Quiverin’ Qevin McCarthy, whose only evident ideology as Speaker of the House was personal ambition, has secured a singular place in American history. He is now the only speaker in U.S. history to be turned out of his office by his peers in the only successful motion to vacate ever submitted. His chaotic nine months in the job was the shortest tenure since that of Michael C. Kerr in 1876. But Kerr’s speakership ended because he died of tuberculosis. Qevin was knifed by his fellow Republicans.
There is still the possibility, however unlikely, that the Democratic caucus could join with 18 or so Republicans who are interested in the appearance of governing, select a Speaker from among that group, and proceed in something resembling regular order. The performance this week of the Senate, motoring on despite the death of one of their number, and passing by a huge majority the legislation needed to move on, is a signal that bipartisanship is possible, just difficult.
However, I think the Democrats have the power to control that negotiation. They should bide their time, let those moderate GOPers come begging for their help. I heard a Democratic strategist say today, that the Democrats only have one person they'll support for Speaker... Hakeem Jeffries. I have to wonder why the Dems would support any R for Speaker.
Time is of the essence here, and the choice of a Republican recognizes the current partisan balance in the House. If Mr. Jeffries is as good a practical politician as he seems to be, the Democrats will retain the power you correctly say they have while looking like heroes for taking a risk in order to keep the government operating.
I am reminded of people I have known over the years--for some reason they tend to be colleagues--who knife you in the front or back and then don't understand why you possibly could have any feelings against them.
MY thing is that I've continued to fall for the bullshit line, which is whatever comes before the knifing.
what's especially weird about watching the whole Repug Party Dissolution is the contrast between the success of their long game (the once being played since, at the earliest, 1932), which was accomplished with a certain amount of "dignity" and "process" vs. the utter chaos of what happens when all that evil discipline pays off and what you're left with is a bunch of pathetic babies whose only skill (or training) has been in kicking in the next kid's elaborate block construction because none of them can get one block to balance on another one.
it's not pretty, even if the schadenfreude is EXQUISITE. they proceeded, step by obvious step, to cut their own throats in full public view, with plenty of relevant second-guessing by observers; it should have been taken a little more seriously.
and they expected the Democrats to bail them out? for what?? for, like, 43 DAYS??
Ralph Nader, who once was a true public servant and then ... anyway, he said he once asked his father why republicans hated their side and he replied that they hated how we bailed them out each time they screwed up. I guarantee someone with The Times or The Post or both who covers politics will claim Democrats weren't bipartisan enough. Sigh.
According to the news today, Trump ran away and got on his airplane and split for Florida. Now that he can't say outrageous shit to the reporters to dominate the news coverage, which he uses for fund raising, he has no reason to be there. It was always just him campaigning.
Sure hated it when Ralph’s ego got in the way of his good sense. His dad knew of what he spoke. People used to know that, and Ronnie/Rupert came along and made Schitt smell like roses.
The whole damn thing is an embarrassment. The Republican majority has not done anything except waste our money on ridiculous investigations. Qevin remains a spineless empty suit, but hell, he had the Speaker’s gavel...for a little while and that’s all he really cared about.
Thanks TC. Hope the Democrats and some Repubs who still have functioning brains and a sense of ethical responsibility can make this thing work-----but chaos it will be when the morons gather again. The Senate shows the way out; the House is mired in sh*t and worse. Traitors abound in their midst. You closing quote is a gem!! (Keep sprinkling them around.....)
I hadn't thought of it in multiple years. but something TC wrote triggered my memory! And I think I've played it for myself at least 3-4 times in the last day and a half! And I just sent it to my brother!
Sad thing is, they do give a shit in this case. Steve Bannon said it out loud years ago. Destruction of the administrative state. (That’s us). And they have proceeded to do just that. Yet the MSM treats them as a legitimate political party. We’re not “woke” enough…
McCarthy is said to be a colossus at fundraising. Let's see if that will hold, if the oligarchs and rubes alike will keep shelling out to pay for more hitmen on America. I suspect so because the rubes don't pay the level of attention to the day-to-day the way those here do and live on what comes out of the salad shooter of right wing media.
Still, Tom, I fear the wingers will go for more drama by voting in Trump as speaker, which I've read they can do since there's no requirement that the speaker be an elected rep. He's been the de facto speaker anyway. The Freedom Caucus is far from finished in their mission to turn the governing of 330M people into a Survivor reality show.
I read this morning that Jungle Jim is going to toss his hat in the ring (of course) and that although several of the ignorant children want to elect Trump, it is against their OWN RULES to have a Speaker charged with a felony - let alone 91 felonies. I suspect, since they are not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, these folk have not even read their rules, of if someone read the rules to them, they are unable to comprehend the meaning of those rules - the rules they all voted on and approved when this Congress came into session. It's worse than a circus; it's like watching a bunch of crazed animals eating each other.
I guess when one lays claim to Cantor, Ryan and McCarthy as the best and the brightest one should be prepared for an apocalyptic collapse into the arms of a would be "tough" guy.
I have no idea of the private views of the GOP members who supported McCarthy, but the one small silver lining to this is how many did NOT support the Gaetz of Hell.
There is still the possibility, however unlikely, that the Democratic caucus could join with 18 or so Republicans who are interested in the appearance of governing, select a Speaker from among that group, and proceed in something resembling regular order. The performance this week of the Senate, motoring on despite the death of one of their number, and passing by a huge majority the legislation needed to move on, is a signal that bipartisanship is possible, just difficult.
That's really the only road out of this.
Agreed. Now all we need is for someone inside the Beltway to figure that out.
