comment: >
  
  Jake the Shahman has held the Speakers chair longer than McCarthy.  Brings a tear to my eye…
context: Why doesn't he claim there was widespread cheating and he actually won?? >
  
  Well he has already claimed to have gotten the most votes, despite being behind Jeffries in every single vote. >
  
  The fact he’s behind (D) Jeffries is what cracks me up the most. >
  
  Fuck it at this point just make him the speaker, it's not like the constitution says you can't. ^^^^I ^^^^think >
  
  If I'm not mistaken, you don't even have to be a member of Congress to be voted as Speaker >
  
  Oh hell, so it's possible that nuts like MTG could start casting votes for write-in candidates like Ted Nugent, Alex Jones or Kyle Rittenhouse? >
  
  That was actually one of the plans floated to get Trump back into the White House:
  
  get a majority in the House and Senate in the mid-terms - history shows this often happens.
  vote Trump in as Speaker - a possible prior step would be to get him a House seat in the mid-terms to give it some semblance of propriety.
  impeach Biden and Harris simultaneously so that the Speaker becomes President.
  
  Step 3 has to oust Biden and Harris at the exact same time.  If only Biden goes, Harris is promoted and picks her new VP.  If only Harris goes, Biden picks a new VP.  If one party has a big enough majority in both House and Senate, they could eject the President on any made-up charges.  Luckily that didn't happen.  This time...
  Note: this plan was floated before Trump's sycophants began to defect bigly. >
  
  It would take a 2/3rds majority in the senate, which isn’t happening ANYTIME in the next 30 years or so >
  
  Not like Republicans have shown to care about such formalities as "the law" before tho >
  
  Except this is explicitly stated in the US constitution. Going against that would be treason, literally. Biden would be full within his rights to not only ignore the decision, but arrest every single member of congress who goes along with it. That would not end the way republicans think it would >
  
  This whole thing really isn't losing its humor yet.  I want it to continue. >
  
  Losing humor? We haven't even crested, let alone bottomed out! >
  
  Let me tell you something. We haven't even begun to peak. And when we do peak, you'll know. Because we're gonna peak so hard that everybody in America's gonna feel it. >
  
  Stop!  I’m peaking! >
  
  This is a vote of attrition.  Democrats have rallied around Jeffries, if Republicans vote "present" and lower the threshold, we could have a republican majority house, but a democratic speaker. >
  
  I think moderate Republicans from Biden counties (or more likely, retiring Republicans who DGAF) could threaten to go for Jeffries, but that would most likely be a chess move to get members to back McCarthy.
  My big fear is McCarthy gets Democrat votes because the old farts get sick of the circus and thinks that making him Speaker will fix ever'thing all nice and bipartisan-like, when really it would just mean clean up this elephant shit; here come the clowns. >
  
  I hope the Dems hold the line
  This only hurts Republicans at this point and shows how incompetent they are. >
  
  You're under the impression Republicans care about a functioning Federal Government at all. I know plenty of Republicans that prefer a "Federal Government that does absolutely nothing" then a Democratic-lead one. They'd love to see the entire Federal Government cease to exist.
  I'm quite unconvinced the general Republican could be swayed by anything at this point. >
  
  They say thst until the roads don’t get fixed , they have to hire private security to protect them from the rest of us losers, and water stops coming out if the faucet . 
  We Americans seriously take our government for granted. >
  
  Pretty sure they'd just blame Biden. >
  
  “If we nominate Trump we (Rep Party) will get destroyed and we will have deserved it." - Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. May 3rd, 2016. >
  
  How can he be so right and wrong at the same time? >
  
  He's spineless.
  I don't remember who, but some political insider with ties to the Republican Party called it on a podcast I was listening to.  Lindsey Graham doesn't have the balls to seize power, but wants to be around it.  Once Trump got into power, he was seduced by it. >
  
  It's that simple. Same with Ted Cruz. They will go whichever way the wind blows, and not only are they spineless, but they're shameless. They don't seem embarrassed by their own hypocrisy at all. Graham doesn't have the balls to stand up to Trump when he's talking cash shit about his good friends John McCain and Joe Biden, and Cruz doesn't have the balls to stand up to Trump when he's talking shit about him, his wife, and suggesting his father was involved in the Kennedy assassination. 
  This is just who they are. They're spineless, shameless fucking cowards. >
  
