Say “no” to McCarthy as Speaker
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy should not be elevated to Speaker of the House because he bears considerable responsibility for the GOP’s poor showing in the Midterm Election. He, as much as Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is responsible for the damage to the Republican Brand and the ongoing negative impact of Pelosi’s January 6th Select Committee. Pelosi did it by cunning. McCarthy did it by ineptitude.
McCarthy’s big (Huge? Colossal?) mistake was to allow the January 6th Committee to go forward without any legitimate voices as a counterbalance to Pelosi’s prosecutorial narratives. Outrage was legitimate when Pelosi — in an unprecedented and cynical move – refused to accept McCarthy’s appointments to the Committee. McCarthy should have appointed other members. There were many good ones from which to choose.
His response to name no Republicans, was entirely too stupid for a guy who wants a job that requires exceptional political skills. President Trump initially either proposed or endorsed the plan to refuse to fill the GOP side of the panel. (He has since opposed it). That only means McCarthy was taking his lead from a guy with even less strategic political skill than himself.
McCarthy’s second humongous blunder was kicking Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney out of leadership for her vote in favor of Trump’s impeachment. He should have let the voters decide her fate – as with the other nine Republicans who voted to impeach. They were not kicked off their committees.
As a leader – and a historically solid conservative vote – Cheney would not have become the maverick she turned out to be. She would not have been open to Pelosi’s invitation to join the Speaker’s kangaroo Committee – and without her, Congressman Adam Kirzinger would not have gone solo.
Instead, McCarthy gave Pelosi an opportunity to claim the panel was bipartisan since she had two Republicans in Cheney and Kinzinger – and to proceed with a relatively success campaign to damage the GOP heading into the 2022 Midterm Elections.
While those two monumental errors misjudgment should be enough to pass over McCarthy as Speaker, there have been no end of other lessor reasons. He lacks a political compass. He seems to react to the events of the moment – and changes hos positions as the events change. At the time of the Capitol Hill riot, he condemned Trump for not acting sooner to quell the mob. Later, McCarthy appears at Mar-a-Lago pushing back against his own on-scene opinions. Leadership requires a level of certainty. Unfortunately, McCarthy is the proverbial “uncertain trumpet”..
McCarthy is not a good spokesperson for the GOP. His stage presence is weak – and the man has zero charisma. He does not inspire confidence. There is no more important personal skill for a Speaker than to be able to speak … convincingly.
Can McCarthy be stopped?
In terms of the speakership, we are reaching the moment of truth. In a matter of days, the Republican members of the House they will control the House and have to elect the new Speaker.
Throughout the 2022 Midterm Election season, the prospect of Republicans winning control of the House has made the speakership a secondary story. For most of that period, it was not a big story because it seemed that Minority Leader McCarthy would be the guy.
Going into Election Day, it was believed by most political pundits that the GOP would pick up conservatively, 20 to 40 seats. Predictions of more than 60 seats were not considered outlandish. If ever the lower estimates had been achieved, it is likely that McCarthy would have picked up the Speaker’s gavel without meaningful challenge.
But … Republicans did not pick up 20 or more seats. In fact, they gained control of the House by nine seats – closely matching the Democrats previous narrow control margin.
Among the House Republicans there have always been up to a dozen of McCarthy detractors. Had the GOP won control of the House by a wide margin, they would not have been enough to stop McCarthy from becoming speaker. Now, however, a handful of “no” votes on McCarthy can doom his ambition.
There are more than enough to do that if they hold firm. A few are permanent “no” votes – but others are willing to give their vote to McCarthy for concessions – very significant concessions. The concessions involve such things as legislation, investigations, earmarks, committee assignments and fundraising.
Aide to Ukraine could be part of the negotiations. McCarthy already appears to have sided with the small minority of Republican members opposed to supporting the Kyiv government.
It is very possible that McCarthy will be able to meet the demands of the recalcitrant legislators and reach his life-long ambition – to be Speaker Kevin McCarthy. If that happens, it will be a mistake – and not a small one.
