The New York Times reports:
Allies of the Ohio Republican, who must persuade scores of his colleagues to support his bid for speaker, are threatening right-wing retribution to any G.O.P. lawmakers who dare oppose him.
Given how nearly the entire Republican caucus has caved repeatedly to Trump, is there much doubt that even those GOP House members who despise Jordan, Gaetz and the rest of bomb-throwing Freedom Caucus will succumb to threats and elect Jordan Speaker?
Amy Kremer, a political activist affiliated with the Tea Party movement and Mr. Trump who also leads Women for America First, which organized a “Stop the Steal” rally in 2021, posted a hit list of 12 members on Friday.
…
Some conservative strategists close to Mr. Jordan believe he will easily be able to win over his detractors, institutionalists who put a high premium on a functioning government and projecting normalcy. Unlike the hard right, the strategists argue, staging a floor revolt simply isn’t in their nature.
“These 60 members are not voting against Jordan on the floor,” Russell T. Vought, president of the Center for Renewing America, a think tank with ties to Mr. Trump, and a strategist close to Mr. Jordan, wrote on X. “Take it to the floor & call their bluff.”
Over and over, Republicans have chosen power over principle, their elected positions over doing the right thing. To expect anything different this time is likely expecting too much.
The whispers of a deal with Democrats is, to me, completely unrealistic given recent history. Not only are less radical Republicans afraid of being primaried (even those in close districts), they are all deathly afraid of the vile and violent MAGA base. Are there five brave GOP House members who will stand up to these bullies?
We’ll know early this week. I am not holding my breath.
