House Speaker Ongoing Melodrama

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(10-26-2023, 02:18 AM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: The more I read the more I don’t like. I’m pretty big on not having leaders who want to impose their religious beliefs through means of government. IE Hamas, Isis, etc. So you can rule out any and all religious fanatics.

I thought part of the whole deal that started this country was about fleeing religious persecution? And fighting a war against a king who was also leader of a church? I’m pretty bad at history fyi.

But here we are. Maga looking like it means imposing the Christian national beliefs on everyone?

I agree that this guy seems like absolute shit and I am really not pleased he's the Speaker of the House and extremely unimpressed in Republicans that he actually managed to get enough votes to become it. I would prefer people in power who respect elections.

That said, there is ZERO productivity from ever comparing any side of our political spectrum as Hamas and ISIS. No matter how awful this guy might be, he's not going around decapitating babies, strapping suicide vests to children to detonate them in public areas, or burning people alive.

[NATI BENGALS]

(10-26-2023, 04:27 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I agree that this guy seems like absolute shit and I am really not pleased he's the Speaker of the House and extremely unimpressed in Republicans that he actually managed to get enough votes to become it. I would prefer people in power who respect elections.

That said, there is ZERO productivity from ever comparing any side of our political spectrum as Hamas and ISIS. No matter how awful this guy might be, he's not going around decapitating babies, strapping suicide vests to children to detonate them in public areas, or burning people alive.

I was thinking more along the lines of using a position of power to control women and openly discriminate against others by using their religion of choice as justification.

[Mickeypoo]

(10-26-2023, 12:21 AM)pally Wrote: You may be able to credibly speak to what conservatives are told to believe but your understanding of liberal beliefs is so far from reality that it seems like you just make up whatever makes you happy.

You didn’t answer the question….what has to happen to “make America great again? Without specific goals to be achieved it is simply an empty, meaningless piece of bulls***

You mean like when the Left scream "insurrection".    That's some serious detachment from reality.

And believing Biden conveys strength on the global stage.  Wandering around lost, falling down and having a cognitive disease just oozes strength.

The Left can't even figure out if they are for women or if they want to cancel them and take their opportunities away.

I'll give you one.   Stop with the entire green push/policies and embrace fossil fuels until we have a legit alternative.  Stop pushing ideologies in education.  Elect someone who doesn't have a cognitive disease.  Ban men from participating in women only events.  Well, that's more than one.  lol 

[GMDino]

(10-26-2023, 01:26 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: First, it appears you think conservatives are under some type of spell and do not have minds of our own. No one tells a conservative what to believe and I would suggest same for liberals. Everyone on all sides has their political beliefs based on their individual life experiences and beliefs.

I can speak for myself and my opinion why America is no longer great. This is what I feel is needed to get us back to being great again. Contrary to liberals, I feel America was great and was a resected world leader in the past, but our country no longer believes in itself.

1. The economy sucks. Biden's inflation since he took office is 17.4%. Wage growth is lagging behind inflation which is a recipe for disaster for the lower and middle class. "Since President Biden took office, prices have increased cumulatively by 17.4 percent, while hourly wages have increased only 13 percent.Sep 20, 2023"

2. Economy fix - Use our own natural resources for oil and natural gas. I am not a climate denier, but many are or feel Climate is nowhere close to being the #1 issue facing the US. Oil is used for gasoline and to heat homes, the US needs to be energy independent and never have to import oil as we do now under Biden. The imported oil is dirty oil and not climate friendly. Our energy produced is as clean or cleaner than anywhere in the world. Inflation sky rocketed the same time gasoline prices spiked due to poor policy by Biden. It impacts all of the distribution points causing huge spikes in pricing at restaurants, retail shops, internet purchases and so on.

3. Stronger Borders - we have borders for a reason and it is not acceptable to allow illegal immigrants to enter the country and stay while waiting for a hearing. Biden's illegal immigration enforcement will negatively impact us in ways we have not thought of the next few decades. Biden is heading towards allowing 8 million illegal immigrants into the US since he reversed the Trump policies. Huge mistake and we are more at risk physically and financially as a result.

4. Keep taxes low for the lower and middle class and for small business. Small businesses create the jobs, help them create more jobs. More jobs equal more tax dollars.
5. Less government - We need to eliminate  city, state and federal government. A dee dive is needed to eliminate entire departments lie the Department of Education, like abortion, send it back to the state level and let then determine best ways to educate students. Our budgets are full of wasteful and unneeded spending (pork by politicians), it has to stop. We need to eliminate lobbyists and prosecute politicians who are bought and aid for by Big Pharma for example. I also think the UN is a poor investment for the US, if President for a day I would tell the UN to take a hike and take our UN funding back to helping US citizens.

