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MCCARTHY OUSTED

by Joan McCarter for Daily Kos Liveblogs

Daily Kos Staff

Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2023 Tuesday, Oct. 03, 2023 at 11:31:46am PDT

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 03: U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) reacts as Representatives cast their votes for Speaker of the House on the first day of the 118th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 03, 2023 in Washington, DC. Today members of the 118th Congress will be sworn-in and the House of Representatives will elect a new Speaker of the House. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The House of Representatives is doing something it hasn’t done in 113 years: deciding whether to oust Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. There are a few ways this can go procedurally, but only two final outcomes: He’s in or he’s out.

The first votes could be either a motion to table Gaetz’s resolution or a motion to refer it to a committee where it will be buried. A motion wouldn't be open to debate, so if that's the first thing they do it will go fast, then proceed straight to Gaetz's motion. A motion to refer it to a committee is debatable; if it passes, it’s all over and McCarthy is saved. If neither of those things do away with Gaetz’s motion, they then have an hour of debate on McCarthy’s future.

Follow the fun here and on C-SPAN.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 9:57:49 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Oops. Sharp-eyed user Frank L Palmer found a typo in this update: that should have been 426 in total voting, not 226. But trying to edit updates is kind of a bear, so consider it corrected here.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 9:44:52 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jeffries: “It is our hope that traditional Republicans will walk away from MAGA extremism and join us in partnership for the good of the country.” pic.twitter.com/2kC1usY8CV
— Nicholas Wu (@nicholaswu12) October 3, 2023

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 9:41:05 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jimmy Carter was about to enter hospice when McCarthy became speaker. Carter (yay) has outlasted Speaker McCarthy.
— Walter Shapiro (@MrWalterShapiro) October 3, 2023

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 9:39:21 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Democrat Rep. Gerry Connolly, Virginia: McCarthy going on national television Sunday to say that Democrats tried to force a government shutdown was "one of the most crushingly stupid things somebody could do on the eve of your survival vote." Yep.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 9:36:47 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal is doing a phenomenal job on CNN talking about how Republicans—including all those so-called moderates—made this happen.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 9:32:16 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Remember when McCarthy said “Bring it on!” It was brought. He should have done some counting before this. He was undoubtedly certain that, once again, the Democrats would step into save the institution. The problem is that McCarthy was equating himself with the institution.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 9:06:50 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE is meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m.

w @MicaSoellnerDC
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 3, 2023

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 9:03:42 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

It’s kind of difficult to wrap your head around this. This has never happened before. That’s a reflection of what a vacuous, unprincipled, incompetent “leader” McCarthy has been. But it’s also a reflection of the utter chaos, the disarray, the dangerous war within the Republican party. McCarthy deserved this, utterly. But that doesn't mean this isn’t a fraught time for the country.

One would like to think this will be a wake-up call to Republicans to start getting their proverbial house in order. Doesn’t seem likely.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:58:03 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

McCarthy had no comment on his way from the Republican cloakroom to his soon-to-be-former office.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:50:21 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

So McHenry was the first name on McCarthy’s list. This guy:

Rep. McHenry (R-NC) implies that Democrats are somehow betraying the Constitution by not voting to save McCarthy.

“I understand where the liberals are. I know you support the constitutional order except in a moment like this … You can’t be counted on in a moment like this.”
— Will Saletan (wsaletan on Threads) (@saletan) October 3, 2023

And they wonder why Democrats didn’t want to help them.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:48:02 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

It’s done. McCarthy has made dubious history as the first speaker to ever be thrown out.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:45:20 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Here we go: The opportunity to change their votes has been offered. No one is doing so.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:41:44 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

The yes votes have reach 216, two more than the magic number for ousting him. Members can change their votes, but that sure doesn’t seem likely. History appears to have been made.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:39:39 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Indiana Republican Spartz was typically unpredictable—she voted against tabling the motion, but then voted to keep McCarthy. She’s a mercurial one.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:33:22 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Rosendale, Montana, becomes the 8th Republican voting to oust McCarthy.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:28:15 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

To keep us all up to speed: The seven Republicans voting to oust McCarthy are Biggs, Buck, Burchett, Crane, Gaetz, Good, Mace.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:26:50 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Members will have a chance to change their votes at the end of all this, but there are now seven Republicans against McCarthy. It’s hard to imagine they’d change their minds.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:25:33 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

“Moderate” Nancy Mace voted aye. Don’t know what her angle is, but she’s a rival for Gaetz in the attention-getting stakes.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:23:20 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Here’s another reason Democrats aren’t helping McCarthy. The large California delegation of Democrats asked for a delay in votes this week so that they could attend Sen. Feinstein’s funeral. He ignored their request. The man hasn’t an ounce of grace.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:20:19 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jeffries just voted: aye.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:17:21 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

With Gaetz and Good voting aye, that’s six against McCarthy. He’s going to have to get Dems or flip some Republicans, and that doesn’t seem likely at this point. But you never know.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:12:09 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

With Crane (Arizona) voting yes, McCarthy is on the cusp—there are four GOP votes against him now: Biggs, Buck, Burchett. No Democrats have broken.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 8:07:56 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Boebert said “No, for now.” Okay.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:59:20 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

McCarthy’s side sure didn’t provide any rationale for Democrats to help him out. They universally trashed them. So, anyway, McCarthy’s side has closed, Gaetz has a few minutes to finish.

