The signs are subtle but persistent:  Nearly a week after being ousted as the Republican leader in the House, deposed Speaker Kevin McCarthy is holding onto symbols of his old office, perhaps believing that the GOP conference will reinstall him as the Party descends into chaos.

Per Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News, McCarthy isn’t ruling out re-assuming the post, reiterating his claim that 95% of the caucus supports him and his reappointment to the position is “a decision for the conference.” Additionally, McCarthy has yet to surrender the “SpeakerMcCarthy” nee-Twitter account.

“Look, whatever the conference wants, I will do. I think we need to be strong. I think we need to be united. The eight, in my view, don’t look to be– it was a personal thing,” McCarthy said doing a press briefing like he was still Speaker.  “It wasn’t about where we were going. Think for one moment. If you take some of their comments of why they did this, because I kept the government open? Could you imagine? They’re the ones that stopped appropriations bills from going forward. They’re the ones who voted against a continuing resolution that secured our border and cut spending. They’re the ones who wanted a government shutdown. We wouldn’t be paying our troops while we’re putting out a carrier strike fighter there, a 30,000 American men and women in our armed services in the Middle East wouldn’t be being paid right now? I mean, what weakness would we be at?”

“If this conference, regardless of who’s going to be Speaker, if it allows a few individuals that love a camera more than they love the American public, we’re not going to govern,” McCarthy added later, unable to realize Republicans haven’t government in the past quarter century; they’ve attempted to rule over the American people.