Finally, the GOP is starting to get it together: Mike Johnson gets the House gavel

Finally, with three weeks without a Speaker of the House, the GOP finally elected Mike Johnson (R-LA) to hold the gavel. Just the other day, I was starting to write about House Majority Whip, Tom Emmer, having received the nomination among a host of other hopefuls, and just like that, he bowed out of the election.

In the first House floor ballot Wednesday, Johnson defeated Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) who was nominated by his party. The vote tally was 220-209 in which a simple majority was needed for victory.

Finally, someone basically united the Republican conference with its minute House majority where the three prior nominees: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA); House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN); and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed to do so.

“A man of deep faith, Mike epitomizes what it means to be a servant leader. A deeply respected constitutional lawyer, Mike has dedicated his life to preserving America’s great principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said in her speech nominating Johnson on Wednesday.

Today is the day that House Republicans will humbly look in our hearts and elect @RepMikeJohnson as Speaker of the People's House.

A man of deep faith, Mike epitomizes what it means to be a servant leader. A deeply respected Constitutional lawyer, Mike has dedicated his life… pic.twitter.com/JJJBGf4dRS

— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik)

Meanwhile, not House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, was dealing with a lot of dust in his eyes.

"Give me liberty of give me mcdeath Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) had been serving as speaker pro tempore during the past few weeks.

Johnson had called for the quick passing of a resolution to condemn Hamas after its barbaric terrorist attacks on Israel, whereas Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) called for Hamas' nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. [Not as farfetched as you might imagine.]

 Looking ahead to the 2024 appropriations process, Johnson included a provision for August that says, “DO NOT break for district work period unless all 12 appropriations bills have passed the House.” Another listed aim of Johnson’s was to expand the GOP majority with the 2024 elections.

Johnson, 51, is a “dedicated husband and father of four and an attorney who has devoted his life and career to fighting for the fundamental freedoms and traditional values that have always been a priority to the people of Louisiana,” according to his congressional biography page. He had also worked as a  constitutional law attorney a college professor, and a radio talk show host, before joining public office.

Once in Congress, Johnson voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and a healthcare bill that would repeal parts of Obamacare (aka Affordable Care Act).

He also introduced a a border security bill and legislation to make it a crime to transport a minor across state lines to get an abortion without “satisfying parental involvement law.”

The problems within the party aren't new, but they were exacerbated when Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed a “motion to vacate the chair” in which Speaker McCarthy sat, in early October after the GOP-controlled House passed a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown. Gaetz and seven other glory-hogging Republicans joined with Democrats. Yes, they joined Democrats and got some of us to believe they were right to do so. They ouster McCarthy in a simple majority 216-210 vote.

McCarthy and thankfully Gaetz, along with Scalise and Jordan, rallied in support of Johnson in the end. Former President Donald Trump, the GOP frontrunner in the 2024 presidential race, encouraged members to support Johnson on Wednesday after previously endorsing Jordan for speaker.

Democrats don't like Johnson's being the GOP nominee due to his support of the U.S. Constitution, Old Glory and life.

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