Virtually all of the most likely Republicans who will take over if McCarthy falls short would be better choices. My favorite is Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise.
House Republicans need a new voice very badly. McCarthy has been a relatively ineffective Minority Leader for the GOP. It will be an even bigger disaster if they make him an ineffective Speaker.
So, there ‘tis.
This is the 21st century, the first true Information Age. With proper use of technology, there is no reason why the People could not vote on every bill proposed by Congress. If we relegate Congress to the role of examining the state of this nation and developing legislation to correct matters, with the bills addressing one subject per, rather than omnibus bills filling thousands of pages, the People could vote on each of the bills on quarterly voting days. Since that would take power from the hands of career politicians, Congress certainly won’t go for that. On the other hand, if such a measure was proposed, with the alternative being a People’s Initiative, where subjects could be directly placed on federal ballots without going through Congress, our legislators might grudgingly permit the latter. If that happens, any potential item to be placed on the ballot would simply need a certain percentage of the population to sign a petition. These changes would always be something Congress does not want, like term limits, or reduction in pay to elected officials, or a requirement that they disclose all of their finances while in office. The People have talked of such things among themselves for years, but there have been no attempts to turn them into law.
OMG it is a Christmas miracle. I agree with the Rat man.
Problem is once you legitimize voting on issues then you defacto legitimize this for election voting.
Also, IMO you need some sort of “mob rule” protection; the founders did much to slow the process and remove mob, fad, or other temporal sways of opinion from the process of creating law. Perhaps we “vote” on issues, and let the legislature legislate, but still, if we voted real-time on issues, through the transparency the country might better see HOW legislation is actually made, by our legislators and not the mob.
Security and access are the big issues; access is easily solved via signing up libraries to do this for example. Another win as it ups the chance that more people might even see what a library has in store for them, like books, movies, and stuff. One could also outfit Post Offices to provide access allowing yet another dying institution to have another purpose.
Security is another ball of wax although I feel this is solvable. For one thing, today it can take weeks to count the vote. If we went digital, the tabulation would take seconds, but the validation to assure no meaningful hacks, might take some time. And we would need to secure those facilities against the Trumplicant army that likes to attack them.
But I think all problems solvable and look forward to digital voting for candidates, legislation, and even our national priorities.
Rat, I think you will find Republicans dead set against this. More votes, more voters tend to push issues away from their policies. On this one, kind of like immigration, for reasons you note we would probably see a good number of Democrats agreeing.
Rat, if you are a Democrat, then your solution posted here is a great first step toward elimination of the Electoral College – which would absolutely thrill Frank Stetson. Frank knows this and this is the big reason for his orgasmic agreement with you, complete with dancing around his living room singing “Its a Miracle” by Culture Club. He has been wanting to eliminate the EC for years. We independents want “to see things work”. The EC is part of a very complicated election system and it cannot simply be put out of action without damaging other parts of the system.
We Independents/unaffiliated voters do understand there was a reason back then, and that same reason still exists today – for the EC. The EC protects the “small minority states” like WY, from being run over by the bigger more populated states like CA, NY. This is why the Dem party goes after these highly populated blue states. And why they avoid the smaller populated red states. If we did what you suggest (technology and popular vote), Dems would extend it to national elections, push for popular vote only, not have the EC, then 13 of 50 states would determine the direction for the other 37 states. Is that what you want? Many independents do not want this, at least those that understand the reason for the EC. We want WY, IO to be heard as loudly as NY and CA. The EC gives the smaller states this voice. Imagine if 13 highly populated states win and force you to buy an expensive EV car or suffer $8/gallon gasoline costs. And how would this affect a farmer in the middle of the country who needs gasoline to run tractors to plant and harvest – and then how this could affect your food costs. Do you really want this?
