January 2025 is gonna be a helluva month

[Pototan]

Jan. 2 the Senate and House return to Wahington. The 3rd the House has to choose a Speaker. Well, this is going to be the first test. If Mike Johnson can't win on the first ballot we will have an interesting day, or days or perhaps weeks. No business can begin without a Speaker. They cannot even validate the 2024 Presidential election without a Speaker. I fully expect that about the 3rd or 4th ballot it will dawn on Trump and his allies that they better rubber stamp Johnson.

Then on Jan. 6th the ratification of the election will take place and then the fun begins. The Republican controlled Senate can begin hearings on cabinet designees even before the Jan. 20th inauguration. There should be some pretty contentions hearings, to say the least.

Then Jan 20th itself. Wow. Trump has promised to end the war in Gaza and Ukraine within 24 hours. Deportations are supposed start. He promised to declare an emergency on day 1. And, oh ya, 25% Tariffs on Mexico, Canada and the EU. 60% on China. And let's not forget his promise to be a dictator on that day

God Bless America. We're going to need it.

[Polybius]

1. What happens if there's no Speaker by the 6th?

Or even none by the 20th? How does the rest happen?

[Pototan]

3. That's the interesting part

It's unchartered waters.

All I know is that no business can be conducted in the House until a Speaker is chosen and the House needs to certify the election on the 6th.

On edit:
Some Republican allies of House Speaker Mike Johnson are urging President-elect Donald Trump to publicly reaffirm support for him to avoid a lengthy battle to replace him that could delay the certification of Trump's election victory in January.

Newsweek has contacted spokespeople for Trump and Johnson for comment via email outside usual business hours.

Why It Matters

The first vote of the new House, when lawmakers are sworn in on January 3, is on electing a speaker. Then, on January 6, the House will meet to certify the results of the 2024 election.

https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-fear-speaker-battle-cant-certify-election-2005510

[Polybius]

6. Wow, so if no Speaker by the 20th...

That seems to mean that the President Pro Tempore would become acting President, since that would be the next position in line. Biden and Harris will be out no matter what on noon of the 20th.

No President, no VP, no Speaker. That means (wait for it) 91 year old Chuck Grassley is Acting President. And I thought Trump was too old...

[DFW]

10. I think they will fall in line fairly quickly

They can only stall plan A. They have no plan B.

Unfortunately, they have no real reason to care if they look foolish. The next election is not for two years, and the moderate Republicans who might have been persuaded to switch parties out of frustration never made it past the primaries. They don’t care if they look foolish or not. They only care if they look victorious. Unless three Republican House members switch parties, they remain victorious, although if three more of them end up in a dementia ward without leaving office, their votes are mothballed, and things could get interesting.

[Pototan]

12. There are at least a dozen Repukes that are not afraid of Trump

Anyone retiring after the next two years. Any Repuke in a purple district that knows that they can't win a general without Dem leaners. And some true believers in crazy commitments like never voting to increase the debt limit, primaries be damned.

There are 219 Republicans in Congress. no doubt 200 are scared shitless. But there are about a dozen Trump can't shake, as evidenced on the votes last week.

The problem they have is that the Speaker (whoever it is) will not put a bi-partisan bill, which would pass, on the floor if Trump objects.

That's why it will be hard for the MAGAts to govern.

[elleng]

2. Yes, and the next 2 years.

FORTUNATELY, these guys are near me.

[SunSeeker]

4. He also promised to cut grocery prices in half.

I won't be holding my breath.

[onecaliberal]

5. I paid 9.53 cents for 18 eggs two days ago.

[SunSeeker]

7. We'll be lucky if the price of eggs stays the same, let alone goes down.

Bird flu is not going away.

[JI7]

11. He already said he won't do anything about it

Nobody cared. Shows what bs "the price of eggs" was.

[BigmanPigman]

8. I got a Christmas card today that said that same thing.

I send hand made Christmas cards and a Dem friend in Boston sent me a card that basically said next year will be hell. The "Grinch/tRump" card I made in 2016/2017 was revamped and updated for 2024/2025 and that is what I wrote too. I'm glad I have true "blue" friends. Only one person was offended in 2016 and when she called tRump our "wonderful leader" I never contacted her again. Puke!

[Pototan]

9. Boston. That's where I'm from

I lived there for 69 years. I'm currently retired in the Philippines.

[BigmanPigman]

14. I have family members who are

Filipinos and many met each other as coworkers in health care/medicine many years before I was even born.
While I was a teacher 50% of my students in San Diego were Asian and most were Vietnamese and Filipinos. I loved it when they invited me to their children's' birthday parties. They made sure "the teacher" was very well fed and had tons of leftovers. They respect educators in the Philippines.
They brought the best food for class parties too (lumpia, pancit, etc). I even like duck fetuses (balut). The parents used to bring me warm, hand made treats for lunch and I LOVED it!!! I ended up going to Asian food supermarkets in the area and then learning more from Anthony Bourdain's travel shows since 2000.
Now I'm hungry.

[Pototan]

16. I live just outside of Iloilo City

on a 10 Hectare (24 acres) farm.

What beautiful people Filipinos are.

[BigmanPigman]

17. I'm jealous!!!

Tony Bourdain went there at Christmas and the people were incredibly giving to all of their relatives. Lots of packages flowed between the 2 countries, especially at Christmas. A fellow teacher who was born there said her father was a judge and he was killed during the political madness in the country when she was a child. She sent everything home to her relatives and showed me where locals in San Diego like to eat the real filipino foods she grew up with.

[sinkingfeeling]

13. God Forgive America

[IzzaNuDay]

15. I have a more terse opinion

Recalling what Rev. Jeremiah Wright said. What he said, although inflammatory, he wasn’t exaggerating!

https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/DemocraticDebate/story?id=4443788&page=1