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Marlene Reil's avatar

It isn’t just the Speaker’s Chair that is vacant -- the entire Republican Party is vacant.

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Dave Yell's avatar

As Marvin Gaye once sang; Whats going on"/

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Dave Yell's avatar

As Marvin Gaye once sang, "Whats going on"?

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Sheri Smith's avatar

All that gerrymandering has come home to roost. The GOP is chained to their extremist base and it is a fate of their own making.

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Michael Rossmaessler's avatar

It's the voters that send them, someday the pain will be returned tenfold.

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David Court's avatar

True, but it is also our fate...

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Richard Kane's avatar

You're correct. Us and our country is collateral damage of their idiocy.

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Jerry Weiss's avatar

That is absolutely right, Richard! And that means it's up to the Democrats to take the lead here.

This is not just a political dispute between different Republican factions. It's an assault on the institution of the House of Representatives. In effect, it's a continuation of the January 6 attack, only this time being mounted from inside the chamber. The MAGA-affiliated members responsible for the chaos proudly support convicted January 6 conspirators and openly advocate civil war.

That means Democrats are being called upon to defend our institutions of self-government on their own. This is no time to rely on the usual calculations of party advantage, if they result in 15 months of a grievously wounded and dysfunctional House.

Those who argue that the spectacle of a floundering Republican party will improve Democratic electoral prospects a year from now are not wrong. But they overlook the consequences of allowing this MAGA attack to continue. Dems must step up and lead, not wait to be asked for their help. A weak and helpless People's House is a threat to the viability of our democratic republic, and cannot be tolerated.

This isn't a call for Democrats to attempt a power-grab. That would only add to the chaos. It's a call for Democrats to pro-actively offer their support for a non-MAGA, non-McCarthy allied, establishment Republican to seek the Speakership. That person would be able to conduct the affairs of the House with a strong bipartisan majority, marginalizing the extremists and returning normal order to the chamber.

(As many readers know, I represent a network of ordinary citizens who've long advocated for the removal and replacement of Kevin McCarthy. We will continue to be active in the search for the best path forward. Learn more here:

www.FeathersOfHope.net or jerryweiss.substack.com )

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David Court's avatar

Actually, they are MIA and have been for years.

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Oct 4, 2023
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Kim Isenhart's avatar

Please stop using the acronym ILOBS. Almost no one knows what you mean by that.

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Oct 4, 2023
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Kim Isenhart's avatar

Whatever. I’m having no trouble pronouncing it, so there goes that theory. Now kindly please stop annoying everyone here.

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Kongming's avatar

You have a finite lifetime on this Earth and you wasted part of it on....this?

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Oct 4, 2023
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Kongming's avatar

I'm "just as responsible as those evil vile?" So because I am not as insanely angry and pointlessly vulgar as you, I'm not as bad? Have a nice day sir, I hope someday you get the help you need.

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Oct 4, 2023
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ahansen's avatar

Sentiment: 9

Execution: 1.5

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buns-n-butter's avatar

I can't imagine why normal people find your crowd just as repulsive as the people you despise.

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Oct 4, 2023
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buns-n-butter's avatar

Sputtering like Daffy Duck should go a long way towards addressing that.

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