  Yep, its still funny the sixth time. >
  
  It's actually getting funnier. >
  
  Why the bloody hell is this even happening? I stopped paying attention to the news for a couple of weeks and it's like PT Barnum set up a tent on Capitol Hill. >
  
  They knew this vote was coming for months, too. It's not like this is a surprise vote. They just can't be a functional part of government since they've internalized the whole "gubmint bad" talking point. They are children wearing their dad's shoes and pretending to be adults.
  They've got nothing, and it's finally on display. Sadly, their votes think this is hilarious. >
  
  Reminds me of 2017, when the GOP had a supermajority and didn't need a single blue vote to pass legislation in the House. 
  First order of business of that republican congress on day 1 was to hold a secret vote at 6 AM (no democrats invited) to dismantle the Congressional Ethics Committee, which they later voted to undo when word got out.
  Later that year, the same congress couldn't pass a federal budget, leading to a federal government shutdown... which they blamed on democrats... who couldn't have obstructed the bill even if they tried... because the GOP supermajority >
  
  Why would those perfect little angels need an ethics committee? They are all men and women of God after all! >
  
  Impeccable reputations >
  
  Absolutely. There are basically just a few bad apples here and there, such as:
  Republican anti-abortion activist Howard Scott Heldreth is a convicted child rapist in Florida.
  Republican  County Commissioner David Swartz pleaded guilty to molesting two girls  under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
  Republican judge Mark Pazuhanich pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation.
  Republican  anti-abortion activist Nicholas Morency pleaded guilty to possessing  child pornography on his computer and offering a bounty to anybody who  murders an abortion doctor.
  Republican  legislator Edison Misla Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison  for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17.
  Republican Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls.
  Republican  campaign consultant Tom Shortridge was sentenced to three years  probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl.
  Republican  racist pedophile and United States Senator Strom Thurmond had sex with a  15-year old black girl which produced a child.
  Republican  pastor Mike Hintz, whom George W. Bush commended during the 2004  presidential campaign, surrendered to police after admitting to a sexual  affair with a female juvenile.
  Republican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl.
  Republican  Congressman Donald "Buz" Lukens was found guilty of having sex with a  female minor and sentenced to one month in jail.
  Republican  fundraiser Richard A. Delgaudio was found guilty of child porn charges  and paying two teenage girls to pose for sexual photos.
  Republican activist Mark A. Grethen convicted on six counts of sex crimes involving children.
  Republican activist Randal David Ankeney pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child.
  Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page.
  Republican  activist and Christian Coalition leader Beverly Russell admitted to an  incestuous relationship with his step daughter.
  Republican  congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman* was charged with  having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.
  Republican Committee Chairman Jeffrey Patti was arrested for distributing a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped.
  Republican  activist Marty Glickman (a.k.a. "Republican Marty"), was taken into  custody by Florida police on four counts of unlawful sexual activity  with an underage girl and one count of delivering the drug LSD.
  Republican legislative aide Howard L. Brooks was charged with molesting a 12-year old boy and possession of child pornography.
  Republican  Senate candidate John Hathaway was accused of having sex with his  12-year old baby sitter and withdrew his candidacy after the allegations  were reported in the media.
  Republican  preacher Stephen White, who demanded a return to traditional values,  was sentenced to jail after offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for  permission to perform oral sex on him.
  Republican talk show host Jon Matthews pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals to an 11 year old girl.
  Republican  anti-gay activist Earl "Butch" Kimmerling was sentenced to 40 years in  prison for molesting an 8-year old girl after he attempted to stop a gay  couple from adopting her.
  Republican Party leader Paul Ingram pleaded guilty to six counts of raping his daughters and served 14 years in federal prison.
  Republican  election board official Kevin Coan was sentenced to two years probation  for soliciting sex over the internet from a 14-year old girl.
  Republican politician Andrew Buhr was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy.
  Republican  politician Keith Westmoreland was arrested on seven felony counts of  lewd and lascivious exhibition to girls under the age of 16 (i.e.  exposing himself to children).
  Republican anti-abortion activist John Allen Burt was charged with sexual misconduct involving a 15-year old girl.
  Republican County Councilman Keola Childs* pleaded guilty to molesting a male child.
  Republican activist John Butler was charged with criminal sexual assault on a teenage girl.
  Republican candidate Richard Gardner admitted to molesting his two daughters.
  Republican Councilman and former Marine Jack W. Gardner was convicted of molesting a 13-year old girl.
  Republican County Commissioner Merrill Robert Barter* pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and assault on a teenage boy.
  Republican City Councilman Fred C. Smeltzer, Jr. pleaded no contest to raping a 15 year-old girl and served 6-months in prison.
  Republican  activist Parker J. Bena pleaded guilty to possession of child  pornography on his home computer and was sentenced to 30 months in  federal prison and fined $18,000.
  Republican  parole board officer and former Colorado state representative, Larry  Jack Schwarz, was fired after child pornography was found in his  possession.
  Republican strategist  and Citadel Military College graduate Robin Vanderwall was convicted in  Virginia on five counts of soliciting sex from boys and girls over the  internet.
  Republican city  councilman Mark Harris, who is described as a "good military man" and  "church goer," was convicted of repeatedly having sex with an  11-year-old girl and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
  Republican  businessman Jon Grunseth withdrew his candidacy for Minnesota governor  after allegations surfaced that he went swimming in the nude with four  underage girls, including his daughter.
  Republican  director of the "Young Republican Federation" Nicholas Elizondo  molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in  prison.
  Republican benefactor of  conservative Christian groups, Richard A. Dasen Sr., was charged with  rape for allegedly paying a 15-year old girl for sex. Dasen, 62, who is  married with grown children and several grandchildren, has allegedly  told police that over the past decade he paid more than $1 million to  have sex with a large number of young.
  Republican  state senator Ralph Shortey from Oklahoma admitted to being involved in  sodomy with a 17 year old male prostitute and transporting child  pornography.
  Republican Speaker of  the House Dennis Hastert in jail for the payments he made to cover up  raping his wrestlers when he was a high school coach.
  Republican  Judge and campaign official for President Donald Trump, Tim Nolan,  indicted for human trafficking and forcing a minor (9) to engage in  sexual activity and giving alcohol to minors (results from the court  pending).
  Unfortunately I don't have the original creator(s) of this list. I coped it from a word document I've had on my computer for a while in fear that it would get removed from reddit. Big shout out to the original creators. I'm sure they've grown it since I copied this. >
  
