Yet again we find ourselves in another drama of electing the Speaker of the House – the person who is next in line to the Presidency after the Vice President.  According to Fox News this morning, at least 2 Republicans are still holding out.  Thomas Massie of Kentucky is a solid no.  Scott Perry of Pennsylvania is “keeping my options open.” (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/what-know-about-upcoming-race-speaker-house)

Chip Roy of Texas is still undecided:

Key distinction: @RepThomasMassie will not be voting for Hakeem Jefferies, as opposed to GOP who voted with Dems (more Dems than GOP each time) to spend some $3 trillion & give $61bb to Ukraine with no border security. The reason I am still undecided on the Speaker vote (as… https://t.co/u5KSFgGVbb

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) January 1, 2025

The Democrats, on the other hand, are unified in this one.  According to the House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies: “Democrats won't bail out Johnson if he does not receive enough GOP votes.”.  (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/what-know-about-upcoming-race-speaker-house)

No, We The People Do Not Elect The Speaker

In the middle of all this is a populism – fueled by Donald Trumps Populist Presidency – that works under the mistaken idea that everything in government needs to be run by the voters.  From spending bills to the Speaker Position, the elected leaders must do what the people want – darn it – or face the consequences.

For example, take this great message from X:

“Thoughts on Mike Johnson? I personally think he needs to go and this endorsement baffles me. We got totally screwed on the CR & that was because Mike Johnson worked with Hakeem Jeffries to ensure we got NOTHING. The final CR was worse than what we started with, we were just gaslit into thinking it was better because it was 116 pages vs 1500 pages. Not sure how DJT doesn’t see that but it doesn’t matter. We The People have a say in who is the Speaker of the House. So do you support Mike Johnson for Speaker?”

Thoughts on Mike Johnson?

I personally think he needs to go and this endorsement baffles me.

We got totally screwed on the CR & that was because Mike Johnson worked with Hakeem Jeffries to ensure we got NOTHING.

The final CR was worse than what we started with, we were just… pic.twitter.com/1aB5BtqduG

— Kylie Jane Kremer (@KylieJaneKremer) December 30, 2024

She is wrong.  The Constitution states that it is the House of Representatives – not We The People – who choose the Speaker:

The House of Representatives shall chuse [SIC] their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. (US Constitution, Article 1, Section 2, Clause 5)

The Founding Fathers designed the House to be closest to the people they represent.  For that reason they are elected every 2 years.  The Senate – who was never designed to elected by a popular vote at all – was meant to cool down the passions of the House to allow for proper deliberation.  But in no event did the writers of “We The People” ever envision the amount of wind-listening that happens in Congress today. 

Ironically, “We The People” did elect a long-shot President.  “We the People” want him to get things done.  And that same President wants Mike Johnson back as Speaker – but that does not seem to matter.

No, the Congress Cannot Get Anything Done Without A Speaker

While the Constitution is a bit vague on the powers of the Speaker of the House, the 25^th Amendments to the Constitution and the historic rules of the House have elevated the position to a vital element of the US Government.  The Speaker is the grease that makes the House work together.  His office sets the agenda, swears in new members, assigns committees, and handles all the administrative tasks that if left to the general membership would never get done.

According to Luke Broadwater of the New York Times:

Without a speaker, the United States House of Representatives essentially becomes a useless entity. Because none of its members can be sworn in until a speaker is chosen, there are no lawmakers to respond to an emergency or a crisis, only representatives-elect. With no rules adopted, the legislative process cannot move forward; no bills can be passed or resolutions adopted.

Law and precedents state that the House must elect a speaker before lawmakers take any other action. (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/04/us/politics/house-speaker-representatives.html)

Congress must have a Speaker, and he must be in place this Friday.

Yes, the discussion is good

Despite the Legacy Media’s joyful declarations of civil war in the Republican party over H1B1 Visas, the discussion has given all parties a chance to discuss the issue.  At the end, Republicans will look at ways to rewrite, revamp, or remove this and other aspects of our immigration laws.

Discussions over Mike Johnson’s role and ability as Speaker can also be a good thing – if handled properly.  For the most part – at least from the politicians themselves – the debate has been spirited but respectful.  Speaker Johnson – while trying to navigate a slim majority through the hazards of a Biden-Harris controlled DC – has made some mistakes.  He has also made some decisions that were unpopular with the purist right but in the end needed to be done.  Airing out all of this is good – and a hallmark of the Republic that we are.

Choosing a Speaker is a sign that Republicans can Govern

In the end, though, Republicans need to choose a speaker of the House.  That person is – and must be – Mike Johnson. 

Mike Johnson has been endorsed by Donald Trump – who was elected by popular vote for his vision of America.  Trump does not – and should not – control the House.  However, with an electoral and popular mandate behind him his choice for Speaker should carry significant weight in the first vital days of his Presidency.

Speaker Johnson is a man of great faith who would never compromise his love of Christ.  He is a man of character who has never lashed out at those who constantly undermine his leadership.  Finally, Mike Johnson is already in place, and has the staff and resources already functioning to lead the House.  Changing him out would only cause disorder and chaos at a time when we need order and a functioning government.

Even more importantly, electing Mike Johnson is a sign to the American people that Republicans can govern – and not just jockey for media attention by going rogue.  While Chip Roy, Majorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie all make great news stories because they “stand up to the establishment”, in the end the American people voted Republican in order to get things done and stop playing politics as usual.    Mike Johnson has the support of the incoming President and the majority of the Republicans in the House.  Those who oppose him have no plan and no workable options – which is the very hallmark of bad governing.  Representative Thomas Massie needs to understand that there is a time and place for being the lone voice in the wilderness.  This is not one of them. 

If the Republicans after a few weeks of openly discussing leadership issues can ON THE FIRST VOTE and UNANIMOUSLY elect a Speaker, the roar of change that we heard on election day will be echoed in the House chamber.  If Republicans can be both open in their deliberations but united in their decisions, they can correct the dangerous course the Democrats tried setting for our country and make positive changes that will be felt for years to come.  Yes, we need discussions on policies and directions.  Yes, we need to address the bloated mindset of spending that is the norm of Washington, DC.

But we can only do that if we elect a Speaker on Friday.