Theodore Medad Pomeroy was elected as speaker on the last day of the 40th Congress on March 3, 1869. It was a gesture of respect and honor ahead of his retirement. He served one day as speaker, basically an honorary role, speaker for the day and then congres adjourned for the year. He was the shortest serving house speaker in US history. The second shortest serving house speaker is Kevin McCarthy.
In a nutshell, here’s what happened. In January, McCarthy made an agreement with hardline conservatives, some of whose terms have never been made public, to ultimately secure their support as Speaker. In May, McCarthy made a (public) agreement with Democrats to set the federal budget at a certain level in order to avert a default on the national debt. In September, though, McCarthy (under pressure from hardliners) attempted to secure further funding cuts during negotiations over a potential government shutdown—then ultimately conceded to Democrats and helped pass a funding bill that largely did not include any of the cuts that the hardliners sought (which were cuts that McCarthy had originally, in May, told Democrats he wouldn’t seek).
McCarthy has left both his party’s furthest-right members and the entire Democratic caucus with the belief that he cannot be trusted, which is why Democrats are expected to join Monday afternoon with hyper-aggressive Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and at least five other conservatives in supporting a “motion to vacate the chair” in the House, i.e end McCarthy’s speakership. (Republicans currently hold 221 House seats to Democrats’ 212.)
If that happens—and it’s a fluid situation—there’s no telling what will happen next. No other Republicans have actually said they want to be Speaker, which would put us roughly back where we were in January: With McCarthy holding enough support among Republicans that no one else is a plausible candidate to become Speaker, but not enough support to win a majority of the entire House, which is what’s required, and actually assume the position. (And yes, the House needs a Speaker.)
McCarthy gets ousted by his own party, somehow manages to blame Democrats. Speaking to the press just now:
“I think today was a political decision by the Democrats. And I think I think the things they have done in the past hurt the institution,” he said.
What a piece of shit, good riddance. The 45 daystop gap funding bill he put on the floor for a vote an hour after it was introduced, leaving Dems no time to read 77 page bill to see if it had poison pills they couldn't vote for. Classy guy. Just today it was reported he was refusing to postpone votes on Thursday so membera could attend Dianne Feinstein's funeral.
The new guy doesn't seem to be any better:
As one of his first acts as the acting speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry ordered former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to vacate her Capitol hideaway office by Wednesday, according to an email sent to her office viewed by POLITICO.
“Please vacate the space tomorrow, the room will be re-keyed,” wrote a top aide on the Republican-controlled House Administration Committee. The room was being reassigned by the acting speaker “for speaker office use,” the email said.
Only a select few House lawmakers get hideaway offices in the Capitol, compared to their commonplace presence in the Senate.
The former speaker blasted the eviction in a statement as “a sharp departure from tradition,” adding that she had given former Speaker Dennis Hastert “a significantly larger suite of offices for as long as he wished” during her tenure.
Pelosi didn't even vote today, she was in SF with Fienstein. But don't let that get in the way of partisan bullshit. And she said she won't be able to pack up by Wednesday for the same reason. Fucking gouls.
HAKEEEEEEM JEFFRIES!
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5049214/user-clip-jared-huffman-pulls-leroy-jenkins
"If you throw a speaker out that has 99 percent of their conference, that kept government open and paid the troops, I think we're in a really bad place," McCarthy told reporters in the Capitol Tuesday morning.
Guess he's not talking about himself because he's got only 96.33%(210/218) of his conference...
House rejects attempt to spare Kevin McCarthy a vote on removal.
The Republican-led House on Tuesday voted down a motion to table a resolution that would remove the California Republican from the speakership. As a result, the chamber will move forward with a vote on whether McCarthy should lose his position. His removal is being sought by hard-right members of his party and Democrats have signaled they won’t save him.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/03/kevin-mccarthy-house-speaker-vote-2/
"The Speaker of the House is chosen by the Majority Party. In this Congress, it is the responsibility of House Republicans to choose a nominee & elect the Speaker on the Floor. At this time there is no justification for a departure from this tradition. The House will be in order" - Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Well now he's no fun at all.
https://www.mediaite.com/news/breaking-mccarthy-will-not-run-for-speaker-again/
Declared vacant. We have no Speaker.
McCarthy’s term as Speaker has been as embarrassing as it was short-lived. His insistence on caving to the 20 or so votes of the far right over reasonable compromises with the democrats’ hundreds of votes was certainly a choice. But it was a bad one and it was his ruin. Last minute moves to diffuse your own bomb don’t inspire loyalty.
Now who? Who wants it that isn’t a nightmare or a fuckup? Preserved head of Nixon?
This guy is loud and incoherent.
Sorry, Kev. You pinned your political fortunes on blustering ignoramuses.
Kevin McCarthy has officially been removed from the speakership.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced she is in California and will not be in the House for the expected vote to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R
Kevin McCarthy is a tireless warrior! No one has tongued the seam on Trumps balls as much or as long as he!
This has been freaking hilarious so far.
Any opportunity to repeat their absurd talking points... oh no, immigrants/great replacement! Oh no, we can't starve the government and make it ineffectual because debt and riders on the debt bills! Oh no, McCarthy compromised and compromise with Democrats is treachery!
Bye, Kevin! Don't let the gavel smack you in the forehead on your way out!
Dems slow walking votes to get more people in as a couple are absent. Pelosi on her way from the airport.
Edit: Looks like Pelosi may stay in San Francisco to attend funeral services for the next couple days. So she maybe a no show.
Are we sure Gaetz isn't bought off by Dark Brandon? He's really laying into McCarthy and others.
How many times did Gaetz say "Chaos"?
Eight Republicans against McCarthy after the first reading.
Official notice is coming soon -- MCCARTHY has unofficially been removed from the speakership
Does Andy Biggs have Trumps cock in his mouth? He's mumbling so fucking much.
That guy announcing recess just slammed the gavel like he wanted to destroy it lol
Domestic terrorists have taken over the US government, destabilizing our country. Downgrading our credit rating seems deserved at this point.
Wow this Rep. Bob Good is one annoying S.O.B.
LET'S GO!!!
Is McCarthy out yet!? Huh huh?! The suspense is killing me.
This motion to table the resolution to oust McCarthy is going to fail.
10 GOP nos so far -- and the vote isn't yet closed
7 out of 11 Yes' from Reps.
11 House Republicans voted against blocking the motion to vacate. The House now moves to a vote to oust Kevin McCarthy.
Blowviating now underway