6. Foreign Affairs - Peace through strength. Trump is the only recent President to not enter a new war. It was not an accident. He took out ISIS and had the middle east calmed down, now the middle east is a dumpster fire and Biden's lack of respect is a major concern. No one wants World War 3, but his weakness as perceived by our major enemies is an issue.
7. Conservative judges who base decisions on the constitution as written.
8. Freedom of religion & freedom of free speech are both being attacked by the left. We have college campuses shutting down conservative free speech. We have AntiSemitism actions on college campuses being advocated by leadership leaving Jewish students with no safe space. Can someone tell me the how racism is any different from AntiSemitism?

9. Donald Trump

Everything above is a huge part of Trump's polices. Maybe now and you will understand MAGA republicans are not a cult, but share in the Donald Trump mantra of how to Make America Great Again.

So now I have educated you on my views as a MAGA republican who by the way would vote for any GOP nominee with these core values and goals.

Now your turn, please let me know what liberals value in a POTUS.

Wage growth has lagged behind inflation since the 80's.

We are currently more energy independent than ever before.

We are investing and capturing more people at the border than ever before.

The gop, the last time they had control, lowered taxes on the top 1% permanently and temporarily on everyone else.

Plenty of pork can be cut.  I suggest we NOT start by creating dumber citizens.

Trump did not start a war because he kissed the ass of every strong leader until "he was the apple of their eye".  They just spent his time golfing in office preparing to do what every they wanted...including Iran.

The constitution is meant to be interpreted as time passes.  Even the Founding Fathers said as much.  To think a bunch of men in 1776 knew everything and perfectly set up a piece of paper that should never be questioned is the kind of thinking that makes an elected politician believe the Bible should be the man law making source in this country.

You have freedom of religion and free speech.  What you want is to shut up anyone who disagrees with you and your religion.

P01135809 is a liar and a cheat.  He cares about the brand and making money and not one iota about you or me or this country.  But a cult member won't see that.

Given your post I go back to when I said the last thing we need to do is lower education standards in this country.

[Luvnit2]

(10-26-2023, 09:18 AM)GMDino Wrote: Wage growth has lagged behind inflation since the 80's.

We are currently more energy independent than ever before.

We are investing and capturing more people at the border than ever before.

The gop, the last time they had control, lowered taxes on the top 1% permanently and temporarily on everyone else.

Plenty of pork can be cut.  I suggest we NOT start by creating dumber citizens.

Trump did not start a war because he kissed the ass of every strong leader until "he was the apple of their eye".  They just spent his time golfing in office preparing to do what every they wanted...including Iran.

The constitution is meant to be interpreted as time passes.  Even the Founding Fathers said as much.  To think a bunch of men in 1776 knew everything and perfectly set up a piece of paper that should never be questioned is the kind of thinking that makes an elected politician believe the Bible should be the man law making source in this country.

You have freedom of religion and free speech.  What you want is to shut up anyone who disagrees with you and your religion.

P01135809 is a liar and a cheat.  He cares about the brand and making money and not one iota about you or me or this country.  But a cult member won't see that.

Given your post I go back to when I said the last thing we need to do is lower education standards in this country.

Please provide sources for your claims, but more important quit tearing down MAGA beliefs when you never can offer your own liberal beliefs.

Your posts went stale a long time ago, please tell us what your liberal policies are. Just like you, I won't likely agree with them, but I have no idea what Democrats stand for besides hating the other side or anyone that does not agree with your statements. 

 Do you?

[KillerGoose]

(10-26-2023, 01:26 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: 2. Economy fix - Use our own natural resources for oil and natural gas. I am not a climate denier, but many are or feel Climate is nowhere close to being the #1 issue facing the US. Oil is used for gasoline and to heat homes, the US needs to be energy independent and never have to import oil as we do now under Biden. The imported oil is dirty oil and not climate friendly. Our energy produced is as clean or cleaner than anywhere in the world. Inflation sky rocketed the same time gasoline prices spiked due to poor policy by Biden. It impacts all of the distribution points causing huge spikes in pricing at restaurants, retail shops, internet purchases and so on.

There are a few things wrong with this portion of your post. One, we are using our own natural resources, and we are using them well. Through July of 2023, we are producing more oil domestically than we ever have. You can see this data on the EIA website. We are also producing significantly more natural gas than we ever have. You can also see this on the EIA website. The next is a minor correction, but oil is not a major source of heating for homes. U.S. homes are primarily heated by natural gas. You'll also see electricity, which could be generated by oil, coal or some other fossil fuel, and propane. I'm most familiar with propane as I work in the O&G industry on the NGL side. We deal with very large volumes of propane, primarily distributed to heat homes.

Quote:the US needs to be energy independent and never have to import oil as we do now under Biden.

