Any scenario is possible

The US House of Representatives – where the permanent speakership 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.

Conservative Republican Congressman Jim Jordan, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, has vowed to continue his bid to win 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,” Mr. 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 next year.

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

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 initiatives, including responding to the latest flare-up of conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, providing aid to Ukraine and averting a potential partial US 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 of Representatives, 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 be without any 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

Representative Mike Lawler, who has steadfastly refused to vote for Mr. Jordan, called for a Republican convention to reinstate Mr. McCarthy or give power to Mr. McHenry.

“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 the Republican Party should appoint former President Donald Trump as Speaker of the US House of Representatives 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 rules that bar 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