comment: >
  
  They are treating this like a high school student body election.
context: The Floridian sex trafficker voted for the Floridian sex offender. >
  
  We should thank him for wasting his vote. Less damage caused this way. >
  
  I dunno what Gaetz wants out of all this, but his plays are strange and I don’t know why he doesn’t want McCarthy. Not a fan of either person but I didn’t expect him to be a thorn to McCarthy. >
  
  I don't think the holdouts have a plan other than disrupt. I don't think they want Trump or Jordan or any alternative candidate.  They're sure they don't want McCarthy but they don't have an alternative.
  I don't think they have played this out other than saying 'look, this is a perfect example of Government not working'.
  All bomb throwers can do is throw bombs. >
  
  I wouldn’t be surprised at this, but it’s odd he’s talking to dems. You’re now literally creating a situation to give democrats power because they can’t defeat him without them it seems. 
  Meanwhile, this literally has our government at a standstill. They can’t even swear in the new house members, or propose legislation.
  I bet now would be a time for Biden to sign a shit ton of executive orders since nobody can get along to fight them. >
  
  It blows my mind that the moderate Republicans aren’t cutting a deal with Democrats. I’m sure that would be easier and more fruitful than placating the extremists. No one would be able to lead with the rules they want…a single rep being able to disrupt the whole chamber? That’s leading with a gun to your head. You can’t do that. >
  
  Would you let a republican buy favors from you on credit, I wouldn't. >
  
  So. Much. This. Anyone saying the Dems should work with the GOP on this hasn't been paying attention. They will renege first chance they get. Never, ever, EVER trust a word out of their lying ass mouths. I'd rather have no government than one run by criminal pedo fascists. The guy the Dems back has more votes than McCarthy. Unless the GOP will vote in a Dem, fuck 'em and let them deal with it themselves. >
  
  Yep. Most political promises (from any party) are lies, they always have been. To think that the GOP is suddenly going to honor its first promise ever is just naive. >
  
  And to everyone's enjoyment, Donald has lost another election. >
  
  Has there ever been anyone before to lose both a presidential race and the speaker vote >
  
  Probably not in the order he just did; it seems much more likely for someone to get elected to Congress and run for Speaker and lose, then run for President and lose. >
  
  I will nominate Trump as the president of my PTA and HOA next round just to get him to lose more. >
  
  Matt Gaetz likes to sex traffic minors >
  
  Did you say that Florida representative Matt Gaetz is involved in sex trafficking of minors? Could you explain what you mean when you say that Florida representative Matthew Gaetz was involved in sex trafficking of minors? >
  
  Sure. He trafficked a minor by transporting her across state lines for the purpose of paying her for sex. >
  
  I’m having a hard time believing that this could be true. Are we talking about known drug user Matt Gaetz? The Matt Gaetz who was accused by the justice department of using campaign money to pay sex workers? The Matt Gaetz that admitted to paying for sex? The one who’s best friend said that he transported a minor across state lines for the purpose of paying her for sex? That’s outrageous! >
  
  Please be specific and let's not throw around wild-ass accusations willy-nilly.  Is this accused pedophile Matt Gaetz you're talking about? >
  
  I can't be specific but let's just say a person by the name of M. Gaetz trafficked a minor by transporting them across state lines.
  Wait, that's too obvious.  Let's call them Matthew G. >
  
  "If we nominate Trump, we will be destroyed and we will deserve it."
  Lindsey Graham, telling the truth for once.
  He actually undershot. How can someone who watched the Trump shit show happen for four years and refused to do anything about it (95%+ of the party) possibly continue to say with a straight face that they care about good governance? Or even what the truth is? >
  
  It’s still just a wet dream right now but I feel like it’s going to be more likely to get 6 reds to flip and vote for Jeffries just to get Congress functional again vs trying to get GQP to support anyone serious. >
  
  No way. You must not pay much attention to contemporary politics. Every single Republicans would rather obstruct Congress for the entirety of the congressional session before they elect a Democratic speaker. >
  
  There's nothing a conservative hates more than a Democrat.  The order goes something like:
  White conservative christian men at the top
  Fetuses (not babies)
  God
  Conservative christians
  Other white men
  Rapists
  White women
  Murderers
  Other women
  Pedophiles
  Satan
  Democrats >
  
  Might need to slide underage girls maybe between Conservative Christians and Other White Men.  Seems to be a pattern that keeps cropping up every couple years now in one scandal after another. >
  
  Or underage boys. >
  
  Matt Gaetz is not a serious human being. >
  
  
  Matt Gaetz is not a serious human being.
  
