October 23, 2023

Republicans being Republicans, their internal vote will be behind closed doors and a secret ballot will be held on Tuesday morning. Then Patrick McHenry will offer to the House their latest candidate to be ripped apart by his fellow Republicans.

What fun.

Source: Politico

The House GOP’s enormous speaker field is officially set, with nine Republicans seeking to somehow unify their splintered party after almost three weeks without a leader.

It’s the most crowded field since former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s fall 19 days ago. The latest round of candidates includes current GOP leaders — like Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and Vice Chair Mike Johnson (R-La.) — as well as more surprising rank-and-file members like Reps. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.). Another last-minute addition, Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), who serves as GOP policy chair, raised eyebrows on Sunday.

But it’s far from clear any of the current aspirants will be able to get the 217 votes needed to officially claim the speaker’s gavel. And as Republicans face the threat of another week of self-inflicted drama, their paralysis has left them drawing closer to a mid-November government funding deadline but unable to take up legislation to avert a shutdown.

You don't say...

And here's how their latest fiasco will play out.

The GOP candidate forum is set to be held at 6:30 p.m. ET Monday. Then, an internal conference vote will occur 9 a.m. Tuesday. Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry has said his intention is to move to a floor vote “as soon as Tuesday.”

A secret ballot because Republicans want their sacrificial lamb nominee to be one dude, not nine. And when he fails to secure the 217 needed we'll do this again next week.

Lather, repeat, rinse.

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