Nowadays, so many things that we know for certain turn out to be not so certain after all.  In the Fall, we knew for certain that Republicans were going to sweep the mid-term elections, and that a Red Wave would wash over the nation, giving Republicans the House of Representatives and the Senate.  We now know that the Red Wave wasn’t even a ripple.  We lost the Senate outright 51-49.  The only upside of this occurrence is that Kamala Harris now has absolutely nothing to do.  Republicans managed to flip the House, winning 222 seats to 213 Democrat.  Well, right now 212 Democrats, as one Virginia Democrat died right after his reelection.  January 3 was the first day for the newly elected 118th Congress.  The first order of business for this, as for every new Congress was the election of a Speaker of the House.  The office of Speaker of the House is required by the Constitution, which provides that “the House of Representatives shall chuse its Speaker and other officers.” (Yes, that’s how they spelled “choose” in those days)  The office originated in the British House of Commons during the 14th century.  Until the 17th century (King Charles I), the speaker elected by the House of Commons represented that body before the monarch but also served as the monarch’s representative in the Commons.  After Charles I, who was later beheaded, sparking a Civil War, British Speakers serve primarily as non-political parliamentary officers.  The U.S. Speaker has parliamentary duties as well, but also is second in the line of presidential succession, after the Vice President.  No Speaker has succeeded to the presidency by virtue of that office, and only one former Speaker, James Polk, has ever been elected president.  The Speaker doesn’t have to be a member of the House of Representatives.  Theoretically, anyone could be elected Speaker, even Donald Trump, who has gotten one vote this week.  Realistically, the election of a Speaker who is not in the House is about as likely as the election of a new Pope who’s not a Cardinal.  Anyhow, last year we knew for certain that the new Speaker was going to be California Representative Kevin McCarthy.  But not so fast.  Trouble is brewing in the Republican caucus, more specifically, in the Freedom Caucus, whose conservative members have let it be known that they’re tired of being lied to and overlooked by the RINOs who want to continue business as usual.  I guess McCarthy just didn’t take the Freedom Caucus threat seriously, because it came as no surprise.  From 10 to 20 Republicans have been saying for some time that they will not vote for McCarthy unless he makes commitments on conservative policies on such things as balancing the budget, tax reform and oversight investigations on little things like the Biden Crime Family.  Many people, including me, thought that the differences would be quickly resolved, and that Kevin McCarthy would be elected Speaker.  That hasn’t been the case.  As this is written, there have been 11 Speaker votes, and an 11th is expected today.  McCarthy has been unable to get the votes needed to be elected.  In the 11 ballots, McCarthy has received no more than 203 votes, his vote total then dropping to 200.  Conservatives have nominated Byron Donalds of Florida, but he has gotten no more than 20 votes.  Democrats have voted every time 212 votes for Hakeem Jeffries.  No surprise there.  If Democrats know one thing it’s the value of Party discipline.  We are told that negotiations are ongoing, but there’s been little movement.  Indeed, the opposition is getting more strident.  On January 5, Chief Embarrassment to the Country, Corrupt Demented Imbecile Joe Biden, called the situation, “an embarrassment to the country.”  He should know.  How long can this go on?  The longest election for Speaker took more than two months and 133 ballots before Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachusetts was elected Speaker on February 2, 1856.  The Civil War began soon thereafter.  Let’s hope that’s not an omen.  The 1923 election went to 9 ballots before a winner emerged.  And what effect does a stalemate have?  Here’s the answer given by MSNBC –  Until a Speaker is chosen, the House can’t swear in its members and can’t vote on legislation, or work on investigations.  Right.  MSNBC can’t wait for House Republicans investigate the Biden Crime Family, Sam Bankman-Fried’s gift of $40 million stolen dollars to Democrats, and the FBI’s interference in our elections.  The reality is, they’ll get there, eventually.  And they don’t need to pass legislation right away, as they voted a $1.7 trillion boondoggle bill in December, precisely to keep the incoming House from cutting the budget.  Trust me.  Every day the Congress does nothing, it’s one more day that they don’t steal your freedom.  But what’s the endgame?  The Republican NK’s, that’s what they call the “Never Kevin” faction, are taking flak from Republicans of all stripes, including Newt Gingrich, who aptly points out that 10% of the caucus should not be permitted to dictate to the other 90%.  The NK’s do have valid complaints, and I hope they are trying to work toward a resolution.  Reportedly, there was a major concession on Thursday, in which McCarthy pledged that his political PAC, Club For Growth, would not contribute money to candidates in open seat Republican primaries in safe Republican districts.  This would permit more conservatives to win primaries without the Establishment Republicans putting their thumbs on the scale.  Is Kevin McCarthy the ideal candidate for Speaker?  No.  Would I be happy with a Byron Donalds, or a Jim Jordan?  Absolutely.  But McCarthy is as good as it’s going to get.  The Democrats are lurking with their 212 votes, and have offered to support “a Unity Speaker,” so long as they get some Committee Chairmanships and other concessions.  They have no right to such an outrage.  For all the talk of the “razor thin” Republican majority, with 222 seats, does anyone remember how many Democrats were in the last Congress?  222.  Did they agree to share power?  Don’t think so.  There’s also talk from liberal outlets that, “even if elected, McCarthy will be the weakest Speaker in recent times.”  McCarthy needs 217 votes to win.  Anyone remember how many votes Nancy Pelosi got in January 2021?  216.  Did anybody say she was weak?  Just sit tight.  This will be resolved, in favor of McCarthy or some other Republican, and life will go on.