The EC actually gave rise to both parties, and partisanship, in the early 1800’s. If you want to eliminate the EC, then parties must be eliminated as well in order to eliminate partisanship. So how will the information flow to the voter – which was the issue in the early 1800’s which caused the creation of the EC? Now in 2022 we have max misinformation. So how will we ensure society is getting correct information, both sides of an issue. In my own area, I have been censured twice when attempting to point out the down side of Electric Vehicles (EVs) – so how will people find out the down side of owning an EV. In the severe freezing cold yesterday in NC we were getting messages from Duke Power to cut all unnecessary power usage because of high demand causing rolling power interruptions for the next 24-48 hours!!!! .I tried to warn about this in one of my downside of owning an EV articles that got censored. I posted a comment on social media for the area, “Gee, imagine if we all had to plug in our cars, how much worse would this situation be?” My comment was removed for being political!!!
In addition, since the most populated states tend to be Democratic, it means most if not all legislation would reflect the agenda of the Democratic party with such things as increased taxes, wealth tax, abortion on demand, more pro-LGBTQ bills for the required acceptance of queer and transgender life styles, and get ready to know their pronouns, mass open borders to supply a low wage work force so do not expect a raise if your employer can find an lower priced worker who will work for half the price (this is why software companies hire so many Indians, it is cheaper to get one of them approved for immigration to the USA rather than pay a natural citizen to do the job), you will see much outsourcing of jobs kind of bills (NAFTA come to mind?) as they promote one world economy, you will see more censorship bills to thwart free speech in the name of national and international security and misinformation (Zuckerberg, old Twitter come to mind?), it is possible with electronic systems that you will see more hacking and stealing of votes or mishandling of votes (AZ election debacles come to mind?), you will see international ISO and UN standards on disciplining your child and other family issues (The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is the primary human rights instrument for children. It has been ratified or acceded to by 196 states (November 2019, all except for the USA, see “https://endcorporalpunishment.org/human-rights-law/crc/”), all of this which will evolve into a bureaucratic one world order in which the sovereignty of the USA no longer exists – as it is just one of many equal players on the world stage, and must do as all of the other countries want them to do.
Is this what you want? This is what Frank wants but will not tell you.
As an independent, and I am sure I speak for many independent / unaffiliated voters, I would like to pass along to my grand children one the most precious gifts we have, the sovereignty and greatness of the USA. Would you like to do this as well?
That’s strange; I never remember saying get rid of the electoral college? I tend to like things that make us pause and consider, just like the Founders did.
Stay on point, this was is in the weeds.
Now you speaking for all independents, me, rat, and apparently, even Boy George.
Wow.
I agree with you Frank, I also tend to like things that cause us to pause! Seems like many do not wish to take a pause these days!
No I do not represent George Alan O’Dowd, he is an English citizen.. I bet you were a real fan, or, your mind has forgotten back to 1980’s as you play your Boy George vinyls and kink it up, so you should represent him buddy! 🙂
You haven’t a clue but yet are willing to bet you know things and are funny. Neither is true in this case.
I live a couple of BG songs, have never seen him live, and my list is extremely long, and wonder why your obsession with linking us. Of course you do not represent him, he has better hair :>) Just saying you keep referring to him, see me dancing to his music (has never happened), and I think it’s time for you to step out of your closet and let your freak flag fly.
Or carry on with your drone.
Did I mention staying on point, cuz this is off the reservation now.
Let me sooth your mellow: I am an avid David Bowie fan, seen a number of live shows, really missed missing him on some of the NYC shows, too much work. And yes, me and the boys even went in full Bowie togs at one show; the entire audience was full Halloween, it was a ball. David came out in a suit n tie; the change had occurred. I cut my hair and got a good job shortly thereafter.
There, you can play with that to make you happy with your gay allusions.
Fran k Stetson …. You are hilarious — telling Tom to stay on point when the entire thread is NOT on the point of the commentary. You — more than anyone — go off point to establish you own personal subjects. That is when you are not attacking the Larry Horist of your invention. I think Tom may be right. You seem to have taken your spirit of the season from a bottle. Do you have a better excuse for you belligerence … obsession with the petty stuff … your childish retorts .. and you your often irrational comments?
I agree Mccarthy should not be speaker as he is uninspiring with no charisma. He has no agenda or plans other than to mildly oppose the minority. With zero gravitas, he would fail a no-confidence vote before he ever took the gavel.
