It is now OFFICIAL--Kevin McCarthy is the Valerie Cherish of American politics. No indignity is too great...No humiliation is too soul crushing...No b*tch slap is too bruise-inducing. On one hand, it is admirable that he is THAT focused on the Speaker's Chair...on the other hand, he is showing he is the ultimate sub. The German in me is LIVING for the schadenfreude, but the American in me is thinking "B*tches, do your damn jobs...the first being setting up the administration of the chamber. If you want to b*tch-slap Kevin, go do it on Fox Channel". Kevin McCarthy does not realize one very important thing--To have power in Congress, you need 2 of the following 3 things to be true...you have to be liked, trusted, or feared. John Boehner was trusted and somewhat feared. Paul Ryan was liked and trusted. Nancy Pelosi was liked, trusted AND feared. Kevin is not liked. Kevin is not trusted. Kevin is not feared.
(One More Thing---Oh boo-hoo...Hope Hicks and company have highly tarnished reputations. If you consort with scum, honey, then it should not be a shock that *you* are perceived as scum. Maybe you'll get a rich husband and go live in affluent obscurity.)
Great to have your voice back, Charlie. Hope you had a wonderful vacation. Morning Shots is one of my morning joys before I get to work. How else would I know something called Lindell TV existed, or could even be dreamed of exisiting. I'll just chime in after seeing your link to Ben Sasse's editorial. At the ripe old age of 57 now, I can say I'm long past having any desire to hear from people like Ben Sasse. While I have 1% respect for MTGreene for apparently authentically and most certainly vociferiously (I'll cap it at four adverbs) speaking her twisted 'truth', a saner Ben Sasse failed to speak up -and act- when his voice carried the weight of his office. So from there on, his academic ramblings cease to have any meaning for me. He is not alone. People like him and Paul Ryan, and the other Big Idea Republicans, can take a hike, along with their lifetime healthcare provided by us voters. Thanks fellas.
Gosh. It seems Kevin is finding out that there is a downside to being a complete weasel lacking any conviction and willing to do anything to get what he wants.
Who'da thunk it.
[Edit] It also says something about the state of Trump's influence in the party that he can't get his handpicked Speaker across the finish line.
6-term Rep. with 2 terms leading the powerful House Ways and Means Cmte.; several successful tight re-elections in his battleground district of Ohio. He's former military AND a doctor, and his wife is amazing. This guy can unite the Rs like nobody else!
Ordinarily I would not relish observing a man having his balls cut off while the whole world watches, but I gotta admit I'm having fun watching it being done to McCarthy.
With respect to the in process House speaker vote, please indulge my fantasy outcome of: (i) vote Round 6 fails to elect a speaker; (ii) members are weary and ready for the matter to be settled; (iii) vote Round 7 -> Nancy Pelosi nominates Liz Cheney; (iv) all democrats vote for Liz Cheney; (v) the requisite # of responsible republicans vote for Liz Cheney; (vi) Liz Cheney is elected House speaker; and (vii) My Kevin reflects on the consequences of his actions.
As of 5:15 p.m. ET, McCarthy has lost the third round of votes, and votes for Jim Jordan are increasing. It's hard to imagine him garnering the needed 217 votes, though. TBH, I don't know why it matters who is Speaker. McCarthy would have MTG's hand up his backside moving his lips for him.
This from Brendon Buck was interesting:
"But, as Buck notes, 'the agitators’ objective isn’t to win the speakership for one of their own; it is to weaken Mr. McCarthy or whoever emerges as the next speaker of the House. The embarrassment indeed may be the point.'”
Re. Kevin McCarthy. If 5 far right congress people refuse to vote for him unless he promises to implement their far right issues, I think he should try to get 5 conservative Democrats to vote for him. I know there are at least 5 and they can ask in exchange that he put aside the stupid time-wasting investigations of Hunter Biden and the origins of Covid in the US. This would have the added advantage of sidelining the Right Wing zealots. They would be left out in the cold.
I'm fine with indulging in some fantasies. But, I don't know... if the House gets a month or two of McCarthy, it might be enough to push them over the edge.
Sasse voted with the "zealots" when it counted the most. I'm more tired of his bloviating and tut-tutting than I am of the more loathesome but forthright MAGAs. Go be De Santis's shill on campus, Gentle Ben, and leave government to people with more guts and integrity.
Mike Pence for Speaker? I personally don't like the man but how fun would it be to see the reaction from Trump and McCarthy? Poor Kevin would need to move his stuff back out of the Speaker's office less than 24 hours after he moved in.
“Lying to the base is a red line for me,” Greene LIED. Always the projection with these idiots.
It is now OFFICIAL--Kevin McCarthy is the Valerie Cherish of American politics. No indignity is too great...No humiliation is too soul crushing...No b*tch slap is too bruise-inducing. On one hand, it is admirable that he is THAT focused on the Speaker's Chair...on the other hand, he is showing he is the ultimate sub. The German in me is LIVING for the schadenfreude, but the American in me is thinking "B*tches, do your damn jobs...the first being setting up the administration of the chamber. If you want to b*tch-slap Kevin, go do it on Fox Channel". Kevin McCarthy does not realize one very important thing--To have power in Congress, you need 2 of the following 3 things to be true...you have to be liked, trusted, or feared. John Boehner was trusted and somewhat feared. Paul Ryan was liked and trusted. Nancy Pelosi was liked, trusted AND feared. Kevin is not liked. Kevin is not trusted. Kevin is not feared.
