A JANUARY 6 CONSPIRATOR FOR SPEAKER?

Yesterday, Trump endorsed Jungle Gym Jordan (R-Van Heusen) to be Speaker of the House of Representatives.

There is important history to Trump’s endorsement.

Five days after Trump incited the insurrection and assault k on the U.S. Capitol, which was followed within hours that night by the attempt of 137 Republican lawmakers to overturn the lawful vote for Joe Biden in the Electoral College for the 2020 presidential election—Trump awarded Jordan the Medal of Freedom with no real explanation of why Jordan deserved the highest award that can be given to an American citizen. All other awards of this medal include a long explanation of what the person being honored did to be so honored.

"The Presidential Medal of Freedom, established by President John F. Kennedy, is meant to recognize those who have made an 'especially meritorious contribution' to national security, world peace or 'cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.'”

It’s important when considering those facts to remember that on January 6, 2021, in the midst of the assault on the capitol by Trump’s insurrectionist army, Liz Cheney told Jordan to get away from her because “You fucking did this!”

At almost the same time Trump endorsed the chief congressional cheerleader of the insurrection, Cheney explained he act on January 6 in more detail in a speech at the University of Minnesota:

“Jim Jordan knew more about what Donald Trump had planned for January 6 than any other member of the House of Representatives. Jim Jordan was involved, was part of the conspiracy in which Donald Trump was engaged as he attempted to overturn the election…. There was a handful of people, of which he was the leader, who knew what Donald Trump had planned. Now somebody needs to ask Jim Jordan, ‘Why didn’t you report to the Capitol Police what you knew Donald Trump had planned? You were in those meetings at the White House. If the Republicans decide that Jim Jordan should be the Speaker of the House…there would no longer be any possible way to argue that a group of elected Republicans could be counted on to defend the Constitution.”

In the months and weeks leading up to the 2020 election, Jordan regularly posted on social media and appeared on Fox warning Democrats would “rig” and “steal” the election. Two days after the election, he spoke at the first “Stop the Steal” rally in Pennsylvania. In the weeks between then and January 6, Jordan appeared many times on Fox and Newsmax, making outlandish false claims like “6,000 votes in Michigan went for Biden but they were actually supposed to go for President Trump.” He also said similar things about Georgia.

Prior to January 6, Jordan met with the Trump legal team to strategize on contesting the election. The morning ogf January 6, just before the assault on the Capitol started, Jordan objected to the certification of Arizona’s votes on the House floor. After the rioters broke into the House chamber and Jordan was hiding with other lawmakers, staff, and journalists, his official House account posted, “Stop the violence. Support Capitol Police.”

Jordan, now Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, refused to respond to a subpoena issued by the January 6 Committee that Cheney was a leader of, to answer questions about his role in the insurrection and what else he knew about the planning of the act of treason.

If Jordan does become Speaker, things will get worse.

Jordan has already promised the pro-Putin traitors in the House Republican Caucus that if he is elected Speaker, he will not bring to the floor for a vote the Administration’s request for additional funds to support Ukraine in its struggle with the fascist dictator in Moscow.

He has promised to de-fund the Special Counsel’s investigation into the treason of Donald Trump.

While things would get worse, Jordan would be a disaster as speaker. Yes, he’d be a disaster for the country, which is bad, but I don’t think he could really do that much damage, while Democrats hold the Senate and Biden is in the White House.

The real disaster would be for the Republican Party. I’m not cheering this outcome, but there are certainly some big, bright silver linings.

Speakers traditionally work their way up in the caucus, slowly building relationships, doing favors, raising money. Jordan never really did that. Of the possible candidates, he raised the least money for the party; Scalise raised more last year than Jordan has in the past ten years. His real calling card is as a right-wing media star who became memorable and notable for his obnoxious sneer, his wild rhetoric and charges, his coat-less appearance in Congress. Unlike McCarthy, who tried to do something for everyone, Jordan hasn’t bothered to build relationships beyond those who have been useful to him. Politics is a business of friends and he’s in the business of acquaintances.

