I have been a Republican since before I could walk. Embarrassed but a Republican. This Speaker of the House debacle has gone way beyond embarrassing. Kevin McCarthy, plink. Steve Scalise, plonk. Jim Jordan, plunk. We have no new ideas, we cannot lead, and no one has a spine. Dearly beloved Rebellious Eight, next time you want to kick a Speaker to the curb, have a plan. Ugh. Late on Monday there was no breakthrough. A puff of black smoke. No consensus Speaker.

Black smoke indicates no new speaker. pic.twitter.com/8m5QdS6PPT

— Brad (@BraddrofliT) October 23, 2023

There were nine candidates for Speaker, but Tom Meuser of Pennsylvania dropped out because he came into the race late and has “other commitments”. I think the non-political translation of that is that even he didn’t want to vote for him.

From the Daily Montanan, here is an especially well-written guide to the candidates for your Beauty Queen Speaker:

Jack Bergman of Michigan
First elected in 2016, Bergman is a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general. He sits on the Armed Services, Veterans’ Affairs and Budget committees.

He’s said his priorities as speaker would include funding the government, especially the military, homeland security and aid to foreign allies.

In announcing his candidacy, Bergman suggested he would stay in the position only through the end of the current Congress,

“We need a leader who shuns permanent power and recognizes the current crisis of leadership,” he said.

How he’s voted:

Certifying the 2020 election: No
Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: Yes
Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: Yes
Who’s supporting him: Other members of Michigan’s House GOP delegation. They are John James, John Moolenaar, Tim Walberg and Lisa McClain.

Byron Donalds of Florida
A member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, Donalds is a favorite of the Trump wing of the party. He voted against certifying the 2020 election and has said as recently as July that President Joe Biden is not legitimate.

First elected in 2020, Donalds, 44, is the youngest to join the field and has been in the House for the shortest time.

He has said his priorities would be to improve border security and “responsibly” pass funding bills.

He sits on the Financial Services Committee. Before coming to Congress, he worked in the finance industry.

The only non-white Republican candidate for speaker, Donalds would be the first Black speaker.

How he’s voted:

Certifying the 2020 election: No
Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: Did not vote
Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: No
Who’s supporting him: fellow Florida Republicans Carlos Gimenez, Mario Diaz-Balart and Mike Waltz.

Tom Emmer of Minnesota
Currently the No. 3 House Republican, Emmer is considered by some the frontrunner for the top spot and has McCarthy’s endorsement.

In an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday, McCarthy praised Emmer’s experience as part of his leadership team.

“He sets himself, head and shoulders, above all those others who want to run,” McCarthy said.

Emmer also developed relationships across the conference when he chaired the House Republican campaign operation in the 2020 and 2022 cycles.

Emmer is one of only two candidates for speaker who voted consistently to certify the 2020 election results. That could make his path harder with the most fervent Trump supporters in the House GOP.

Emmer posted a video of Trump on Monday saying that he had “always gotten along” with Emmer and saying he would stay out of the speaker race. Emmer wrote that as speaker he would continue their “strong working relationship.”

He won his House seat in 2014 following an unsuccessful run for Minnesota governor.

In his letter to colleagues announcing his candidacy, Emmer highlighted national debt and spending, national security and border security as major issues.

How he’s voted:

Certifying the 2020 election: Yes
Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: Yes
Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: Yes
Who’s supporting him: McCarthy.

Kevin Hern of Oklahoma
The chair of the conservative House Republican Study Committee, Hern could seek support from budget hawks.

The Institute for Legislative Analysis, a limited-government group, gave Hern the highest marks of any candidate for fiscal and tax issues.

Hern has not been shy about his leadership aspirations. He publicly weighed a run for speaker shortly after McCarthy stepped down, but opted not to join that race. He has said he at one time dreamed of being an astronaut.

In a letter to colleagues, Hern said Congress has not run well for decades, citing the number of unauthorized programs and a lack of regular order for spending bills. He also listed illegal immigration and drug overdose deaths as problems that Congress should address.

Hern won a special election for his House seat in 2018. Hern owns several McDonald’s franchises in Oklahoma.

