Tag: Patrick McHenry

Trump as Speaker of the House? That’s Not a Thing . . . but He Could Be if God Has A Wicked Sense of Humor

Michael Matheron2 Comments

Among the battier ideas floated by GOP congressloons is the movement to install Donald Trump as Speaker of the House. Even though a Speaker does not need to be a member of Congress (imagine Rudy Giuliani as Speaker) they must be qualified to serve according to (present) House party rules. Trump, current holder of a record four criminal indictments and personally a pile of dung, manifestly fails to pass muster under both Republican and Democratic party rules. Although it must be noted, neither party forbids a “pile of dung” to serve as Speaker, nota bene Newt Gingrich (1995-1999). Yet, below I set out a (hopefully wacky) scenario whereby Trump just might sneak into the speakership with a little help from his minions . . . I mean, friends.

Rules, Schmules!

Here’s the present lay of the land that would, if interpreted by relatively sane persons, would bar Trump from the speakership:

Republican Conference Rules of the 118th Congress: Rule 26—Temporary Step Aside of a Member of Leadership who is Indicted  (a) A member of the Republican Leadership shall step aside if indicted for a felony for which a sentence of two or more years imprisonment may be imposed.

Rules of the Democratic Caucus: Rule 4. Temporary Step-Aside of a Member of the Leadership Who Is Indicted
A. The Speaker, Democratic Leader, Democratic Whip, Assistant Speaker, Chair or Vice Chair of the Caucus, Chair of the DCCC, DPCC Chair, any one of the DPCC Co-Chairs, CLR, FLR, or BLR who is indicted for a felony for which a sentence of two or more years of imprisonment may be imposed shall step aside and cease to exercise the power of their office.

As a sidelight, Trump himself at first said he wasn’t interested in serving as Speaker. His target was the presidency. Then, a day later, he made soundings that yes, he’d be available under certain circumstances, “All I can say is we will do whatever is best for the country and other Republican Party and people.” (Well, if you really mean that, then drop dead Mr. Trump.)

I Am Not a Relatively Sane Person, So Here’s My Fantastical Scenario

Happily for most, sadly for MAGA-ites who would like nothing better than to own the libs with a Trump speakership, a Speaker Trump (likely) will never occur. I write “likely” because it would require the GOP to revise their rules to allow indicted persons to serve as Speaker. One can readily imagine Trump ordering them  to immediately change Rule 26, and them obeying. The new Rule 26, applicable to Republicans, would dispense with the indictment prohibition and the “step aside” requirement thereby permitting Trump, if voted in as Speaker, the permission to take the chair and remain in it, until he’s arrested by the Sergeant-At-Arms for something unspeakable. Neat, huh? 

Buttttt…….would it matter that the Dems retained Rule 4 and maintained their rule disqualifies Trump? Nope; GOP rules apply to GOP troglodytes.  Easily daunted, Dems would grouse that their Rule 4 controls but they’d do so in such a civil tone that no one would hear it. So, should this comical scenario result in an Unspeakable Speaker of the House Trump expect more chaos, more dogs and cats raining down from the heavens, more shoes wandering the streets unaccompanied, and, in the end, a Congress that only God, with an omniscient sense of humor, could conjure.

The Audacious Patrick McHenry, Speaker Pro Tempore, and His Bold Housing Agenda

Michael Matheron2 Comments

Yesterday, quickly following the removal of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, a stand-in Speaker, aka Speaker Pro Tempore, became necessary under House rules. According to these rules, in January, McCarthy was required to provide the House clerk a then secret list of members that temporarily serve as Speaker of the House if the office became vacant.

“Excited to be here”

So it came to pass that Patrick McHenry, McCarthy’s buddy, and a nine-term North Carolina Republican, was the first name on his list. He immediately took the gavel in hand and then the bull by the horns, boldly announcing the House in recess “subject to the call of the chair,” i.e., himself. How long a recess is unknown, although most expect the House back next week, thus giving members time to kibbitz and jockey and bloviate, and lie.

McHenry, allowing no grass to grow under his feet, then began Speaker Pro Teming, attacking pressing national concerns. After all, his ProTem powers under House rules allow him to govern issues deemed “necessary and appropriate.” After scurrying off the House floor, McHenry warmed to his powers immediately by addressing the massive housing crisis afoot in the House, where GOP members often live in the corridors and restrooms.

Phase one was decisive, summarily throwing 81-year-old Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi out of her honorific office. These few so-called “hideaway offices,” are traditional and intended to honor a few significant House members. Not a fan of tradition, according to AXIOS, McHenry’s “email asked Pelosi’s staff to ‘vacate the space tomorrow’ at which point the locks to the office will be changed.” Although Pelosi was in California at services for Diane Feinstein, 24-hour notice is apparently “necessary and appropriate,” not to put too fine a point on McHenry’s good nature. He would not be simply an empty suit, he would move ahead on vital issues, something new for his GOP majority in the 118th Congress. À la the French Revolution’s firebrand Georges Danton, McHenry is all in: “De l’audace, encore de l’audace, et toujours de l’audace.” What a checklist he must have. And lo and behold the audacious Mr. McHenry struck again, this morning, evicting 26-term, 84-year-old Maryland congressman Steny Hoyer; “No more hideaway for you!”

Many GOPers already jockey for pride of place in the reassignment of Pelosi’s and Hoyer’s offices. Moreover, expect more of the same. Mr. McHenry’s daring new House Housing Directorate is open for business. L’Audace!