This is phrased in a confusing manner as it almost sounds like you are saying that we didn't before Biden. I don't want to assume your intentions so I will just make a blanket statement saying that we have always imported oil, and we are actually importing less oil now than we have in decades. You can see this data on the EIA website. The United States has never been energy independent. In fact, we have never even been close. Really, energy independence isn't an actual phrase used in the energy industry. Based on how politicians use it, I don't think there is any country in the world that fits the description. Donald Trump mentioned the U.S. being energy independent back in 2019 when the United States became a net exporter of energy (exports are greater than imports), which the U.S. is still doing today.

Quote:Our energy produced is as clean or cleaner than anywhere in the world.

I don't know how you're defining this, but it also isn't true. For instance, Brazil produces nearly 90% of its energy via renewable resources. Norway produces 99% of its energy via renewable resources, 90+% via hydropower. Iceland is at 87%. Paraguay is at 100%, all by hydropower. You can see this here. The United States isn't even close to being the cleanest energy producing country in the world, but we are also a massive country and are currently working towards this.

Quote:Inflation sky rocketed the same time gasoline prices spiked due to poor policy by Biden.

Gas prices started spiking in February of 2022. Inflation had been running rampant for a long time by this point. Prices increased from $3.61 to $5.03 in a matter of four months. There was a small jump in gasoline prices in March of 2021, going from $2.50 to $2.80 but I would hardly call that a spike. From there, the prices slowly increased through the rest of the year before actually spiking in Feb. 2022. You can see pricing data here and EIA analysis on price increase in 2021 here and EIA analysis on 2022 increases here.

[Luvnit2]

(10-26-2023, 11:37 AM)KillerGoose Wrote: There are a few things wrong with this portion of your post. One, we are using our own natural resources, and we are using them well. Through July of 2023, we are producing more oil domestically than we ever have. You can see this data on the EIA website. We are also producing significantly more natural gas than we ever have. You can also see this on the EIA website. The next is a minor correction, but oil is not a major source of heating for homes. U.S. homes are primarily heated by natural gas. You'll also see electricity, which could be generated by oil, coal or some other fossil fuel, and propane. I'm most familiar with propane as I work in the O&G industry on the NGL side. We deal with very large volumes of propane, primarily distributed to heat homes.




This is phrased in a confusing manner as it almost sounds like you are saying that we didn't before Biden. I don't want to assume your intentions so I will just make a blanket statement saying that we have always imported oil, and we are actually importing less oil now than we have in decades. You can see this data on the EIA website. The United States has never been energy independent. In fact, we have never even been close. Really, energy independence isn't an actual phrase used in the energy industry. Based on how politicians use it, I don't think there is any country in the world that fits the description. Donald Trump mentioned the U.S. being energy independent back in 2019 when the United States became a net exporter of energy (exports are greater than imports), which the U.S. is still doing today.


I don't know how you're defining this, but it also isn't true. For instance, Brazil produces nearly 90% of its energy via renewable resources. Norway produces 99% of its energy via renewable resources, 90+% via hydropower. Iceland is at 87%. Paraguay is at 100%, all by hydropower. You can see this here. The United States isn't even close to being the cleanest energy producing country in the world, but we are also a massive country and are currently working towards this.




Gas prices started spiking in February of 2022. Inflation had been running rampant for a long time by this point. Prices increased from $3.61 to $5.03 in a matter of four months. There was a small jump in gasoline prices in March of 2021, going from $2.50 to $2.80 but I would hardly call that a spike. From there, the prices slowly increased through the rest of the year before actually spiking in Feb. 2022. You can see pricing data here and EIA analysis on price increase in 2021 here and EIA analysis on 2022 increases here.

Gas started spiking almost immediately after Biden stopped Trump energy policies and started waging a war on fossil fuels. See below, I don't see the clean energy countries listed that are in the top 5 of our oil imports.

The resulting total net petroleum imports (imports minus exports) were about -1.19 million b/d, which means that the United States was a net petroleum exporter of 1.19 million b/d in 2022. The top five source countries of U.S. gross petroleum imports in 2022 were Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Colombia.


Are you saying the oil we import is cleaner or as clean as the oil we produce?


I never meant to say we were ever energy independent, we were not but got a lot closer under Trump. Then Biden cancelled pipeline and brought back the restrictions on oil and gas production. His attack on fossils fuels to get closer to the end of gasoline and diesel powered vehicles have hurt the price of gasoline and heating oil/gas.

Biden also dipped into our oil reserves in 2022 to get gas prices down to help Democrats win seats in 2022 election. He has yet to replace the oil reserves and now we may be on the verge of a war. Russia and others are controlling the price of oil, some say it could spike to $100 a barrel up from a high of $90 a barrel. Trump's plan was to be energy independent, if Trump would have continued with his plan, it is likely we would be energy independent by now. Instead, we are likely not at the peak of the Biden gas prices.

