Any scenario is possible

The US House of Representatives – where the permanent speaker’s seat has been vacant for 17 days – plunged deeper into chaos after a second round of bipartisan voting ended without a leader and the contingency plan collapsed.

Hardline conservative Republican Congressman Jim Jordan, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, has vowed to continue his bid to seize the House speaker's gavel after failing twice to secure the 217 votes needed.

Mr. Jordan's spokesman said the US House of Representatives will hold the third round of voting at 10:00 a.m. local time (9:00 p.m. Vietnam time) on October 20.

“I am still running for president and I intend to continue to campaign for votes and win this race,” Jordan told reporters on October 19.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Jordan had considered dropping out of the race and backing a new bipartisan proposal to extend the powers of interim Speaker Patrick McHenry until January of next year.

But the plan collapsed when a group of far-right conservative lawmakers objected, calling it “stupid” and saying it would give the Democrats control of the US House of Representatives.

From left to right: Mr. Jim Jordan - Republican candidate for Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mr. Kevin McCarthy - former Speaker (ousted), and Mr. Patrick McHenry - interim Speaker. Photo: Washington Post

The US House of Representatives has been in a state of gridlock since October 3, when a small group of far-right Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy as Speaker.

The leadership vacuum in the House of Representatives has prevented the bicameral Congress from acting on urgent legislative action, including responding to the latest flare-up in hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, providing aid to Ukraine and averting a potential partial government shutdown less than a month away.

Democratic President Joe Biden, in a speech on October 19, said he would ask Congress to approve up to $60 billion in aid for Ukraine and $10 billion for Israel. Nothing will be done until the US House of Representatives can restore order with a permanent speaker.

The protracted leadership battle has created a clear divide among Republicans in the House, which they control by a narrow margin over Democrats: 221-212.

On the afternoon of October 19, Mr. Jordan tried again to meet privately with some of the 22 House members who voted against him, but it seemed to have no results.

“We all told him we strongly disagree. That was the discussion. Now he knows how to make a decision,” Rep. Vern Buchanan told reporters after the meeting, suggesting that Jordan drop out of the race.

Ballots are counted at the end of the second ballot in which Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican candidate for Speaker of the House, lost, on October 18, 2023. Photo: Washington Post

Rep. Mike Lawler, who has steadfastly refused to vote for Jordan, has called for a Republican convention to reinstate McCarthy or give McHenry the reins.

“We have to show the American people that we can govern effectively and responsibly, or in 15 months we will be debating who the minority leader is and preparing for a second Biden inauguration,” Lawler said, referring to the scenario where House Republicans become the minority and Biden is re-elected in the presidential and congressional elections next November.

Congressman Troy E. Nehls on October 19 once again suggested that Republicans should appoint former President Donald Trump as Speaker of the House for 100 days to “fix this place.”

“I think Donald Trump can do the impossible and make it happen,” said Nehls, who has been pushing the idea for some time, noting that they would have to change the Republican conference rule that bars indicted people from becoming speaker of the House. Trump faces 91 felony charges in four criminal cases .

Minh Duc (According to The Guardian, Reuters, Washington Times)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/bau-chu-tich-ha-vien-my-kich-ban-nao-cung-co-a631926.html