Session 12: still no Speaker

The 12th session of voting for House Speaker just ended and while the outcome has not changed--Kevin McCarthy (R) still has not gotten the 218 votes needed to win the seat, he is coming closer to that goal. Yes, it was a non-decision but now four additional Republicans have swung his way, leaving 7 GOPers stranded.

This outcome arrives as McCarthy tries to negotiate a deal with his party's critics, mostly in the conservative House Freedom Caucus (HFC). But although he flipped 14 votes to his side, he still fell short of the necessary House majority.

The Republicans who switched their vote were [in alphabetical order]: 

Reps.-elect Dan Bishop (NC); Joshua Brecheen (OK); Mike Cloud (TX); Andrew Clyde (GA); Byron Donalds (FL); Anna Paulina Luna (FL); Mary Miller (IL); Ralph Norman (SC); Scott Perry (PA). Reps. Chip Roy (TX); Keith Self (TX); Paul Gosar (AZ); Andy Ogles (TN) switched their vote from another candidate to McCarthy. Rep.-elect Victoria Spartz (IN) switched from present to McCarthy.

So it's beginning to look like concessions and agreements are being made and things may be moving toward a conclusion with McCarthy assuming the Speaker position.

The Republicans who oppose McCarthy as Speaker are looking like obstructionists to many on the right. Some believe they are grandstanding or falling in love with the publicity. It isn't easy to know, but the one thing we have to admit is that the Democrats, for all their craziness and bad ideas, stand together and make Republicans look discombobulated. 

The Party of Lincoln needs to do better than that.

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