Kevin McCarthy Of California

The Kevin McCarthy Speakership Will Be, Sadly, A Disaster For The Nation!

Finally, on the 15th ballot in the wee hours of the morning of January 7, Kevin McCarthy became the 55th person to be elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, but with a bare margin and opposition by six extremist right wing members of the Republican Party, who voted present, to resolve the issue.

This was the fifth most contentious election in the history of the House of Representatives, and it does not bode well for the future, as McCarthy has “sold his soul” to the extremist, seditionist, treasonous MAGA Republican criminals who backed the challenge to the results of the Presidential Election of 2020 even after the US Capitol Insurrection of two years ago!

Ironically, the Congress came back in session early on January 7, 2021, to finish what had been delayed the day before by the Insurrection, and now early on January 7, 2023, Kevin McCarthy caved in on demands at almost precisely the same hour, weakening the position of Speakership, and guaranteeing that he might be one of the shortest duration Speakers!

The comparison to his predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, will make it clear that his Speakership, however long it lasts, will pale by comparison.

Hearing Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who kept the support of his 212 member Caucus for all 15 ballots, speak in an oratorical fashion that will be seen as memorable for the ages, was so inspiring and made all decent people feel pride!

One can only hope that a small number of moderate Republicans will support him to replace McCarthy when a political crisis arises, and the extremist element wants McCarthy’s head.

The alternative certainly would be to gain a Democratic majority in 2024, so that Jeffries is the 56th Speaker of the House in 2025!

One thing is clear: Kevin McCarthy will never be able to overcome the weakness, and lack of principle and ethics, that he demonstrated by going to Mar A Lago, less than two weeks after condemning the criminality of Donald Trump in inciting the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection! It will be one of the first statements about his life and poor reputation in his eventual obituary!

21 House Republicans Are Effectively “Terrorists” Preventing House Of Representatives From Governing!

After three days and ten ballots and counting as I write this entry, the House of Representatives is still not able to move ahead and begin its responsibilities to the nation!

As things now stand, it seems likely that this chaos and disaster will be at least the 5th longest Speaker battle, only surpassed in 1819 (22 ballots); 1859 (44 ballots); 1849 (63 ballots); and 1855 (133 ballots)!

This is due to 21 Republicans refusing to support their Caucus leader, Kevin McCarthy of California, who “sold his soul” to Donald Trump after the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection!

These 21 Republicans are, effectively, “terrorists” who want to have the power to cripple the House of Representatives on a daily basis, with the idea that if even one member objects to anything McCarthy might do as Speaker, that a vote could be taken to oust him from the leadership of the chamber!

This is pure insanity, and it is time for Kevin McCarthy to refuse to do so, and ultimately, to withdraw from the possibility of being Speaker, in order to move the House of Representatives forward!

But, whoever else might wish to be Speaker, must NOT give in, either, to these seditionists and traitors!

So it is time for the more reasonable, more moderate, and more rational small band of House Republicans to agree to one of the following alternatives:

As this author and blogger suggested yesterday, back a former member of the chamber, such as Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Justin Amash of Michigan, Fred Upton of Michigan, or John Kasich of Ohio, to be the Speaker, with the support of the Democratic minority, and refuse to agree to any demands that limit the Speaker’s ability to lead the chamber!

OR have a small band of these moderate Republicans agree to support Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the Democratic Minority Leader, in this crisis and arrange for a truly bipartisan House of Representatives!

These are the only choices now, and national security and stability are at stake, and these 21 members should be denied any committee memberships, and possible action to expel them from the House of Representatives should be under consideration!

No more MR NICE GUY, but rather tough action against members who have no interest in anything but their own egos!

With the second anniversary of the January 6 attacks coming tomorrow, one has to worry about a sudden attack by domestic terrorists as two years ago, or a foreign attack, with our international reputation as a functioning democracy in tatters right now!

The Republican Party Is In Free Fall! Time For “Coalition” House Of Representatives!

As we wake up on Wednesday January 4, the Republican Party in the House of Representatives is in free fall, a real danger to the stability of American government!

Only once since the Civil War has the House of Representatives faced the crisis it has now, a century ago, when it took 9 ballots to choose Frederick Gillett to be Speaker in 1923 in the 68th Congress.

It seems highly unlikely that Kevin McCarthy will become Speaker, as there is real animosity between him and most of the extremist right wing Freedom Caucus.