  That scroll went on way longer than I expected. And of course way, way longer than it should >
  
  The year is 3000. The house has just completed its 10000th vote to reject McCarthy as speaker, the purpose of this tradition has long since been forgotten. >
  
  The most absolutely hilarious thing about this is that McCarthy has desperately wanted to be Speaker for years. He tried to do it in 2015 too, until he realized that he didn't have the votes then either and so Paul Ryan was basically forced to accept the job against his will. >
  
  Didn't he also say something really stupid on his initial press conference at that time that turned people against him?  Which by today's standards people wouldn't bat an eye on. >
  
  I think it had something to do with Benghazi and admitting the only purpose of the investigation was to make Clinton less popular >
  
  Which is funny. Cause if he said that today no one would bat an eye. Oh McCarthy is just one unlucky bastard. >
  
  Gaetz literally said it yesterday! >
  
  boebart released a statement that Kevin was conceding to demands, but since he didn't think of the reforms himself, she questions is he's the guy for the job
  the dude is sunk, he's giving in and they are still thumbing their nose and screaming NO.  
  the obstructionist leopards have come home to roost Kev >
  
  "Ok here's what we want from you"
  "That sounds reasonable. Sure"
  "THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU OFFER IT??? HEY EVERYONE, THIS GUY'S A PHONY!!" >
  
  Saw a tweet that I think is pretty spot on: the ~20 GOP holdouts don't want concessions, they want a scalp.  Specifically, Kevin's scalp.  They don't lose anything by continuing to vote against him because they don't care that the GOP as a whole looks awful throughout this, so they'll just keep voting against Kevin until the rest cave and elect someone else. >
  
  They view this as a plus: these hard-liners got elected because their constituents want them to act like asshats. >
  
  Reminds me of the tea party folks >
  
  The House Freedom Caucus grew out of the Tea Party Caucus. It's essentially its successor. >
  
  You can draw basically a straight line from the current Trump base to the Jacksonian Democrats of the 1820s and 1830s, which is the first time white men who didn't own property were allowed to vote in large numbers. >
  
  Someone read their Populist Moment >
  
  We even know that stuff in Canada lol.  Or at least the outlines of it. >
  
  When the overhyped "Red Wave" came in the form of an anti-climactic, ankle deep tidal rise, I thought to myself that would be the height of comedy in the GOP's waning power despite holding the majority.
  Oh, boy, am I so happy to be wrong. >
  
