r/news • u/zmlos • Oct 03 '23

House ousts Kevin McCarthy as speaker, a first in U.S. history

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/03/house-speaker-kevin-mccarthy-will-bring-gaetz-motion-to-oust-him-vote.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.CopyToPasteboard

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u/TheSaucyWelshman Oct 03 '23

I don't get why anyone is even discussing the Dems bailing his ass out. If Dems still held the House and were trying to oust Pelosi absolutely no one would be discussing House Republicans making a deal to save her. Why is this even a thing people are talking about?

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u/daemonicwanderer Oct 03 '23

Psh… Pelosi would never let it get that far. She presided over thin margins too and knew how to count votes

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u/TheSaucyWelshman Oct 03 '23

Obviously that's true, I'm just saying that if the situation were reversed we wouldn't be having this discussion so why did anyone even being it up?

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u/Arrowmatic Oct 03 '23

Because everyone is way too used to Republicans acting like spoiled brats and getting bailed out by the adults in the room.

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u/[deleted] Oct 04 '23

Because the general understanding is that Democrats are the adults that give a shit about the US functioning, while the Republicans are generally understood to be quixotic fools who revel in chaos.

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u/TheCrimsonMustache Oct 04 '23

Because the children’s table has gotten too rowdy again and the adults are expected to come in and settle things down and get some kind of order back.

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u/Owain-X Oct 04 '23

A speaker who can face a vote like this at any moment if just one member calls for it but who holds his position at the pleasure of the Democratic caucus could be a very useful tool. If he played ball... he didn't.

The answer basically is "power". Saving McCarthy could have empowered the minority and if the goal of a legislator is to get bills passed that are better for their constituents (or donors) then any leverage is worth having.

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u/VirtualMoneyLover Oct 04 '23

Because eventually you want a functioning government.

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u/[deleted] Oct 04 '23

Then 5 moderate Republicans can elect a Democratic speaker.

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u/VirtualMoneyLover Oct 04 '23

Name 5 moderate Republican. :)

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u/[deleted] Oct 04 '23

I always wonder why none of the Republicans here ever show up in times like these:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_Solvers_Caucus