Moderate Democrats say they'd save Speaker Mike Johnson if the right tries to oust him

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Jan. 12, 2024, 3:14 PM EST


WASHINGTON — A handful of moderate Democrats say they would be willing to save the new Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, if hardline conservatives move to oust him from power as they did to his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy.

“Yes, we would back him,” said one senior moderate House Democrat who has been speaking with colleagues in his party.

“I probably would [support Johnson]. We can’t do another three-week standstill. As it is, we’ve got nothing done in the 118th Congress,” said another moderate Democratic lawmaker who is facing a tough re-election bid in November. “Look, he’s not my favorite person in the world but, on the other hand, it’s a terrible and tough job in this Congress."

“I would be very surprised if there aren’t a number of Democrats who would support Johnson" if conservatives try to force a vote to oust him as speaker "because I think we’re so tired of this,” the Democrat added. “As a 'frontliner,' I wouldn’t want to be accused by people of slowing things down.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/moderate-democrats-say-help-mike-johnson-keep-job-speaker-rcna133711

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Good luck with that!

[spooky3]

1. I think this is a good plan. It would kneecap the extremists. Nt

[Aristus]

3. A Democratic caucus voting to retain the Speaker if the extremists try to oust him again,

might consider asking for concessions in return. But I don't think Johnson would honor them, if he agreed to them in the first place. He's still a repuke.

[spooky3]

9. But the Rs chose to allow any individual R to call for the speaker's ouster at any time. So,

every time a vote was called, Johnson would need Dems' help. That would give him an incentive to play ball, continuously, with them.

[Escurumbele]

22. I would not trust Johnson with his kids...he is a MAGAt, a fanatic, and a very dangerous MAGAt

This guy has shown that he is a traitor as well, I don't understand why he is not being investigated for the planning of the effort to turn the election to the buffoon, that is treason, he should not be allowed to any government position, in fact, he should also be in jail.

I don't understand why any Democrat would try to save him, he will never help any Democrat.

[wryter2000]

35. Sure would

I only wish we'd done it with McCarthy instead of this pretend Christian.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

2. Good move

It not only kneecaps the FreeDumb Caucus, it also will label Johnson as a RINO and make him dependent on Democrats for the rest of this Congress. And maybe more Republicans will resign, giving the Speakership to Jeffries.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Some of them like MTG are already basically calling Johnson (a) "Pelosi"

[Cha]

37. Why don't the fascists like MJ.. I thought

he was one of them.

TY

[msongs]

4. and what will dems get in return? nt

[SheilaAnn]

5. Hopefully and I confidently feel Democrats will win the House in November. Stick with this guy till then, it's doable.

[GregariousGroundhog]

10. If I were Minority Leader Jeffries...

I would offer to support him provided he scheduled an up or down vote on the 100 billion Ukraine/Israel aid bill and on the budget deal he signed off on with the Senate and Biden. That would seem like a fair trade.

[Demsrule86]

12. We won't have a government shutdown.

[SarahD]

7. Better be careful!

Body parts are at risk. You could save his ass only to have him stab you in the back.

[getagrip_already]

31. There aint no way the whackos would let him stay...

No matter how he screwed the dems after saving him.

The act of being saved by the dems in defiance of stinky's orders is a fatal move all by itself.

They would try again, and the dems wouldn't be there for him the next time.

So he would have to honor whatever deal he had with Jeffries, cause he won't get another. Kev learned that after shit talking the dems.

[Qutzupalotl]

8. He's better than having no speaker.

He seems to understand that we have to pass a budget. If we can help Ukraine defend itself, even better.

[TheBlackAdder]

11. He's Moses. He can turn water into whine.

[Wonder Why]

16. You got that wrong. Moses was the guy that fit the dinosaurs into the Ark.

No, wait, that was Noah. Moses must be the one that took part in the Red Sea attacks.

[rubbersole]

19. Didn't Moses invent jazz?

Think he went by Moses Allison...IIRC.

[getagrip_already]

32. No, moses built all those highways in new york state

Robert Moses.

[question everything]

13. OK. I was hoping that we could have done the same with McCarthy. Our demand should be to keep off the IRS funding.

[jimfields33]

26. That's done.

Instead of 70 billion increase, they get 60 billion. Still a nice raise.

[hueymahl]

14. WTF?

He is a radical Christian fascist. Let him burn. Any the rest of the rethugs with him.