I get liberals don't want to give Trump credit for anything, I get liberals will always counter in some way. The problem Democrats and Biden have is he is perceived to have placed more value into the green and climate deal and elimination of fossil fuels and the lower and middle class believe he is 100% t blame for them having to spend $100 to fill up their vehicle. In the end, the reality is inflation is killing the lower and middle class and the price of gas impacts almost every aspect of the supply chain which has caused a huge spike in cost of goods.

[KillerGoose]

(10-26-2023, 01:04 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Gas started spiking almost immediately after Biden stopped Trump energy policies and started waging a war on fossil fuels. See below, I don't see the clean energy countries listed that are in the top 5 of our oil imports.

If you could point to the policies you're referring to, that would be helpful. It's been pretty well established that oil & gas prices began spiking due to an incredibly well recovered demand and lagging supply due to production cuts during COVID. Then, to exacerbate that issue, Russia invaded Ukraine, which has effectively cut off one of the worlds major suppliers of oil from the international market. I am not here to say Biden is a friend of O&G. However, I am also not here to say that short term price complications are also his doing. The U.S. oil market is very healthy right now. 

Quote:The resulting total net petroleum imports (imports minus exports) were about -1.19 million b/d, which means that the United States was a net petroleum exporter of 1.19 million b/d in 2022. The top five source countries of U.S. gross petroleum imports in 2022 were Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Colombia.


Are you saying the oil we import is cleaner or as clean as the oil we produce?

I am not sure what you are trying to say. The oil quality from other countries is going to vary. For instance, you may find a lot of tar sands in Canada and sour crude in Colombia. These oils aren't inherently worse, they just have different purposes. Not all oil is used for energy, but all oil is refined down to be used for whatever purpose it has. Sour crude, for instance, will be refined into diesel and other heavier products to cut down on refining costs. Tar sands crude is used to make asphalt, jet fuel, gasoline and other products. Oil quality is different all across the globe which is we have different oil classifications, and these classifications are all used in different manners. We import tar sands from Canada because they have the largest reserves of tar sands in the world. We don't know, but we need that oil. This is partially why the classification of "energy independent" misleading and doesn't actually exist in the industry. There are multiple types oil and the U.S. doesn't have enough of all of them, hence why we export, but these other countries don't have "dirtier" oil. 

Quote:I never meant to say we were ever energy independent, we were not but got a lot closer under Trump. Then Biden cancelled pipeline and brought back the restrictions on oil and gas production. His attack on fossils fuels to get closer to the end of gasoline and diesel powered vehicles have hurt the price of gasoline and heating oil/gas.

See above. Energy independence isn't actually a thing. Again, Biden isn't a friend to O&G but the industry certainly isn't hurting now. The industry is doing very well. There's a lot of consolidation going on, companies buying each other. The company I work for was just purchased by another larger company. 

Quote:Biden also dipped into our oil reserves in 2022 to get gas prices down to help Democrats win seats in 2022 election. He has yet to replace the oil reserves and now we may be on the verge of a war. Russia and others are controlling the price of oil, some say it could spike to $100 a barrel up from a high of $90 a barrel. Trump's plan was to be energy independent, if Trump would have continued with his plan, it is likely we would be energy independent by now. Instead, we are likely not at the peak of the Biden gas prices.

Dipping into the reserves was stupid as I don't really believe it did anything tangible for gas prices. It was a political move and not one I am/was a fan of. 

[*pally*]

(10-26-2023, 01:30 PM)KillerGoose Wrote: If you could point to the policies you're referring to, that would be helpful. It's been pretty well established that oil & gas prices began spiking due to an incredibly well recovered demand and lagging supply due to production cuts during COVID. Then, to exacerbate that issue, Russia invaded Ukraine, which has effectively cut off one of the worlds major suppliers of oil from the international market. I am not here to say Biden is a friend of O&G. However, I am also not here to say that short term price complications are also his doing. The U.S. oil market is very healthy right now. 



I am not sure what you are trying to say. The oil quality from other countries is going to vary. For instance, you may find a lot of tar sands in Canada and sour crude in Colombia. These oils aren't inherently worse, they just have different purposes. Not all oil is used for energy, but all oil is refined down to be used for whatever purpose it has. Sour crude, for instance, will be refined into diesel and other heavier products to cut down on refining costs. Tar sands crude is used to make asphalt, jet fuel, gasoline and other products. Oil quality is different all across the globe which is we have different oil classifications, and these classifications are all used in different manners. We import tar sands from Canada because they have the largest reserves of tar sands in the world. We don't know, but we need that oil. This is partially why the classification of "energy independent" misleading and doesn't actually exist in the industry. There are multiple types oil and the U.S. doesn't have enough of all of them, hence why we export, but these other countries don't have "dirtier" oil. 



