Well, this is getting ridiculous. A small minority of radical Republicans are holding their own party hostage, as well as the entire House. The 20 dimmest bulbs in the room are flexing their power of the moment, for no other reason because the rules allow it due to the thin majority they hold.
I can't say I have much sympathy for McCarthy, he's been in bed with them and has not exactly been kind to the previous Speaker. But someone will have to blink or concede. I'm hoping this leads to a realization that the moderates have more in common than the GOP has with these extremists, but I imagine McCarthy will cave in so he can get the gavel.
Our political system is just FUBAR but it is interesting to see the GOP infighting for a change as it is usually the Democrats that are held hostage by their own members.
As far as McCarthy, it is a bit sad to see him having to kiss arse and twisting in the wind as what you reap is what you sow so I have no sympathy for him. Even if he finally gets the Speaker position some political wags feel he has neutered himself with all the concessions he has had to give to try to win votes so will be a weak leader.
Read an interesting article on CNN today where there is speculation that some of the candidates to replace McCarthy may not want the job now that he has given the GOP lunatic fringe members so many concessions.
Seems like someone else can step up, make fewer or no concessions and get the vote. Main question is to be asked "What will it take to get everyone on the same general page, and deal with the extreme issues as they come up?"
Seems like someone else can step up, make fewer or no concessions and get the vote. Main question is to be asked "What will it take to get everyone on the same general page, and deal with the extreme issues as they come up?"
I think the genie is out of the bottle related to concessions Jerry. I may be wrong but I have a feeling the minority candidates that got the concessions are not going to give them up no matter who ends up a the new speaker. Whomever ends up as the new speaker for the GOP I think may saddled with McCarthy's concessions.
This is why several articles I have read by political journalists seem to feel that the concessions may discourage some possible candidates from wanting the job as it weakens their power and ability to lead.
I think if someone else steps up, that the concessions McCarthy made to get his votes are no longer on the table since he is no longer vying for the position. how about Byron Donalds? He has already been nominated 3 times.
Someone would have to be pretty bold to step in and go over McCarthy's head, it's just not that simple. There's a lot of political capital and maneuvering that would need to be done. They either need to court the radical Republicans who are holding McCarthy up, or court a few moderate Dems, either of which might upset the Republicans who are currently voting for McCarthy.
When there's a slim majority, there has to be compromise. So who do they prefer to compromise with? Maybe it's the process that needs to be fixed.
I think basically they can't change the rules until the Speaker is in place, but they don't want to keep the rules that are in force. They need to vote in an "interim" speaker until the new representatives are sworn in, then hold the full vote.