[Grins]

15. I wouldn't.

And I’d take it as yet another opportunity to show
how “the cult” can’t govern.

Three speakers in a year?? Thank you, Jebus!

[AZLD4Candidate]

17. I'm getting tired of government by extortion. These MAGAts will break government, claim it's broken

then beg to get re-elected to "fix" a system they broke, only to break it more, then try to hold government hostage until they are given hammers.

[applegrove]

18. It is a weird world. Glad we have the numbers in the House to make a difference

and don't see a shutdown and/or default happen.

[SunSeeker]

20. Unlike McCarthy, Johnson is keeping his word with Democrats, so they should help him.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/speaker-mike-johnson-spending-pact_n_65a17ecee4b0351062f1c968

It's better than a shutdown, for Biden and the country.

[thesquanderer]

21. re: "Unlike McCarthy, Johnson is keeping his word with Democrats"

Maybe I"m mis-remembering, but didn't the Republicans oust McCarthy essentially because he was keeping his word with Democrats, on this very topic (total budget spending)?

[getagrip_already]

33. Thats my recollection also....

He helped pass the interim spending bills and then gaetz went ballistic and declared the chair vacant.

Because all the dems kept voting for Jeffries, they needed near unanimous support for their candidate, and the gaetz clan wouldn't budge.

[SunSeeker]

36. McCarthy reversed himself on Biden impeachment & Trump's responsibility for 1/6, and blamed Dems for the budget impasse.

McCarthy's comments last October blaming Democrats for the budget impasse and claiming the temporary funding bill was Dem's lame idea, after he sought and obtained Dem support for HIS temporary funding bill to keep Washington open, on top of McCarthy's changing stance on Trump being responsible for Jan. 6, and breaking his promise that the House would not begin impeachment proceedings against President Biden without a full vote of the House, showed Dems McCarthy could not be trusted to keep his word in deals. If you can't be trusted to keep your word in negotiations, then there is no point in negotiating with you.

Bashing Dems with false claims on tape the night before the speaker ouster vote was, as Gerry Connolly said, one of the most "crashingly stupid" moves McCarthy could make:

[thesquanderer]

38. I see your point about McCarthy's blame games and his reversals re 1/6 and impeachment requiring a full house vote...

...though I wouldn't say any of that equates to breaking a a promise or deal he made with the Dems.

Related, though, I think this was a good piece on McCarthy blowing the opportunity to get some Dems to support keeping him as Speaker...

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mccarthy-dems-save-gop-save-house-analysis/story?id=103736683

[Hotler]

23. smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch, .... usually windshield wipper is played with a

pair of sexy boobs not a pair of pasty ass cheeks.
"The anonymous pledge of support from moderate Democrats" .... Show your fucking faces ...... Willing to support a known insurrectionist.
Our job is not to salvage the repug party. Let them own this mess.

.

[JoseBalow]

24. Allegedly

I don't see any Dem going on record saying they would indeed "save" that weasel.

This article is weaksauce clickbait

[BumRushDaShow]

25. I saw some later articles where they said

"for a price". E.g. -

(snip)

A handful of House Democrats say they’d step in to help Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) keep his gavel in the face of a potential conservative revolt — but it wouldn’t come free.

Democrats willing to consider the matter said Johnson would first have to forge an agreement with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) ensuring Democrats had a greater voice in the legislative process. In that case, they’d be willing to provide the votes to keep the Speaker in power.

“Just like I told McCarthy: Talk to Hakeem, and there are some of us that can support you,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), referring to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was booted from his leadership post last year at the hands of disgruntled conservatives. “I’ll say the same thing [to Johnson].”

Cuellar is not alone among Democrats floating the idea of a Johnson rescue.

(snip)

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4405928-democrats-willing-to-help-gop-speaker-save-job-for-a-price/

ETA - a couple were named - Cuellar and Kildee.

[JoseBalow]

27. That sounds more realistic

though I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for repugs to publicly concede anything to Dems, especially during this election cycle.

[BumRushDaShow]

29. Hence my OP comment

"Good luck with that!"

[Freethinker65]

28. Get what needs to be passed, or Bye Bye Johnson.

I'm ok with that.

[honest.abe]

30. Good. We need to help him to avoid shutdown.

Its not that complicated.

[NBachers]

34. Saving Johnson with Democrats' support will stain him blue; thus giving the Maggots more teeth-clenching agita.

[pecosbob]

39. Let 'em burn...white phosphorus is the best cure for fascism.