I feel like we’re living in the Twilight Zone. All that’s missing is Rod Serling’s narration. The Republican Party, which once upon a time stood for smaller government, has decided that it would rather have none at all. The House of Representatives, under the “leadership” of Kevin McCarthy and Mike Johnson, has devolved into a morass of subterfuge as they’ve tried to blame all of their misdeeds on the Democrats, who are the only ones who seem interested in actually governing. Perhaps it’s time for the Democrats to put an end to this nonsense, and force the Republicans to replace their Speaker.
There has to be a point, and we may be seeing some of that, where fellow Republicans get pissed at Johnson and with each other in general.
Let’s say Lankford misses his kid’s school performance to work one weekend on this, because he’s negotiating, not naively, but in reasonably good faith. Then this complete 180. From a guy who is supposed to be on the same team.
We may see accelerated schisms, and I am good with that.
You'd think that after a few stabs in the back, and a few rugs being yanked out from under them, that some of these folks would see the light that the Quadefendant sucks into his black hole. Somehow, though, the light seems to be hypnotic - I think back to Cruz and Rubio during their "debastes" with the Quadefendant, where he belittled them and their families, and they retaliated initially, then got in line to kiss the ring. So many others have done the same thing that I wonder what's in the water at Mar-a-Lago.
I'm not exactly sure, and it would be risky. I'm just spitballin' here.
Any Representative should be able to move to vacate. It would be best if it was a Republican, but as long as Johnson keeps dancing at the end of the Quadefendant's strings, he probably forestalls it.
A Democrat would need to know that there are some Republicans who would vote to vacate. He or she would likely be blamed for whatever the outcome is.
It would be interesting if Hakeem Jeffries did it. He could claim that Johnson's ridiculous reversals have proven that he can't be trusted and that the House has no confidence in him. Or maybe he could propose the discharge petition and threaten the motion to vacate if it doesn't pass.
In any case, it would have to be done carefully, and the outcome would have to be assured - a tall order in a body where nobody trusts anybody, and the polarity is so strong.
I've been saying for some time that the Democrats and such responsible Republicans as may still inhabit the shadows of the House chamber get together and offer Johnson a deal: He retains the Speakership with the support of the supermajority of the House that has consistently voted to operate the government when the chips finally come down. If he declines the offer, they can vacate the position and install someone acceptable to the 50%+1 required to fill it. Either way, the Crazy Caucus is disempowered (disemboweled?) and some semblance of regular order is restored, however briefly. My concern is that the Democrats, following the lead of the President, are behaving as though this is politics as usual and expecting/assuming that the passage of time and a few elections will see the end of it and brighter days at the end of the tunnel instead of the headlight that appears to be rushing down on us. It will take a severe jolt to wake them up, and I don't know what it will take if the NATO comments and Johnson's misbehavior on the supplemental appropriation aren't enough.
That's the mindset I'm concerned about. There comes a time in any crisis when a potentially damaging move has to be made that, if made skillfully, yields success. The skills are all on the Democrats' side, including the formidable former Speaker, who has been remarkably quiet through this whole conversation. We're at, or near, a point when the near-term consequences of further inaction are damaging to the point of no return, or at least not in our lifetimes.
"You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a treacherous land whose boundaries are that of horror and intimidation. Your next stop, the Trump Zone!"
I give Johnson weeks in the job - not months. All it's going to take are a few Republicans to take the hint from the Suozzi victory - to see the writing on the wall. Not supporting Ukraine and jettisoning their own Border Bill are bad politics. All that matters to them is fighting for power, holding on to power and using the power. No interest in what's best for America and its allies. Democracy be damned. Full speed ahead to oblivion. Johnson is way out of his depth. Clueless sock puppet.
Your opening is excellent, and I can hear Serling's voiceover. You're too kind to Mr. Johnson, and give the GOP too much credit in suggesting that they want to use the power they notionally have.