  "The Gang Tries To Elect A Speaker" >
  
  This is basically that episode where they try to vote on everything
  REASON WILL PREVAIL >
  
  Thin or thick limes? >
  
  Paddys is known for their thick limes! >
  
  People will choke! People will die! >
  
  My favorite r/conservative comment...
  "Is this really going to continue until he gets his way? When does he admit defeat and defect to someone else? No one is budging"
  Their lack of self awareness is hilarious. >
  
  I always forget that sub exists because they banned me a long ass time ago. But whenever something fun is happening, they have all their posts on super lockdown and I can'teven read the comments. Snowflakes >
  
  The party of free speech 🙄 >
  
  To them free speech means being able to say whatever you want without any criticism from those around you. They don't want their bubbles to pop >
  
  Biden needs to keep staying out of it, this is 100% the GQP eating itself and it's great to watch.
  Imagine winning the majority and not being able to pick a Speaker from your party because said party is full of toddlers, psychos, grifters and idiots. >
  
  I had given my prediction that the collapse of the GOP would be an inability to organize due to brain-drain. You kind of saw the beginnings of this at Four Seasons Landscaping. 
  Corrupt or not, you still need brains to steer the ship. >
  
  I agree. Republicans are great at marching lockstep and following orders but they need somebody to issue the orders. This is the first time we are seeing the GOP without an actual party leader so the rank and file are just doing whatever they want >
  
  That isn't true. This is the party that had a government shut down when they had majorities in both houses and the Whitehouse. The GOP hasn't been functional since it dedicated its entire purpose to obstructing the basic operations of government under Obama. >
  
  Disfunction IS their function though. It enables them to more easily enrich themselves. >
  
  Watching the insurrectionist Scott Perry whine about how government is broken and doesn’t work. Really? How did Dems get all their legislation passed in the last two years with a razor thin majority? These freedom caucus a-holes aka ‘fascist caucus’ believe their way is the only way. That’s not how democracies work. Democracy requires give and take, not authoritarianism. They campaign on how government doesn’t work, and when elected, prove it. >
  
  I think it’s important to remember that the Republicans who are voting for McCarthy aren’t better than the “freedom caucus” fuckers. The party as a whole has demonstrated they are seditionists, anti democratic pieces of shit. McCarthy bows down to the orange god just like the rest of them. And those who vote for him are of the same ilk >
  
  This. Every time someone suggests that the Dems should vote for a republican for speaker, they're suggesting that Democrats make a deal with someone who tried to steal a presidential election from the Democratic party, and physically harm members of Congress in the process. That's outrageous. Hell no. >
  
  Exactly. I phrased it to a friend as
  GOP- we want to impeach someone for nothing, tear everything down, and destroy democracy, why won't you meet us halfway? >
  
  McCarthy can kiss my ass, but the 20 holdouts because they want the IRS and FBI abolished because of Trump can lick it.  We have 20 people who are wielding power over our government and want every single institute burned to the ground. >
  
  True. But it only takes 6 Republicans to vote for Jeffries to end all of this madness. Every Republican in a Biden district (and there's 18 of them) should be getting asked why they won't side with the Democrats to form a reasonable functioning government. >
  
  I was thinking the same!  The Republicans are looking to the Democrats for help.  The solution is simple.  Six republicans can vote for Jeffries. >
  
  I’m not totally sure on the rules but six moderate republicans forming a sort of coalition government on their own would make them the 6 most powerful people in the House.  They would have enormous negotiating positions and could push through bipartisan legislation at breakneck pace.  
  If GOP infighting continues, they could campaign on being the only effective republicans in congress.  There’s incentive to take that gamble as Dems are more likely to honor any promises made during negotiations. >
  
  I would rather those 6 "reasonable" Republicans willing to negotiate with Democrats hold power than the 20 brain dead idiots trying to take power on the other side. >
  
  Jeffries tweeted "Climate Change is NOT a hoax. But 45's election may have been." A far cry from the absolutist election deniers on the right. >
  
  In his defense, as it was later proved, Russia did help get Trump elected.
  Edit: I love that this comment got more votes than Kevin McCarthy. >
  
  yeah, 6 years later, and it's still true.  an american presidential candidate was propped up by a foreign government, and it may have been enough to swing the tide because of how close the results ended up being in three spots.
  Fox News pretending like "Russia ran a fucking illegal psyop campaign on Americans and gave Trump millions to hundreds of millions in dark money" is the same as "DEMOCRATS ARE VAMPIRE SERIAL KILLERS WHO MIND CONTROL THE VOTING MACHINES WITH SOROSBUX FROM CHIIIIIINA"
  Both sides are not the same. >
  
  Fun fact, Trump has secret Chinese bank accounts, that he lied about.
  
