Comments on: From Strongest To Weakest http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/ Reality-based political commentary Sun, 10 May 2026 13:21:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: ListenWhenYouHear http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201408 ListenWhenYouHear Wed, 14 Dec 2022 19:18:33 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201408 Kick, Do you mean all of them saying that Trump should declare "Marshall law"? I laughed and laughed for hours after reading that news! Heck, it still makes me chuckle even now! Idiots! How these folks are able to get elected is a mystery to me. It makes me believe that there is definitely someone pulling the strings and they are just the political puppets that they appear to be. Now who it is pulling those strings is anyone's guess. I'd say someone for the Koch organization if I had to guess. Kick,

Do you mean all of them saying that Trump should declare "Marshall law"? I laughed and laughed for hours after reading that news! Heck, it still makes me chuckle even now! Idiots!

How these folks are able to get elected is a mystery to me. It makes me believe that there is definitely someone pulling the strings and they are just the political puppets that they appear to be. Now who it is pulling those strings is anyone's guess. I'd say someone for the Koch organization if I had to guess.

]]> By: Kick http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201406 Kick Wed, 14 Dec 2022 02:12:36 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201406 nypoet22 18 Yep. After reading some of the texts these Republican House members sent to Mark Meadows about overturning the 2020 election, I wouldn't put anything past these brainwashed MAGA morons. I cannot overstate the depths of the bone-deep stupidity of these bizarre full-on crazy conspiracy paranoid insurrectionist traitors. nypoet22
18

Yep.

After reading some of the texts these Republican House members sent to Mark Meadows about overturning the 2020 election, I wouldn't put anything past these brainwashed MAGA morons. I cannot overstate the depths of the bone-deep stupidity of these bizarre full-on crazy conspiracy paranoid insurrectionist traitors.

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201403 nypoet22 Wed, 14 Dec 2022 01:03:23 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201403 whatever the numbers, the prospect of a coalition house (or whatever it would be called in a non-parliamentary system) would be exciting if it were to emerge as a real possibility. whatever the numbers, the prospect of a coalition house (or whatever it would be called in a non-parliamentary system) would be exciting if it were to emerge as a real possibility.

]]> By: Kick http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201402 Kick Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:34:22 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201402 John M 12 <i>What's the chance a group of moderate Republicans get so fed up that they walk out of the House or abstain and the Democrats elect Hakeem Jeffries the new Speaker of the House in a 213 to 212 vote??? </i> No chance for 213 Democrats since Representative A. Donald McEachin died in November after winning re-election to VA-4. His seat will be vacant until a special election in February. John M
12

What's the chance a group of moderate Republicans get so fed up that they walk out of the House or abstain and the Democrats elect Hakeem Jeffries the new Speaker of the House in a 213 to 212 vote???

No chance for 213 Democrats since Representative A. Donald McEachin died in November after winning re-election to VA-4. His seat will be vacant until a special election in February.

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201396 John M Tue, 13 Dec 2022 19:45:46 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201396 As I understand it, if a House member votes "present" as opposed to actually voting for someone's name like McCarthy or Biggs, it is as if the member is not there, i.e. abstains from voting at all, and removes them from the 435 vote total. So it becomes a majority of 434 House members, if one member votes "present." Is that correct??? As I understand it, if a House member votes "present" as opposed to actually voting for someone's name like McCarthy or Biggs, it is as if the member is not there, i.e. abstains from voting at all, and removes them from the 435 vote total. So it becomes a majority of 434 House members, if one member votes "present." Is that correct???

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201395 John M Tue, 13 Dec 2022 19:05:55 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201395 One other thought on Ukraine. Do you know how utterly devastated Germany, Japan, and South Korea all were after World War Two and the Korean War? They were all much worse off than Ukraine is now. Lviv in the west has hardly been touched compared to say, Kherson. The USA was responsible (owned if I am using Elizabeth's correct word) for Germany and Japan for what 25 years? Look at them and South Korea now. All 3 powerhouses in every sense of the word. Given Ukraine membership and support in NATO and the European Union, how will Ukraine look 50 years from now??? One other thought on Ukraine. Do you know how utterly devastated Germany, Japan, and South Korea all were after World War Two and the Korean War? They were all much worse off than Ukraine is now. Lviv in the west has hardly been touched compared to say, Kherson. The USA was responsible (owned if I am using Elizabeth's correct word) for Germany and Japan for what 25 years? Look at them and South Korea now. All 3 powerhouses in every sense of the word. Given Ukraine membership and support in NATO and the European Union, how will Ukraine look 50 years from now???

