The House Republican Civil War continues to paralyze Congress.
A bipartisan path forward is the only way out.
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) October 12, 2023
Democrats to the rescue? Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers said he wants Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to make a specific offer of what concessions Democrats would need to help Republicans elect a speaker. Story: https://t.co/ywOOHqcSw4
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) October 12, 2023
Because it’s always the Democrats’ job to clean up after the Repubs… As of 3:48pm this afternoon — “Top House Republican Wants Help From Democrats to Pick a Speaker”:
…Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, emerged from a contentious closed-door meeting of House Republicans to tell reporters that Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries should spell out what concessions he would require to help the GOP elect a speaker.
“They put us in this ditch along with eight traitors,” Rogers said, referring to hardline GOP dissidents who toppled Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week. “We’re still the majority party, we’re willing to work with them, but they gotta tell us what they need.”
Rogers said the Republicans’ speaker nominee, Steve Scalise, is in the same situation McCarthy was in struggling to get the 217 votes needed for election. A lot of Republicans, Rogers said, would never vote for conservative firebrand Jim Jordan, who narrowly lost to Scalise on a secret ballot vote Wednesday.
“To limit ourselves to just getting 217 out of our conference I think is not a wise path forward,” Rogers said…
Democrats are ready to form a bipartisan coalition to lead the House, Jeffries said.
“The House of Representatives has been broken by chaos, dysfunction and extremism,” Jeffries said. “The only way out is to enter into an enlightened bipartisan coalition of the willing in order to get things back on track.”
The leadership vacuum in the US House has rendered Congress unable to act on legislation…
Jeffries has offered discussions on a bipartisan path forward. But Rogers said Democrats should make a specific offer that could provide a basis for opening negotiations.
“They haven’t offered jack,” Rogers said.
Rogers, you’re the ones looking for a lifeline. You make an offer…
This is how House Republicans are talking about *themselves* as they lurch towards Day 10 with no Speaker.
It doesn't have to be like this.
If just 5 Republicans were willing to choose a bipartisan path we could end this paralysis and get things done for the American people. pic.twitter.com/XP4rt2hQaH
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) October 12, 2023
Oh, I’m sure Dems see him as a trustworthy partner who rises above petty bullshit for the good of the institution! https://t.co/jPexYgwR3U
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) October 12, 2023
It's been 9 days since McCarthy was ousted.
GOP conference has gathered every day this week
Members joke Jesus couldn't get the 217 votes to be their speaker
The amount of shrug emojis I've gotten from sources when asking what happens next? Too many to count.— Lauren Fox (@FoxReports) October 12, 2023
The reality may be that no R can get 217. https://t.co/IUaLSo6B3e
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) October 12, 2023
If you can’t lead… give up the gavel! https://t.co/doYOZaKj9Z
— Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) October 12, 2023
House Dem Whip Katherine Clark tells members that “votes related to the election of the Speaker are possible today,” says to plan to be present and voting in D.C.
> “House Democrats are urged to vote for Leader Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker.” pic.twitter.com/9kgIkSRowd
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) October 12, 2023
It’s a high risk / high rewards strategy, and I doubt five honest Repubs can be found, but the discussion will be… entertaining:
"Dems must help"
We will. Just give us 5 Republicans elected in districts Biden won & make Hakeem Jeffries the next Speaker
The American ppl deserve better than the GOP clown show that only wants power to attack Dems & reward billionaires rather than making voters' lives better https://t.co/Itjdu1aoMS
— Greta (@GretaGrace20) October 12, 2023
It would take only 5 Republicans to flip to get Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker and get the House back on track working for the people. Just saying. https://t.co/HlSIPCj3bk
— Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) October 12, 2023
If 5 Republicans voted for Jeffries the future of the planet over the next two years would be appreciably better.
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) October 11, 2023
By the way all 212 Democratic Representatives are united behind Hakeem Jeffries who is just 5 votes away from the gavel. If 5 republicans with sense and who actually care about America over party would just do the right thing–this gridlock can be over. Jeffies will be fair. https://t.co/XIKiYe6IMY
— Claudia Jordan (@claudiajordan) October 12, 2023
It's true. Democrats will have to help.
