Tag Archives: infighting is funny

Politico reports: As the GOP has drifted steadily right, their ranks have steadily thinned and their crucial role in making Congress work has become increasingly threatened. Being called a “moderate” these days isn’t even really ideological — it’s about keeping your head down, building the relationships and making the compromises that have kept American democracy on track for 247 years. …

The Washington Post reports: Rather than risk coming up short a second time in one day, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has said the House will vote again at 11 a.m. Wednesday. That will presumably give Jordan and his allies more time to try to win over enough holdouts to clinch the speakership. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), who earlier on Tuesday …

Politico reports: A faction of Republicans that strongly opposes Jim Jordan is vowing he’ll have a challenger during the House floor speakership vote on Tuesday, according to two House Republicans familiar with the planning. While they have not yet nailed down a specific name, they believe the person they ultimately land on will not only be able block Jordan from …

CNN reports: A number of House Republicans are in talks to block Rep. Jim Jordan’s path to the speakership as the Ohio Republican tries to force a floor vote on Tuesday, according to multiple GOP sources. One senior Republican House member who is part of the opposition to Jordan told CNN that there he believes there are roughly 40 “no” …

“I think we have the Donald Trump on the teleprompter reading what’s on there and we have the Donald Trump when he gets off that teleprompter – that’s the real Donald Trump. “He attacked Bibi after his country suffered its worst attack in its history. He did that because Bibi congratulated Biden in November. That’s why he did that. He …

The Hill reports: Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley says members of the House don’t need to get paid “until they fix this” as the House scrambles to fill the Speakership vacancy left after Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted from the role. “They don’t need to leave until they fix this. They don’t need to get paid until they fix this,” …

“It’s a tough scenario, but there are people in there that are honorably trying to get to the right place. And then there are people in there, as you know, that like to go on the TV and are not necessarily negotiating for anything other than TV time. Makes us look like a bunch of idiots.” – GOP Rep. Austin …

Politico reports: House Republicans will meet again at 10 a.m. this morning to take another shot at choosing a new speaker after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise abruptly withdrew from the race last night. Just as the overthrow of McCarthy embittered McCarthy’s supporters and cost Scalise, the defenestration of Scalise has infuriated Scalise allies who are hardening their opposition to …

NPR reports: Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., has dropped out of the race to become the new House speaker, after failing to secure enough support for his bid to succeed on the floor. “I was very clear we have to have everybody put their agendas on the side and focus on what this country needs,” Scalise told reporters in the Capitol. …

The Washington Post reports: The Republican-led House remains in limbo Thursday as Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) struggles to secure the majority of votes needed to be elected by the full chamber. On Wednesday, Scalise narrowly topped Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in a conference-wide vote, winning the majority by 113-99, with nearly a dozen Republicans voting present or for someone else …

The Daily Beast reports: Though some moderate Republicans planned to nominate Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for House Speaker, he reportedly told colleagues in a Tuesday party meeting not to put him forward, according to Punchbowl News. It would leave two candidates: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Steve Scalise (R-LA), who will both speak at the House GOP’s candidate forum on …

Mediaite reports: Former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to make the argument that his Republican primary rival Ron DeSantis wears heels. Amid a slew of posts about the conflict in Israel, the Chinese Communist Party, and his legal troubles on Monday, Trump posted three screenshots from DeSantis’ September appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, with …

The Hill reports: Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) did not rule out returning to the post if the House Republican Conference cannot decide on a replacement. Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt asked McCarthy — who lost the gavel last week after eight House Republicans joined with Democrats to oust him — on Monday whether he would serve again as Speaker …

Semafor reports: Members of Donald Trump’s team are quietly preparing to go on offense against Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as internal campaign polling suggests his expected third party bid could draw more votes from Trump than President Joe Biden in a general election. Semafor has not independently reviewed the polling. One person close to Trump’s campaign said it showed that …

The Washington Examiner reports: A group of more than 40 concerned House Republicans penned a letter to their colleagues condemning the eight Republicans who joined Democrats to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on Tuesday and calling for “fundamental changes” to the conference structure. The 45 members who signed the letter, which was obtained by the Washington Examiner, said they …

“It was Republicans who, even prior to that vote that weekend, failed to pass their own bills to fund the government. But if you look at the recent history of Republican speakers, the cause of death becomes a little clearer. McCarthy, ousted. Paul Ryan, quit in disgust over his right flank. John Boehner, pushed out by the Freedom Caucus. Dennis …

Axios reports: Expectations are at rock-bottom among House Republicans that their civil war will be resolved by the speaker vote on Wednesday, Axios has learned. Some moderates are threatening to tank any speaker if the rules aren’t changed to protect future speakers from single-member motions to vacate. That’s a deal breaker for conservatives. Some conservatives are threatening to tank any …

“You’ve gotta think about this guy. This is a guy that didn’t have – that the media didn’t give the time of day to after he was accused of sleeping with an underage girl. “And there’s a reason why no one in the conference came and defended him – because we had all seen the videos he was showing on …

“Matt Gaetz, to say he came as a fiscal crusader, it’s more likely he came here for the teenage interns on Capitol Hill, to be honest. Look, he’s voted for continuing resolutions. He’s voted for omnibus bills. He voted for trillions of dollars in Covid spending. Even this year, he put forward an earmark, and yet he’s presented himself as, …

The Washington Examiner reports: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urged former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) replacement on Wednesday to eliminate the motion to vacate after the procedural tool was used to force the latter’s historic ouster. “I have no advice to give to House Republicans, except one: I hope whoever the next speaker is gets rid of the …