As usual, you have summarized the despicable perfidy of the Republicans so well that I want to scream, puke, and incite a revolt all at once. But I will settle for your more sober solutions…for the moment. 😎
There has to be a point, and we may be seeing some of that, where fellow Republicans get pissed at Johnson and with each other in general.
Let’s say Lankford misses his kid’s school performance to work one weekend on this, because he’s negotiating, not naively, but in reasonably good faith. Then this complete 180. From a guy who is supposed to be on the same team.
We may see accelerated schisms, and I am good with that.
You'd think that after a few stabs in the back, and a few rugs being yanked out from under them, that some of these folks would see the light that the Quadefendant sucks into his black hole. Somehow, though, the light seems to be hypnotic - I think back to Cruz and Rubio during their "debastes" with the Quadefendant, where he belittled them and their families, and they retaliated initially, then got in line to kiss the ring. So many others have done the same thing that I wonder what's in the water at Mar-a-Lago.
So what would that look like, a Democrat moving for Johnson's ouster? Play it out for me.
I'm not exactly sure, and it would be risky. I'm just spitballin' here.
Any Representative should be able to move to vacate. It would be best if it was a Republican, but as long as Johnson keeps dancing at the end of the Quadefendant's strings, he probably forestalls it.
A Democrat would need to know that there are some Republicans who would vote to vacate. He or she would likely be blamed for whatever the outcome is.
It would be interesting if Hakeem Jeffries did it. He could claim that Johnson's ridiculous reversals have proven that he can't be trusted and that the House has no confidence in him. Or maybe he could propose the discharge petition and threaten the motion to vacate if it doesn't pass.
In any case, it would have to be done carefully, and the outcome would have to be assured - a tall order in a body where nobody trusts anybody, and the polarity is so strong.
I've been saying for some time that the Democrats and such responsible Republicans as may still inhabit the shadows of the House chamber get together and offer Johnson a deal: He retains the Speakership with the support of the supermajority of the House that has consistently voted to operate the government when the chips finally come down. If he declines the offer, they can vacate the position and install someone acceptable to the 50%+1 required to fill it. Either way, the Crazy Caucus is disempowered (disemboweled?) and some semblance of regular order is restored, however briefly. My concern is that the Democrats, following the lead of the President, are behaving as though this is politics as usual and expecting/assuming that the passage of time and a few elections will see the end of it and brighter days at the end of the tunnel instead of the headlight that appears to be rushing down on us. It will take a severe jolt to wake them up, and I don't know what it will take if the NATO comments and Johnson's misbehavior on the supplemental appropriation aren't enough.
I'd like to think that the Dems are trying not to destroy everything in the hopes of saving it. They may have no choice.
That's the mindset I'm concerned about. There comes a time in any crisis when a potentially damaging move has to be made that, if made skillfully, yields success. The skills are all on the Democrats' side, including the formidable former Speaker, who has been remarkably quiet through this whole conversation. We're at, or near, a point when the near-term consequences of further inaction are damaging to the point of no return, or at least not in our lifetimes.
"You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a treacherous land whose boundaries are that of horror and intimidation. Your next stop, the Trump Zone!"
I give Johnson weeks in the job - not months. All it's going to take are a few Republicans to take the hint from the Suozzi victory - to see the writing on the wall. Not supporting Ukraine and jettisoning their own Border Bill are bad politics. All that matters to them is fighting for power, holding on to power and using the power. No interest in what's best for America and its allies. Democracy be damned. Full speed ahead to oblivion. Johnson is way out of his depth. Clueless sock puppet.
Your opening is excellent, and I can hear Serling's voiceover. You're too kind to Mr. Johnson, and give the GOP too much credit in suggesting that they want to use the power they notionally have.
As usual, you have summarized the despicable perfidy of the Republicans so well that I want to scream, puke, and incite a revolt all at once. But I will settle for your more sober solutions…for the moment. 😎