With the House of Representatives
now in utter chaos with Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's withdrawal from the speaker race, the big question is who could possibly get the position. Here's some of the serious, not-so-serious, and could-they-really-be-serious? speculation.
The blue-eyed boy wonder put forward immediately by Beltway Media, Rep. Paul Ryan, could not run away from the "honor" fast enough: "While I am grateful for the encouragement I’ve received, I will not be a candidate." Of course he won't do it. He still thinks he has a future in national politics. This job, with this House, would be the death of that future. McCarthy says he's going to stay on as Majority Leader, so it's possible the candidates for that job and maybe even the whip's job, currently held by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) will leapfrog to the speaker's race. They include, of course, Scalise, as well as Reps. Tom Price (GA), Patrick McHenry (NC), Dennis Ross (FL) and Markwayne Mullin (OK). Other speculation includes Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC). Rep. Jason Chaffetz is still in the race, he says, but in a stunning and probably temporary lapse of honesty, says he doesn't know if he's the right person for it.
There's also talk of a "caretaker," maybe someone who's retiring who could just hang out in the seat until January 2017. Those names include Rep. John Kline (MN), Rep. Mac Thornberry (TX) and Rep. Tom Cole (OK). Cole was immediately attacked, even as a temporary keeper, by extremist Rep. Tim Huelskamp (KS) who says "Tom Cole has attacked conservatives at every turn." Another name floated, who immediately reacted with "Not me!!! Not me!!!" is Rep. Hal Rogers (KY) who says "I don't think I'm the person for it." Here's the problem for Republicans—anyone sane enough to possibly hold the place together can't possibly want the job.
Of course, there's been plenty of other suggestions, because this day is just too much fun for a Washington watcher. Like this:
One smart Daily Kos commenter suggested that our own David Nir, "fresh off his historic upset victory for a seat on the New York County Democratic Committee, winning with a solid nine votes will become the next House Speaker." This, however, which is real, sums up the truly fucked up state of the Republican House better than anything.