The Meandering Journey to Elect a New House Speaker

During a conversation with a former colleague, I inquired about what William Shakespeare might say about the ongoing process to elect a new House speaker. Their response was that it resembled a true ‘Comedy of Errors.’ If this were ‘Twelfth Night,’ the House would have already concluded this process. Clearly, it wasn’t ‘Much Ado About Nothing.’

A Twisted Path to Elect Mike Johnson as Speaker

The quest to choose a speaker seemed reminiscent of ‘As You Like It.’ However, there were concerns that the House might reinstate its former leader, Kevin McCarthy, after removing him from power. There were even allegations that McCarthy and his allies were secretly plotting a return to power.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer initially secured the GOP’s nomination for speaker, but then withdrew after four hours and ten minutes. Former President Trump played a role in this decision, criticizing Emmer and calling him a RINO (Republican In Name Only).

Other members of the Republican Party also voiced their objections to Emmer, citing his moderate stance and deviation from conservative values. The voter base seemed to reject Emmer as a potential speaker as well.

The situation in Congress reached an ‘Othello’ status once Emmer stepped down, leaving McCarthy, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, and Emmer as the remaining contenders. The question of whether they would be or not be the speaker loomed.

The Hurry and Hurdles After Johnson’s Election

As Cassius said to Brutus in ‘Julius Caesar,’ our destiny is not determined by the stars but by ourselves. While Shakespeare and politics are fascinating subjects, none of the plays or quotes from the Bard seemed to fully capture the chaos surrounding the speakership. So, I turned to one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known works: ‘Pericles, Prince of Tyre.’

‘Pericles’ is not as well-known as ‘Hamlet’ or ‘King Lear,’ and it is rarely performed. Some even doubt whether Shakespeare wrote the entire play. It is considered messy, with a jumbled text, uneven plot, and challenging production. The story unfolds across six different locations, making it difficult for the audience to grasp the significance of each setting.

The speaker drama mirrored the episodic nature of ‘Pericles.’ It began with McCarthy, then moved to Scalise, Jordan, Emmer, and finally ended with the election of Mike Johnson as House Speaker. Johnson, much like ‘Pericles,’ is not a prominent figure in the Shakespearean canon. He is not comparable to influential speakers like Sam Rayburn or Tip O’Neill.

‘Pericles’ consists of 2,462 lines, making it one of Shakespeare’s shorter plays. In contrast, ‘Hamlet’ is his longest work with over 4,000 lines. ‘Pericles’ features 24 characters, and throughout the speaker selection process, 14 Republicans were declared candidates at some point. A total of 15 different individuals received votes for speaker on the House floor.

Similarly, scholars struggle to categorize ‘Pericles’ as either a comedy or tragedy, often labeling it a ‘tragicomedy.’ This description also applies to the election of the speaker, with its mix of intense moments and humorous elements.

Johnson’s Dilemma and the Challenges Ahead

In ‘Pericles,’ the play begins with the protagonist facing a riddle. Answering it correctly leads to marriage with a beautiful princess, while a wrong answer means death. Pericles knows the truth behind the riddle but also knows that revealing it will result in his demise. This paradox reflects the essence of the modern speakership, where failure to meet certain demands can lead to political consequences.

Mike Johnson faces a similar conundrum as McCarthy did. If he avoids a government shutdown, he may face criticism for not meeting conservative demands on government funding. The Republicans spent weeks shifting from one candidate to another, only to change their minds shortly after. Jordan was replaced due to his behind-the-scenes tactics, and Emmer’s nomination lasted just four hours.

There are parallels between the process on Capitol Hill and the possible collaboration between George Wilkins and Shakespeare in ‘Pericles.’ McCarthy initiated the process, and Johnson was brought in to finish it with drama and intensity.

On Johnson’s first day as speaker, he found himself rushing to a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The day was filled with a series of events, much like the disjointed scenes in ‘Pericles.’ As the Bard wrote in ‘The Tempest,’ ‘What’s past is prologue.’ The House may have a new speaker, but the same members and problems remain.

Stay tuned for the next act.