(One More Thing---Oh boo-hoo...Hope Hicks and company have highly tarnished reputations. If you consort with scum, honey, then it should not be a shock that *you* are perceived as scum. Maybe you'll get a rich husband and go live in affluent obscurity.)
Great to have your voice back, Charlie. Hope you had a wonderful vacation. Morning Shots is one of my morning joys before I get to work. How else would I know something called Lindell TV existed, or could even be dreamed of exisiting. I'll just chime in after seeing your link to Ben Sasse's editorial. At the ripe old age of 57 now, I can say I'm long past having any desire to hear from people like Ben Sasse. While I have 1% respect for MTGreene for apparently authentically and most certainly vociferiously (I'll cap it at four adverbs) speaking her twisted 'truth', a saner Ben Sasse failed to speak up -and act- when his voice carried the weight of his office. So from there on, his academic ramblings cease to have any meaning for me. He is not alone. People like him and Paul Ryan, and the other Big Idea Republicans, can take a hike, along with their lifetime healthcare provided by us voters. Thanks fellas.
So happy to have fresh Bulwark voices back in my podcast feed and was delighted to catch Charlie one day early on MSNBC. Happy New Year!
Gosh. It seems Kevin is finding out that there is a downside to being a complete weasel lacking any conviction and willing to do anything to get what he wants.
Who'da thunk it.
[Edit] It also says something about the state of Trump's influence in the party that he can't get his handpicked Speaker across the finish line.
This is how the Republicans have been operating for two decades: We are against it. We destroyed it. Now what?
Nothing. Destruction is the only plan. Destruction is the means to the means. There is no end.
Hear me out, why not Speaker George Santos???
6-term Rep. with 2 terms leading the powerful House Ways and Means Cmte.; several successful tight re-elections in his battleground district of Ohio. He's former military AND a doctor, and his wife is amazing. This guy can unite the Rs like nobody else!
"Mr. Trump himself saw the push to overturn the 2020 election as a financial opportunity, moving to trademark the phrase “Rigged Election.”"
If anyone needed additional evidence Trump considers the presidency nothing but a big game of fleece the rubes, this quote should dispel their doubts.
As Hunter Thompson said, "when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
Ordinarily I would not relish observing a man having his balls cut off while the whole world watches, but I gotta admit I'm having fun watching it being done to McCarthy.
With respect to the in process House speaker vote, please indulge my fantasy outcome of: (i) vote Round 6 fails to elect a speaker; (ii) members are weary and ready for the matter to be settled; (iii) vote Round 7 -> Nancy Pelosi nominates Liz Cheney; (iv) all democrats vote for Liz Cheney; (v) the requisite # of responsible republicans vote for Liz Cheney; (vi) Liz Cheney is elected House speaker; and (vii) My Kevin reflects on the consequences of his actions.
From your lips . . .
As of 5:15 p.m. ET, McCarthy has lost the third round of votes, and votes for Jim Jordan are increasing. It's hard to imagine him garnering the needed 217 votes, though. TBH, I don't know why it matters who is Speaker. McCarthy would have MTG's hand up his backside moving his lips for him.
This from Brendon Buck was interesting:
"But, as Buck notes, 'the agitators’ objective isn’t to win the speakership for one of their own; it is to weaken Mr. McCarthy or whoever emerges as the next speaker of the House. The embarrassment indeed may be the point.'”
Still not sure what the GOP gains from that.
The MAGAs in the House clearly don't care about the GOP or Congress. They just love the free press and those idiots who voted for them.
I enjoyed reading Charlie's wonderful musings with my afternoon popcorn as I gleefully watched the self implosion of the Republican House.
Re. Kevin McCarthy. If 5 far right congress people refuse to vote for him unless he promises to implement their far right issues, I think he should try to get 5 conservative Democrats to vote for him. I know there are at least 5 and they can ask in exchange that he put aside the stupid time-wasting investigations of Hunter Biden and the origins of Covid in the US. This would have the added advantage of sidelining the Right Wing zealots. They would be left out in the cold.
I like the idea but I doubt McCarthy has the stones to go against the zealots. Any deal he mad with Dems would collapse at the first pushback.
I'm hoping the few sane Rs decide they'd be better off with Jeffries. I know, a fantasy outcome.
I'm fine with indulging in some fantasies. But, I don't know... if the House gets a month or two of McCarthy, it might be enough to push them over the edge.
Ben Sasse, 1863: ‘Forget about the Confederacy and the rebellion and slavery. This is about zealots on both sides.’
Sasse voted with the "zealots" when it counted the most. I'm more tired of his bloviating and tut-tutting than I am of the more loathesome but forthright MAGAs. Go be De Santis's shill on campus, Gentle Ben, and leave government to people with more guts and integrity.
Mike Pence for Speaker? I personally don't like the man but how fun would it be to see the reaction from Trump and McCarthy? Poor Kevin would need to move his stuff back out of the Speaker's office less than 24 hours after he moved in.
I doubt the MAGAs would vote for him - he failed the Orange god. Not sure many Ds would go for it.
Pence would just break your heart. He doesn't have THAT much integrity.