I have a thought, Hakeem Jeffries.

Then explain Trump?

“If you’re not first you’re last.” - Ricky Bobby

In the running:

Kevin Hern (R-OK): Republican Study Comittee chair

Austin Scott (R-GA)

Jack Bergman (R-MI): Former USMC Lt. General

Tom Emmer (R-MN): Majority Whip; endorsed by McCarthy

Byron Donalds (R-FL): Freedom Caucus member

Putting out feelers:

Mark Green (R-TN): Homeland Security chair, Freedom Caucus member

Jodey Arrington (R-TX): Budget chair

Mike Johnson (R-LA): vice conference chair

Pete Sessions (R-TX)

Honestly, a randomly chosen speaker on a short term rotating basis would be preferable to this crap.

They'll definitely be looking for that, when it time to pick their presidential nominee.

Too bad all the churches who need someone with this particular skill set don't have any openings available

McCarthy got there after 14 votes, but the odds of repeating that situation is basically zero now that it is clear the most extreme Republicans will make any in party nominee fail. McCarthy only got in by giving a nut job a dead man's switch.

They can not appease the zealots and the zealots already showed that they will abuse any leverage they get. They also burned all the bridges with Dems so there will be no bipartisan compromise unless it it is Republicans voting for Jeffries or abstaining, and that won't happen because Republicans punish anyone who compromises.