A common Republican refrain is to say that “the government that governs best is the government that governs least.” By that standard, House Republicans are doing a fantastic job.
Jim Jordan “beat” Austin Scott in a vote for the speakership, Politico. 124. Scalise got 113 votes Tuesday. 124 is far from 217.
I’m not the only one that doesn’t see 217 as achievable for Jordan.
I don’t even think 217 is achievable with only R votes.
This is the natural culmination of the “burn it all down” mentality that came to Washington with the Tea Party (note: The Squad is not far from that mentality). Multiply that with MAGA and this is the expected outcome.
I expect that the Democrats are more than happy to let the Republicans stay in massive disarray. No need to make the case to voters that they aren’t responsible, wait until the shutdown gets closer and then start hammering at how they can’t even get their own house in order to begin to govern at all.
Realistically, I don’t think there is real pressure for them to figure this out yet. But it won’t be long before the combination of Ukraine, Israel and a budget to bring real pressure.
It may strengthen the speakership by the end of it. The speaker may not end up more powerful, but possibly have more staying power. Either the House adjusts the rules so that it becomes hard enough to depose a speaker that someone will take the position, or it stays rotating every few weeks because any given rep can call to vacate.
The most likely outcome may be a quasi-bi-partisan coalition forms to nominate someone relatively non-partisan. Or perhaps the middle ground, let McHenry have limited powers so the house can function. That’s a long way from certainty, to be sure.
But 217 R votes doesn’t look achievable by anybody. (One rep remarked that Jesus couldn’t get 217.)
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