Equally important, Jordan has zero relationships with Democrats. McCarthy didn’t have many either, but that just proves my point. Had he bothered to build some friendships across the aisle, a handful of Democrats would have voted “present,”and he’d still be Speaker. There are times when the Speaker has to cut a deal with the Minority Leader. Such a thing would be impossible for Jordan, with the result that if he rises to the speakership the only question of when the next fatal crisis for the speaker happens is how soon.

Then there’s the fact he has no relationship with Mitch McConnell. As bad as McConnell is, compared to someone like Jordan, he’s Everett freaking Dirksen. McConnell at least believes in a kind of old-school decorum that Jordan utterly rejects. Not to mention McConnell backs Ukraine aid, which Jordan completely opposes.

To become Speaker, Jordan will make make promises about cutting spending that he can’t keep. This in no small thing. It’s a major reason for the falls of Boehner, Ryan and McCarthy. They talked a big game about shrinking government, but there was no delivery because they were fundamentally lying.

When Republicans say, “We’ll cut government,” they mean domestic discretionary spending, which is less than 15 percent of the budget. Drastic cuts to Medicare and Social Security and the other programs are wildly unpopular even with Republican voters. There just isn’t that much to cut. Jordan will disappoint and enrage the firebreathers like Chip Roy and the rest of the unreconstructed Confederacy, just like his predecessors did.

If Jordan becomes speaker, Democrats will say the words “Jim Jordan” and “January 6” with the same frequency that Giuliani used to say “9/11.” The only coup against the United States ever led by one of its major political parties will hang like stink on the GOP, especially as Trump faces his trials and convictions for this crime against the country.

The best is saved for last. Regardless of rumors about Jordan and the Ohio State sex abuse scandal flying among his members, and what they want to do or not do about them, last June the Supreme Court ruled a lawsuit against Ohio State University, brought by former athletes in the wrestling program accusing the team doctor of serial sexual abuse, could move forward. The plaintiffs are already deposing everyone who might remotely have knowledge of the situation. That will definitely include former assistant coach Jim Jordan. The whispered rumors among his members will be on the front page of the New York Times and the Washington Post as sworn facts. The statute of limitations probably prevents Jordan from being criminally charged - unlike Dennis Hastert in his sex abuse scandal - but what if it is revealed he knew something and said nothing?

Everything about Jordan’s career suggests that his failure will be of operatic proportions, and the only question will be how soon it happens after he takes the office.

He’s been a lightning rod his entire career. Democrats - voters and politicians - across the country can’t decide if he’s just a bad joke or a serious piece of shit. The one thing he is most closely associated with is the impeachment of Joe Biden. That’s a subject that is so unpopular 60 percent of independents oppose it and even Republicans are starting to realize it’s a hand grenade with the pin pulled bouncing around among them.

Jordan’s scowling face is the perfect match for his overlord Trump as the true face of the GOP.

Let America see it. Every day from now to November 2024.

As to the overall situation of the House Republicans in this Speaker crisis, David Frum makes good points in the Atlantic with which to close:

“For seven years, Republicans have protected and enabled Trump, the most corrupt and lawless president in American history. They crave to believe that Biden is as bad or worse, and they won’t be denied that craving by pesky details such as its crazy untruth. The next ringmaster will have to deliver a more exciting act to the most frenzied fans in the circus seats.

“For the rest of the country, all of this threatens more crisis, more drama, more misgovernment, until one of two things happens. Either Republicans will overcome their taboo against reality and find some way to strike deals with their opponents, or voters in November 2024 will replace this dysfunctional majority that lives by lies with a functional majority that can work with facts.”

We’re just going to have to get from here to then.

The more you share, the more subscribers I get. Please get the word out.

If you like what you get here, can you support the work as a paid subscriber?

Comments are for paid subscribers.