On to the vote, which could take as long as an hour, because it’s going to be a manual roll call vote, member by member.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:56:34 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

I’m not sure that Rep. Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota is really the strongest closer that McCarthy could bring, but okay.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:53:48 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Oh good lord, Graves. No one within the hearing of your microphone believes McCarthy is the “greatest speaker in history.” That’s sure as hell not going to appeal to Democrats.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:51:46 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Elise Stefanik definitely brought the Tracy Flick energy to her defense of McCarthy. Now we’ve got Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana making stuff up about all of McCarthy’s accomplishments. Never mind that most of this stuff will never see the light of day in the Senate.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:46:34 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

For the record, the “12 separate subject” bills Gaetz keeps talking about on appropriations are actually 12 separate bills. Each of the appropriations bills cover multiple agencies.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:44:02 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Speaker after speaker on McCarthy’s side has been trashing the Democrats. That’s not a great way to convince any of them to help him.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:40:33 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Republicans—not McCarthy—have been reaching out to centrist Dems, “begging” in the words of one, another calling it “temperature taking.” It doesn't seem to be working, by all reports.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:29:53 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Listening to the McCarthy boosters is kind of wild. Do they really believe that he—and they—have accomplished anything. It’s such a disconnect to reality.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:20:06 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

And of course we get Bible stuff from a Republican (Bruce Westerman of Arkansas). Not really an appropriate time for scripture.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:11:52 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Gaetz is being forced to speak from the Democratic side of the House chamber because allies of Kevin McCarthy blocked all the other microphones.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 3, 2023

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:09:45 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jim Jordan is yelling on behalf of McCarthy.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:08:40 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Meanwhile, on the Senate side, VP Kamala Harris is presiding as California Sen. Laphonza Butler is sworn in.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:05:34 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

"Kevin McCarthy's earned this,” GOP Whip Tom Emmer says. By being the only one who wanted the job, which is I guess counts?

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:04:04 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Cole said “Think long and hard before you plunge us into chaos. Because that’s where we’re headed if we vacate the speakership." Gaetz makes a good point in saying that they’ve hardly avoided chaos under McCarthy.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 7:02:13 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Cole gets a brief standing ovation for his statement in support of McCarthy. Democrats did not participate.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 6:59:49 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

For context, or just for fun:

Kevin McCarthy's favorable rating is 19% and falling.@Civiqs tracking poll: https://t.co/osc3QnCHcO pic.twitter.com/saJTXkNajS
— Drew Linzer (@DrewLinzer) October 3, 2023

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 6:57:05 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

When the vote happens in an hour, it will be conducted like the speaker votes—a verbal roll call of every member.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 6:54:12 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma will control the debate on McCarthy’s side. The painful part of this is spending the next hour listening to only Republicans talk.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 6:52:39 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Good relating how he was the big leader that convinced holdouts in January to vote “present” to let McCarthy be speaker, and how he didn’t ask for anything in return. Uh huh. Continues on about how committed to unity with the GOP he’s been against the Dems. Uh huh.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 6:49:50 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

The vote was 208-218. Gaetz’s motion moves forward and we’re making goddamned history today. There will be an hour of debate, divided equally between Gaetz and leadership. Rep. Bob Good of VA will kick off the debate for Gaetz’s side.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 6:46:24 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

There are now 218 votes against killing the motion to vacate. That’s not going to happen unless GOP leadership can do some arm-twisting to change some votes.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 6:43:55 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi is not there to vote, she’s in California for Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s funeral. Her statement comports with Jeffries’—it’s up to the GOP to figure this out. That suggests she wouldn’t vote to help McCarthy either.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 6:41:21 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Those GOP noes: Biggs, Buck Burchett, Crane, Davidson, Gaetz, Good, Mace, Rosendale, Spartz

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 6:37:36 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

So far 10 Republicans are voting for the motion to vacate to move forward, meaning McCarthy loses this first attempt to save his ass unless Democrats break ranks. It’s possible they try a motion to refer it to committee after this.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023 · 6:34:38 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Here we go. First vote is the motion to table, not debatable. Based on the number of members who voted on the previous rule vote—226 in total—the magic number to get a majority—for either side—is 214.