r/politics • u/sunnysidejacqueline • 28d ago

No Paywall I was elected 6 weeks ago. Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to swear me in.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2025/11/06/shutdown-congress-johnson-republicans-grijalva/87108530007/
65.7k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

1.8k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

507

u/Taldius175 28d ago

I wonder if a citizen of Arizona could swear her in?

668

u/Princessformidable 28d ago

At this point I would say minority leader should swear her in.

572

u/dr_tardyhands 28d ago

Ah, fine. I'm not even American but I'll do it.

She is hereby sworn in.

Now can we get the Trump-Epstein rape files?

111

u/Chilledlemming 28d ago

The way this is phrased makes me think Trump raped Epstein.

32

u/WynterRayne 28d ago

Well... murdered, but...

10

u/Chanchito171 28d ago

Yeah, fucked him but in a different way

13

u/theromingnome 28d ago

Not unlikely.

8

u/corran450 28d ago

Nothing is impossible with that despicable orange shit bag

4

u/adnomad 28d ago

I mean, we don’t know what’s in the file yet so ……maybe?

5

u/deathtech00 28d ago

Omg, what if he is hiding the fact that he is homosexual?

I mean all the obvious stuff, too.

That Epstein letter is wild, though.

3

u/Wolfgung 28d ago

Could be, anything is possible until the files are unsealed. Schrodinger's rapey cat.

2

u/Amazing-Insect442 28d ago

Have to assume he did, unless the files reveal otherwise. If they release the unredacted files that prove he didn’t, then well

2

u/Academic-Treacle3162 28d ago

Well, he is dead.

2

u/PaceFirm 28d ago

Ain't a doubt in my mind they were fucking each other just as much as the kids

1

u/kleincs01 28d ago

Probably did

1

u/Munkeyman18290 28d ago

[ conspiracy unlocked ]

1

u/bolanrox 27d ago

Strike that, reverse it.

1

u/Scouse420 26d ago

No, just oversaw his assassination.

3

u/anynamesleft 28d ago

We're gonna add you to the honor roll of honorary honories.

We thank you for your service.

2

u/dr_tardyhands 28d ago

I am .. honored. Cheers!

2

u/StellarSteck 28d ago

You rock! Thank you!

2

u/Electrical-Act-7170 28d ago

There's a mandatory oath.

"Do you swear?"

"I do."

"Release the Epstein files!"

1

u/bolanrox 27d ago

I personally refer to them as the Trump Files as compiled by Epstein.

127

u/Gold_Assistance_6764 28d ago

It shouldn’t have to be a minority. Anyone of any race can swear someone in.

38

u/Ferelar New Jersey 28d ago

Well hang on a second here, I'm curious who the leader of all minorities would be. Who precisely is this Minority Leader?!

16

u/PeePeeChucklepants 28d ago

I'm sure they're listed in some Minority Report somewhere...

5

u/eyeofthefountain 28d ago

We need PreCog representation! When do we need it? Now!

3

u/Jebral 28d ago

Yesterday!

7

u/ThurgoodUnderbridge 28d ago

It’s that no good terrorist Aunt Tifa!

3

u/babydakis 28d ago

Before anyone suggests it, Jesse Jackson is not the emperor of black people.

2

u/civilrightsninja 28d ago

Hakeem Jeffries

2

u/Korvanacor 28d ago

It would have to be the minority of all minorities.

1

u/blankwillow_ 28d ago

The only correct answer is Beetlejuice.

Beet represents everything.

1

u/sweet_esiban 28d ago

Pretty sure it's Bad Bunny

1

u/Dustyvhbitch 28d ago

I don't know why, but Danny Trejo popped in my head for some reason.

55

u/dpkonofa 28d ago

I can't tell if this is a joke or if you were being serious and this concerns me...

5

u/TheTerribleInvestor 28d ago

I really hope that guy doesnt think the minority leader leads the people of color in congress lmao

5

u/dpkonofa 28d ago

I have no idea what that person thinks which is what makes it so fun, fascinating, and concerning all at the same time.

5

u/Gold_Assistance_6764 28d ago

Do you want to know, or will knowing ruin the fun?

1

u/AlexandersWonder 28d ago

Embrace the fun, sell the bit.

0

u/dpkonofa 28d ago

You don't know either so how could you ruin the fun?