  Trump said that his bank account in China was from 2013 and that he closed it in 2015 just before running for president.
  
  And now we have his tax returns, we can see that was a lie. >
  
  Republican House Members are furious, some were quoted about the impacts that will be felt by their constituents;
  “How are we supposed to raise prescription drug prices? Put more guns in the hands of mentally unstable people? Fight against increasing minimum wage? This is a real problem and I shudder at the thought of working Americans being better off because we were not able to pass legislation to prevent that.” >
  
  I love how you flipped that around. It really shows their true colors. >
  
  If the poors can do 8+ hours work days with an hour lunch, why can't they? >
  
  Most people only get 30 minutes for lunch these days. >
  
  Right? Try working in a restaurant. Time to pick up smoking so I can stop for 8 seconds a day >
  
  yeah its amazing how a cigarette warrants a break but food does not. 
  broken ass industry >
  
  I work an office job but I’m not a smoker. I just go out with the smokers for a break anyway and nobody’s complained. >
  
  Many if not most office jobs basically expect you to work like 6 or 7 hours and fuck off 1 or 2 on "normal" days. 
  Coffee breaks, long shits, smoking, just random walks around, and in your case, just taking a mental break. The break can really help productivity. It's all a balance. >
  
  Yo. I just started an office job after 20 years in kitchens…. The 1-2 hours of fucking off is so new/unnerving/amazing. >
  
  The incompetence of the Republican Party would be really funny if the consequences weren't so dire >
  
  I dunno, it's still pretty funny. >
  
  It's funny in a "hahahah, this country is fucked" type of way >
  
  ralph wiggum’s hehe im in danger >
  
  Here's hoping this lasts for months. Every second the Republicans aren't actually in charge is one less second of us having to endure committee hearings on Biden's kids, Pizzagate, or whatever crazy shit they've decided is worth obsessing over for two years. >
  
  If this lasts beyond the 13th, House committee staff members won’t get paid and their student loan repayment benefits stop. 
  The reps, meanwhile, will continue getting paid. 
  Source: Politico >
  
  They'd be eligible for unemployment benefits at least, which since they're so underpaid, probably wouldn't be a huge pay cut. >
  
  Unemployment is income based and only gives you a %, like half. It’s by definition a massive pay cut no matter what you make, as it’s defined that way… >
  
  It's not just a %, UI is also capped at like $550 a week. All I'm saying is that they might not even hit the cap given their already low pay. >
  
  McCarthy should just give up and embrace the fact that House Republicans already have the perfect candidate for speaker - Representative George Santos! Santos would be the ideal candidate for the role due to his extensive experience as Speaker in the 1960's and 1970's. He led the House through a number of challenging and complex issues, including civil rights, the Vietnam War, and economic reforms. He has a deep understanding of the inner workings of the House and a proven track record of working effectively with members from both parties to get things done. He might even get some votes from the Democrats. He's the perfect candidate!!! /s >
  
  Keep sending your best, conservatives. They’re doing great at representing you >
  
  Actually they are. 
  This is a rather perfect representation of their voters. >
  
  “Pure uncut blue flake schadenfreude.” >
  
  I am really enjoying the suffering of the Republicans right now. It's very soothing. >
  
  I know. Let’s hold a 7th vote! >
  
  That is exactly why it is brilliant! They will never expect us to do the exact thing we did the last six times! >
  
  If only they had built it with 6001 hulls! >
  
  Ahh, America. She's built like a continent but handles like a trailerpark. >
  
  I'm no political science genius but let me see if I get this straight. A small radical minority of House Republicans Is using the tea party/Republican playbook to hold the Republican party hostage to try and get something they personally want but the vast majority of people in the house don't.
  Is that about the size and shape of it because I'll be goddamned if the irony from over here isn't fucking killing me laughing.
  Those freedom caucus fuckers are using the Republican playbook against the Republicans. If that's not the most r/leopardsatemyface thing I've ever heard I don't know what is