Well, Moses Mikey Johnson managed to (with Trump’s help) part the House GOP Red Sea but couldn’t quite make it across to the “Promised Land” of the Speaker’s Rostrum and with it the Gavel. The first vote is in the books and three Republicans refused the marching orders from Trump to go along with the plan. Right now it remains to be seen whether there will be another vote today. I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise the House kicked off in ‘cluster f**k’ mode but I think it will be quickly resolved. There simply isn’t an alternative to Johnson, at least at the moment. Still, before the hiccup with Johnson there WAS some welcome news. Bratty Matty Gaetz sent a letter informing all that despite some threats to do so he wouldn’t show up and try to claim the seat he’d been elected to – and resigned from to boost his chances of being Trump’s AG. The funny part is that a considerable amount of applause broke out when the clerk read the statement that Gaetz wouldn’t be joining them today!
It was a dubious proposition to begin with as his resignation had been accepted and the official procedure for replacing him was underway. At best doing a ‘takeback’ of his resignation would have been problematic. Even if the bulk of the GOP wanted him back (and they didn’t – he was the Ted Cruz of the House, hated even by his own Party) it wouldn’t have been just Democrats that raised all sorts of procedural questions. So let’s take an objective look at Gaetz’s situation. He’s rich because his daddy was rich. He never needed his Congressional salary (seems like a lot to most of us but not if you have to maintain two homes – with one in DC) and perks. It was all about media exposure for him. Feeding his ego. He hasn’t yet gotten a major league media gig yet but he’s likely making more from the one he’s now in than as a Congress Critter. If he does well in ‘Triple A’ of RWNJ media a call from the major leagues, as in Fox News will be a coming down the road.
For all that one can be pretty certain Gaetz has been experiencing more than a little butt-hurt lately. Hence, especially with the drama about Johnson retaining the Speakership Gaetz could show his ass again and be a major focus of attention by demanding to be seated today. He was after all elected. But that resignation wasn’t like how most people do things, as in hanging on until confirmed for their position in a new administration. Nope, it was FINAL. We know why of course. As a FORMER member of the House the Ethics Committee no longer held any jurisdiction over him. Ergo they wouldn’t release that damning report. Except there have been a handful of incidents in the past where Ethics Reports on FORMER Congress Critters have been released. As you know Bratty Matty’s gambit failed. He still had to withdraw as AG nominee, and the report was in fact made public. It’s easy to see why he’d have given serious consideration to showing up today to piss in the soup!
Whether his colleagues would have seated him is another matter. Many, perhaps even a strong majority of Republicans might have said no effing way. Now, as HuffPost tells us that’s more than mere speculation on my part:
“The clerk is in receipt of a letter from the honorable Matt Gaetz of the state of Florida indicating that he will not serve in the House in the 119th Congress,” the clerk said.
Some members on both sides of the room, many of whom loathe Gaetz, applauded the news.
LOL! Round of applause when it's announced that Matt Gaetz won't serve in this Congress pic.twitter.com/wwMEdq0kLa
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 3, 2025
Yeah, some of you might be upset I included a Xsitter post but the applause after the announcement came across much better than the C-SPAN clip. So deal with it. It’s clear even Republicans have no love for Gaetz. Contempt, if not outright hatred (from a lot of them) is more accurate and this proves it. One has to wonder if Gaetz got word that even Republicans wouldn’t allow him to be seated, hence his letter.
As I’ve been writing this it appears before the official tally of votes for Speaker was published by the clerk things changed. The GOP, at least some of them met and no doubt got a major blast from Trump. Two of them changed their votes giving Johnson the 218 he needed. The one vote for Emmer is still part of the record but just as I figured Trump wants smooth sailing, at least through Monday and the Joint Session to count and certify the Electoral Votes. That can now take place. It will be interesting to learn what transpired in the last hour to convince the two GOPers who switched their votes to do so.
However, before all THAT drama kicked off we had the matter that prompted me to write this. I figure everyone deserves to enjoy some fun at Bratty Matty Gaetz’s expense. You’re welcome by the way.
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Gaetz,will.run for Governor. cesarean can’t run for a third term without a term in between.
Lived in Pensacola, met my husband the sailor there. And, yes, the area is just dumb enough to elect him.to.the House again, if he doesn’t run for governor .