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201394 John M Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:57:13 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201394 By the way, in the 2021 vote, Pelosi won over McCarthy 216 to 209 out of only 427 members from a total of 435, being present. So only a majority of 214 was needed to win. I just realized I probably answered my own question. Those 10 voting for Biggs would have to abstain in order to lower the majority threshold for Jeffries to win. But who knows what train wreck could happen??? By the way, in the 2021 vote, Pelosi won over McCarthy 216 to 209 out of only 427 members from a total of 435, being present. So only a majority of 214 was needed to win.

I just realized I probably answered my own question. Those 10 voting for Biggs would have to abstain in order to lower the majority threshold for Jeffries to win. But who knows what train wreck could happen???

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201393 John M Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:50:43 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201393 OR the radical Trump Republicans end up with the unintended result of a Democratic speaker by torpedoing McCarthy??? 212 Republicans vote for McCarthy, 10 Republicans vote for Andy Biggs, and 213 Democrats vote for Hakeem Jeffries. Doesn't that mean Hakeem wins the Speakership? What do you think Chris??? Anybody else??? OR the radical Trump Republicans end up with the unintended result of a Democratic speaker by torpedoing McCarthy??? 212 Republicans vote for McCarthy, 10 Republicans vote for Andy Biggs, and 213 Democrats vote for Hakeem Jeffries. Doesn't that mean Hakeem wins the Speakership?

What do you think Chris??? Anybody else???

]]> By: John M http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201392 John M Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:44:51 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201392 Traditionally, each party's caucus or conference selects a candidate for the speakership from among its senior leaders prior to the roll call. To be elected speaker a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes of ALL those PRESENT and voting. They do not have to be a member of the House themselves to be elected speaker. 218 votes is a majority in the case of all 435 members being present. LESS if they are NOT. Historically there have been a few times during the past century where a person received a majority of the votes cast, and thus won the election, while failing to obtain a majority of the full House. The most recent was in January 2021 (117th Congress), when Nancy Pelosi was elected with 216 votes (as opposed to 218). They keep calling a roll call until someone is elected by a majority of those present and voting. What's the chance a group of moderate Republicans get so fed up that they walk out of the House or abstain and the Democrats elect Hakeem Jeffries the new Speaker of the House in a 213 to 212 vote??? The real magic number for McCarthy is not losing 5 seats out of 222 but more like 10 seats from his 222 vote Republican majority. Traditionally, each party's caucus or conference selects a candidate for the speakership from among its senior leaders prior to the roll call.

To be elected speaker a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes of ALL those PRESENT and voting. They do not have to be a member of the House themselves to be elected speaker. 218 votes is a majority in the case of all 435 members being present. LESS if they are NOT.

Historically there have been a few times during the past century where a person received a majority of the votes cast, and thus won the election, while failing to obtain a majority of the full House.

The most recent was in January 2021 (117th Congress), when Nancy Pelosi was elected with 216 votes (as opposed to 218).

They keep calling a roll call until someone is elected by a majority of those present and voting.

What's the chance a group of moderate Republicans get so fed up that they walk out of the House or abstain and the Democrats elect Hakeem Jeffries the new Speaker of the House in a 213 to 212 vote???

The real magic number for McCarthy is not losing 5 seats out of 222 but more like 10 seats from his 222 vote Republican majority.

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201391 nypoet22 Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:19:08 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201391 this whole change in leadership thing reminds me of season five of cobra kai, which i absolutely loved but is also more than a little bit ridiculous. it's this weird combination of gratuitous action, melodrama and kitch that has characterized the trump era. this whole change in leadership thing reminds me of season five of cobra kai, which i absolutely loved but is also more than a little bit ridiculous. it's this weird combination of gratuitous action, melodrama and kitch that has characterized the trump era.

]]> By: Kick http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201386 Kick Tue, 13 Dec 2022 12:33:57 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201386 CW <i>Personally, if I were a House Democrat, I would tell the Republicans that the only Republican I could possibly support for speaker would be Liz Cheney (just to see their heads explode). </i> Darth's daughter becoming the leader of the First Order? Unpossible! *heads explode* CW

Personally, if I were a House Democrat, I would tell the Republicans that the only Republican I could possibly support for speaker would be Liz Cheney (just to see their heads explode).

