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Sohn: Pam’s Points, politics, government regs and guns become our too-constant conversations

House Majority Leader of Kevin McCarthy of California walks out of nomination vote meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, after dropping out of the race to replace House Speaker John Boehner.
House Majority Leader of Kevin McCarthy of California walks out of nomination vote meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, after dropping out of the race to replace House Speaker John Boehner. House Majority Leader of Kevin McCarthy of California walks out of nomination vote meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, after dropping out of the race to replace House Speaker John Boehner.

By Pam Sohn 5 min read

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McCarthy abruptly withdraws candidacy for House speaker

McCarthy undone by extremists

Where, oh, where, is a new Howard Baker – the architect of compromise GOP governing – when we need him?

Rep. Kevin McCarthy shocked America (or at least Republicans) Thursday when he abruptly took himself out of the race to succeed John A. Boehner as House speaker.

McCarthy apparently was undone by the same forces that drove Boehner to resign – a group of about 40 hard-line conservatives who announced they would support Rep. Daniel Webster of Florida. Their choice made it unlikely McCarthy could gain the 218 votes he would need to be elected.