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MAGA Wing Makes Noise About McCarthy Speakership With No Alternative https://t.co/9s5aupvtoo via @TPM

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 2, 2022

If McCarthy loses more than four Republican votes in the election scheduled for January 3, he will likely fall under the 218 votes he needs to become the new House leader.

But McCarthy insists he has the votes. And the California Republican repeatedly indicated that he will do whatever it takes for him to become speaker, including forcing a floor vote — or multiple floor votes — if needed, according to Punchbowl News and CNN. 

Republicans who have already shown public support for McCarthy are calling his conservative challengers’ bluff.

“You can’t beat somebody with nobody, and there’s nobody else running,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD). “Even if there was another announced candidate, that person would not be better positioned to get 218 than Kevin.”

“Maybe they’re just trying to promote themselves a little bit?” said Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN) of the conservative caucus members who are challenging McCarthy’s bid. “I’m voting for Kevin McCarthy. He’s gonna win,” he added.

McCarthy also recently dared the Freedom Caucus members to keep up the act in an appearance on Newsmax, saying that Democrats could end up picking the next speaker if House Republicans don’t come together.

“We have to speak as one voice. We will only be successful if we work together, or we’ll lose individually. This is very fragile — that we are the only stopgap for this Biden administration,” McCarthy said on Newsmax. “And if we don’t do this right, the Democrats can take the majority. If we play games on the floor, the Democrats can end up picking who the Speaker is.” 

Five HFC (House Freedom Caucus) members swear they will not vote for McCarthy.  There are 220 GOP House members in 2023.  215 is not enough votes to become Speaker, and unless three of them cave after multiple floor votes or whatever else McCarthy insists on, it's still not enough.

I'm reminded the Senate GOP is determined to wreck the U.S. economy to force Biden to cut SS/Medicare funding.  No, I don't think that will happen, especially since the GOP doesn't control 75% of the Senate, and because I don't think Romney and Murkowski, at a minimum, would go along with that suicide run.

Of course, the House also wants to run hearings 24/7 for the next two years.  They can do that, but can they elect a Speaker?  The five crazy enough to insist on "None Of The Above" are the Board of Supervisors of Cochise County, AZ, except there is no judge who can order them to do their duty and vote for McCarthy.  And why should they?  They think they won the mid-terms and that they get to steer the ship now.

It would only take a few abstentions or five defections to elect a Democratic Speaker.  If the HFC Five are stubborn long enough, I can see that happening.  Along with what Michael Moore predicted:  a handful of disgusted GOP members switching parties, and thus control of the House.  Wouldn't take very many to decide the majority of the House GOP would rather burn government down than do the work of government.

That fire could start with the battle to elect a Speaker.

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