4 January 2023:
Kevin (not the good one) McCarthy seems to be yet another Nancy Baloney in the mold of Cryin’ John or Paul R’Ayneau (as does suggested alternative Scalise). Donalds or Zeldin or Jordan or Mace all seem viable, and Trump, followed by cute matching impeachments for Jomala, remains plausible, desirable, and highly unlikely.
Six More Years!
But only because Lefties would hate it so much.
5 January 2023:
Given their narrow majority in the House, Republican conferees would be well advised to consider all their options from Amash to Zeldin by which they might settle on a Speaker AND preserve a floor vote (as Speakers typically refrain from floor votes themselves, leveraging their influence more directly with threats and bribes). Mr Gaetz has already launched his ill-fated Trump-balloon, contrary to El Donaldo’s own preference, in fact, so they (other than the most ardent of Sixthmas Celebrants) may put that behind them.