But that help should come with very clear and very specific strings attached, in writing and for the whole goddamn world to see.
I'm sure Democrats can come up with a list. https://t.co/9ZXlWDdjxk
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) October 12, 2023
I like this plan https://t.co/Cdzedmcq4z
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) October 12, 2023
5 Republicans have a choice
Speaker Jeffries GOP Chaos https://t.co/BHyqUHX4mo pic.twitter.com/Y2m9gl30yV
— Qondi (@QondiNtini) October 12, 2023
Westyny
Pass the funding bill. End the one vote rule. Shared minor chairmanships. Let them beclown themselves with the Biden investigation. Anything else?
Alison Rose
I think this might be a paraphrase of a rotating tag, but…if Republicans were capable of feeling shame, they’d die of it. Why in the bloody hell are we expected to keep treating them like a legitimate political party? What a bunch of fucking psychotic children.
The Moar You Know
Just nope. No no no no no no no. No deals. The scorpion will sting the frog in the back. Again.
No fuckin deal. Let them fix their shit.
Jeffries as Speaker and no other concessions is acceptable.
Viva BrisVegas
Before Democrats do anything they need to remember the tale of the Scorpion and the Frog.
Then the first thing they need to do is armor plate their ass.
Jeffro
Break their backs, Leader (and soon, Speaker) Jeffries! DO IT
Drop the whole list on them and tell them none of it is negotiable, none of it is a ‘starting point’.
Jeffro
“Dems must help” – LOL!!
Does anyone with two brain cells to rub together think that the GOP would do a damn thing, if positions were reversed? (Which is not even possible, b/c Dems work to DELIVER for their districts and the county, but whatever).
I hope he drags the holy living shit out of these clowns before stepping in to rescue
themthe country.Dan B
Finding 5 repubs willing to vote for a Bl÷#* man…. And after the insult of having a mean lady speaker!!!
MattF
Rs freely and repeatedly lie to one another. And they are led by a pathological liar. And there’s George Santos or whatever his name is… There’s a sickness in the R party and it’s not curable with the wave of a magic wand— and certainly not under pressure or overnight.
Alison Rose
Since it’s an OT: I mentioned yesterday that my uncle (mom’s younger brother) had passed away. Today she emailed me a video that I had seen but totally forgotten existed. Phil was an “assistant superintendent of train movement” for Amtrak, and almost a decade ago, PBS did a quick interview/behind-the-scenes with him in the control room at Penn Station where he worked for a long time. It was really nice to watch this again — his voice and accent brought back a lot of memories! It was formed by being born in Brooklyn, then living in Queens, then back in Brooklyn, then the greater Philadelphia area for most of his adult life. Still very sad that he’s gone, but it’s nice to have something like this as a memory.
eversor
nobody is dumb enough to trust them now…
karen marie
That there are not five Republicans willing to end the nonsense tells me everything I need to know about the “minority” of radicals within that party. (It’s not a minority, it’s the entire fucking party.)
HumboldtBlue
@Alison Rose:
That’s wonderful.
eclare
@Alison Rose:
That is nice, he sounds like a good person. I wish we had taped some of my grandmother’s stories. And that was a fascinating look behind the curtain at Penn Station.
Dan B
@Alison Rose: That is wonderful.
Tony Jay
I think that covers everything, Representative Rogers. Negotiate from there.
Alison Rose
@eclare: He was. He could be…a little brusque, but so can most born and raised New Yorkers, LOL. But at heart he was a very fair and kind man, and the kind of person who would always help you out with whatever and didn’t need a thank you or anything like that. He was funny as hell, too.
Dan B
OT President Joe posted an homage to Matthew Shepherd who was murdered for being gay 35 years ago. He was beaten and then tied to a fence in freezing weather. His parents became activists and got a law passed in his name.
eclare
@Alison Rose:
As he said, you don’t get an atta boy for doing your job.
Cameron
@Alison Rose: What a lovely memory!