  TIL: Matt Gaetz is a human being..... >
  
  Yes, just like totally real human Eduardo Cruz, human senator from the human state of Texas. Behold his squishy organs. >
  
  Are you referring to Cancun Cruz? >
  
  Yes, the Zodiac Killer >
  
  Many people are saying it. >
  
  Well, that’s what I heard. >
  
  Not that surprising after Boebert floated that idea last night on Hannity, but to actually see it being done. Fucking hell.....
  Just for those folks not watching live, Gaetz just voted for him, but did not nominate him. Since McCarthy will not become speaker  this round either, I expect the freedom caucus to nominate Trump in the 8th vote. 
  We might see the GOP implode tonight........
  EDIT: CSPAN just said that McCarthy wants to adjourn again, Dems want to block. Hopefully they'll count this time, I'm pretty sure the nays were louder yesterday.
  EDIT2: Well, I was wrong. At least for now......
  EDIT3: McCarthy has no chance of becoming speaker anymore I think. The freedom caucus won't budge since they apparently have nothing to loose. Something with pigeons and chess. Guess I'll be watching cspan for the foreseeable future.
  EDIT4: Now Boebert nominated Hern and positioned herself as king maker. God, she is so awful.
  EDIT5: jfc, round 10 and both Donalds and Hern are also on the ballot. I can't take another hour of name calling. >
  
  
  We might see the GOP implode tonight..
  
  It'd be hilarious if I wasn't crying for the massive implications it has for the next few years. >
  
  Which implications do you see? 
  I think a real split of the GOP is not out of the question anymore and I think that is a good thing in general. The two party system is just not feasible anymore. >
  
  Imagine all the chaos that these MAGA idiots can cause if they get their way onto important committees >
  
  That's way waaayyy better than the alternative of MAGA and other Republicans working together to remain in power and further erode democracy. >
  
  That's eventually what will happen as the more extreme elements gain power. I don't think you are considering the long game here. Every moderate Rep will have less power and every MAGA moron will have more, till it's nothing but morons across the entire party. Cheney being ousted was just the start >
  
  I can see where you're coming from, but one thing to consider. Everybody and their mother expected a red wave in november and they only got what, 5 seats in the house? Even Boeberts race was really, really close. If they want to drag the party even further to the extreme right they'll either loose votes in the next election. Maybe we'll even see some republicans switching parties. 
  But your fear is unfortunately not that crazy, it is a real possibility. >
  
  True, but I fear the extreme result. They cheat more, they win more elections and then we are really screwed. We still lost the house and I think the presidency will be a tough call next election. I just expect the worst at this point. >
  
  Watch Trump demand a recount when he loses >
  
  I actually laughed out loud.
  But, actually, he might. >
  
  It's all a joke to the MAGA Republicans. National Security matters can not be addressed until Congress is seated, but the far-right MAGAs are treating national security and governance as a joke. MAGA Republicans are a national security risk.^[1]
  MAGA Republicans don't care about veterans. Congress cannot follow through on previous legislation, that was passed under Speaker Pelosi's stewardship, to provide care and benefits for veterans.^[2]
  Matt Gaetz just nominated Trump as Speaker. Marjorie Taylor Greene can be seen in this video laughing and ribbing Gaetz, while other GOP colleagues laugh too. It should be noted that MTG voted for McCarthy.^[3]
  
  1) The Bulwark - House Is Paralyzed Without a Speaker—Creating National Security Risks and a Shadow Shutdown
  2) Military Times - House Speaker impasse hurting national security, vet lawmakers warn
  3) Twitter Video - Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) votes for Donald Trump for Speaker of the House. >
  
  Wait, MTG voted for McCarthy? Wasn't she with the neverKevins? >
  
  She was also talking on camera about how the other holdouts privately went to McCarthy to ask for concessions like committee seats, and none thought to ask for anything for her.  So she's likely cozying up to McCarthy to freeze the others out of power. >
  
