A roster of idiots

source

“I ran for leader with one mission: to fundamentally change how the Senate operates and upend the status quo so we can actually start representing the voters who put us here. When I announced, I said that we are in a moment where we need dramatic change. The voters confirmed that last week when they elected President Trump and Republicans took the majority in both chambers of Congress with a clear mandate,” [Rick Scott] said in a statement after losing the vote for Senate majority leader.

He added, “While it isn’t the result we hoped for, I will do everything possible to make sure John Thune is successful in accomplishing President Trump’s agenda. I would also like to thank John Cornyn for running a great race.”

[...]

Thune has served as Senate Republican whip, the No. 2-ranking position in the Senate GOP leadership, since 2019, and largely managed operation of the Senate floor since McConnell suffered a concussion from a fall in 2023.

He received 29 votes, to Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-Texas) 24. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) had been knocked out of the running on an earlier ballot.

  The Hill

Is Ted Cruz the only Republican Senator less liked than Rick Scott?

Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) [faced] a barrage of opposition from Trump allies ranging from Tucker Carlson to Sean Hannity.

[...]

Hard-line conservatives are abandoning their plan to nominate a challenger to Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) bid for the gavel during Wednesday’s internal House GOP elections, opting for a different protest strategy to showcase resistance to his leadership, two sources familiar with the matter told The Hill.

The plan B being plotted by the House Freedom Caucus would involve forcing a secret, recorded vote on Johnson’s nomination, according to the sources, who were granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive internal deliberations.

Because Johnson is running unopposed, the conference could nominate him for the top job by voice vote, which Republicans did in 2016 to give former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) the nod. Hard-liners, however, want to force a recorded vote — and avoid a voice vote — to make their reservations regarding Johnson’s leadership clear. One of the sources said members would have the ability to write in a candidate if they wanted to.

The strategy is a change from Tuesday afternoon, when conservatives were discussing plans to nominate an alternative candidate to Johnson for Speaker during Wednesday’s internal GOP elections. Those on the right flank were discussing whom to nominate. One source told The Hill three people were prepared to throw their hat in the ring.

  The Hill

Trump backs the Christo-fascist Johnson.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE 01:24 pm:

Thune has never gotten along with Trump. He called on Trump to drop out of the race when the Access Hollywood tape broke in 2016. He was harshly critical of Trump in the wake of J6 - so much so that Trump endorsed Thune’s primary opponent in 2022. Thune then returned the favor by endorsing Tim Scott in the presidential primary against Trump. When asked if he would support Trump if he was the nominee, Thune refused to answer, saying only “I hope we will have better options.”

Thune had the backing of his mentor Mitch McConnell.

  Meidas Touch

I heard someone say that in the battle between Trump/Scott and McConnell/Thune you should bet on McConnell. I didn't think so. I would have lost.  Gladly.

John Cornyn was also in the race, which threatened to split the establishment vote, allowing MAGA challenger Rick Scott to make it into the runoff. But it was not to be as Scott finished 3rd on the first ballot, then Thune narrowly defeated Cornyn in the final vote.

[...]It was reported that Trump wanted to endorse Scott, but knew he didn’t have the votes so he didn’t want to back him only to be publicly humiliated. But Musk backed him, along with all the far-right MAGA Senators. The MAGA meltdown after the vote was fun to watch.