House Speaker Mike Johnson Triumphs Over Ouster Attempt Led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

Noah Silverbrook

Updated Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 11:09 AM CDT

House Speaker Mike Johnson Triumphs Over Ouster Attempt Led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

In a substantial show of bipartisan support, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, successfully retained his leadership position amidst an attempted ouster spearheaded by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. The House voted 359-43 against the "motion to vacate," effectively quashing Greene's efforts. The motion, which aimed to dethrone Johnson, saw 32 Democrats and 11 Republicans siding with Greene, though their numbers fell short of the necessary majority.

Speaker Johnson did not shy away from expressing his gratitude, acknowledging the vote as a vote of confidence and underlining the urgency for a Congress that functions effectively. On the flip side, Greene voiced her discontentment with the GOP, accusing the party of reneging on promises and failing to meet the expectations of her constituents.

The move to keep Johnson came in the wake of his passage of a contentious $95 billion foreign aid package, which included aid for Ukraine. This legislative action had triggered resistance from some quarters of the Democratic Party due to Johnson's conservative ideologies, notably his anti-abortion stance and his involvement in disputing the 2020 election results.

Despite some Democrats' reservations, Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar depicted the vote as a counteraction against Greene's tactics rather than a rescue mission for Speaker Johnson. This sentiment was echoed by the majority of Republicans and Democrats who joined forces to defeat Greene's initiative.

Former President Donald Trump, while praising Greene for her audacity, suggested that such an upheaval could be perceived as chaos, potentially damaging the GOP's image. This perspective perhaps influenced the outcome, which starkly contrasted the previous year's unanimous Democratic vote to oust Johnson's predecessor, Kevin McCarthy.

Within the Republican ranks, some conservative members preferred to defer the discussion about the speaker's position until the next Congress, particularly given the sensitivity of an election year. However, with Democrats in control of both the Senate and the White House, bipartisan collaboration has been crucial for legislative successes, a feat Johnson has managed to achieve, albeit not without criticism from ultraconservatives who have branded him as the "uniparty" speaker.

Greene, undeterred by the outcome, did not rule out future attempts to unseat Johnson. Her motion, which was met with boos from her colleagues, accused Johnson of various "transgressions," including the passage of the foreign aid package. Meanwhile, Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise's move to table Greene's motion demonstrated the party leadership's stance against the ouster.

This event marks the second endeavor in recent months by Republicans to depose their own speaker, shedding light on internal party dynamics and loyalty concerns. Despite the potential for political maneuvering, enabled by House rules that allow any member to file a motion to vacate the speaker's position, Speaker Johnson presently seems to have weathered the storm.

The vote underscored the political divide, with only 10 Republicans joining Greene and 7 Democrats voting present. Conversely, 196 Republicans and 163 Democrats opposed the motion, showcasing widespread cross-party resistance to Greene's campaign.

Speaker Johnson aspires for the vote to signify an end to "personality politics and frivolous character assassination," signaling a yearning to transcend internal discord. Democratic leaders had preemptively telegraphed their intent to help dismiss Greene's motion, aligning tactically with Johnson.

Among the Republicans who opposed tabling the motion were Warren Davidson, Alex Mooney, Barry Moore, Victoria Spartz, Chip Roy, Eric Burlison, Paul Gosar, Eli Crane, and Andy Biggs. Greene, though a staunch ally of McCarthy, surprisingly voted against ousting Speaker Johnson, revealing the intricate web of political alliances.

Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, on "60 Minutes," was cited by Greene as he commented on Democrats governing as if in the majority, a point she leveraged to her advantage. Massie, a co-signer of Greene's motion, preferred a more passive strategy, hoping Johnson would step down voluntarily.

Ahead of the vote, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley urged for party unity, stressing its significance. Although Trump's social media pronouncements did not sway the vote, they illuminated his stance and his enduring sway within the GOP. As it stands, Democrats, led by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, have not promised ongoing support for Johnson, suggesting a strategic alliance rather than a lasting one, as they voted to table Greene's resolution, thereby preserving Johnson's leadership—at least for the moment.

Conservative Bias:

Once again, the spineless RINOs in Congress have betrayed their conservative base, siding with the radical left to protect a so-called "Republican" Speaker who's nothing more than a puppet for the liberal agenda. Speaker Mike Johnson, who's as Republican as a wolf in sheep's clothing, has dodged an ouster by cozying up to Democrats, proving his loyalty isn't to the true American values but to the swamp's backroom deals and globalist policies. This sham of a vote was a slap in the face to the patriots like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who are fighting tooth and nail to keep America great. Instead of standing firm on conservative principles, these traitors have surrendered to the left's destructive vision, ensuring that our nation's decline is all but guaranteed under their so-called "bipartisan" treachery. It's a dark day when a Republican who disputes the integrity of our elections and supports foreign aid boondoggles is propped up by the very people who are supposed to be his opposition. The GOP's image is in tatters, thanks to these turncoats who have abandoned their party's core values.

Liberal Bias:

In a stunning display of moral cowardice, the extremist right-wing faction of the Republican Party, led by the notorious Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, attempted to overthrow a duly elected Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. This outrageous insurrectionist effort was thankfully thwarted by a coalition of sensible Republicans and Democrats who recognize the importance of maintaining a semblance of sanity in our government. The vote showcased the desperate lengths to which the far-right will go to impose their fringe ideology on the American people, even if it means cannibalizing their own leadership. The fact that a Speaker who has shown a willingness to work across the aisle is considered a traitor by these radicals speaks volumes about their divisive and destructive agenda. While the GOP descends into chaos, with its members more interested in political grandstanding than governing, it's clear that the adults in the room had to step in to prevent the complete erosion of democratic norms. This episode is a stark reminder that the fight against the authoritarian impulses of the extreme right is far from over, and the preservation of our republic hangs in the balance.

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