How he’s voted:

Certifying the 2020 election: No
Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: No
Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: No

Mike Johnson of Louisiana
As the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, Johnson is something of an establishment candidate. He’s also a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, which Rep. Jim Jordan, the conference’s previous nominee, chairs.

But Johnson also has conservative bonafides, having previously chaired the House Republican Study Committee.

In his letter to colleagues asking for support, Johnson highlighted the national debt, border security, crime and inflation as major issues.

An attorney, Johnson was on Trump’s defense team for the former president’s Senate impeachment trials in 2019 and 2020.

How he’s voted:

Certifying the 2020 election: No
Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: No
Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: No
[/subhed] Gary Palmer of Alabama [/subhed]

Palmer called for GOP unity in his speaker candidacy announcement.

“There is a distinct difference between our vision for a prosperous and strong America and the vision of the Democrats that has done so much harm,” Palmer said in his statement on X.

Palmer said he “decided to step forward” as a candidate “to do what I can to put our differences behind us and unite Republicans behind a clear path forward, so we can do our job for the benefit of the American people.”

His statement also cited the concerns American families have about the cost of living, child safety, crime in urban areas, fentanyl, federal bankruptcy and national security.

Palmer was first elected to the House in 2014.

Palmer serves as the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. He also sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, as well as the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

He led the Alabama Policy Institute for 24 years before joining Congress. The Alabama Policy Institute is a conservative think tank with core values surrounding free markets, limited government and “strong families,” according to the organization’s website.

How he’s voted:

Certifying the 2020 election: No
Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: No
Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: No

Austin Scott of Georgia
Scott received 81 votes when he ran for speaker earlier this month against Jordan, an Ohio Republican.

“If we are going to be the majority we need to act like the majority, and that means we have to do the right things the right way,” Scott said in his announcement Friday that he will run again for speaker of the House following Jordan’s withdrawal.

He is one of only two members to vote consistently to certify the 2020 presidential election.

Scott has been a House member since 2011.

Scott sits on the House Armed Services Committee and the Agriculture Committee. He chairs the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit.

How he’s voted:

Certifying the 2020 election: Yes
Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: Yes
Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: Yes

Pete Sessions of Texas
Sessions has been in Congress the longest of any of the candidates.

Sessions was initially elected to represent the eastern Dallas district in 1999 and continued to serve until he lost to Rep. Colin Allred in 2018. Sessions was then reelected in 2020, this time to represent the district surrounding Waco.

He chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee from 2009 to 2012. Republicans regained control of the House in 2010. He also chaired the House Rules Committee from 2013 to 2019.

Sessions voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act last year, as well as the codification of same-sex marriage.

In 2019, Sessions was caught in a scandal when he was referred to in an indictment of two men charged with violating campaign finance rules.

How he’s voted:

Certifying the 2020 election: No
Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: Yes
Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: Yes

In my opinion Bergman is out because he only wants to stay through this Congress. We need a Nancy Pelosi to fundraise, threaten, cajole and articulate positions. Emmer, Scott and Sessions are swamp critters who voted to certify the 2020 election while knowing that there were a ton of irregularities. Emmer is sucking up to Donald Trump big time, like the Swamp Slime Emmer is:

Thank you, Mr. President.

If my colleagues elect me Speaker of the House, I look forward to continuing our strong working relationship.

pic.twitter.com/Pp9CcnvN43

— Tom Emmer (@GOPMajorityWhip) October 23, 2023

Gary Palmer elucidated his Principles well:

The “Palmer Principles” include:”

Fund the government on time with all single subject appropriations bills passing the House by June 30th

Real spending cuts, NOT budget gimmicks
No short term CRs
Enforce a true 72-hour rule allowing members and the American people time to review legislation
Unite the Republican Conference before going to the House floor

I had no idea who Mike Johnson was so here is a video of him:

However, my choice is Byron Donalds:

Byron Donalds on The Speaker Race: “This is going to be a process of and by the members, and I think we're going to be done pretty quickly.”

pic.twitter.com/ReCwdBA1V2

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 24, 2023

That’s all, folks. Let’s flush this steaming pile of poo for good. And, no more establishment candidates.

Feature Image: Heights.18145/flickr.com/cropped/Creative Commons