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
Not sure about them Ron because any Republican had to overcome the fracture in the party. The same ones (Gaetz, etc.) voting against McCarthy would also vote against Cheney, Kinzinger or any moderate Republican. They are in a stalemate! Another idea (also not very viable, but maybe the most viable option available!) might be to find six moderate Republicans in the House who represent swing states and get them to vote for Jeffries, bringing him to 218!
Bob, I wish Jeffries could be the Speaker, but I cannot imagine even the small band of moderate Republicans agreeing to cross the aisle and support a Democratic Speaker, but we shall see!
New name for the Republican Party – The Chaos Party
It’s Groundhog Day. It’ll be Groundhog Day again tomorrow too.
Only thing Republicans agree on is adjourning. Ha. Ha.
Collection of internet jokes about the situation –
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/1/5/2145554/-The-internet-is-laughing-harder-at-Kevin-McCarthy-than-it-did-at-Trump-s-NFT-trading-cards