Republican Jim Jordan has lost the first vote in his bid to become US House of Representatives Speaker after stiffer-than-expected opposition from members of his own party.

Despite intense lobbying, 20 Republicans refused to vote for the right-wing Ohio congressman.

The Trump ally abandoned plans for another vote until Wednesday morning.

Congress's lower chamber has had no Speaker since Kevin McCarthy was ousted two weeks ago in a right-wing revolt.

Without a leader, the House is unable to pass any bills or approve White House requests for emergency aid. That includes potential help for Israel amid its war with Hamas.

Mr Jordan earned 200 votes in the first ballot on Tuesday, but he needs 217 to secure the Speaker's gavel.

 

Even the Democratic nominee, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, earned more votes - 212 - than Mr Jordan, but Democrats are the minority party in the House, so it was not enough.

Mr Jordan vowed to "keep working" and expressed confidence he would ultimately emerge victorious.

"We're making progress. I feel good about it," he told reporters. "We're gonna keep going."

The House Judiciary Committee chairman initially said a second vote was planned for Tuesday, but later said it would instead take place at 11:00 (15:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

Republicans who refused to pick Mr Jordan voted instead for Kevin McCarthy, the former Speaker who was ousted on 3 October, or picked other candidates.

Three even voted for Lee Zeldin, a New York congressman who retired from the House in January this year.

 

A bloc of New York Republicans who voted against Mr Jordan cited his opposition to benefits for survivors of the 9/11 attacks, among other political issues.

But another New York Republican, Elise Stefanik, called Mr Jordan "a patriot, an America First warrior who wins the toughest of fights"

 

.FULL STORY

 

Thank you Matt Gaetz, you’re a gift.

Good. The man is a freak. He represents the extreme right wing. No room for extremists. He should be locked up along with Trump. 

Gym Jordan! Who failed to protect the young men he was coaching from a sexual predator! Who has failed to get a single bill into law in seventeen years of sitting on his butt whining in congress! Who supported the attempt to overthrow the government on 6 January! 

 

What a fine candidate to stand for the prestigious office of Speaker of the House. 

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

"Elise Stefanik, called Mr Jordan 'a patriot, an America First warrior who wins the toughest of fights.'"

This lying liar also defended Gym Jordan's record as a coach. Even Republicans couldn't buy into that one, audibly gasping as she spewed that nonsense.

 

Jordan is an election denier and was directly involved in the 1/6 insurrection. If he becomes Speaker, he will have direct influence on which electoral votes are counted.

 

What could possible go wrong with that scenario?

What is an 'America First warrior'?

4 hours ago, JCauto said:

Gym Jordan! Who failed to protect the young men he was coaching from a sexual predator! Who has failed to get a single bill into law in seventeen years of sitting on his butt whining in congress! Who supported the attempt to overthrow the government on 6 January! 

 

What a fine candidate to stand for the prestigious office of Speaker of the House. 

And 200 congressmen voted for this unqualified liar!

12 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

This lying liar also defended Gym Jordan's record as a coach. Even Republicans couldn't buy into that one, audibly gasping as she spewed that nonsense.

This past weekend Nancy Mace (a new member of the MAGA ladies association) was being interviewed by Jake Tapper of CNN.  When she began extolling Jordan as honest and trustworthy, Tapper's response was hilarious.  If nothing else, the DT era has caused media people to grow a pair.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2023/10/11/mace-house-speaker-jordan-democrats-scalise-jake-tapper-lead-vpx.cnn

 

Good news for Gaza. The longer congress has no speaker is the longer they can't help israel.

14 hours ago, candide said:

And 200 congressmen voted for this unqualified liar!

199 on the second vote!  MWUHAHAHAHA!!! He's goin' down like The Titanic.

Looks like the guy with the bow-tie might be named as expanded pro-tem.

 

1 hour ago, bendejo said:

Looks like the guy with the bow-tie might be named as expanded pro-tem.

 

Yeah, McHenry would be a reasonable option for the short term.  For the longer term, Dems should consider getting behind Liz Cheney.  She has the conservative credentials which should get some Rep support.  She also hates Trump, which is something every Dem can get behind....555

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

Yeah, McHenry would be a reasonable option for the short term.  For the longer term, Dems should consider getting behind Liz Cheney.  She has the conservative credentials which should get some Rep support.  She also hates Trump, which is something every Dem can get behind....555

Cheney would also be a route back to what the Republican Party used to be before the raving lunatics took over.

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

Yeah, McHenry would be a reasonable option for the short term.  For the longer term, Dems should consider getting behind Liz Cheney.  She has the conservative credentials which should get some Rep support.  She also hates Trump, which is something every Dem can get behind....555

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/raskin-points-republicans-might-get-dems-support-speaker-rcna120995

19 hours ago, Berkshire said:

Yeah, McHenry would be a reasonable option for the short term.  For the longer term, Dems should consider getting behind Liz Cheney.  She has the conservative credentials which should get some Rep support.  She also hates Trump, which is something every Dem can get behind....555

Doesn't the speaker have to be a sitting member of congress?

Cheney got the boot last election.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Cheney

On August 16, 2022, Cheney lost renomination in Wyoming's Republican primary to Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman in a landslide, garnering just 28.9% of the vote.