Darth's daughter becoming the leader of the First Order? Unpossible! *heads explode*

]]> By: MtnCaddy http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201383 MtnCaddy Tue, 13 Dec 2022 08:16:00 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201383 [7] Great. Thanks, I’m old enough that your comment immediately inserted the theme song into my mind…and it won’t stop!It’s the downside of growing up during the Golden Age of Television (aka The Birth of the Electronic Babysitter.) [7]

Great. Thanks, I’m old enough that your comment immediately inserted the theme song into my mind…and it won’t stop!It’s the downside of growing up during the Golden Age of Television (aka The Birth of the Electronic Babysitter.)

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201378 nypoet22 Tue, 13 Dec 2022 03:59:05 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201378 well, they've had reboots of everything else. well, they've had reboots of everything else.

]]> By: andygaus http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201377 andygaus Tue, 13 Dec 2022 01:46:26 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201377 We need to bring back Caligula. If he made his horse a senator, surely he would know how to install a horse as Speaker of the House. Knowing that the horse would have to be Speaker, he would presumably choose Mr. Ed. We need to bring back Caligula. If he made his horse a senator, surely he would know how to install a horse as Speaker of the House. Knowing that the horse would have to be Speaker, he would presumably choose Mr. Ed.

]]> By: andygaus http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201376 andygaus Tue, 13 Dec 2022 01:41:21 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201376 After the White House said that Miss Space Laser's comments about how she would have accomplished the overturning of the election were kind of unpatriotic, she replied that the White House "doesn't know how sarcasm works." I would hope that the White House might respond, "Yes, we know how sarcasm works. For starters, it's funny, and if it isn't at all funny, it isn't sarcasm." After the White House said that Miss Space Laser's comments about how she would have accomplished the overturning of the election were kind of unpatriotic, she replied that the White House "doesn't know how sarcasm works." I would hope that the White House might respond, "Yes, we know how sarcasm works. For starters, it's funny, and if it isn't at all funny, it isn't sarcasm."

]]> By: BashiBazouk http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201375 BashiBazouk Tue, 13 Dec 2022 00:44:51 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201375 Where is Willie Brown when you need him? A slim majority of the other party never stopped him... Where is Willie Brown when you need him? A slim majority of the other party never stopped him...

]]> By: MtnCaddy http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201374 MtnCaddy Mon, 12 Dec 2022 23:59:50 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201374 [2] And this kind of insanity is why I say <i>Stock up on the Orville Reddenbacher — watching the GQP <b>implode</b> is going to be sooo much fun! In fact that’s why we’re not going to see #TwoBrainCellsRubbingTogether in this space for some months… [2]

And this kind of insanity is why I say Stock up on the Orville Reddenbacher — watching the GQP implode is going to be sooo much fun! In fact that’s why we’re not going to see #TwoBrainCellsRubbingTogether in this space for some months…

]]> By: MtnCaddy http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201373 MtnCaddy Mon, 12 Dec 2022 23:52:03 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201373 <i>Personally, if I were a House Democrat, I would tell the Republicans that the only Republican I could possibly support for speaker would be Liz Cheney (just to see their heads explode).</i> Thing of it is, one does not have to be an elected member on Congress to be Speaker. Remember Repugs talking about installing Trump in the position? Personally, if I were a House Democrat, I would tell the Republicans that the only Republican I could possibly support for speaker would be Liz Cheney (just to see their heads explode).

Thing of it is, one does not have to be an elected member on Congress to be Speaker. Remember Repugs talking about installing Trump in the position?

]]> By: John From Censornati http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201372 John From Censornati Mon, 12 Dec 2022 23:51:44 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201372 Thomas Massie (R-KY) has already stated in public that he considers himself a caucus of one. He's planning some W<b>Ron</b>g Paul-flavored death cult nuttiness. He wants to take on Big Milk because we need the freedom to drink unpasteurized milk. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has already stated in public that he considers himself a caucus of one. He's planning some WRong Paul-flavored death cult nuttiness. He wants to take on Big Milk because we need the freedom to drink unpasteurized milk.

]]> By: MtnCaddy http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/12/12/from-strongest-to-weakest/#comment-201371 MtnCaddy Mon, 12 Dec 2022 23:46:40 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=22942#comment-201371 If I was Kevin McCarthy I would say to the Republican Caucus, <i>Look, I would like to be Speaker, but not at the cost of giving away the power I should have to guide our Caucus towards serving the American people effectively. So if y’all have a better candidate that, vote for the candidate! If not…you know how to reach me. If I was Kevin McCarthy I would say to the Republican Caucus,

Look, I would like to be Speaker, but not at the cost of giving away the power I should have to guide our Caucus towards serving the American people effectively. So if y’all have a better candidate that, vote for the candidate! If not…you know how to reach me.

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