See above. Energy independence isn't actually a thing. Again, Biden isn't a friend to O&G but the industry certainly isn't hurting now. The industry is doing very well. There's a lot of consolidation going on, companies buying each other. The company I work for was just purchased by another larger company. 



Dipping into the reserves was stupid as I don't really believe it did anything tangible for gas prices. It was a political move and not one I am/was a fan of. 

and let's not forget that while oil and gas prices were spiking for the consumer.  Oil and gas producers were making record profits

[*Nately120*]

According to google the lowest gas prices are in Venezuela. AOC for president, I guess?

[SunsetBengal]

(10-26-2023, 04:27 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I agree that this guy seems like absolute shit and I am really not pleased he's the Speaker of the House and extremely unimpressed in Republicans that he actually managed to get enough votes to become it. I would prefer people in power who respect elections.

That said, there is ZERO productivity from ever comparing any side of our political spectrum as Hamas and ISIS. No matter how awful this guy might be, he's not going around decapitating babies, strapping suicide vests to children to detonate them in public areas, or burning people alive.

But hey, at least he's not Jim Jordan, right?

[*pally*]

(10-26-2023, 01:48 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: But hey, at least he's not Jim Jordan, right?

Jim Jordan without the baggage

[GMDino]

(10-26-2023, 02:00 PM)pally Wrote: Jim Jordan without the baggage

Or as well known.

[GMDino]

Just a reminder that P01135809 controls the gop despite the claims by many that it is everyone ELSE'S fault he is still in the public eye.

They are beholden to a loyal group of cultists and loud brainwashed members of MAGA who only want to grift off the voters still drinking the Kool-Aid. 

This is an opinion piece which lays it out pretty well.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/25/house-speaker-mike-johnson-gop-fifth-choice/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjk4MjA2NDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjk5NTkyMzk5LCJpYXQiOjE2OTgyMDY0MDAsImp0aSI6Ijc1NTBkNWYwLWI0NGEtNDM5YS1hMjVjLTFkNDliYTA3ZDNkNiIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9vcGluaW9ucy8yMDIzLzEwLzI1L2hvdXNlLXNwZWFrZXItbWlrZS1qb2huc29uLWdvcC1maWZ0aC1jaG9pY2UvIn0.pGUmiF-tXUtfA7ruA7s1D8y0VLiKLo5Oeud_9UjrtDU

Quote:Opinion 

 A fifth-string speaker suits up for House Republicans
Columnist
October 25, 2023 at 8:50 p.m. EDT

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) is sworn in as speaker of the House on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

It happened on Day 22 of House Republicans’ slapstick quest to find a new speaker, as they were bickering their way toward nominating Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, their fourth-string choice for the position, who would be shot down just a few hours after he was chosen.

“Let’s get our poop in a group, people. We’ve got to figure this out,” Rep. Bill Huizenga (Mich.) admonished his GOP colleagues in a closed-door caucus meeting on Tuesday. (The remarks, naturally, were immediately leaked to reporters.) “I don’t want us to go out there and, in front of the entire world, puke on our shoes again. That’s what we’ve been doing.”

Grouping poop? Puking on shoes? The Chaos Caucus had finally found its new digs: in the sewer. Huizenga’s was an unpleasant (if reasonably accurate) gastrointestinal diagnosis for what ails House Republicans. But it was arguably preferable to the urological diagnosis being offered by some of his colleagues.


The evening before, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), asked the panel of nine men then running for speaker whether they would impeach or otherwise harass various Biden administration officials. “I want to know which one of you have the balls to hold them accountable,” she said, as relayed to the indispensable Olivia Beavers of Politico.

This was the second time in a week that a woman in the GOP caucus had raised doubts about her colleagues’ testicles. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), irritated that Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) blocked her on social media, posted: “This is exactly what’s wrong with this place — too many men here with no balls.”
Actually, the problem is almost certainly the opposite: A toxic overdose of testosterone, resulting in aggressive behavior and excessive risk-taking.

“What’s up, friends? Nothing? Or nothing?” Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) asked reporters on Tuesday. We once again had been waiting for hours in the hallways of the Longworth building while Republicans squabbled among themselves behind closed doors.



Majority Leader Steve Scalise (La.), one of the failed candidates for speaker, followed behind him. “What Gallagher said!” Scalise seconded.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Tex.), from the Houston area, blamed the Republicans’ latest disarray on the outcome of the American League Championship Series. “I told people there would be problems if the Rangers won, and that’s exactly what’s happened,” he said.

Gallagher, by contrast, saw an NFL analogy for his party’s dysfunction. “As the Republican representative from Green Bay, it pains me to ask this question,” he told a group of us, “but I’m not sure who sucks at team sports more right now — the Packers or the House Republican caucus.

That’s easy: The Packers have only lost three in a row.

