One of the few tools far-right House Republicans have at their disposal to keep House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in their clutches is their ability to force a vote to oust him as speaker. It’s one of the many concessions he made to secure the gavel and why many speculate that McCarthy keeps returning to the hostage negotiation table with hardliners as they force a near-inevitable shutdown.
The speaker has just a few more days when the House comes back tomorrow to try to wrangle his caucus into agreeing on anything. As it becomes increasingly clear that a handful of far-right members aren’t going to accede to anything that would actually help avert a shutdown, McCarthy and his closest allies are becoming increasingly candid about their irritation with members like Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and others, whom his allies have affectionately described as the “burn-it-all-down caucus.”
One such ally, Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), spoke out about the hardliners’ gambit on Sunday, threatening to force Gaetz & Co.’s hand by filing a motion to vacate the speakership. Here’s what he told CNN:
“I don’t think the speaker is even remotely concerned about some of the theatrics going on right now,” he said. “As a matter of fact … I drafted a motion to vacate for the speaker as well. I’ve got it sitting on my desk right now. And I said, ‘Look, if you’re going to keep hanging this over [his] head and playing these games, let’s just do it now, let’s get it over with. Get your little games over with and then we’ll get back to the things that actually matter.’”
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I mean, everything else McCarthy and his supporters have planned so far have worked out perfectly. What could happen?
Semi OT. I had wondered. No pay for troops with the current appropriations because they didn’t sign the Defense bill.
I have long thought McCarthy gave in on the Motion to Vacate change because he thought it wouldn’t be used against him successfully. So far, he’s been right.
It’s certainly an option to try to call their bluff. The “burn-it-all down” caucus (though I prefer dead-enders) don’t have a viable alternative, so at the end of the day, most of the votes will go to McCarthy and Jeffries. But it would most likely end up back in the humiliating dead-lock where no one achieves a majority and multiple ballots will be required.
In which case, nothing will get done and the shutdown will still happen, just sans Speaker. So it comes down to what do the dead-enders actually want? If they want their own Speaker, that’s just not going to happen since they are an extreme minority. If they want the shutdown (which evidence suggests they think they do), then letting Team McC pull the trigger shouldn’t matter to them. But if they just want to stand on their soapboxes and inveigh against the “establishment,” then calling their bluff might actually call them to the carpet and neuter them.
I think he agreed because he had no choice. After 14 unsuccessful votes, he had no options besides acceding if he wanted to win the 15th one. Sure, ex post facto he can appear to have 3D chessed the situation, but I think it was pure desperation. Even if you don’t expect anyone to pull that trigger, it’s a terrible tool to even offer because of how disruptive it can be, just by existing.
"It’s tough to strut, grovel, and cower at the same time."