The nuclear option nobody knew existed
Jan. 5th, 2023 01:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamshark .... until Rep Michael McCaul spilled the beans in an interview last night.
Did you know that the much-discussed rule about needing a majority of those voting to elect a speaker is totally arbitrary? It's apparently just one of those rules that the House makes before they start the election. Like the first two hours of every DFL district convention which is spent voting on rules, all of which sound alike to newbies. Then after the 13th ballot somebody stands up and says, "Remember that seemingly inconsequential rule change that we all agreed to at 10am that allows a small adjustment in how we conduct the voting after the 13th ballot...." and it turns out not to have been so inconsequential after all. Anyway, I guess it's like that.
Apparently at any time, the full house can vote to change the requirement for electing Speaker to a plurality instead of a majority. So if a half-dozen Republicans joined all the Democrats in voting for that rule change, on the next ballot Hakeem Jeffries would win. Unless, of course, the Chaos Caucus caved and stopped voting against McCarthy.
Which would seem like their only option at that point. But game theory is tricky when your opponents are nut jobs.
Did you know that the much-discussed rule about needing a majority of those voting to elect a speaker is totally arbitrary? It's apparently just one of those rules that the House makes before they start the election. Like the first two hours of every DFL district convention which is spent voting on rules, all of which sound alike to newbies. Then after the 13th ballot somebody stands up and says, "Remember that seemingly inconsequential rule change that we all agreed to at 10am that allows a small adjustment in how we conduct the voting after the 13th ballot...." and it turns out not to have been so inconsequential after all. Anyway, I guess it's like that.
Apparently at any time, the full house can vote to change the requirement for electing Speaker to a plurality instead of a majority. So if a half-dozen Republicans joined all the Democrats in voting for that rule change, on the next ballot Hakeem Jeffries would win. Unless, of course, the Chaos Caucus caved and stopped voting against McCarthy.
Which would seem like their only option at that point. But game theory is tricky when your opponents are nut jobs.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-06 05:36 am (UTC)