I disagree it was a mistake to not seat Republicans on the Unselect Committee. It completely delegitimized the committee while it also highlighted how Republicans were unable to select their own members for the first time in history for a select committee.
I disagree it was a mistake to take Liz Cheney out of Republican leadership. She was an embarrassment to the party & was using strategy learned in closed-door leadership meetings to undermine the party. It also rightly pronounced there’s a limit to what the caucus will allow in terms of undermining & working against its interests.
I also disagree with the premise Liz Cheney became a maverick after losing her leadership role. She became a maverick when she voted for impeachment. She has only doubled and tripled down on her backstabbing and misplaced loyalty ever since–to her own personal and political detriment. She completely embarrassed herself in her primary. Let her be an example for other would-be mavericks cozying up to Dems.
I personally believe that it doesn’t matter. No one less than the most rabid right winger is going to be able push that bunch of clowns back to the middle, much less that to the right. The Republican party has drifted so far left that there is no going back. Trouble is, Washington was right in his farewell to the nation . Political parties are a curse on freedom. The only purpose of party is to accumulate power, then keep that power. It’s not the welfare of the people they look out for, it’s the welfare of the party. The democrat party, in any sane society would be banned from operating in any civil society and the Republican party is not much better. People had best get to know their state representative and start becoming aware of the consequences of letting political parties decide who we get to vote for.
As an NC Indepdendent, I agree with you!
The best choice is Steve Scalise. He will weigh heavely on the right choices for the American people as a whole.
He is a Republican to the core but he would never hurt America and the people who live in America.
Steve is a really sensible person and truely loves America and would never do anything to hurt Americans.
I don’t trust McCarthy and never will.
As long as Biden is in office we will continue to sink America to her lowest level. He has put us in so much debt
that our great, great grandkids will never see daylight. The situation at the border is embarrassing. Trump had
everything under control until Biden came in and destroyed Trumps efforts to keep America safe and free from
illegals bringing in DRUGS that are killing our people at record numbers.
Barbara lapenter …. Scalise would be my choice.
Rat and Frank have an interesting conversation going on but unfortunately it has little to do with this post. The one thing that was not mentioned about McCarthy that sticks in my mind is his relentless commercials before the midterms talking about when he becomes speaker there will be investigations and impeachments. We were bombarded with these commercials to the point where it turned off many Independents who in turn did not vote GOP because we are tired of investigations and impeachments – the GOP has become the party of investigations and impeachments with very little vision and message for the future other than we will investigate someone and impeach them!
It is time that the GOP wake up and realize people do not care nearly as much about investigations and impeachments as they do a vision where they can see themselves fitting in. Right now, while most Independents / Unaffiliated voters statistically tend to align a little more with GOP on issues, the fact is many of us do not see ourselves fitting in to either party.
So I do agree that McCarthy does not appear to be the best choice. And not electing McCarthy to the position may be a way for the GOP to move a little further from Trump’s grasp which would be a good thing in my view. I have heard Scalise speak on one occasion. He seemed pretty sensible and polished. He also seems to be very respected within his party which is another important credential along with the others you mentioned.
McCarthy would be a great choice for speaker. He is a fool who can not control his caucus. He bends to a dictator, turns against, and bends again. A pussy.
Say what you will about Pelosi, she was probably one of the most effective speakers in history. Before Trump, I had written how she, and Harry Reid, must go…yeah, that long ago. But I felt both, while competent, were long-in-the-tooth, and virtually lightning rods, something that poor Hillary had in spades, and we all know the story there. Then came Trump and I thanked our lucky stars to have her. She bedeviled him and his caustic party, I loved it. She outmaneuvered and outplayed him on every hand of the deal. You can hate her, but you have to see that. Then came the progressive wave and Biden and, unlike McCarthy, she pretty much herded all the cats and kept a firm hand on the tiller. I guess most here hated that too.