11 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Doesn't the speaker have to be a sitting member of congress?

Cheney got the boot last election.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Cheney

On August 16, 2022, Cheney lost renomination in Wyoming's Republican primary to Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman in a landslide, garnering just 28.9% of the vote.

No the speaker does not have to be a sitting member of Congress.

 

Article 1. Section II, Clause 5 of the Constitution of the United States:

 

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-2/clause-5/#:~:text=Clause 5 Impeachment,the sole Power of Impeachment.

18 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Doesn't the speaker have to be a sitting member of congress?

Cheney got the boot last election.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Cheney

On August 16, 2022, Cheney lost renomination in Wyoming's Republican primary to Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman in a landslide, garnering just 28.9% of the vote.

No.

 

Strange you come up with this question now and didn't consider the issue when Trump was mentioned as possible speaker.

7 minutes ago, stevenl said:

No.

 

Strange you come up with this question now and didn't consider the issue when Trump was mentioned as possible speaker.

That’s what happens when Trump supporters have the fever on them.

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Doesn't the speaker have to be a sitting member of congress?

Cheney got the boot last election.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Cheney

On August 16, 2022, Cheney lost renomination in Wyoming's Republican primary to Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman in a landslide, garnering just 28.9% of the vote.

Another "Constitutional Conservative" asking the real questions! This among other things is why the USA is in such a mess; the Right simply pretends things like "we'll fight to the death defending the Constitution!" but don't even understand the basics of what is written in it. Once informed, if they don't like the consequences, then they're in favour of burning the thing to the ground.

This is the problem of not having any actual principles, very soon one finds oneself supporting diametrically opposite positions or following someone who shares none of your actual values. Never mind that those values are appalling and you'd be virulently opposed to them being applied to your own people.

It's dead, Jim.

22 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

It's dead, Jim.

Beat him up, Scotty!

 

15 hours ago, JCauto said:

This among other things is why the USA is in such a mess; the Right simply pretends things like "we'll fight to the death defending the Constitution!" but don't even understand the basics of what is written in it.

They don't even try for that any more, except for the Sedition Caucus.  McConnell announced that the purpose of the GOP Congress was to ensure that Obama was a one-term president, and that was that.

I think it was the day after the GOP lost the 2012 election that Bobby Jindel, a GOP contender for the WH that year, said "the Republican Party has to stop being the party of stupid."  Sez who?

 

20 hours ago, stevenl said:

No.

 

Strange you come up with this question now and didn't consider the issue when Trump was mentioned as possible speaker.

Silly comment.

1/ Trump would never be acceptable so just a stupid idea not worth commenting on.

2/ it may have been mentioned by an ignored poster, which means I never saw it, and anyway I don't have all day to read every post on this forum, unlike some.

15 hours ago, JCauto said:

Another "Constitutional Conservative" asking the real questions! This among other things is why the USA is in such a mess; the Right simply pretends things like "we'll fight to the death defending the Constitution!" but don't even understand the basics of what is written in it. Once informed, if they don't like the consequences, then they're in favour of burning the thing to the ground.

This is the problem of not having any actual principles, very soon one finds oneself supporting diametrically opposite positions or following someone who shares none of your actual values. Never mind that those values are appalling and you'd be virulently opposed to them being applied to your own people.

When faced with the choice between two appalling people, one tries to pick the less appalling one to support.

20 hours ago, stevenl said:

No.

I'll have to accept that you may know more about the speaker position than I, but seems strange then that the position has always, to my knowledge, been occupied by a sitting member of the house, and if it is possible why is it not being considered now?

 

Regardless, cheney would never be acceptable to many in the GOP, so not even worth considering.

On 10/21/2023 at 3:35 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

I'll have to accept that you may know more about the speaker position than I, but seems strange then that the position has always, to my knowledge, been occupied by a sitting member of the house, and if it is possible why is it not being considered now?

 

Regardless, cheney would never be acceptable to many in the GOP, so not even worth considering.

It wouldn't take many if she had unanimous Democratic support. Only 6 Republicans would be needed.

9 Republicans are running for House speaker. Only 2 of them voted to certify the 2020 election

After House Republicans dropped Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as the nominee for House speaker Friday, nine candidates threw their hat in the ring for the top spot. 

But only two of those lawmakers voted to certify the 2020 election, raising questions among some Republicans about where they'll lend their support in the speaker battle. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/10/23/2-house-speaker-candidates-republicna-certify-2020-election/71286754007/

14 hours ago, placeholder said:

9 Republicans are running for House speaker. Only 2 of them voted to certify the 2020 election

After House Republicans dropped Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as the nominee for House speaker Friday, nine candidates threw their hat in the ring for the top spot. 

But only two of those lawmakers voted to certify the 2020 election, raising questions among some Republicans about where they'll lend their support in the speaker battle. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/10/23/2-house-speaker-candidates-republicna-certify-2020-election/71286754007/

So only two of them are committed to democracy and rule of law.

Lee Zeldin; not a member of the House; has been getting some votes this past week. Trump fanboy.

Must be getting close to the end of the temporary extension of the debt ceiling.

 

Seems the US political system really is broken if they can't sort this fiasco.