History books may write that now Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s short-lived tenure (the second shortest in history, the first Speaker to serve less than 300 days since 1875/76, and the first to have the distinction of being removed from the role) was ordained the day he made a deal with the MAGA fringe in his party to allow the tyranny of the minority to move to vacate the Speakership if they did not like anything he did.
Technically, that is what happened today when MAGA twerp and insult to the human race Matt Gaetz and seven of his equally repulsive fringe colleagues supported, along with all the Democrats present, to oust Mr. McCarthy.
From the perspective of these eight individuals from the MAGA Alt-World, McCarthy had committed the sin of working with Democrats and the majority of Republicans in preventing a government shutdown.
However, what the history books should also record is Kevin McCarthy could have escaped the Faustian Bargain he made with the MAGA Fringe if he had conducted himself as a trustworthy leader that Democrats respected enough to provide the eight votes needed to keep him in the Speaker’s chair.
Unfortunately, McCarthy, playing only the short game and lacking any Machiavellian skill and long-term vision is out as Speaker after breaking promises to his fringe and to Democrats when he welched on the spending limits agreed to with President Biden during the Debt Limit Crisis his party created last spring.
He also earned Democrats ire by breaking his promise to hold a vote on launching an impeachment inquiry on President Biden. Instead, he appeased his fringe (some of the ones that just voted him out) and unilaterally put the inquiry in motion without putting it up for a vote.
He then added insult to injury by blaming the Democrats for almost shutting down the government last weekend after it was the House Democrats that provided the margins to keep the nation open.
In a statement to his Caucus before the vote, Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote:
“…Democrats came together in a bipartisan way to avert a catastrophic Republican-driven default on our debt that would have crashed the economy. Rather than celebrate and affirm this major bipartisan achievement, extreme MAGA Republicans immediately turned against it. House Republicans backed out of the agreement with President Biden that they themselves negotiated just days after its passage, hurdling us toward this chaotic moment…”
“…After claiming that an impeachment inquiry would be initiated only through a vote on the floor of the people’s House and not through a declaration by one person, House Republicans did the opposite. Extreme MAGA Republicans are wasting time and taxpayer dollars peddling an illegitimate impeachment inquiry despite their own witnesses testifying under oath that there is no evidence that President Joe Biden engaged in any wrongdoing. Rather than work with us to solve problems for everyday Americans, extremism continues to run rampant in the
House of Representatives…”
“House Democrats remain willing to find common ground on an enlightened path forward. Unfortunately, our extreme Republican colleagues have shown no willingness to do the same. It is now the responsibility of the GOP members to end the House Republican Civil War. Given their unwillingness to break from MAGA extremism in an authentic and comprehensive manner, House Democratic leadership will vote yes on the pending Republican Motion to Vacate the Chair.”
Three Arizona Democratic Congressional District (CD) Candidates released statements supporting the Jeffries position with regard to the motion to remove now-former Speaker McCarthy.
Phoenix Vice Mayor and CD Three Candidate Yassamin Ansari posted:
Former Arizona Democratic Party Chair, State Senate Democratic Leader, and CD Three Candidate Raquel Teran also posted:
CD One Candidate Conor O’Callaghan wrote:
“I support House Minority Leader Jeffries’ tough decision to endorse the upcoming vote to vacate the speakership. In these challenging times for our nation, I commend him and House Democrats for their ongoing commitment to finding common ground for our nation’s betterment, despite the lack of good faith from their GOP counterparts.
“It’s crucial to recognize the efforts by Democrats to prevent a catastrophic MAGA Republican-driven default on our debt, which could have severely harmed our economy. Instead of embracing this significant bipartisan achievement, extreme MAGA Republicans attacked it. This led to a near government shutdown, averted only by Democratic votes.
“The forthcoming vote on the Motion to Vacate the Chair is a solemn moment in our nation’s history, transcending any single individual. However, it is a necessary step given the stark realities we face.
“McCarthy and the GOP’s failure to distance themselves from MAGA extremism has left House Democratic leadership with no alternative but to support the pending Republican Motion to Vacate the Chair, as the Speaker has lost control of his caucus. I trust and support Minority Leader Jeffries as he navigates this challenging situation.”
Furthermore, Arizona Legislative District 18 Chairperson (and Blog of Arizona Writer/Editor Larry Bodine) commented:
“Good riddance to Kevin McCarthy. The MAGA Chaos Caucus ousted a weasel, and now they will look for a viper or a poisonous spider to replace him, perhaps from the proto-Nazi ‘freedom caucus.’
The Republicans have turned the House of Representatives into an unmanageable toxic dumpster fire. They have lost their minds and lost contact with the American public. Republicans don’t care about abortion, climate change, gun safety, or any issue affecting Americans. They only care about raw power for themselves.
When our Democratic army of precinct committee people and volunteers from Legislative District 18 go door-to-door visiting voters, we’ll be sure to remind them what vicious nihilists our Republican Congress members are.”
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What do you think their reaction is to President Biden breaking his promise not to build any border wall?
…and his waiving environmental protection laws to expedite the construction! Whatsoever you think?
I meant to say, “What do you think? “
John Government Checks Kavanagh is right, Biden isn’t doing 100% of what we want, let’s all storm the Capital and bear spray some cops!
Or, we understand that the founding fathers never meant for everyone to get everything they want all the time.
In a Democracy, and we know you don’t like Democracy, we win some and we lose some, and then we keep working to get the things we think the country needs.
Hey, remember how Obama was called The Deporter in Chief, because he deported so many people?
Did you ever say, Hey, Barry, good job?
No, you did not, because you lack intellectual honesty. You can’t even give credit to someone doing something you agree with.
Biden wasn’t anywhere near my first choice, and there are a lot of things he’s done that I don’t agree with, but I’m glad he’s POTUS instead of your guy.
And the things I don’t agree with you do, like pipelines and deporting people and not closing GITMO.
Have you ever given credit to Obama or Biden for doing things you agree with?
For example, I would like to say that T4ump is doing the Lord’s work, bringing much needed attention to the scourge that is Windmill Cancer.
If he wins in 2024, I hope he uses the bully pulpit and his pen to authorize some grant money into this valuable and much needed research.
How many more lives are going to be ruined before we find a cure?
I guess they don’t teach civics in New Jersey schools or critical thinking.
Seriously, WTF did you expect to hear?
RaicesTexasDotOrg
John,
I think there was no other way to spend the money because Congress would not reallocate for other border security purposes. It is amazing that Republicans claim to have the answers on immigration reform when House Republicans killed the Bipartisan Senate Immigration Reform Bill during the Obama Administration. That failure among House Republicans along with Trump actions to make life harder for the immigration process is why we are in the situation we are in today. Two other things. The Palestinians in Gaza proved today that walls do not matter. What we need is more human presence and border checkpoints. Also, what do you think of the twice David Duke endorsed candidates comment that immigrants from the southern side of the border “poisoning the blood.”Please offer your thoughts on that. Take care.
“…there was no other way to spend the money because Congress would not reallocate for other border security purposes.”
That is one of the lamest excuses on record for state sanctioned environmental destruction.
So don’t reallocate the money. Don’t spend it. Who effing cares about the money? What happens if it isn’t spent? Will the Earth’s inner core blow up?
Good Lord.