McCarthy making too many concessions to these “seditionists” will undermine his party and create a situation whereby nothing can be done, and it is an embarrasssment to the world at large to see this disaster continue to unfold!

It is time for a “coalition” House of Representatives, with a former Republican gaining the few “moderate” Republicans joining with Democrats to create a majority with some concessions to Democrats, and backing away from extremist demands of the Freedom Caucus, as the nation needs a House of Representatives who can truly “govern” in the national interest!

So some suggestions as to who could become Speaker for the next two years:

Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming
Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois
Former Congressman and former Governor John Kasich of Ohio
Former Congressman Justin Amash of Michigan
Former Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan

The Future Of The Republican House Majority In The 118th Congress

It is now two days until the first session of the 118th Congress, and there is, seemingly, total chaos in the small Republican majority in the House of Representatives, as to whether California Congressman Kevin McCarthy, who has wished to be be Speaker of the House since 2015, will actually be able to gain 218 votes from his caucus.

The gut feeling is that he will NOT be able to accomplish his goal,and this author and blogger senses that second ranking Republican Steve Scalise of Louisiana will become the alternative choice.

So we shall see what transpires on Tuesday or later! It will be a very tumultuous time!

The Ten Greatest Political Villains Of 2022! And An Addendum!

Yesterday, I published a post on the ten greatest Political Heroes of 2022.

So now, it is time to indicate who I believe are the ten greatest Political Villains of 2022!

In no special order, I would list the following:

Republican House Minority Leader, possibly Speaker of the House (hopefully not), Kevin McCarthy of California, who time again and again showed he had no spine, being a supplicant to Donald Trump, and demonstrating no principle or ethics in his crazed desire to be Speaker, two heartbeats away from the Presidency. The thought of him being that close in the line of succession is horrifying, not that there are very good alternatives!

Election Denier, and symbol with clenched fist, Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, who promoted sedition and treason! He faces reelection in 2024 and should be soundly defeated!

Election Denier and most obnoxious Senator (with other competitors), Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who this author and blogger thought in 2016 was the most dangerous Republican running for President, even more than Donald Trump! He faces reelection in 2024 and should be soundly defeated!

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a man who once had some intelligence, but after Arizona Senator John McCain died, has become a total Donald Trump sycophant!

Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, a very unstable and unpricipled excuse for a human being, who, somehow, was able to defeat one of the best US Senators of modern times, Russ Feingold, in 2010 and 2016, and then a very talented Lieutenant Governor, African American Mandela Barnes in 2022. Johnson is one of the worst figures in Senate history!

Republican Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio, an obnoxious and unprincipled man who, sadly, is likely to become House Judiciary Committee Chairman in the 118th Congress in 2023!

Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who won his third term as Governor in 2022, despite his horrendous policies and lack of compassion, and is likely to pursue a Presidential candidacy for 2024!

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who won a vast reelection victory in 2022, and is seen as the front runner for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2024, despite his intolerant and authoritarian bent, and his high level of arrogance and cockiness, on a multitude of issues. These include the COVID 19 Pandemic; Gay and Transgender Rights; Racial and Religious Minorities; interference in the teaching of History and Literature, and Manipulating School Boards and Libraries; and extreme Gerrymandering of Congressional Districts, which took away two African American seats, and gave the Republicans the control of the House of Representatives in the 118th Congress!

Arizona Republican Gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake, who used the same tactic as Donald Trump, promoting the “Big Lie” about her defeat in the recent elections in her state. She has just been repudiated in court in her attempt to reverse a clearcut victory by her opponent, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. Good riddance to the most obnoxious woman imaginable!

Finally, on this list, former President Donald Trump, the most dangerous and worst US President in American history, twice impeached, and a close ally of totalitarian dictators around the world, willing to overthrow the US Constitution, rule of law, and American democracy. He needs to be prevented from running again for President, and indictment and conviction on the four charges brought against him by the January 6 House Committee is essential, to prevent any future tyrant from taking the kind of actions that this most evil man took! He harmed so many Americans during his term, as well as having the responsibility for the deaths, destruction and violence, in the worst attack on the US Capitol since the War of 1812!

And now an Addendum:

The Supreme Court has become a disgraceful, power hungry, extremist right wing organization!