McCarthy is not Pelosi, not McConnell, and not even Schumer. He is a fool that has already even announced investigations that he has no power to conduct. Idiot. He is alread bending, in public, to the MTG’s of the party. And he is a Trumplicant, born and bred, never give up, which means he gets his half-a-house, his investigations, and maybe some doa bills passed.
Yeah, he’s a great choice (sarcasm alert)
But yeah, I would like to see digital voting and then open it up to issues, policies, priorities and the like and make government more transparent to the people’s choices.
Frank, have you been nipping at the Christmas egg nog and whiskey? Geez you just swung from one end to the other in the same post.
FIRST YOU SAY “That’s strange; I never remember saying get rid of the electoral college? I tend to like things that make us pause and consider, just like the Founders did. ”
SECOND YOU SAY, “But yeah, I would like to see digital voting and then open it up to issues, policies, priorities and the like and make government more transparent to the people’s choices.”.
Do you not see how your second position where you wish to see digital voting will actually be the same as popular vote which means you advocate getting rid of the electoral college and the thing that makes you pause to think (as you first say), and as you said in an earlier comment within this same post, ” I tend to like things that make us pause and consider, just like the Founders did. “
You can believe what you want but digital voting does not have to affect the electoral college one bit. Why would it, it’s just another access method no different than the ballot or the voting machines.
You are most likely correct in that digital voting “does not have to affect” electoral college. However, when you advocate voting digitally on issues, you have just potentially circumvented the entire election process. Spin it any way you want. I would enjoy hearing how digital voting can still uphold the EC while voting on individual issues. I can see a good possibility if digital voting is used like a survey monkey to determine how the population thinks on issues and then the elected officials can be better informed, if this is what you mean.
As far as your earlier comment on staying on point, you are the one that introduced Boy George into the conversation, not me. So please listen to your own advice.
With regard to the BG’s, I think its great if you practice your Saturday Night Fever Trivolta walk! I like the BGs too! There, you see we do have common ground.
I will disregard your hair comment, as I try not to insult, even if I follow it with a smile, a person’s physical, and, as you say, it was off topic. I do not jokingly insult those that have bad hair, or, are “follicle disadvantaged”. But speaking of hair, wasn’t it Nancy Pelosi that was caught on camera during the pandemic shutdown of getting a $410 hair-do job at her beautician while telling others to stay home and not to worry about their bad hair? 🙂 I also seem to remember Pelosi and others with their beautiful hair-dos at a large Obama party that was held during the shutdown where we were told not to gather and party and stay home? Thanks for opening this door for me! 🙂
One of my favorite albums is “Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars”. David was one of my favorites. Loved his music then, and still now! I never went to a Bowie party but it sounds like fun. I wish I could have seen him live but I was busy protecting the country fighting the cold war at the time. Very sorry I missed seeing him live. This is an area we have common ground! Please tell me more! BTW, I do have a great Rod “the bod” Stewart story! Disco sucks, Long live Rock and Roll!!!!
Please stop taking the stupid pills; if you are going to say something, at least check to see that it makes some sort of sense. ” you are the one that introduced Boy George into the conversation, not me. So please listen to your own advice.” is just stupid. I said “it’s a Christmas miracle” and you went all BGeorge, over and over. Talk about beating a dead horse.
“However, when you advocate voting digitally on issues, you have just potentially circumvented the entire election process. Spin it any way you want.” Come on man: absolutely nothing has to change EXCEPT the freakin lever that you pull, or ballot that you ink, to vote. It’s just a different way to enter your vote. NOTHING ELSE HAS TO CHANGE. NOTHING. why would it?
So first you hit me with a SNF tweak and then you whine about being tweaked. Stop it. If you can’t take it…..
Then again, it could all change, but that has nothing to do with the fact you used a PC and the internet to vote instead of filling out a piece of paper and handing it in. The only “spin” is in your fantasies.
“I would enjoy hearing how digital voting can still uphold the EC while voting on individual issues.” I think I explained it. Now tell us why digital voting means it must change?
