Americans Should Expect a Leaderless Congress

Kevin McCarthy, the not-so-popular Republican Congressman from California, is struggling to muster enough votes to become the next Speaker of the House without giving away all his powers before he even holds the gavel. The ugly show voters are witnessing today, the work of some MAGA and Freedom Caucus extremists, speaks volumes about the state of affairs of our republic in which Americans should expect a leaderless Congress for the next two years.

It’s a sad saga for McCarthy who finds himself hanging between two worlds courtesy of his loyalty to Donald Trump and a more pragmatic GOP unwilling to keep losing elections. Mind you though, McCarthy’s public loyalty to Trump is not really helping him seal the deal, or get him any closer to that coveted leadership role he has been waiting to command for years.

Whether Kevin ascends to that speakership role remains a mystery. It’s a toss up as far as many are concerned. But even if he does, the chaos his leadership is about to unleash is for the ages.

It’s time to convene the moderates because MAGA forces have been clobbered in the mid-term elections, and any show of force today is just a charade of paper, not tigers.

TIME TO CONVENE THE MODERATES

Here is an idea that some moderate Republicans and Democrats are discussing. Join forces to elect a moderate Republican who can work with both sides while ignoring the extremists on both sides. In fact, to save us from Trump and the Freedom Caucus, this is the most elegant solution to the problem facing Congress in 2023.

Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon has actually threatened to work with the Democrats to elect a moderate GOP Speaker if the five renegades and extremists Republicans, Andy Biggs, Bob Good, Matt Rosendale, Ralph Norman, and Matt Gaetz. holding up McCarthy’s nomination refuse to back down. Such would do Congress a great deal of good to sideline these insurrectionist extremists.

As Bacon pointed out, of the 16 new Republicans who won their seats, 13 are institutional conservatives with no MAGA connections. Therefore, why should MAGA dwindling numbers hold all of Congress hostage? Having said that, should by chance McCarthy become Speaker, Americans should expect a leaderless Congress. That’s a fact. Not only because the GOP Congressman from California comes to power already with clipped wings, but also because McCarthy is a weak politician.

It’s time to convene the moderates because MAGA forces have been clobbered in the mid-term elections, and any show of force today is just a charade of paper, not tigers.

Last time Congress required several ballots to elect a Speaker was in 1923, and before that right after the civil war. It may happen again against the insurrectionist Donald Trump.

TRUMP’S GRIP

Trump’s grip on the GOP, although beginning to fade, remains adamant about a power it no longer commands. This is providing the extremists in Congress with arrogance and audacity to claim a prize they did not earn in the form of demanding Kevin McCarthy to concede to their fanatic views.

Is it not time for the relatively conservative moderates in Congress to join hands to remove the last remnants of a sick political movement out of the way for good? If not now, then we should expect a chaotic 118th Congress unable to accomplish much beyond empty investigations as payback to please Donald Trump.

Should moderate Republicans not stir today instead of sitting on the sideline to watch the show of horrors led by the mental Marjorie Taylor Greene by electing someone who can work across the isle to legislate instead of acting on behalf of a vengeful Trump? Republicans capitulating to Trumpism after the mid-term elections results are not looking for the good of the country. In fact, it is time to demand justification for their cult-like loyalties in the face of election defeats and accumulating losses.

Today’s Speaker election holds the key to what looks like a chaotic Congress for the next two years. Whether McCarthy prevails or not. The fact he cannot secure the gavel from the first ballot is an indication just how polarizing and destructive Donald Trump has been to the country.

Last time Congress required several ballots to elect a Speaker was in 1923; and before that right after the civil war. It may yet happen again with the insurrectionist Donald Trump.

Americans Should Expect a Leaderless Congress