Annual Government Shutdown Megathread (Cycle ends with Momentary Shutdown)

[oldtimer]

In their conference meeting, the GOP had discussed just shutting down the government or only opening select parts like the DoD and the FAA. Then McCarthy's own appropriators demanded a clean CR.

https://twitter.com/sarahnferris/status/1708136773719576674

This whole charade is why people don't like Congress.

Even a government shutdown is better than this (it never derails the economy or financial markets anyway).

[oldtimer]

Apparently a part of why McCarthy caved is because doing the remaining appropriations bills during a shutdown could be complicated:

https://twitter.com/juliegraceb/status/1708130545949974533

They could have passed a bill funding only the things needed for that.

[oldtimer]

HR 5860 looks likely to pass. How long do we think it takes for Gaetz to file a motion to vacate?

90 Republicans voted against it.

Not a majority of Republicans, but a big number and getting closer to a majority.

I think Gaetz might wait until a majority of the Republican caucus votes against and then pull the plug.

[oldtimer]

HR 5860 looks likely to pass. How long do we think it takes for Gaetz to file a motion to vacate?

Probably the moment after Ukrainian money gets passed in a similar fashion to this. Makes things even clearer for his allies. Maybe we should preemptively create the thread.

Reminder that multiple Dems from multiple places in the party have said McCarthy is not getting bailed out on a motion to vacate. Jeffries has said they would whip against him. So unless McCarthy gives some serious concessions, he's done.

Is now really the right time to do this? Dems probably should consider bailing him out honestly…

There is no reason for them to bail him.

Jeffries might even have the votes to be elected Speaker, and anyway a Speaker Pro-tempore in the final year when no important bills would pass anyway is no big issue.

[oldtimer]

OK but Matt Gaetz is right.

They've tried to shut down the government twice.

The first time, McCarthy let Biden get pretty much everything they wanted.

The second time, the House Republicans' main goal was to abandon Ukraine to Russian conquest.  They succeeded but only because McCarthy made a secret side deal with the White House to do standalone funding for defending Ukraine after the fact.

So they're not getting to do the evil things they want to do.  What's the point of keeping McCarthy on?  He's not maliciously hurting America and he's not helping Russia, he should be replaced with someone who will.

It's different.

Republicans want victories over a Democrat Administration, any victory even procedural.

If McCarthy can't get them, then he is presented as the obstacle to even the smallest of victories.

The whole Ukraine thing is because Biden is equated with Ukraine, so support for Ukraine is strongly partisan.

The main priority of Republicans is beating Democrats and whatever Democrats support at any time, that's GOP leadership weak spot, they need to oppose everything or else they are not good Republicans.

[oldtimer]

It's probably been 100 years since any Speaker received a vote from a member of the opposing party. Democrats better not save McCarthy's Speakership without concessions.

Democrats don't need McCarthy.

A Speaker Pro-Tempore would function just as well:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-HPRACTICE-108/html/GPO-HPRACTICE-108-35.htm

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Vacancy

     The Office of Speaker may be declared vacant by resolution, which
 may be offered as a matter of privilege. Manual Sec. 315; 6 Cannon
 Sec. 35. Under rule I clause 8(b)(3), adopted in the 108th Congress,
 the Speaker is required to deliver to the Clerk a list of Members in
 the order in which each shall act as Speaker pro tempore in the case
 of a vacancy in the Office of Speaker. The Member acting as Speaker
 pro tempore under this provision may exercise such authorities of the
 Office of Speaker as may be necessary and appropriate pending the
 election of a Speaker or Speaker pro tempore. A vacancy in the Office
 may exist by reason of the physical inability of the Speaker to
 discharge the duties of the Office.

Why should Democrats humiliate themselves by voting for a Republican for Speaker, when they don't need him ?