  The most inarticulate president ever as ‘speaker’ for the House… you can’t make up this shit. >
  
  And the president that spent the least time actually working out of all presidents ever, being put in a role that requires them to be actively working every day.
  Lmfao >
  
  Trump in 2014 - "We pay for Obama's travel so he can fundraise millions so Democrats can run on lies. Then we pay for his golf."
  Trump in 2016 - “If I win I may never see my property — I may never see these places again. But because I’m going to be working for you, I’m not going to have time to go golfing, believe me. Believe me. Believe me, folks.”
  At the end of his presidency, Trump played golf 298 times at a taxpayer cost of approximately $144,000,000. >
  
  Honestly with much golfing seems to be a thing for presidents, an indoor golf sim isn't a bad idea.  I'm sure it's not the same as the real deal but could pay for itself over time. >
  
  Having a golf simulator in the White House isn't the worst thing in the world.  I think it was Truman who installed the bowling alley.  It's the home for the President and their family.  But to both spend $50,000 on a golf simulator and also hit the links 298 times over the course of 4 years is excessive.  How many times would he have played without the simulator? >
  
  Never forget that Matt Getz sex trafficked minors and instead of being in prison gets to make laws we all have to abide by. >
  
  Laws the rest of us have to abide by. I feel confident that Matt Gaetz and many other Republicans routinely violate laws that they would gleefully demand be enforced against other people. >
  
  Like Trump would even want the job. He would just want the title. The idea of him having to show up almost daily on time in D.C. to do actual paperwork? That would be his living hell. 
  Gaetz has to know this. This is all for show. >
  
  Trump definitely doesn't want the job. He'd be miserable, and he would absolutely suck at it.
  Speaker of the House has none of the ego-stroking perks and prestige that the Presidency does : No executive Commander-in-Chief status, no Executive Mansion, no Air Force One, no bands playing "Hail to the Chief", no Bully Pulpit. Also, no ability to single-handedly sign or veto bills, hire and fire cabinet members, or (best of all) invoke executive privilege and sell pardons to your cronies.
  Worst of all, it requires negotiating with a few hundred GOP House peers (or even worse - Democrats) who don't have to do what he says.
  None of this is Trump's strong suit - despite his "Art of the Deal" bullshit, he is an absolutely shitty manager and negotiator. >
  
  I'm sure at this point, trump truly believes the speaker has complete control over the nation guard, after saying their lack of response to Jan 6th was Pelosi's fault for the past 2 years. >
  
  For all of these reasons I wish he would get the job. >
  
  Formal house vote to humor internet trolls.. what a fucking joke. >
  
  Remember all that “ready to govern on day one!” Crap?
  Pepperidge farm remembers. >
  
  Pretty sure we were all supposed to be reading the Constitution in full on day one, too. Still waiting. >
  
  Yeah I really want us to dwell on this bit. 🙄
  
  Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. >
  
  Comedy relief? He knows this round isn't going anywhere. As if Mr Trump would be interested in anything resembling a 'job'. >
  
  They're playing up the Q fantasy that they can put him in 2nd in line and "remove" Biden and Harris to return Trump to office.  Essentially a murderous coup plot. >
  
  Real life Frank Underwood. >
  
  Frank was politically savvy.  Gaetz is all the Spacey rapeyness with none of the intelligence or ability to match his ambition. >
  
  This is Q-Anon stuff - the speaker is third in line to the president.  It's part of their wild theories to remove the president and VP and then default would be to install TGF as the leader. >
  
  Doubled and tripled extra protections need to be put on the POTUS and VP if Tromp gets anywhere near the Speaker position. >
  
  Glad to see the right wingers are taking governing seriously. /s >
  
  dang ol' gombermint wont let me do my dang ol' gombermenting job! I got voted in now i gotta vote for somebody else before i can vote on things i want!?!?!? Communism i say! >
  
  He's an unserious attention whore >
  
  Gaetz or TFG? >
  
  Yes >
  
  I was expecting Boebert to do the honors.  This was talked about a year ago. >
  
  signaling that they only intend to get crazier