Dan B
@Tony Jay: I find your proposal acceptable, quite acceptable!
geg6
Nothing. You get…nothing.
SiubhanDuinne
@Alison Rose:
Oh, that was fascinating! And your Uncle Phil comes across as a really nice, intelligent, super-competent Mensch. Sending you a few more hugs in case the ones from last night are fading a bit.
ColoradoGuy
The “conditions” for Hakeem Jeffries as House Speaker are simple: Pass emergency funding for both Israel and Ukraine for a full year, and override the debt ceiling for the same period. Maybe a Voting Rights Act, as well?
wjca
How about if, since you’re the one asking for help, you make an offer? What have you got, and can deliver, that the Democrats might find enticing?
Because note: it appears, at the moment, you aren’t the majority party; you’re two minority parties who jointly had a majority, but whose coalition is breaking up. And, necessarily, the faction which joins a new coalition to let the government run is going to be the junior partner of the Democrats.
bbleh
@geg6: AND you pay the gaming license.
Ok seriously, I do not doubt Jeffries’s ability to play this game. Doesn’t matter THAT much who makes the starting offer. Naturally he will ask for far more than he would settle for, presumably expecting them to reject it out of hand and demand a better offer. And then we’ll see where it goes.
Alison Rose
@eclare: Yeah, that’s very quintessentially Phil, LOL!
Alison Rose
@SiubhanDuinne: Thank you :)
eclare
@bbleh:
I just watched that clip again. Sending Michael Corleone vibes to our Democratic reps!
bbleh
@Dan B: isn’t that what the Bug said just before it ate Edgar?
JMG
The Republicans will honor no agreement, not even one in writing (the debt ceiling bill was a goddamn law and they reneged about six seconds after Biden signed it). No agreement whatsoever.
Arclite
Nominate Kinzinger or Liz Cheney for Speaker. I bet most Repubs and a bunch of Dems would vote for either of them.
lowtechcyclist
@Westyny:
Nah, they just have to vote to make Jeffries Speaker. It’s that simple. Then we don’t have to worry about whether they keep their promises.
It’s good to see this mini-groundswell of people advocating this. Maybe it’ll pick up enough steam so that the pundits start to realize it’s the way that makes sense.
Once again, the Dems are a party capable of governing, as they demonstrated in the previous Congress. The GQP is a clown show incapable of organizing a two-car funeral. Why should the Dems vote to paper over the GQP’s dysfunctionality? Let five GQPers vote to put the Dems back in charge.
schrodingers_cat
Steve Scalise has withdrawn his name from the Speaker’s race.
MattF
@schrodingers_cat:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/12/house-speaker-vote/#link-CEWUGDXTOBAFXKL4WOOU3HDJ5E
Dan B
@bbleh: Prolly so.
Geminid
WTOP radio (DC) just reported that Steve Scalise has withdrawn his candidacy for Speaker.
Mr. Bemused Senior
The peasants are revolting
wjca
No. Start with repeal the debt ceiling. Just gone. Totally. Then add a 16 month Continuing Resolution — that is, until the next House is seated. One which includes funding for Ukraine and Taiwan. (Funding for Israel can be added, in exchange for suitable additional considerations.)
Ask for additional funding for the IRS. But that’s a bargaining chip, since the IRS still has to absorb the last jump in funds. Takes time to hire and train people, install new computer systems, etc. Giving on that ask gives the supplicants the illusion that they had some influence.
p.a.
Maybe Rethugs should try calling Democrats traitors, communists, and pedophile-enablers some more. Maybe that’ll get them Dem help!
Argiope
@Alison Rose: Thanks for sharing that; it was fascinating. I love how he’s like, “No big, just doing our jobs here”–and yet still aware that they’re moving 100,000 people an hour to their lives and workplaces. I’m sorry for your family’s loss.
lowtechcyclist
@Tony Jay:
If there were ten Republican Representatives who want the House to do its job, and they were to resign, that would reduce the number of Representatives to 423. There would still be 212 Dem Representatives – a majority. Then Jeffries would be Speaker, and the Dems could pass legislation all by themselves.