Minutes before Gallagher’s remarks, Emmer, the Republicans’ fourth choice for speaker (following Kevin McCarthy, Scalise and Jim Jordan), stormed out of the GOP conference meeting where he had just withdrawn his doomed candidacy. Emerging through a wooden door marked “PRIVATE,” he rushed out of the building, leading dozens of journalists on a high-speed foot chase. In the stampede, journalists knocked into equipment and stanchions, as they followed Emmer east on Independence Avenue, then south on New Jersey Avenue, where he frantically searched for a black SUV that rushed him away.

Emmer, nominated by his colleagues at noon, had immediately been crippled by former president Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans who were furious that Emmer had previously voted for gay marriage and to honor the results of the 2020 election. By my watch, he had been the speaker-designate for four hours and seven minutes.

Republican dysfunction had gone from amusing to embarrassing to absurd to … well, no one had words anymore. In a huge scrum of reporters after Emmer quit, journalist Ben Jacobs asked Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) whether the speakership chaos had become absurd. Replied Womack: “It was absurd last week.”
Updates from Elise Stefanik, the GOP conference chair, had become a running joke.
“Congratulations Speaker-designate @SteveScalise!” she posted on Oct. 11.

“Congratulations Speaker-designate @Jim_Jordan!” she posted on Oct. 13.

“Congratulations Speaker-designate @GOPMajorityWhip [Emmer]!” she posted at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday.

And finally: “Congratulations Speaker-designate @RepMikeJohnson!” she posted at 9:54 p.m. on Tuesday.

Over their three speakerless weeks, House Republicans booted McCarthy (Calif.) and their first three choices to replace him. They heard from 12 candidates, including four who ran more than once. They held five votes on the House floor and about 15 behind closed doors. “I mean, what are we going to do, go down and just put everybody’s name in a damn hat?” asked Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Tex.) asked on Tuesday.

Finally, on Tuesday night, House Republicans picked the name “Johnson” out of the phone book. He was acceptable because he was unknown on Capitol Hill, even to many Republicans. During Wednesday’s roll-call vote on the House floor, Kay Granger (R-Tex.), chair of the Appropriations Committee, rose and mistakenly voted for “Mike Rogers” — the chairman of the Armed Services committee — before correcting herself to Mike Johnson. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), in a statement congratulating the new speaker, called him Jim Johnson. Susan Collins of Maine, top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, told CNN’s Lauren Fox Wednesday morning that she’d have to Google him.

A new sign is installed above the entrance to the speaker's office at the Capitol on Wednesday. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)

Johnson’s anonymity was his greatest asset. In just his seventh year in Congress, he hadn’t been around long enough, or had enough power, to make enemies. He is the least-experienced speaker in a century and a half. But he has also been an avid election denier, Trump defender and promoter of the deep-state conspiracy, which appealed to the MAGA hard-liners who had defeated McCarthy, Scalise and Emmer.


Johnson had two other things going for him, too: Exhaustion (about 25 Republicans skipped the final vote in the GOP caucus meeting that nominated him Tuesday night) and a fear that, if yet another nominee failed, a small band of Republican institutionalists might actually make good on their threat to work with Democrats to return the chamber to functioning.

“If you do that, you’re done,” Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Tex.) told us. “That’s not even an option.”

Heaven forbid.

Now, three weeks before the next deadline to avoid a government shutdown, Republicans have elected a no-name speaker with no experience and no agreement on a way forward. And the hard-liners have already started threatening him. Just minutes after Johnson won the speakership, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Tex.), a leader of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, told Bloomberg News’s Erik Wasson that any bill avoiding a shutdown on Nov. 17 would need to impose something like the 30 percent slashing of government spending that House Republicans attempted last month.


The new speaker is already in trouble.

“Because of the absolute nonsense of the last four weeks, I think the chance of a shutdown went from 10 percent four or five weeks ago to probably something more like a coin flip,” Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) told us. In between Emmer’s four-hour reign and Johnson’s nomination, Johnson allowed that “the last four weeks have not provided me with a lot of reason to be optimistic that Republicans are going to have our act together. … We need to be aware that, any given day, eight or 10 people can decide they want to blow the whole thing up.”

Nine men entered the speakership race after Jordan’s bid collapsed. For the unknown backbenchers who joined the speaker free-for-all, these were their 15 minutes of fame. Outside the candidate forum in the Longworth building on Monday night, flashes went off and reporters gave chase when Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) walked down the hallway during his (brief) candidacy. “Mr. Scott! Mr. Scott!” reporters called after the previously invisible Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.).

Bergman, asked after the forum whether he had a “path forward” in Tuesday’s voting, told reporters: “Well, I have a path at least to get up in the morning and get here.”

Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) didn’t even get that far. He made his pitch to lawmakers on Monday night — and then immediately dropped out.
Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) gave out printed campaign cards detailing the “Palmer Principles.”

But Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), a former McDonald’s franchisee, topped all contenders by delivering two cheeseburgers to each of his Republican colleagues.
Still, as Tuesday’s voting would make clear, House Republicans were still a couple of fries short of a Happy Meal.

Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) is seen in the House chamber on Wednesday. For a short time on Tuesday, Emmer was the GOP designate to become speaker. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

Emmer was the front-runner for the speakership on Tuesday morning, and his supporters predicted a quick victory. But he had two big problems: Trump didn’t like him, and Democrats did. Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips (Minn.) posted that he would “sit-out the speaker vote” to help Emmer win — if Emmer agreed to his conditions. But Trump shared on social media a post by right-wing provocateur Laura Loomer calling Emmer a “NEVER TRUMPER and COMMUNIST ENABLER.”

Emmer had 78 supporters on the first ballot to Johnson’s 34. But it took him four more ballots, with candidates eliminated in each, to get a narrow majority: 117 to Johnson’s 97.

A roll-call vote showed that about two dozen wouldn’t vote for Emmer on the floor. The usual suspects on the far right — Greene, Roy, Bob Good (Va.), Scott Perry (Pa.), Andy Biggs (Ariz.) — were ready to tank his candidacy, and they had more than enough votes to do so. The legislative terrorists had taken another hostage. Emmer kept the holdouts in the room, to see whether he could change their minds. But it was no use. Rep. Rick Allen (Ga.) told Emmer that he needed to “get right with Jesus” because of Emmer’s support for gay marriage, Punchbowl News reported.

Outside the room, Republicans went through another wave of despair.

“We’ve been three weeks without a speaker,” McCarthy complained. “Every member is tired of this.”

“It’s disheartening,” offered Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.).

“Distressing,” said Rep. Marcus Molinaro, another New Yorker.

“A disservice to the country,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.)

“We’ve got to figure out how to function,” Dusty Johnson told us. “This is a mess.”

Punchbowl’s Max Cohen asked him about Mike Johnson as a backup option for Emmer. “You mean the backup to the backup to the backup to the backup?” the South Dakotan replied.

Republicans recessed the caucus meeting for a couple of hours to give Emmer time to win converts. They canceled nine committee hearings that had been scheduled for the day. In what had become a familiar pattern, GOP lawmakers and others began to announce their formal opposition to the nominee. Jim Banks (Ind.) called Emmer a “liberal” whose ascension would “betray our voters.” Trump, who could see Emmer was going down, finished him off with a post calling him a “Globalist RINO.”

Emmer withdrew. Greene celebrated. “This is good,” she told reporters. “The GOP conference has changed and it’s changing to reflect America First.”

Greene was right. The legislative terrorists won, again. They ousted McCarthy, blocked Scalise, nearly succeeded at installing Jordan (Ohio), and blocked Emmer. And now, as Republicans began another round of voting on Tuesday night, the only candidates left standing were MAGA faithful. All five of them voted to overturn the 2020 election. “Voting now. All candidates now 100 percent Trump,” one of the candidates, Chuck Fleischmann (Tenn.) texted to a Trump aide. “All 5. I preached Trump in my speech.” Trump posted the sycophantic message on social media.

On the third ballot, just before 10 p.m., Johnson claimed a majority. The hard-liners had gotten their guy — and everybody else was too exhausted to object.
“This group here is ready to govern,” Johnson declared, standing with a group of his colleagues. “You’re going to see this group looking, working like a well-oiled machine.”

But not quite yet.

ABC News’s Rachel Scott asked Johnson about his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election.

“Shut up! Shut up!” Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) standing to Johnson’s side, bellowed at the journalist.

Johnson smiled and shook his head. “Next question,” he said.

Another reporter asked about Israel.

“Go away! Go away!” cried Foxx.

“We’re not doing policy tonight,” Johnson said.

Nor the next day. After Johnson’s election on the House floor, GOP leadership called a “press conference” with the new speaker on the Capitol steps — but then he refused to take questions.

The Post’s Jacqueline Alemany buttonholed Johnson and asked about whether the 2020 election was stolen. “We’re not talking about any issues today,” he said.

The speaker's gavel is seen in the House chamber on Wednesday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

On the House floor Wednesday afternoon, Republicans quelled their anger at each other for the moment, leaving them free to vent it once more at Democrats.
“The federal government has been illegally weaponized against we the people,” Stefanik (N.Y.) said during her speech nominating Johnson.
Democrats groaned at the deep-state nonsense; Johnson applauded the line.


“I’ll say it again: The federal government has been illegally weaponized,” Stefanik repeated.

Speaking for the Democrats, Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.) told the House that the speaker squabble was “about who can appease Donald Trump.”

On the Republican side, Nehls and others stood to applaud.

Aguilar spoke of Johnson’s role in discrediting the 2020 election.