Second, voting on individual issues is separate from elections. And there, again, it depends on what Congress determines the process and use. At one extreme would be use as a survey, just like Congress uses surveys today. At the other end is a vote; that’s mob rule and I don’t advocate it. Hope that clarifies, but my only concern is getting Congress the best data in the fastest method. How they capitalize on that is part of Congress creating a process: I would advocate as a survey.
Pelosi haircut: look it up, she admitted it, but said there was a miscommunication from the salon and that she was masked except for a second during the wash. Obama party, you gots me there. Need sources. Like the ones you say you ALWAYS provide.
Ziggy – best album ever. Don’t know what else there is to tell. Started listening when Ziggy came out summer of 72 and had 4 or 5 albums behind it so much to listen early on. I adhered to the album’s suggestion “to be played at maximum volume” and cranked my 4 foot high homemade direct-reflex boomers complete with subwoofer and tweeter horns. The earth did not move, but the house did!
Caught just about every tour, but like I said, the small venue NYC shows I missed and I coulda made em if I wasn’t such a money, hungry capitalist who missed a few decades in search of the almighty buck. So, I caught a lot of shows in the 70’s, took the wife to Phili for Glass Spider tour, 20 rows out on the field, in the 80’s, but missed a lot of 80’s and 90’s. In the next millennium, my wife and I have been following the “catch em before they be dead” tour but alas, he has passed.
My latest fave is Todd Rundgren —it’s a show like no other. The man is like 67 and last time I show him, he hits four in a row, stops, tells us something stupid about how he writes loves songs, rockers, and even rap, and then does like 22 in a row, no stops. Each show is different set so for 22 songs, I figure the band has to know around 50 or 60 to be able to make a dozen different sets. From what I hear, after the show he often turns up in a bar and jams. I figure his bands must love him because he makes them work three times as hard as anyone else.
First time I saw him had part of a box and the gay couple in front of us, one old, one young, both with matching sequined jean jackets, turned to me as said: ‘you know he’s the white Prince.” Being that I did not want to lead them on, I gave a NYC look and they turned away. After the third song, one hard rock, on reggae , and one love ballad, I was pounding on the old guy’s shoulder yelling: I get it, he IS the white Prince (as in Prince from Chicago who could do it all.) Todd can’t dance though.
After his 22 or so songs in a row, no breaks, workout, he turns up at another venue the next night. I was still recovering and I did take any stage. What really pissed me off was the second venue was closer and smaller. He loves smaller. Next time I saw him it was at a ski lodge, like a high school gym floor. That was a great show, he was literally spitting on us we were so close yet halfway back.
He’s still touring and we worth the effort. Bring the wife, nothing like his love songs to spice up the night!
Believe it or not, probably Arlo Guthrie is the one I have seen the most. Used to be every year event to see him and Pete at Carnegie Hall after a nice sup at the Broadway Diner. Saw them once at the Delaware Water Gap in a tent stage in front of the river backed by the 500 foot ridge, pitch black field party as the FULL, really full moon came over the ridge. That was a great one two,
My kids hate me as they “discovered” classic rock and told me about each discovery only to hear: ‘oh yeah, saw them twice……” Probably should have been studying but fuck, this is America!
But, pls check your work, keep on sourcing, I suggest not judging me or others, and let’s have some fun at Larry’s expense. (just kidding but there’s a tweak that never gets old). What’s next? He’s goin to tell us he never liked Trump or most of his policies :>) Hopefully less of this low hanging stuff like assessing McCarthy’s competence.
Rod Stewart — if my construction days, a painter was Rod’s doppelganger. A lowly painter during the day, a GOD at night. It was scary to watch. That hair!
oh yeah, if you like Bowie the artist, Bowie the person, check out his live interviews on Youtube. Try to be chronological and you can see a smart, undereducted, working class guy get smarter and smarter. Plus he’s basically shy, thus the masks and costumes, and you can see him breaking out of his shell becoming more comfortable with himself over time. And he’s funny unless the press gets too close and then he’s snippy, really snippy,
Fun stuff.
and youtube all the versions of Under Pressure, the FMercury mashup is great. And for the real zealot, there’s one version of The Bewlay Brothers out there; he’s older, and it’s also a really funny intro,
Larry
It’s T minus 2 days until Congress votes for Leader are you sticking with your pick from Luisiana? Maybe the strong man from Ohio Jim Jordan will rise in the count. What would that look like when tough budget negotiations with democrats?