“Suppose, Lord, that there are ten righteous men in the House GOP Caucus?” Yeah, riiiiight.
CaseyL
@Alison Rose: A wonderful glimpse behind the scenes – thanks for sharing it!
@Geminid: Fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck. That means we’re stuck with Jordan.
bbleh
@schrodingers_cat: @MattF: @Geminid: WaPo hed now. And OMG this is plus-ungood. You think we’ve seen chaos OMG ..
@CaseyL: entirely unclear re Jimmy J. imo. Can’t see him getting to 217 if Scalise couldn’t. No, this means more horse-trading and compromise and airing-of-grievances and camera shots of that bowtied twerp, and grandstanding by TIFG, and …
Alison Rose
@schrodingers_cat: LOLOLOL what a fuckin shitshow.
Martin
@ColoradoGuy: Simpler than that. Regular order. All bills out of committee go to the floor. Balanced representation on committees. The only reason Ukraine aid can’t get passed is that the current rules require 218 votes out of a conference of 223 people. Make that 218 out of 435 and it’s easy – trivial, even.
Also, end the impeachment probe unless there’s a vote to advance it.
zhena gogolia
@Alison Rose: He seems very nice.
Geminid
@wjca: I just want a Speaker who will allow legislation that can get 218* votes to get a floor vote. That is how the House was designed to function.
*Or 217 until the two vacant seats are filled.
Martin
@CaseyL: Jordan can’t win the speakership either – that’s why house members are referencing Jeffries. I said when McCarthy was booted out that Jeffries was the only path forward – not necessarily as speaker, but they can’t do this without Democrats, and Jeffries holds all of the Democratic votes. He holds more than McCarthy ever really did.
schrodingers_cat
OT: My Derwent drawing pencils are here and they are gorgeous.
hells littlest angel
Well, Scalise has demonstrated himself to be smarter and less craven than McCarthy. A mean feat, but still it goes in the W column, technically.
Alison Rose
@Argiope: Thank you – yes, he was very matter-of-fact. I remember on a visit back East one time as a teen, I met one of the people he supervised at work, and the guy told me “Your uncle’s main rule is “Don’t BS me and I won’t BS you” and I was like…that sounds like him.
CaseyL
@Martin: I don’t think so. The “moderates” will cave. When have they ever not caved?
zhena gogolia
@Alison Rose: That’s a good rule to live by. Come to think of it, it’s kind of my credo as well, although I never articulated it that way.
Kirk
@CaseyL: No, it means it’s now Jordan’s turn to show that he can’t get 212 Republican votes, either.
Geminid
@CaseyL: Jordan can’t get 217 votes out of that caucus. But if Republicans cannot get 217 votes to fill that post with one of their own, it will be filled another way. It won’t stay empty but for so long.
Bill Arnold
@schrodingers_cat:
The Real Fun has begun. :-)
badgirl
@Alison Rose: Very cool! And sorry for your loss.
Maxim
@Alison Rose: I’m sorry about your uncle. How lovely to have that memory of him.
Tony G
@JMG: That’s absolutely true. Republicans in the House of Representatives — Republicans in general — have proven that they can not be trusted for anything. No deal. Let them fight to the death among themselves.
hitchhiker
You drove into a ditch, and the Dems did not grab the steering wheel from the back seat where you so gleefully stuffed them and tied their hands while telling the world lies about them.
Man, these Rs are so full of shit.
Ken
I suspect even with Scalise out, Jordan won’t be getting more than the 105 or so he’s been getting in their private votes. So unless the plan is to take it to the House floor and have 123 Democrats join those 105 Republicans — and admittedly some members of their caucus are stupid enough to think that could happen — I don’t see why they’re approaching Jeffries.
wjca
As attractive as the idea is, there’s stuff that needs to get done sooner rather than later. And chances are they won’t be able to get an implosion done in a reasonable time — their track record on doung other things on time being what it is.
Another Scott
Nothing much is going to happen with the GQP picking a Speaker until the last minute. Meaning, the day before the CR ends on Friday November 17. The bomb throwers want their pound of flesh. It’s way too early for them to fold – they lose leverage giving in too early.
