You can like or dislike Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) all you want. Many do not like him. Fine. The problem is, he is the sole nominee of the Republicans for House Speaker. They already had the vote to make him their nominee.

Now, McCarthy is having to really beg his colleagues to not throw the election come this Tuesday. After all, the Democrats would be positively gleeful to see the Republicans collapse just enough to see Hakeem Jeffries win the vote for House Speaker. That really would be the cherry on the crap sandwich that was the midterm elections for the GOP, wouldn’t it? I think the House GOP holdouts are aware of the consequences of not backing McCarthy. This isn’t about whether or not they like McCarthy – it’s whether or not they want McCarthy over Jeffries. Andy Biggs, who challenged McCarthy and would still win a handful of votes (but only from fellow Republicans) is a non-starter of an option because he doesn’t have enough support. While we can wish that the situation was different, this is the hand that was dealt.

On the other hand, I don’t blame the GOP holdouts for pressing McCarthy for concessions – which is what they are doing before the Tuesday vote.

In a Sunday letter obtained by The Hill, Reps. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) led seven other hardline Republican House members and members-elect in calling McCarthy’s responses to their pre-election demands “insufficient.”

“The times call for radical departure from the status quo — not a continuation of past and ongoing Republican failures,” they wrote. “For someone with a 14-year presence in senior House Republican leadership, Mr. McCarthy bears squarely the burden to correct the dysfunction he now explicitly admits across that long tenure.”

Besides Perry and Roy, the GOP lawmakers who signed the letter are Dan Bishop (N.C.), Andrew Clyde (Ga.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.) and Andy Harris (Md.).”

GOP Reps.-elect Anna Paulina Luna (Fla.), Eli Crane (Ariz.) and Andy Ogles (Tenn.) also signed.”

The letter was released after McCarthy on New Year’s Eve submitted a written response to the conservatives, seven of whom in early December demanded several changes to House rules and policies from speaker candidates. They did not name McCarthy in that letter, but it came as other House Republicans expressed opposition to the minority leader becoming speaker.

Well, it seems that McCarthy understands the parameters of the dance that is being performed, and is going to make concessions to get the votes.

The compromises include allowing a move to “vacate the chair” — a move to force a vote on ousting the Speaker — with the approval of five Republican members, rather than a threshold of at least half of the House GOP Conference that Republicans adopted in an internal rule in November.”

The chamber is also set to create a House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the “Weaponization of the Federal Government,” an apparent recognition of a request to increase scrutiny on the Biden administration and intelligence agencies.”

In a letter to GOP colleagues, McCarthy — speaking as “Speaker-Designate” — also addressed a request from conservatives to have more representation on committees.”

“I will use my selections on key panels to ensure they more closely reflect the ideological makeup of our conference, and will advocate for the same when it comes to the membership of standing committees. This will facilitate greater scrutiny of bills from the start so they stand a greater chance of passing in the end,” the letter from McCarthy said.”

Look, we all get it. No one is excited to have McCarthy as Speaker of the House. And if he and the House Republican Leadership follow through with these rule changes – no more remote proxy COVID voting will be allowed, the restoration of the Holman Rule, and a select committee to investigate the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, among others – then the GOP holdouts need to consider what they are waiting for. Kevin McCarthy is the guy they’re going to have to deal with. If Republicans want a different leader, then that person is going to need the support of 218 votes. That’s not an easy proposition, and as I’ve said, the Democrats are just waiting not-so-patiently in the wings to see if the GOP decides to be the Stupid Party and shoot themselves in the proverbial foot.

The vote happens on Tuesday. Let’s hope this gets settled without the drama that could go down if no candidate gets a majority of votes.

Featured image: Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), cropped, official photo, public domain