GOP Fantasy Collides With Reality
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Last night was the night a lot of bills came due for Kevin McCarthy.
The bill came due for pandering to his party’s extremes, for desperate deals and broken promises. Most of all, the bill came due for the House Republicans’ failure in the elections of 2022.
Republicans have had a lot of bad elections since Donald Trump took over the party. They lost the popular vote for president in 2016, they lost the House in 2018, they lost the presidency in 2020, and they lost the Senate in 2021.
The 2022 election cycle was supposed to break the Trump curse. It was supposed to be the year of the red wave that would sweep away Joe Biden’s woke mob in Congress. Instead, Republicans posted net losses of one seat in the U.S. Senate, two governorships, and four state legislative chambers . Amid all of the defeats, there was one piece of good news: They reclaimed the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
But that seeming victory proved deceptive. Democrats had lost the majority, but Republicans had not won a functioning majority of their own.
They tried to act otherwise. They tried to advance a big agenda, even tried to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. To propel that agenda required their tiny majority to march in unison, each member subordinating his or her own wishes to the collective will.
Predictably, that did not happen.
Which left Plan B: Accept reality; acknowledge that the GOP had not won a functioning majority; and reach across the aisle, make deals, and do your business that way.
That’s what McCarthy did in May with the debt-ceiling deal and tried to do again with the budget this past weekend. The first foray wounded him. The second finished him.
The rules of contemporary Republican politics make it hard to accept reality. Reality is just too awkward.
In reality, Trump has been a big vote loser for Republicans. He fluked into the presidency with a Dukakis-like share of the vote in 2016, then lost his party its majority in the House in 2018. Trump got decisively booted from the presidency in 2020; rampaged illegally on January 6, 2021; and then cost his party its Senate majority in the January 2021 runoff elections. His election-denier message damaged his party further in the elections of 2022. His demand for a Biden investigation and impeachment in 2023 is producing an embarrassing fiasco. But no Republican leader dares say these things out loud.
Most taboo of all is working with Democrats, on any terms other than total, one-sided domination: We win, you lose. So McCarthy just had to press ahead, acting as if he commanded a majority when he did not; insulting and demeaning the minority, even though he had to know that he might need their help at any minute.
That minute came. McCarthy sought Democratic votes to save him from his own refractory members, and in return he offered nothing. Not even politeness.
That proposition did not produce the desired results, and so here we are.
Where we are is a country with a solid anti-Trump majority confronting a pro-Trump minority that believes it has a right to rule without concession or compromise.
The only way to produce a stable majority in the House is for the next Republican leader to reach a working agreement with the Democrats to bypass the nihilists in the GOP caucus. But that agreement will have to be unspoken and even denied—because making agreements that show any respect for the other side will be seen by Republican partisans as betrayal. The price of GOP leadership is delivering delusions and fantasies: the delusion and fantasy that Trump won in 2020, the delusion and fantasy that the Republicans did not lose in 2022.
The Republican so-called majority in the House survives by perpetual self-hostage-taking. McCarthy secured his speakership in January by allowing any one member to trigger a vote to get rid of him. He stopped a default in May by agreeing to face a government shutdown in October. He avoided a shutdown with a 47-day extension, and by wrecking his own leadership.
The next leader will have to manage another set of delusions and fantasies—those being trafficked via the Biden impeachment inquiry. The reality is: Republicans have made a lot of angry accusations, but they have scant evidence that the president is guilty of anything other than fathering a troubled son. The fantasy is: They’ll discover proof of a huge criminal scheme that implicates President Biden.
For seven years, Republicans have protected and enabled Trump, the most corrupt and lawless president in American history. They crave to believe that Biden is as bad or worse, and they won’t be denied that craving by pesky details such as its crazy untruth. The next ringmaster will have to deliver a more exciting act to the most frenzied fans in the circus seats.
For the rest of the country, all of this threatens more crisis, more drama, more misgovernment, until one of two things happens. Either Republicans will overcome their taboo against reality and find some way to strike deals with their opponents, or voters in November 2024 will replace this dysfunctional majority that lives by lies with a functional majority that can work with facts.
Be radical and only bash Frum for being Canadian!
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There was a time idiots listened to politicians, now politicians listen to idiots ... the 'gift' of populism.
The gqp/CONServatives/republiCONS are living in a land of delusion.
Their cult more than anything actually are the ones living in a land of delusion
Since you told me to "Buzz off" elsewhere, would you prefer that I don't comment on your articles/seeds?
Perish the thought!
Okay, thanks. I was really starting to feel rejected.
The "grassroots" voters don't believe they are a minority and they defy any attempt at reality as "fake news" or a "deep state" conspiracy. Those that should know better do believe they can rule until they are eaten by their own. Ask any the last 3 Republican House Speakers...
They're teabaggers/astroturfers
An indictment on just how far we have fallen in the attempt to justify the unjustifiable.
Some are only so willing to argue an indictment means nothing without a conviction, but in this sad case, it is an indictment on us for enabling those whom have absolutely no intention of accepting any responsibility as it relates to our well being.
