Believe me, I’ve thought about this long and hard. When it comes to politics, the rule is simple, If you’re in control, then stay in control. But politics is not absolute, and sometimes circumstances override platitudes.
As you all know, my fondest wish for the 2022 midterms was for the Senate to hold, and possibly expand the majority, and is a realistic possibility. I had also hoped that the Democrats could buck the odds, which I found possible, and have a governable majority in the House. Which would have been problematic. Because Speaker Pelosi’s 2018 npower sharing agreement limited her to 2 terms as Speaker before turning over the gavel. Which would lead to the kind of Godsmack mosh pit for upper level power that Kevin McCarthy is about to go through.
Believe it or not, this was the best possible outcome. The American voters outright rejected the concept of Trumpism, and authoritarian rule. Because of the economy, they gave the GOP a 2 year short leash to show what they could do. And that is pennies from Heaven for the Democrats going into 2024.
Mainly because the GOP is totally incapable of ruling in the majority. They have no plans, they have no agenda, they have only culture wars and petty grievances to promulgate. And if the American people made one thing crystal clear in the midterms, they’re sick of political bullshit, and they want results to move the country forward.
And sadly, political bullshit is the only stock in trade that the GOP has to offer them. But as I wrote, whomever the newly elected GOP Speaker of the House is, he or she has a caucus that is incapable of governing. The current tilt of the House GOP majority is endless investigations into Hunter Biden’s laptop, and attempted impeachments of Mayorkas, Blinken, and President Biden for no realistic reason at all. None of which will move the country forward. And the 20-25 moderate House GOP members matter.
The Democrats can afford to let the McCarthy led GOP led caucus chase their tails around useless show investigations and witch hunts. That isn’t what the people want, and it can only crucify them going into 2024. And even more importantly, the Democrats kept stoppers. They held the majority in the US Senate, which they can pass progressive legislation, and pass it on to the House. McCarthy will likely let it die without protests from most while the moderate GOP caucus revolts. Which allows the Democrats to prove the GOP’s inability to govern.
Take my word for it. A 218-217 Democratic majority would have been hard pressed to pass anything substantive. A narrow GOP majority allows them all the room in the world to fuck it up, and show that they are incapable of governing, Meanwhile, the Democratic led Senate can pass popular bills for the McCarthy led House to reject. And Trumpenstein is looming on the GOP horizon. Tick-Tock.
mtg has been lurking in the winds ‘cuz qevin promised her a Chairmanship….I don’t know how that’ll happen considering othet members who have senority.
*other
[my fingers are fat😉]
the house likes seniority. crazy people jumping the line is not going to go over well.
Unless, and this is just conjecture, they want to please the trumpy’s. Joe, you say trumpism was rejected but not, I think, at the congressional district level necessarily. Yes, I know gerrymandering is one part of that but there are some rabid magats in congress after this election–they weren’t washed out in this election. So, the magats are still out there and at the moment are seething. McCarthy and the rest of the ‘pube H.O.R. leadership might want to throw some bones. A MTG chairmanship would be a bone that might satisfy some of those magats-maybe enough to not have to throw more.
Sweet Jesus, Spike…YES IT WAS REJECTED! The only reason it happened at the House level was because of gerrymandering and phony polls. And even THEN, they couldn’t manage more than a slim majority that will be anything but unified. The Senate and state races were the bigger prizes and that failed miserably. So this is morons not wanting to admit they were wrong while the rest of us want to get back to living.
I don’t think the Senate will pass anything either. mcturtle will still be in control of his caucus. the day no to everything. on the sunnier side, Biden s court picks will sail through. maybe even a supreme court pick if a justice resigns
I question McConnell’s control at this point. You should too.
He won reelection as minority leader by just about a two-to-one margin. Of course, the third that rejected him (and favored Rick Scott, for God’a sake) is pretty hard core. But he’s a wily old bird.
Meanwhile, the R’s will waste millions of taxpayer dollars (Benghazi, Her Emails) on a circus of bogus investigations and hearings. They talk about impeaching Biden. For what? I hope the media has learned NOT to amplify their bullshit but I doubt it.
You know what I call all that? Future political ad fodder.
It was my thought from the start. The so called news media kept running their mouths till the democrats lost. Had nothing to do with any policy matters. It was the old party in power loses. And the silly ass Democrats let it happen. Can’t cry over spilled milk. And you are right on all of the above. The gop in the house will be a total asinine joke by investigating anything that stands still to long. What I see though is what you alluded to. Their will be a small contingent of gop people that got elected to write legislation. If between the democrats and Biden and this outside group they might actually get some things done. What the clowns on the right doesn’t get. Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time. Republicans mostly barely able to conquer one of those at a time. I maybe wrong, but I don’t think all is lost yet. We will see as it goes on. Republicans do eat their young already. We have already seen Matt Gates and Marg green mixing it up. Like you said, impossible fo these morons to work together.
“whomever the newly elected GOP Speaker of the House is … ”
WHOEVER, not whomever.
“Whomever” is when it’s a direct or indirect object, and if you don’t know what that is — don’t mess with it.