Tag Archives: US House

CNN reports: Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert pleaded guilty Wednesday to lying to federal investigators about plans to pay someone he had wronged $3.5 million in hush money. As part of a plea deal, Hastert could serve a prison sentence, or possibly walk away with no prison time. Prosecutors recommended that the judge consider the federal sentencing guidelines, which given …

Despite the lack of full-throated support from Teabagistan following Tuesday’s ultimatum, Paul Ryan this afternoon declared his intention to run for House Speaker. Ryan says that he believes that Republicans in the House are “ready to move forward as one, united team.” Uh huh. Ryan is expected to easily win next Wednesday’s GOP vote.

Here’s some Tea Party double-speak for you: Hard-line conservatives cleared a path Wednesday for Rep. Paul Ryan to become House speaker when some of his most disgruntled fellow Republicans signaled that they would support his bid for the top job. The decision to back Ryan by the House Freedom Caucus, a group of nearly 40 lawmakers that has risen in …

The Hill reports: House Republicans will hold elections to nominate a new Speaker on Oct. 28, two days before Speaker John Boehner is expected to resign from Congress, Boehner told GOP lawmakers in a closed-door meeting Wednesday. Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Tuesday night he’ll run for the top job if he can win support from three …

Last night Paul Ryan declared that he would “gladly serve” as House Speaker – but only if far-right Republicans vow to support him without complaint. That, of course, has not gone down well in Teabagistan. Over at Breitbart, where multiple daily anti-Ryan pieces have been running for weeks, Ryan’s statement has resulted in renewed fury.

Ever since Kevin McCarthy abruptly dropped his bid for House Speaker, Breitbart has been running multiple daily attacks on that also terrible RINO, Paul Ryan. Tonight Ryan declared that he MIGHT serve as Speaker – but with a whopping proviso aimed squarely at Teabagistan. The Washington Post reports: Ryan met Tuesday evening with tea party hard-liners and later with the larger …

Totally not-gay Charlie Crist today announced that he’s running for the US House. The Tampa Bay Times reports: Charlie Crist is back, saying Tuesday “somebody has to step up” for Democrats in the 13th Congressional District, dismissing criticism that he is perpetual candidate. “Public service is in my heart,” said Crist at his congressional campaign kickoff in front of Childs …

GOP Sen. Tom Cotton says he’s serious about making Dick Cheney the next Speaker of the House. Via Politico: Yep, Sen. Tom Cotton told us in an interview that with all the instability in the House leadership, it’s time to turn to the former vice president. “Look, these are trying times for our nation. It’s important to have a steady …

This afternoon Breitbart is running a live poll of its readers, asking for their pick to be the next House Speaker. Unsurprisingly the current leader is Tea Party favorite Trey Gowdy. The poll is open to all so if you have any suggestions of your own, here’s the link. Heh.

The Hill reports: Newt Gingrich said he would consider taking up the Speaker’s gavel again if called upon to by House Republicans. The former Speaker initially denied any interest in a return to Congress, but when pressed in an interview with radio show host Sean Hannity on Thursday, admitted he would consider it if he had the votes. “If you …

Mediaite recaps: Maddow suggested that since none of the remaining candidates may be able to get 218 votes and the chances of conservatives compromising is low, she suggested either Nancy Reagan or Ted Cruz or the Duck Dynasty guy or even returning champion Newt Gingrich because apparently that’s a thing now. But then she warned about the “ominous” option: what …

At a hastily organized press conference, Rep. Kevin McCarthy today conceded that he has dropped out of the House Speaker race partially due to his accidentally telling the truth about the Benghazi investigation. In so many words, that is. Rachel Maddow will be tickled that McCarthy had one of his famous mouth-fumbling moments right off the bat. Watch below.

Holy CRAP! Rep. Kevin McCarthy has unexpectedly withdrawn from the House Speaker race, reportedly because he does not have the 218 votes to guarantee a win. Capitol Hill is in an uproar and Teabagistan is doing cartwheels. Story developing… UPDATE: From the New York Times: Representative Kevin McCarthy on Thursday abruptly took himself out of the race to succeed John …

Rep. Alan Grayson has filed a House ethics complaint against Republicans Kevin McCarthy and Trey Gowdy over the never-ending Benghazi investigation. Via The Hill: “The Benghazi Committee has been a political dog-and-pony show for its entire 17-month history,” Grayson said in a statement. “It has been clear even to casual observers that the purpose of the committee was never to …

Tomorrow House Republicans will meet behind closed doors to select their nominee to succeed Speaker John Boehner. The full House will vote on October 29th, but observers note that none of the declared candidates, at the moment, likely have the 218 votes needed to win. If no candidate reaches that threshold, Boehner would remain Speaker despite his plan to resign. …

One of the first things Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) did after being elected was to introduce a House bill that would have overturned same-sex marriage in Washington DC. Now he wants John Boehner’s job. The Hill reports: The Utah Republican’s late entry into the race to replace outgoing Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has changed the dynamic of the contest. Before Chaffetz …

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy today announced his bid to succeed House Speaker John Boehner, who rocked Capitol Hill this weekend with an unexpected announcement to that he will resign from Congress next month. Teabagistan’s preferred candidate, at the moment, is Rep. Daniel Webster, a disciple of bizarre Duggar-affiliated Pastor Bill Gothard, who recently resigned from the Christian institute he …

Rep. Dina Titus (photo) calls the vote a slap in the face to gay veterans. Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade: A measure that would have changed federal law to reflect that gay, lesbian and bisexual veterans are entitled to spousal benefits narrowly failed in a House committee on Thursday — thanks in part to a Democrat who voted …

Illinois GOP state Sen. Darin LaHood, who fought against same-sex marriage and LGBT rights, has won the special election to replace disgraced and totally-not-gay former US Rep. Aaron Schock. The Associated Press reports: LaHood, easily won a special election Thursday to replace disgraced former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, sending a familiar name to Washington from Illinois. The younger LaHood’s victory brings …