Fantasy collides with reality and it was one hell of a crash.
200 plus Democrats and 8 Republicans love chaos.
I'm sure Ukraine enjoys the stunt Democrats pulled. Good luck with their funding now.
So you don't think we should support our allies?
So you don't think we should support our allies?
You should ask the entire Democratic caucus why it made it that much harder to do so.
Good luck with Jim Jordan funding Ukraine.
You actually think Jim Jordan can pull 218 votes for Speaker? I suppose the Dems might take that as a gift though. Every time he opens his mouth their reelection accounts get bigger, so maybe?
Maybe. Whoever it is going to learn from what happened to McCarthy that he can't compromise with Democrats. Pelosi demonstrated what their promises are worth.
Every time he opens his mouth their reelection accounts get bigger, so maybe
Maybe. But Ukraine probably won't be happy the results so if selling out your allies who you claim to care about is worth some dollars in the reelection account, it's a win for Democrats.
Whoever the next speaker ends up being they are going to have to make alot of promises on the border, Ukraine and spending. The Democrats have pretty much guaranteed a long shutdown by siding with Gaetz and company over the moderates.
I don't think he can, he has never even passed one bill. He is [deleted for the reich wing.]
Then prepare for losing more seats next year. There are several moderates up for reelection and a non-stop anit-Biden show in the House will not get them reelected. It will make those in the Freedom Caucus just as unpleasant to constituents in all but the reddest districts. The majority of voters are unhappy with both sides playing games. If the House elects Jim Jordan and it goes scorched earth on Dems they'll lose in the long term.
Again you are predicating this on the fact the WHOLE House will fall in line. I don't see it, but good luck with those political circuses.
So you are saying the right wing wants to fund the Ukraine? Seems weird since....they don't. What are you driving at Sean? If France or the UK was being attacked by Russia, would you be cheering for Russia? I ask because it looks like most of the right wing is..
He's not well liked in the House to begin with. If elected he'll likely ignore funding and go straight to impeachment. His whole schtick is to fuck the Dems.
Most of today's gqp appear to be [deleted the reich wing).]
Jim Jordan is a Russian stooge so why would he?
“Jim Jordan is a Russian stooge…”
You give him too much credit.
He is but a wannabe, a flyover with no content, no context, and no meaningful contribution to be had.
doesn't he have a court date coming up soon concerning his time at ohio state?
No idea.
All I know he is totally ill equipped to be third in line for the presidency. That sobering thought alone should influence every house vote.
Definitely not Presidential material.
neither is Kamala, but you seem cool with it.
At this time we are optimally positioned for the adults in the room to discard their party affiliations and coalesce around governing in a responsible manner.
Oh,no. That will never happen.
maga scum finally linking their legislative support here to their hero's comrades in russia. what a surprise...
You just realized some people don't think sending tens of billions to Ukraine when we already have a trillion dollar deficit is a good idea? Congrats on catching up.
It's amazing how little democrats ever understand about their actions. It's a party full of Mayor Bowsers wondering why Washington DC has a massive crime problem and not enough cops.
How much do we send to Israel every year?
what in the fuck does that have to do with Ukraine?
Learn to follow a thread..
[deleted]
Ok, I will type slowly....
Sean is complaining that we support our ally, the Ukraine, but does he complain that we send over 10Billion a year to Israel? No, of course not. Cause and effect, supporting one ally over another...
NOW do you get it?
Be careful how you reply, I am looking for a reason to ignore you yet again.
it isn't the speed of your typing but rather the content of what you type.
Meh.
“Be careful…”
Or just do what I told tex months ago…that I was done responding to the inanity, knowing full well it would never stop.
Every single post only confirms the old idiom that less is [more…deleted]
[Confirmation headed our way.]
Bingo.
Is it that big a stretch for you? Seeing as it is my seed, I'll quote LBJ's line to PM Pearson: "Don't come down here and piss on my rug!"
vow much do we send to Israel every year? .
3.8 billion. For context, We've given Ukraine 113 billion so far with a request for more.
Exactly, only the beagles were allowed to piss on his rug.
You are making things up. You are misstating facts and what I wrote.
I would surely love it if you explained what Isreal has to do with Ukraine
Pearson only wanted to know which end to kick.
The good news is that we’ve unloaded some older military equipment that we wanted to replace anyway and got rid of ammo that was nearing it’s “best used by” dates.
Yep. It's $3.8B. and so far, near as I can find, $41B to Ukraine.
I hope it's enough. I don't think anymore is getting sent anytime soon.
What everything has to do with everything - oil.
[Deleted]
[Deleted]
neither Israel or Ukraine are that big of producers.
Gonna have to do better than that.
[Deleted]
Um, it's closer to 15 billion/Yr.