Chief Justice John Roberts has lost his desired reputation as the leader of his Court, and in particular, Clarence Thomas (appointed by George H. W. Bush) and Samuel Alito (appointed by George W. Bush) have been totally out of control, and both will go down as two of the very worst Supreme Court Justices in American history! The names and reputations of both Bush Presidencies are permanently besmirched as a result!

Kevin McCarthy Remains In Limbo On Speakership Bid

California Congressman Kevin McCarthy, who has for years lusted for the Speakership of the House of Representatives, is now facing the reality that he may not be elected by the Republican caucus on opening day of the 118th Congress, January 3, 2023.

It seems more likely that second ranking Republican Steve Scalise of Louisiana may become the alternative choice, seemingly acceptable to all elements of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives.

It certainly seems clear that McCarthy, even if elected, may not survive the entire two year term of the 118th Congress!

Kevin McCarthy Unable To Criticize Trump If He Is To Become House Speaker, So Morally Compromised!

With five weeks to go until the new 118th Congress meets on January 3, 2023, Kevin McCarthy is “between a rock and a hard place!”

He cannot afford to alienate the House Freedom Caucus, the most extremist right wing Republicans in the House of Representatives.

So therefore, as all along for the past two years, McCarthy cannot criticize Donald Trump for his having white supremacist and Holocaust Denier Nick Fuentes and another anti semite, Kanye West, at dinner at Mar a Lago!

McCarthy has flirted with Donald Trump since January 6, 2021, and by all rights, should not be Speaker of the House, which should go instead to an honest conservative Republican who has condemned Donald Trump.

Liz Cheney or Justin Amash would be the more appropriate choice, but the Republican Party has been flirting with extreme right wing Fascism, and seems ready to self destruct!

The Speakership Of The House Of Representatives Is In Play!

It now seems possible that Kevin McCarthy, who has sought the Speakership of the House of Representatives for years, may yet be unable to attain it.

With a 222-213 House in favor of Republicans, McCarthy cannot afford to lose more than four members of his party, and the “Freedom Caucus” right wingers have at least five members who have indicated they will not support McCarthy for the Speakership.

So the 213 Democrats could combine with four or more moderate Republicans in the House of Representatives and elect someone else, with soon to be former Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming being a likely choice, and others suggesting former Independent Justin Amash of Michigan being also bandied about as a possible choice, as a non partisan Speaker.

The Speakership does not have to be held by a sitting member of the chamber, although that has always been the case.

So interesting times are ahead over the next five and a half weeks!

Republican Control Of The House Of Representatives To Be A Horror Show!

The next two years will be a horror show in the House of Representatives, with the Republicans being in charge, under an unprincipled person likely to be Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy of California.

McCarthy is weak and will give in to wackos in the House Republican Caucus, including Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Jim Jordan of Ohio, and others.

THe Republicans will persecute President Biden and top cabinet members by having hearings on all kinds of accusations, including against Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.

And the likelihood is that there will be a move to use the impeachment weapon, even though to compare Biden and his Presidency to the illegalities and immorality of the Donald Trump Presidency is preposterous.

Hopefully, the Republicans will self destruct and lose their bare majority in 2024, but meanwhile, the important issues that face the American people will not be dealt with, a true tragedy of major proportions!

Nancy Pelosi Is The Greatest Elected Woman Leader In US History!

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, California, is giving up her leadership of the Democratic Party in the lower chamber, as a result of the Republicans taking over as the majority by just a few members, basically a switch from the Democratic slim margin in the 117th Congress, to the Republican slim margin in the upcoming 118th Congress.

Pelosi will remain, however, as the representative of her district, and will contribute her expertise and skills to the new, younger generation leadership of the Democratic Party, led by New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries.

Pelosi has served for 36 years, and has been a massive figure in the history of Congress.

Without a doubt, she is the greatest elected woman leader in US History, and has borne the burden of vicious personal attacks on her person and that of her husband.

She is truly a heroine for the ages, and was of great assistance to Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, but also came to the support, when needed, of Republican President George W. Bush.

Pelosi is irreplaceable, but Hakeem Jeffries, hopefully the future Speaker of the House in the 119th Congress (2025-2027) is certain to outshine the mediocre, self serving, traitor to the Constitution and rule of law that Kevin McCarthy represents, being beholden to Donald Trump, after rightly condemning him immediately after the US Capitol Insurrection on January 6, 2021.

McCarthy will be condemned in history for having been subservient to Donald Trump!