“Damn right!” shouted Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.).

Aguilar said that “if House Republicans choose, they can still join us on a bipartisan path forward.”

Several Republicans shouted “no!”

During the voting, Republicans unanimously stood for the man Rep. Zachary Nunn (Iowa) called “Miracle Mike.”

When Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) voted for Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries as “the only candidate that protects the integrity of this House,” the Republican side erupted in boos and a shout of “bulls---!”

And when Jeffries, who had the task of handing the gavel to Johnson, preceded it with a speech, he was treated to heckling from Greene, jeering and booing when he mentioned the Jan. 6 insurrection, shouts of “regular order” to cut him off, and finally a chant of “We want Mike!”

After shutting the House down for three weeks, they couldn’t give the Democratic leader three minutes.

Johnson, accepting the gavel, alluded to the unexpected — and unlikely — nature of his ascent. It happened so “suddenly,” he said, that his wife “couldn’t get a flight in time.”

It was a gracious speech, and he won bipartisan applause when he announced: “The people’s House is back in business.”

Back in business — but, as the heckling of the hooligans on the House floor made clear, as dysfunctional as before.

[Sociopathicsteelerfan]

(10-26-2023, 01:34 PM)pally Wrote: and let's not forget that while oil and gas prices were spiking for the consumer.  Oil and gas producers were making record profits

Wait, you mean when oil and gas prices rise the people who produce oil and gas make more money?  You have a doctorate in economics don't you? 

[Belsnickel]

(10-26-2023, 07:05 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: Wait, you mean when oil and gas prices rise the people who produce oil and gas make more money?  You have a doctorate in economics don't you? 

In all seriousness, that isn't really fair. When prices for consumers rise we know that consumer demand decreases. Simple economics, right? So if a supplier increases their profits with a decrease in consumer demand, then their price increase was an artificial inflation that was not rooted in covering their own costs.

So talking about the record profits in the oil and gas industry during that time frame is important because it highlights that they increased what they charged more than was necessary from any sort of market pressures such as those from regulatory policies.

[Sociopathicsteelerfan]

(10-26-2023, 07:31 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: In all seriousness, that isn't really fair. When prices for consumers rise we know that consumer demand decreases. Simple economics, right? So if a supplier increases their profits with a decrease in consumer demand, then their price increase was an artificial inflation that was not rooted in covering their own costs.

So talking about the record profits in the oil and gas industry during that time frame is important because it highlights that they increased what they charged more than was necessary from any sort of market pressures such as those from regulatory policies.

Except oil and gasoline isn't something people can do without.  You still need to drive to work. Our entire delivery infrastructure uses oil and gas.  It's not an optional purchase for the vast majority of people and certainly not for industry as a whole.  Also, your point about raising prices higher than necessary rather contradicts your premise, that if the price is higher demand decreases.

Now, if your assertion is that the oil and gas companies now their product is a necessity and artificially raise their prices, then yes, I would agree that is wrong.  Do we have proof that is happening?

[Belsnickel]

(10-26-2023, 07:40 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: Except oil and gasoline isn't something people can do without.  You still need to drive to work. Our entire delivery infrastructure uses oil and gas.  It's not an optional purchase for the vast majority of people and certainly not for industry as a whole.  Also, your point about raising prices higher than necessary rather contradicts your premise, that if the price is higher demand decreases.

Now, if your assertion is that the oil and gas companies now their product is a necessity and artificially raise their prices, then yes, I would agree that is wrong.  Do we have proof that is happening?

Except we know that the increase in prices will cause consumer demand to decline, it's in the data.



And no, that doesn't contradict my premise. If the quantity/volume sold decreases, but profit increases, then the price had to have been inflated to a level that was greater than needed to make up for any increases in prices they incurred.

[NATI BENGALS]

I mean. I could see if the fossil fuel industry had a preferred party they might try to use their overwhelming reach to get that party in power. But it’s not like we have had an oil executive hand picked to be Secretary of State recently *cough* Rex Tillerson *cough*. And it’s not like the first thing HR1 that came out of the current house was a giant give away to big oil.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/house-republicans-pass-energy-bill-to-roll-back-regulation-of-fossil-fuel-production

Gee whiz what does big oil have to gain by putting the squeeze on us voters? Nothing I can see. Right?

[Sociopathicsteelerfan]

(10-26-2023, 07:46 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: Except we know that the increase in prices will cause consumer demand to decline, it's in the data.



And no, that doesn't contradict my premise. If the quantity/volume sold decreases, but profit increases, then the price had to have been inflated to a level that was greater than needed to make up for any increases in prices they incurred.

My point is that oil and gas demand is not affected by price nearly to the extent that other products are.  Gas could be $10 a gallon, I still have to drive thirty miles to work.  Our units will still be on the street.  Trucks will still be delivering cargo.