Five Republican super conservatives are refusing their vote unless McCarthy agrees to their demands, political blackmail and Jordan is among the five.
.If McCarthy is elected he will be beholden to the hold out five. He is compromised by the right deniers.
Delaying choosing republican leader puts government on pause. McCarthy is emblematic of Republican ineffectiveness in Congress, policing their caucus’ behavior especially its rogue members.
In 100 years time since last multi-vote for leader at no point was the process more than an ordinary one vote process. This intra-caucus power tug of war does indicate that the new Congress powered by the right is up to their job for we the peoples
Total agree McCarthy is not the right person for Leader,, Why is it no one else in the causes will forward their name for nomination?
Is ir any secrete what’ Trump promised McCarthy during their visit in Mar-Largo just days after the January 6 insurrection? They predicted a red wave win in the midterms which fizzled in magnitude. But, still delivered marginal majority. McCarthy has a shot because Trump still has control over enough representatives’ votes and cooling any ambition to challenge McCarthy’s run.
The first days could potentially have historical significance for political history buff hobbyists.
We shall see how, who, and how long it takes.
Ac … I am hoping that the half dozen votes stay against McCarthy. My choice would be Scalia. And we should not forget, Pelosi faced the same issues when The Squad got elected — with several of them campaign on a refusal to vote for her. She had to make concessions. The situation is not remarkable when the margin is slim. Some members are pledged to McCarthy on the first vote. After that is a free-for-all. If McCarthy does not win on the first vote, I think he is done. But … I think the odds are still in his favor by a hair.
Larry,
At the moment of this writing , Rep McCarthy has gone down in defeat on 6 ballots over the last two days. The one majority the Republicans could must was last evenings vote for adjournment. And, it just barely passed.
No matter what one’s political affiliation. this is an embarrassment for the Republican Party, conservatism, American democracy, America as a nation.
I am in agreement with you on McCarthy’s unfitness for the Speaker of the HR position. It is apparent that you are not alone among Republicans, particularly the five and at least 15 more elected Republican HR members have their reasons behind voting nay. And, the tide of opinion is go out more with each of the 6 tallies.. Even Trump, presumptive leader in the Republican Party could not move votes in McCarthy’s favor. Your rear view mirror line of reasoning for Trump’s influence may gain traction through the debacle of historic preposterous proportions..
Suppose McCarthy stands his ground and does win. It will be by the slimmest hair possible. The same hair is the probability of his success as Speaker.
How the screw has turned. On FOX and Friends McCarthy and by connection the Republicans in Congress are being made their laughing stock. If you can’t trust your friends at FOX, who can McCarthy his Republicans trust?
Resolution, obviously, must happen for the good of governing, for We the people,
and McCarthy Republicans. Some sort of capitulation has to happen for this ludicrous game of chicken to end.
Win or lose are the only options. There’s no draw or close. McCarthy arrogantly stands his ground, demanding the Speakership is his by right. In his mind he has earned the Speaker’s gavel. Whether not he ascends into his most coveted place in Congress is not for him to assume. Just as he was wrong in his judgement when he moved into the Speaker’s office space.
Previous Speakers’ road to taking the Speaker’s chair is worth a studied look. Who and what did those that went before get know, make relationship with, and find benefit from wider learning about other’s constituencies.
McCarthy, falsely, believes he labored long and hard enough to have earned the position. He had to have known, especially after the last midterm’s results, receiving enough votes would not be a slam dunk, and his detractors’ numbers equaled more than the the difference needed.
In the months leading up to the vote McCarthy, reportedly, was doing some negotiating with those caucus members, also known as part of the the Freedom Caucus, attempting gaining approval. All to no avail, his giving them concessions and promises changed nothing. It just as well his overtures were scorned. Had the promises made in hope by McCarthy gained him enough votes. Making good the concessions and paying off the promises carry costs McCarthy even as Speaker would not have sufficient political capital for payment.
