There are two schools of thought as to whether Moses Mikey is still going to be holding the gavel this time next week after the House convenes on January 3 to elect a Speaker. I am of the opinion that Mike Johnson is toast. And when you see what Donald Trump posted about him on Sunday afternoon, you too may become persuaded that Johnson is being set up as a scapegoat. And he will be the first of many. The gameplan you will see in the following Trump administration is: distract, blame, scapegoat, destroy, avoid accountability. Rinse and repeat. Mark it well, because here’s the opening volley.
This is the most obvious indication that Mike Johnson’s speakership is hanging on a thread at this point. We might just be looking at a possible McCarthy’s speakership election 2.0. Let’s see if Democrats come to his aid!
— Evaristus Odinikaeze (@odinikaeze) December 29, 2024
Trump’s tweet ends, “They should be blamed for this potential disaster, not the Republicans.” Two things are glaringly obvious: 1. The CR has already passed. It did not contain the elimination of the debt ceiling which Trump demanded — at the behest of Elon Musk. 2. It is a flat out impossibility for a vote to be taken on this now.
Now I suppose that this is Trump telegraphing to Mike Johnson “find a way” to do the impossible. And theoretically I suppose some kind of a bill could be put together immediately and passed in the last two weeks of Biden’s administration but I would not bet the farm on it.
It does go to illustrate a few key issues, however, which is that even though Mike Johnson has done Trump’s bidding, Trump still wants a bigger pound of flesh than Johnson can deliver. And that may mean that Johnson is out.
Then who would be the Speaker? Would Kevin McCarthy be called back? I wouldn’t lay great odds on that, either. Would Elon Musk become Speaker? As crazy as things are, I don’t think that they are yet that crazy. Musk’s situation has changed just this past week and he’s on the outs with MAGA. So unless Trump wants to exacerbate the MAGA civil war, I don’t think he’s going to be pushing for it.
Who then? You know all the likely candidates, Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, etc. It may be Scalise’s time to shine in the sun. Hey, maybe Matt Gaetz could come back as Speaker, ya spose? You know who I would pick but it won’t happen, and that is Liz Cheney.
And I know what you’re thinking, if they don’t have a Speaker on January 3, will they be able to certify the election on January 6? Trump knows this, too, so I don’t know why he’s making these kinds of waves on the 29th of December, when there is literally one business day left in the year and then everybody starts partying. House members return to Washington on January 2 and business begins January 3.
I don’t think Mike Johnson will be partying. I think he’ll be panicking and then he’ll be packing. The signs have been too numerous recently that Trump needs to have a sacrificial lamb and it looks like he’s it.
No worries mate, as the Aussies say. Since you have God on a string…just get your thoughts and prayers together, and you should be fine. If it’s the remedy for grieving families, when their six year olds are unrecognizable from high powered bullets, well…I’m certain the Almighty wouldn’t leave you twisting in the wind. By the way…just in case…get your resume together mikey.
as if Biden wouldn’t veto a separate bill to raise the debt ceiling now
I thought the 118th Congress had adjourned but apparently not. No date of adjournment has been listed for the second session so in theory the House could try to pass a debt ceiling increase in the next few days. Or even work through the New Year’s holiday. However the Senate would also have to pass it. Since we still control the Senate I don’t see that happening but who knows? For shits and giggles let’s say some Democrats don’t make it back to DC and every GOPer does. No matter.
Here’s the best part though. President Biden doesn’t even have to formally veto it! He can literally stick it in a drawer, or flush the thing down the toilet using the “pocket veto” as set forth in the Constitution. If a President doesn’t sign a bill within ten days of it being presented for signature or veto it becomes law. However, in the last ten days of a session of Congress the President can simply take no action and the bill does NOT become law. The current Congress will HAVE to adjourn before Jan. 3, well less than ten days from NOW.
In other words, if the debt ceiling is going to get increased it’s going to happen on TRUMP’S watch. Which will piss off a lot of conservatives. I suppose in the new Congress they could try to ram something through but Chuck Schumer can slow things down on the Senate side. And in both the House and Senate are enough hard core fiscal conservatives to tank any debt increase. No Democratic votes means no legislation to send to Biden prior to Trump being sworn in. I’m quite certain that unless the Democrats score some major wins they will dump the whole thing in the GOP’s lap.
Grampa Chucky ain’t that smart. he’s past his “best by” date. we MUST get new younger leadership!