him (accurately) shows him to be spineless, ineffectual, and feckless, completely beholden to everyone. He'll command no respect and will be a walking joke. >
  
  So, a republican then? >
  
  I hope he gets it.  Having such a spineless jellyfish representing the Republicans will be great fun.  He'll be devoured by the Republicans who still have moral compass on one side and the Maga idiots on the other.  I love when the Republicans devour themselves. >
  
  You're right, this guy craves this power so he deserves it, a crown of molten hot gold. >
  
  Plus because of his weakness, he's going to be like a ping pong ball in a tornado.  It will be fun to watch how the GOP in the House will turn on each other.  At least, that is my hope.  Instead, they'll be investigating Hunter Biden's laptop and the January 6 commission instead of addressing real issues. >
  
  I'd give $5 to see one of the Democrats on the first day pull out popcorn and just watch the circus show >
  
  I'd be shocked if he didn't get it. >
  
  who cares , he shouldn't be speaker or even be close to the Capitol in any sort of function anyways >
  
  Bakersfield is a wonderful place to live /s >
  
  I’ve never met anyone from there who had good things to say about it. 
  Even Fresno has people who defend it but never Bakersfield. >
  
  Trump doesn't have the balls to run for Speaker. He knows that if he ran for Speaker he wouldn't win. That's why he hasn't done it. 
  (Here's to hoping someone shows him this comment.) >
  
  Maybe I’m just silly but is the power really worth it the drugs and alchohol addiction? 
  You can’t win with republicans because if you did a fraction of the stuff the right wing wants you end up ending the country and if you don’t you last what 2 or 4 years at best. >
  
  The image of a bunch of cats playing with a mouse comes to mind. >
  
  Why is everyone focused on if McCarthy loses? We also need to be concerned for the other trying for the spot. >
  
  Eh.  That's not really how it works. 
  They hold a vote and if no one has 50% + 1 of the entire House then they vote again.  And again.  And again.  Until there is a winner. 
  So the handful of Republicans that aren't committing to McCarthy either need to back a Democratic candidate out of spite, or they're gonna do nothing, because I doubt they're going to convince about 200-some Republicans to change their minds, and I doubt they're going to get 200-some Democrats to vote for some crazy idiot. 
  The most likely outcome is that they fall in line after negotiating a deal with McCarthy, or a few Democrats vote for McCarthy after letting him fail the first round of voting just to get things over with and go home for the day.