I get why Democrats fought prior motions to adjourn. I really do. I also get, especially as someone who knows a thing or two about National Security that it’s not good that House Members haven’t been getting read in on stuff they need to be up to speed on. That’s dangerous to be sure. Yet what about longer term dangers a House governed by Republicans and the rules/people that will be able to hold defense hostage just like they intend to hold everything else?
McCarthy was whipped less than a half-hour ago. Those images of him dejected, and the discussion about a GOPer having to be restrained from assaulting Gaetz would have been the story all weekend. The Drumbeat for McCarthy to give it up, and for the GOP to spend the weekend finding someone acceptable to Democrats. A Hard-core conservative to be sure, but someone who wouldn’t push that rules package which people aren’t nearly as concerned about as they should be.
Again, after Members get sworn in the first thing is that rules package. And it’s a true horror show. The Committee assignments that have been negotiated for the crazies is no better. So now there’s two things:
First is that rules package. Word has filtered out that some in the GOP are unhappy with it and may, MAY vote no. Especially those in swing districts. If that’s what Democrats are counting on I sure as hell hope that they can trust Republican colleagues telling them that. I for one don’t.
But even being optimistic and seeing that McCarthy/Krazy Kaucus rules package go down in flames doesn’t solve the other problem. If you think Gym Jordan as Chair of Judiciary is an awful thing to contemplate you ain’t seen nothing yet! Oh hell no! McCarthy will still almost certainly have to make other Committee assignments to placate the crazies who will still have tremendous influence. MAGA will be hounding the semi-sane ones. Threats of being primaried and all that.
Think of the ugliest, nastiest most awful thing you’ve ever seen. And then imagine something far worse.
By allowing an adjournment until Monday the GOP would have been forced to find a way, with someone other than McCarthy to sideline Gaetz and his gang. I hope Democrats didn’t blow it by getting too caught up in the spectacle in the House Chamber itself. Because a helluva lot of discussion would have gone on in the country over the weekend, including the Sunday shows and NONE of it would have been kind to McCarthy, the Crazy Caucus and the GOP.
I’m afraid our side blew it tonight.
Nah. The Rethuglicans wanted to adjourn and would have if the never Kevin contingent hadn’t relented. Dems aren’t driving this car.
one battle at a time. the McCarthy vote was inevitable. when the first 13 caved it was just a matter of time. rules will be the next battle and maybe some good will from moderate republicans will benefit. but who knows, we are living in interesting times.
We’ll see. So far only Gonales has said he’s a firm no on the rules package and that was before some of the additions that McCarthy caved in and granted to get over the line tonight. Listening to the commentary there’s a question of whether there are enough “moderates” that will join him and say no. There’s been enough time that others could have spoken up. Maybe, even though it’s late in the east and midwest they don’t want to step on their “unity” moment with McCarthy being handed the gavel by Pelosi. Over the weekend as more pundits and more importantly GOP donors from Wall Street start calling (Wall Street types and damned near any CEO not named Koch won’t like the uncertainty that will ensue) more might speak up. As I said, we’ll see. From where I sit the problem is that any given GOPer will like some, and perhaps enough of those new rules to roll over. And the new folks from those swing districts they were lucky to win won’t have the stones to stand up to the crazies.
Even if they did it would only result in lost elections in ’24 much like what happened to Cheney and the others who stood up to the crazies leader former guy.
Jeffries gave a good speech. pelosi left the caucus in good hands.
Yes because speeches are so important.
Sorry dude, nothing good will come from this session of congress and a great deal of harm to individuals, the government, and our country is on its way. People like gaetz, jordan and the rest are idiots perfectly satisfied with allowing our nation and economy to tank, allow the nation to descend into a depression in fact, all to perform political theater. The fact there is a ‘pube majority indicates the citizens of this nation are into believing the fairy tales about end times and not into fixing what is wrong with our country and planet. Newsflash: it’s better here than it is in about 2/3’s of the world (yes, only 2/3’s) and there is no planet B and won’t be due to the anti science, facts, etc. which will keep us from ever finding one before we destroy our species.
But yeah, Hakeem gave a good speech. That will mean much later in the year when we default on our financial obligations, can no longer afford to fund anything and no longer trusted enough to get loans from other governments. Well, let’s hope he has another one ready for when everything goes to shit and the ‘pubes are making hay out of it because you know they are very good at fucking things up extremely well and making their constituents think the other side did it.
I admire your ability to see the lemonade in this whole situation.
I very much doubt the GOP will be able to retain a majority in the House for the duration of this year let alone the full 2-year term.
The Dems have been playing this note-perfect from jump. And a weekend is a long enough time for the GOP infighting to get WAY worse.
IF others join Gonzales in opposing the rules package AND go on the record about it over the weekend I’ll be more hopeful. But even in the light of a new day I see McCarthy sitting there dejected, and pundits going back to the incident where someone was restrained from going after Gaetz. That would have been the story all weekend long even on Fox (which would have tried to spin it differently probably but they might have piled on too – Wall Street isn’t happy about the problems coming from this GOP controlled House) and Monday morning would have been at best a bewildered one from any GOPer willing to go on camera and more likely a grim front put forth. Maybe even the beginning of the long overdue reckoning the GOP needs to have with itself.
Instead a dejected McCarthy and a House GOP caucus that was truly in disarray and wondering where the hell do we go from here got a shot of epinephrine to the heart. If only for a couple of days they can project unity. They were gushing blood and suddenly the gaping wound was stapled shut. And they have the whole weekend to regroup and project a unified front.
I agree that Democrats had played things pitch perfect but they could see in a way we couldn’t what was going on there on the floor – McCarthy sitting there in utter ruin wondering what the fuck else he could do. Angry conversations taking place that because journalists got to control the C-SPAN cameras instead of the normal fixed shots (which I think Dems forget about) playing it out live. I just can’t help but wonder if a weekend full of those images and news coverage of it wasn’t a priceless opportunity lost. The GOP was down on the floor, writhing in pain and unsure of how to, or even wanting to try and get up. I think instead of giving them a chance to get up off the floor we should have kicked them when they were down and let them suffer over the weekend. Instead, like a boxer or sports team that has an opponent beaten Democrats got caught up in the moment and decided to rub it in some more. And that it was a mistake to do so.
Either way the rules package would be a topic of discussion this weekend. We had a chance to make our case, to criticize it from a position of strength while the GOP was dealing with those images of a dejected McCarthy and actual attempting fighting on the floor. That would have strengthened the case for those that might have been thinking about how dangerous that rules package could be to grow a spine and come out against it. THAT would have changed the dynamic by noon on Monday. Now? I’m far from convinced a group of even a half-dozen GOPers will object to the rules package much less the far larger number that might have. (And should)
fwiw once the GOP decided to not adjourn they could have all come back and switched their votes so it was better to just get it over with.
Two years AFTER the worst crime ever in our government, the DOJ has allowed the insiders to run the house. I’m sure we’ll all be just ducky. By the way the lemonade has 147 spoonfuls of shit in it. Drink it if you like the taste of sedition. Cue up the arrogant spin masters.