If the not-totally-insane GQPers want something to happen before then, they have to make a choice. They have to act. It’s not the Democrats job to construct a solution to fix their conference – they have to do it themselves.
We’ll see…
Cheers,
Scott.
mrmoshpotato
Has the GOP tried to stop assclowning around? They should give it a try.
Roger Moore
@wjca:
FWIW, that doesn’t seem to be how most coalition governments work. The leading party starts getting everything. Prospective junior partners come to them and say what they want in exchange for delivering their votes. If that’s acceptable, they’re part of the coalition. If not, the leading partner can either pick a different offer or make a counter-offer.
bbleh
@Roger Moore: true, but in this case it ain’t a parliamentary system: there IS no other party to bargain with. The only other place an offer can come from is others within their own party, and while in some parliamentary systems that’s sufficient, in this case they need ALL (but a very few) of their own party. There AIN’T no junior partners except the Dems.
I am not optimistic. My best guess at this point is that they will bicker until public pressure makes them do something to elect a Speaker, and that well could take weeks.
Geminid
@bbleh: I think there will be a Speaker this time next week, at the latest the following Monday. This won’t go on for weeks.
lgerard
In other news Digital World Acquisition Corp, the financial fund that was supposed to merge with trumps Truth thing and provide it with capital, folded its tent today and went out of business.
This means Devin Nunes may soon be available if House republicans are interested. He won’t be cowed!
stinger
@Alison Rose:
Very nice interview; thanks for sharing it. I’m sure you were proud of him. Condolences on your loss.
Torrey
@eclare: Thank you for sharing that. He managed a remarkable feat in explaining clearly and in language and imagery pretty much everyone can understand some of what goes into the complicated interlaced processes of moving trains through the station and simultaneously doing upkeep. I really liked the way he brought it back at the end to the job being about getting people where they need to be when they need to be there.
He seems like he would have been a terrific uncle to have. Thank you for sharing this bit of his work and personality.
ETA: sorry, this comment was in response to Alison Rose’s clip of her uncle. I apparently hit “reply” to the wrong message..
The Pale Scot
Brother Sly laying down heavy tracks
My uncle use to drive me to Mt Carmel (Bayonne NJ) in his ’63 T-Bird, the radio always had Sly, Billie Withers, Billy Paul
I so miss Soul Train
frosty
@Alison Rose: That was a really cool story. I liked his last line “You don’t get an attaboy for doing your job.” But you should, if it’s a big job like this!
I’m sorry for all your losses in such a short time. It’s tough to handle, I know. I appreciate your voice in every post here.
gene108
Democrats should make Republicans an offer of increasing taxes on the rich, making getting disability benefits easier, link highway funding to states agreeing to enact Obamacare Medicaid expansion, increase funding for USCIS and the State Department to process applications for legal immigration more quickly, eliminate country quotas for GC’s and just have one general quota distributed on basis of application date, and so on.
Just tweak the hell out of the existing system to make it align with Democratic values.
Anne Laurie
What, and quit show business?
H-Bob
@wjca & @Martin: You both have good ideas, wjca on substantive issues and Martin on procedural points. I would add that impeachment of Biden requires a supermajority vote (261 votes).
Option 1 — Jeffries as Speaker but no change in Republican committee chairs; or Option 2 — Republican as Speaker with Democratic chairs on a few committees (this might help Jeffries within his caucus).
The Republicans can have the impeachment probe (plus it will preoccupy the wingnuts so that the adults can get the nation’s business done).
From a PR perspective, the Democrats presenting a reasonable set of demands will help show the MSM that the Democrats are reaching across the aisle. That is probably more important in the long run than getting a minor and temporary negotiating advantage for the remaining 15 months of this Congress.
Another concern is getting this situation resolved in time to prevent a shutdown — the Democrats need to be accommodating enough to avoid a shutdown.
Matt
Counter-question for Mike Rogers: exactly which Republicans are trustworthy enough to hold up the other end of such a deal?