What Congress has already done with its many ballots cast is established a no confidence referendum on McCarthy, as Speaker of the HR. As the process is let to extend longer with McCarthy standing in the way. What credibility he may have had is eroding away, possibly in career ending chunks.
The embarrassment suffered by one individual, surely, is less than the total expense charged when the Republican Party as a whole iis further embarrassed.
Those Republican believers not bit embarrassed with their Party after the goings on over the “red wave” fizzled, Trump endorsed candidates’ losses, and now the 100 years clock restarted after the Republicans brag about returning to power but fail at the most elemental process than power allows.
Larry, you have to see more into what ails your party.
The ultra MAGA hyper minority contingent happily puts governing into an early 20th Century stall technique. To what end, personal power, political advantage, philosophical correctness , opportunistic spite, or plain old mean spirited revenge?
Is all the hullabaloo generated delivering the objective?
Does grabbing headline stories of their mischief gain the respect of constituents and future electability?
Historians keeping track of this era in American History would do well to not lend names to this story, other than the central figure, Kevin McCarthy.
However this ends. It won’t be well in the GOP camp. Their secret is out, lemons who can’t manage making lemonade.
Said this before I am saying it again. The politically independent ground is where I stand. I have no skin in either parties game. Although, I do have skin in game striving for one goal, the well being of this nation.
Government at every level belongs to the people. We the people are the employer hiring and firing. We are the paymaster. Government is purposed for service and for the benefit of the people today and of posterity.
At some point government’s purpose and went off track. as if losing a compass.
.Government saw itself going forward as large and in charge. Not as an entity which is to served the people. Instead, the people are out there and in the dark.
People need government more than any government need people, so is the government’s attitud.
Representatives of the people sent by the people forgot their oath to be for the people. McCarthy along with thousands of career politicians and career government workers have misplaced priorities. McCarthy’s self-interest and entitlement attitude has crippled his sense of self. He wants the Speaker’s job, but he has neither talents or skills for the job. Be does not get the message with each loss on the floor. Desperate measures are called for. Who will step up and shut this circus down?
WE NEED A FIGHTER NOT MCSEWER WHEN I DIDNT RESPOND FOR A DONATION HE MAILED BACK ARE YOU A LOSER MADE MY BLOOD BOIL
Rid McCarthy the Rino
The only reasons that Larry brings up for not having McCarthy as Speaker of the House are partisan. Yeah, he made tactical mistakes in partisan politics. The real reason he shouldn’t be Speaker is that he will do anything he thinks will give him power, no matter the consequences for the country.
He, like most Republicans, condemned Trump for his actions on Jan 6th, only to reverse himself a day or two later. Why? Because he wanted Trump’s support. He KNEW that Trump was wrong and had committed crimes, but it took him a couple of days to realize that a large proportion of the Republican members were also culpable for Jan 6th. Then he exacted revenge against the few members that were actually honest and realistic and responsible enough to call out Trump for his crimes, knowing full well that they were doing what’s best for the country and not what’s best for the Republican Party. THAT is why Republicans took it on the chin in the 2022 elections.
If McCarthy were a real leader, he would have admitted that the Republican Party was lost, and steered its members back to doing what is best for the country. Republicans had two opportunities to remove Trump, and yet they chose to protect him. They continue to protect Trump, out of fear and for political gain. That might work in the primaries, but not in the general election. They are paying now for those bad decisions during Trump’s term.
Republicans had no platform in 2020, and still none in 2022. They have forgotten why people elect representatives – to protect the interests of the country and make the lives of the people in this country better. Trump was only there for himself, and was destructive to the country and our form of democracy. As long as Republicans continue to follow Trump’s policies, they will lose. If Republicans get rid of McCarthy, the real reason should be that he’s more interested in furthering the interests of the Republican Party than the interests of the country. If they wan to win in the future, they need to pick a real leader who is there to protect America, not the Party.