However, I think the Democrats have the power to control that negotiation. They should bide their time, let those moderate GOPers come begging for their help. I heard a Democratic strategist say today, that the Democrats only have one person they'll support for Speaker... Hakeem Jeffries. I have to wonder why the Dems would support any R for Speaker.
Time is of the essence here, and the choice of a Republican recognizes the current partisan balance in the House. If Mr. Jeffries is as good a practical politician as he seems to be, the Democrats will retain the power you correctly say they have while looking like heroes for taking a risk in order to keep the government operating.
Lots of people say "there is no good Republican." But if anyone knows who is one, it is Jeffries. Lets hope he's already making the calls.
Good reporting, TC.
I am reminded of people I have known over the years--for some reason they tend to be colleagues--who knife you in the front or back and then don't understand why you possibly could have any feelings against them.
Yeah, we've all known them. I have the stitches to prove that from Hollyweird.
Well, I believe it was Fred Allen who said the most important thing about sincerity in Hollywood is learning to fake it.
True dat!
I know what you MEAN.
MY thing is that I've continued to fall for the bullshit line, which is whatever comes before the knifing.
what's especially weird about watching the whole Repug Party Dissolution is the contrast between the success of their long game (the once being played since, at the earliest, 1932), which was accomplished with a certain amount of "dignity" and "process" vs. the utter chaos of what happens when all that evil discipline pays off and what you're left with is a bunch of pathetic babies whose only skill (or training) has been in kicking in the next kid's elaborate block construction because none of them can get one block to balance on another one.
it's not pretty, even if the schadenfreude is EXQUISITE. they proceeded, step by obvious step, to cut their own throats in full public view, with plenty of relevant second-guessing by observers; it should have been taken a little more seriously.
and they expected the Democrats to bail them out? for what?? for, like, 43 DAYS??
so, yeah...fuck them.
Ralph Nader, who once was a true public servant and then ... anyway, he said he once asked his father why republicans hated their side and he replied that they hated how we bailed them out each time they screwed up. I guarantee someone with The Times or The Post or both who covers politics will claim Democrats weren't bipartisan enough. Sigh.
The only question being when. I give them 20 hours. From now.
According to the news today, Trump ran away and got on his airplane and split for Florida. Now that he can't say outrageous shit to the reporters to dominate the news coverage, which he uses for fund raising, he has no reason to be there. It was always just him campaigning.
he jumped on that plane not long after complaining bitterly that he'd rather be in Iowa or New Hampshire, but HAD to be here (when he didn't).
at this point, I maintain that he's certifiable.
it'll be interesting when he starts to break his gag orders, which he will.
and wow...I just saw that he's been thrown off the Forbes list.
uh-oh.
Couldn't happen to a more deserving shithead.
Sure hated it when Ralph’s ego got in the way of his good sense. His dad knew of what he spoke. People used to know that, and Ronnie/Rupert came along and made Schitt smell like roses.
I second that...
The whole damn thing is an embarrassment. The Republican majority has not done anything except waste our money on ridiculous investigations. Qevin remains a spineless empty suit, but hell, he had the Speaker’s gavel...for a little while and that’s all he really cared about.
Thanks TC. Hope the Democrats and some Repubs who still have functioning brains and a sense of ethical responsibility can make this thing work-----but chaos it will be when the morons gather again. The Senate shows the way out; the House is mired in sh*t and worse. Traitors abound in their midst. You closing quote is a gem!! (Keep sprinkling them around.....)
No wonder Putin thinks he’s gonna tough out his war.
The definition of the Yuppie Striver? Here's a song about that from Tom Paxton!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzjNx-Nncoc
Thanks, David. Tom Paxton is a treasure
Great song David.
What a hoot! Thanks David! This song had slipped my memory. Perfect.
I hadn't thought of it in multiple years. but something TC wrote triggered my memory! And I think I've played it for myself at least 3-4 times in the last day and a half! And I just sent it to my brother!
What a way to get in the history books by scoring a first for a most dubious honor…and for what?
right???
Thanks for the news TC. At least it’s palatable.
Comments too. Thanks. G’night..
Sad thing is, they do give a shit in this case. Steve Bannon said it out loud years ago. Destruction of the administrative state. (That’s us). And they have proceeded to do just that. Yet the MSM treats them as a legitimate political party. We’re not “woke” enough…
McCarthy is said to be a colossus at fundraising. Let's see if that will hold, if the oligarchs and rubes alike will keep shelling out to pay for more hitmen on America. I suspect so because the rubes don't pay the level of attention to the day-to-day the way those here do and live on what comes out of the salad shooter of right wing media.
Still, Tom, I fear the wingers will go for more drama by voting in Trump as speaker, which I've read they can do since there's no requirement that the speaker be an elected rep. He's been the de facto speaker anyway. The Freedom Caucus is far from finished in their mission to turn the governing of 330M people into a Survivor reality show.
I read this morning that Jungle Jim is going to toss his hat in the ring (of course) and that although several of the ignorant children want to elect Trump, it is against their OWN RULES to have a Speaker charged with a felony - let alone 91 felonies. I suspect, since they are not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, these folk have not even read their rules, of if someone read the rules to them, they are unable to comprehend the meaning of those rules - the rules they all voted on and approved when this Congress came into session. It's worse than a circus; it's like watching a bunch of crazed animals eating each other.
Not the brightest bulbs in the Chandelier?!!! These bulbs were so dim they couldn't even get a job lighting up the Pez machine at night!
I guess when one lays claim to Cantor, Ryan and McCarthy as the best and the brightest one should be prepared for an apocalyptic collapse into the arms of a would be "tough" guy.
I have no idea of the private views of the GOP members who supported McCarthy, but the one small silver lining to this is how many did NOT support the Gaetz of Hell.
YES TC —-this time I totally agree with u!