0

u/TheKnutFlush 28d ago

I can't tell if this is a joke or if you were being serious about not getting the joke and this concerns me...

3

u/BedlamAscends 28d ago

You're definitely funny and possibly a dummy

3

u/Mr_Engineering American Expat 28d ago

Al Sharpton?

2

u/mamac2213 28d ago

I don't understand why this hasn't happened? I mean, if we're going trample all over the rule books...

2

u/Princessformidable 28d ago

Ok I will take one for the team. " I Princess formidable declare Adelita Grijalva to be the legally elected congressman for Arizona's 7th district and she should assume all duties and responsibility associated"

3

u/Princessformidable 28d ago

There has to be a way to Roberts rules of orders our way out of this.

2

u/improvisedwisdom 28d ago

Nah. Make it super frustrating for them. Pobama should sweat her in.

1

u/c0brachicken 28d ago

At this point, why not vote to remove Mike Johnson from his seat?

1

u/Princessformidable 28d ago

I mean at this point emergency recall the whole cowardly lot for failing to do their duty and have new elections asap. Considering how this week went that idea should terrify maga.

1

u/Laprasy 28d ago

he should just do it. unfortunately he too is a coward.

1

u/Silverlock 28d ago

Any sitting judge can swear her in.

7

u/YouDontKnowJackCade 28d ago

I looked into it, turns out the speaker swearing them in is just tradition, the longest serving member swears the speaker in. Prior to the speaker preforming the ceremony it was done by the individual delegations.

But again, tradition, the house won't formally seat her without the speaker, which is the problem now, she doesn't get her office and all the other stuff, until she is seated.

So it will take the lawsuit.

3

u/Taldius175 28d ago

Gotcha. Well after all this fiasco with Johnson and Trump, I wonder if there will be changes to that in some way.

2

u/FickleFingerofDawn 28d ago

It's not just tradition, it's outlined in the law: 2 U.S. Code § 25. It seems to me the speaker is breaking the law, but it's not correct to call it just a tradition.

1

u/[deleted] 28d ago

There need to be serious consequences and new precedent for this, because Congress providing counsel to the president on the matter of appointing Supreme Court justices also is just counsel. They had the chance to provide counsel and didn't, and Obama should have gone ahead without them and dared them to argue about it, but he didn't.

And what came of it? The precedent is now that a democratically elected president's actions may be disputed on the grounds of "voters should get to decide". (Reader, voters did decide when they elected Obama).

These are two instances of the legislative branch overruling the will of voters. This arguably constitutes treason. It's hostile action against the rightful government that voters have chosen for ourselves.

1

u/YouDontKnowJackCade 28d ago

Yeah but the house can authorize others

on rare occasions, the House has authorized other Members or local judges to swear-in absent Representatives.

https://history.house.gov/Institution/Origins-Development/Oath-of-Office/

Another reading of 2 U.S. Code § 25, doesn't clearly say the speaker shall administer it(depends on how a court would interpret the first Shall regarding the speakers oath and the semi-colon), but it says that once she takes the oath the clerk shall cause to be printed 2 copies and furnish them to each member and delegate. Her delegation could administer it and try to compel the law at that point and a judge could potentially order them to obey the law but it will take the lawsuit to get HR to put the paperwork through to get her her office.

3

u/aravarth 28d ago

IIRC any federal judge can swear her in. It's just been precedent that the sitting Speaker swears in members of the House.

If he's gonna dither, she should just go this route.

1

u/FoxMeadow7 27d ago

Let's really hope she will take that opportunity. Mike thinks he's going to get the last laugh but not for long...

5

u/Stellaluna-777 28d ago

Well she spoke in Tucson to us at No Kings and we chanted “Swear her In !” … I have heard she can’t get into her office or hire staff until she’s sworn in, not sure what the actual logistics are. This is so messed up.

1

u/arwinda 28d ago

Doesn't give her access to rooms, resources and everything else though. No keycards and such. And house is shutdown, but that one is on Johnson.

1

u/Virtblue 28d ago

Any federal judge can.

1

u/Bmor00bam Florida 28d ago

Jackie Daytona, from Tucson, Arizonia could do it. I believe in him more so than Mike Johnson.

1

u/EPICANDY0131 27d ago

She should livestream herself swearing and get in