By Douglas V. Gibbs; Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host
Someone asked me today what I thought of Representative Steve Scalise, Republican Congressman from Louisiana. I said, “He’s better than Keven McCarthy, but he’s still a part of the establishment.” The person asked me my opinion because he believed Scalise was a shoe-in. I was not so sure.
Earlier tonight, Scalise decided to withdraw from the race for Speaker of the House, a position I hope goes to Jim Jordan, though the outside idea of Trump as Speaker would be extremely pleasing. And yes, the Constitution does not require the Speaker to be a member of Congress, though if the position went to an outsider, they would have no voting power.
Scalise read the writing on the wall, I suppose. According to Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky in a conversation with reporters, Scalise didn’t have the 217 votes needed to prevail. At least twenty Republicans refused to give Scalise their votes. Scalise edged out Jim Jordan during the nomination battle, the latter favored by the more conservative members of the House of Representatives. A number of Republicans have switched their allegiance to Jordan, which raises the question if in a new nomination vote would Jordan eek out a victory and have a chance to face a final vote.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
