Don’t count all your chickens before they hatch

By weakening the authority of the U.S. House Speaker, the 'Never Kevin' caucus has been trying to legislate changes that run parallel to the demands at the basis of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Capitol Hill. Back in the 1800s, a similar Speaker vote required more than 100 rounds to reach a majority. That may be happening again. It gives democracy a black eye.

Republican Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, pictured. McCarthy was finally elected U.S. House Speaker early on Jan. 7, on the 15th ballot. He credited former U.S. president Donald Trump for making calls and helping him get those final votes. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Opinion

BY SHEILA COPPS

January 9, 2023

OTTAWA—Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. The message has come across loud and clear to aspiring American House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was eventually elected on Jan. 7 House Speaker on the 15th ballot.

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