Embassy of Israel, Washington, D.C. Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign aid: until February 2022, the United States had provided Israel US$150 billion (non-inflation-adjusted) in bilateral assistance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93United_States_relations#:~:text=Embassy%20of%20Israel%2C%20Washington%2C%20D.C.&text=Israel%20is%20the%20largest%20cumulative,%2Dadjusted)%20in%20bilateral%20assistance.
And the 38 Billion Obama gave them....
I don't see that in your link, could you provide a link please?
Close enough and one of the 'satirical' reasons abortions in Israel are free.
Bless your ❤️....
This proves the 3.8 right, it’s from the CBO, hope that’s a reliable source.
Pipelines are strategic to all countries in eurasia.
No doubt.
Math is hard, it’s harder if you’re an idiot trying to score political points, Obama’s 38 billion was a 10 year aid package, maybe someone who knows how to use the calculator built into their electronic device can tell us how much that works out to per year?
People make errors all the time and every time an idiot comes along to 'score' inane points. Oh the humanity!
It's not.
It's been $150 billion in total... since 1946 .
In 2023 it's set to be $3.8 billion.
I believe we have established that ... time to move on.
you should stop trying to compare the aid given to each country.
Okay, let me know when I do that.
Time to finish the last season of Bomb Girls ...
Denial is futile.
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Is this a joke? For 4 years Trump voters praised the 'Chaos Presidency' of DJT ... Animal Farm dejavu.
Dem House members said better late than never.
Dem house members have said many things, one of them is that you are never serious.
Did they? But sure, if you want to argue that the Democrats are as reckless as Trump, I won't stop you.
Real high bar you set there "Democrats are the same as the guy we've spent the last 7 years calling the biggest threat to democracy in history"
That they did, hell they still do.
“200 plus Democrats and 8 Republicans love chaos.”
The Democrats had nothing to do with the gop uncivil war other than showing that their leadership had them unified. The entire debacle came down to the rogue demagogues blowing up an institutional precedent that had stood since our inception.
And for just what purpose?
All the tired squirrels in the sun
How are they supposed to get any climbing done?
(apol. to Bob D.)
Rogue demagogues and Party unity over country.
Do you not understand how voting works? Every democrat plus the Matt Gaetz eight voted for an unknown new speaker. Without the Democrats unified support, nonthing would have changed. Now, thanks to the Democrats and their ally Matt Gaetz, we have chaos.
This is the same as claiming to not understand what happens when a fire alarm is pulled. You can't act surprised when the alarm goes off and the door doesn't open, unless you are illiterate or severely mentally handicapped.. When you vote to remove the Speaker and create chaos, that's what you get when you succeed. Enjoy the shutdown. Maybe Democrats will gain a few points in the polls and you can pat yourselves on the back for a job well done as the shutdown goes on. That's the entire point, right?
OR the new Speaker isn't a MAGA Moron and makes a deal with the Dems to get elected and pass funding.
Why would the next speaker do that after what happened to McCarthy after reaching a deal with Democrats on a mere CR? Everyone knows Democrats promises to protect a Speaker for compromising, like Pelosi promised McCarthy are worthless.
Because it's politically necessary.
It's isn't like the Republicans are shining beacons of integrity either. You can change Democrats to politicians and be more accurate.
“Do you not understand how voting works?”
I totally understand. Do you understand the reasoning behind his expulsion?
Yes, 100% of Democrats sided with Matt Gaetz to create chaos that they think will help them, as one of your compatriots said earlier, raise money and in the polls, with the hope of electing more members in 2025. They want to make things as bad as possible now believing Republicans will be blamed.
with the growing disunity in the republican party, the process to seat a new chair will be hilarious. any republican with a handful of friends, that's willing to make a deal with democrats, gets the chair and if they renege, it only takes one democrat to file a motion to vacate. welcome to the newest trump reality show, speaker for a day...
Get over this nonsense, just a few days ago Matt-z was the GoP's Jeanne D'arc. Dems sided against McCarthy just as Rep's would have sided against Nanc-z in a similar situation.
Congress creates chaos.
A non-functioning Congress simply means the chaos machine is down and we'll have to make do with less official foolishness for a while.
“…make do with less official foolishness for a while.”
Tell that to our essential federal employees and military personnel, many of whom survive paycheck-to-paycheck, when the foolishness extends beyond those who have already ensured themselves a pay raise. Incredulous.
“…believing Republicans will be blamed.”
Self explanatory.
Exactly, I also think Sean explained it rather well.
The quote function is not difficult to use.
You act as if they don't already know.
Nevertheless, they have 7 weeks to work all this out. In the meantime, we should all run around talking about the sky falling, as though we don't know how to live our lives without Congress telling us what to do.
I don't think that word means what you think it means.
“The quote function is not difficult to use.”
Too difficult to follow? Incredulous.
See you in seven tortuous weeks.
Why the fuck should we work with McCarthy? That two faced back stabbing scumbag? Fuck him!
That is why he is gone. He worked with the democrats to pass the CR and the repubs, some at least, didn't like it.
.
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The rest of this thread was removed for no value and or taunting. Knock it off. Only warning.