The Republican House Caucus has today rejected the notion of a short-term, elected and empowered Speaker pro tem McHenry. Jordan is losing votes on each new roll call, and he is such a vindictive SOB that it would be foolish for anyone who already voted against him to put him in power over them. There are no plausible other Republican candidates who can get 217 Republican votes in the House. The Freakdom Caucus will vote against anyone outside their tent; anyone inside their tent will alienate 10+ others.
But something has to give. Otherwise the federal government shuts down November 17th, and we are unable to provide new aid to Ukraine or Israel—even though both have bipartisan support.
Let me try stirring the pot.
The Dem caucus should identify a handful of Republicans they could potentially support, assuming certain assurances are made. Then, on the next rollcall vote, 10 Democrats vote for each of these potential candidates. When interviewed later, they all say that Hakeem Jeffries is still their choice, but they wanted to show Republicans a pathway out of their hell. Pick one of these candidates, and you can neutralize Gaetz and his caucus.
It means Jeffries gets 182 votes instead of 212 (assuming 4 in the handful of alternatives). Big deal.
It starkly underlines: the GOP majority has a way out, if they are willing to take it. Just nominate one of the four.
The ‘any member can call for a declaration of vacancy’ rule would stay in effect. If a Speaker were elected through this, that Speaker would know that s/he could survive ticking off Gaetz, but not Jeffries.