Well, things are heating up in Trump/MAGA world. Friday is looming and everyone is wondering what the hell will happen when the House convenes. Will Mike Johnson retain the Speaker’s gavel or be cast aside? And if Johnson is toast who will be Speaker? Until that’s resolved the House can’t do anything, other than meet to debate and vote on who will be Speaker. Trump’s problem is that Monday is January 6, the date set in the Constitution and the Electoral Vote Act for counting and certifying the Electoral Votes. No House Speaker means no Joint Session of Congress on the 6th to count and certify the Electoral Votes! Naturally Trump wants this at least (counting the Electoral Votes) to be a smooth process. So for the moment at least he’s “all-in” on Moses Mikey Johnson and wants the GOP to hand him the gavel Friday.
Elon Musk appeared to be on board ‘100 percent’, at least for a little while as this short article from Raw Story tells us. Make no mistake, Johnson is on Trump’s shiite list for failing to secure an increase in the debt limit. Which means doing so will have to be done with the GOP in control of both chambers of Congress next year. And HE will have to sign whatever agreement has been reached into law. Trump isn’t smart but he knows how thin the House majority will be and that there won’t be enough GOP votes to get it done. That means negotiating with Democrats and giving them things he doesn’t want to give. All because Johnson couldn’t get fellow Republicans to go along with an increase before the current Congress adjourned. Basically, Johnson’s Speakership is a proverbial dead man walking.
For now however Trump needs Johnson because there’s no apparent alternative that can be voted in as Speaker before Monday. Between McCarthy’s initial selection, and the debacle that ensued in trying to replace him it’s clear that a single weekend won’t be enough time to get a replacement. Democrats are going to sit on their hands and force the GOP to clean up their own mess! As this old year comes to a close and the new one begins things are NOT turning out to be what Trump wanted.
I think he kind of liked the idea of a bit of a food fight Friday. Just a small one but he probably had plans to swoop in and ‘save the day’ somehow. He, with Elon along for the ride could ride in as the triumphant leaders who would be covered in glory. It’s not hard to imagine Trump having some private meetings with holdouts, then waddling his fat orange ass onto the floor of the House and DEMANDING in the name of MAGA that Johnson retain the Gavel. My oh my what a sight that would have been. However, as the linked article states Republican Thomas Massie is saying no freaking way. First there was the endorsement and Johnson’s ‘thank you’ on Xsitter:
In a post on the X social media platform, Johnson thanked President-elect Donald Trump for his “Complete & Total endorsement.”
“Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN,” Trump wrote in support of Johnson.
As I said, at that point even Musk was on board, saying he felt the same way and agreed with Trump – offering his full support. Well, that didn’t last long. Less than an hour as it turned out. As I’ve noted Massie made it clear where he stands:
But less than an hour later, the billionaire changed his tune when Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said he would not support Johnson despite Trump’s endorsement.
Massie argued Trump’s “endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan.”
“You might be right, but let’s see how it goes,” Musk agreed
The Muskrat gaveth and then tooketh away. Trump is likely beside himself tonight! I wrote recently I was sure Johnson would be re-elected as Speaker if for no other reason than to prevent a delay in the certification of the Electoral Votes on Monday. Now I’m not so sure. “Cluster F**k” might turn out to be a completely inadequate word for what might be in store. Massie likely isn’t the only one in the GOP caucus who won’t vote for Johnson, even though there’s no alternative at this point. Oh, there’s enough time between Monday and Inauguration Day for the GOP to sort it out and pick a Speaker. But it will be one ugly display from the GOP.
If that’s not bad enough for Trump, there’s the upcoming HONORING of the life of Jimmy Carter. Knowing Trump, who knew Carter’s own days were numbered he was probably imagining ways as President he could sh*t all over Carter’s official send-off. Well, Joe Biden is still President and all Trump can do is make derogatory statements. And look even worse in the eyes of every non-MAGA in the country (and I suspect even some of them) and every country around the world. Even dictators like Pootie know and observe the international courtesies of something like the death of an American President.
I can easily imagine Trump getting his short food fight on Friday and “settling” things, then stomping around the Capitol issuing orders to everyone about setting up the Rotunda and other spaces for his Inauguration. Well, that ain’t gonna happen because instead everyone is going to be setting up for former President Carter to, as is traditional, lay in State in the Rotunda. And there will be some ceremonies to be held. THAT will have to take precedence over Trump’s plans and he’s gonna be mightily pissed. All he can do is go out front and scream at the worker erecting the platform for his swearing in – to be followed by his ‘American Carnage II’ speech. And Musk? He can do even less than Trump. Sure, he can marshal Xsitter to trash Carter but will look as petty as Trump. And cause even more people (like me for instance) to check out and maybe create an account on BlueSky. It seems like it might become an actual viable competitor.
How will it all play out? I no longer have a clue. But stay tuned folks because we might see the very best (honoring Carter) and worst (Trump being Trump) play out simultaneously.
Jimmy Carter will be lying in state in the Rotunda THE SAME DAY as Congress is supposed to be counting the electoral votes. Oh. My.
I think that’s scheduled for the 7th through the 9th with the service at National Cathedral on the 10th. After which Jimmy will make his final trip, back to Plains for a private burial service. Still, Trump and plenty of GOPers who worship him will be distraught at so much of the Capitol being tied up preparing for the arrival of Carter. Lot’s of space off the Rotunda will have to be allocated for VIPs, and of course practice runs for the honor guard that will bear his casket as well as the remarks from various leaders. I rather doubt Trumpty will be invited to attend, much less speak! It WILL put Johnson (or whomever) in quite the spot because the Speaker controls the physical plant of what we know as the U.S. Capitol. Trump will want what’s allowed to honor Carter limited. He was FURIOUS over the respects allowed for McCain. Now, he’s got Jimmy Carter “intruding” on his second “coronation.” Those four days in DC, with world leaders and delegations gathering to honor Carter and the nonsense of Trump and his incoming administration will make for a stark contrast.
I don’t know if Jimmy will be laughing but Roslyn certainly will be. That was a righteous lady,,the polar opposite if Melanoma,someone who wore the same dress to Carter’,s presidential inaugural ball as she did to when he was,sworn in as governor. She didn’t need haute coutureclothez. She married a man she loved, and lived through his naval career in the submarine corps. Melanie married a rich #%@%%# for his money, can barely stand to have him touch her gloved hand,,and is realizing she may not get much compensation for enduring his hamster paws on her body, as his financial worth hits bottom.