I wouldn't change a thing- not the lies, extremism, incompetence, hubris....
Kevin McCarthy finally pays for his arrogance and selfishness
Virtue is under certain circumstances merely an honorable form of stupidity: who could be ill-disposed toward it on that account? And this kind of virtue has not been outlived even today. A kind of sturdy peasant simplicity, which, however, is possible in all classes and can be encountered only with respect and a smile, believes even today that everything is in good hands, namely in the "hands of God"; and when it maintains this proportion with the same modest certainty as it would that two and two make four, we others certainly refrain from contradicting. Why disturb THIS pure foolishness? Why darken it with our worries about man, people, goal, future? And even if we wanted to do it, we could not. They project their own honorable stupidity and goodness into the heart of things (the old God, deus myops, still lives among them!); we others — we read something else into the heart of things: our own enigmatic nature, our contradictions, our deeper, more painful, more mistrustful wisdom.
Friedrich Nietzsche
He was dishonest, devoid of integrity, entirely self-interested, incompetent, and liable to change his mind at a moment’s notice based on what benefited his position the most. But (former) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) reaped what he sowed when he was kicked out of office on Tuesday.
Ain’t karma a bitch??
Of course, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), the instrument of the former Speaker’s demise, is hardly a perfect specimen of integrity and morality, but Kevin McCarthy ultimately did himself in. Gaetz, an egomaniac, poster child for the Dunning-Kruger Effect, and a suspected pedophile, awaits his comeuppance.
Before the vote, McCarthy confidently faced his detractors…and was thoroughly embarrassed. Arrogance will do that, I suppose…and the resulting schadenfreude was delightful.
The problem with juggling is that one can only keep so many balls in the air for so long before they inevitably come crashing down. And so it was with McCarthy’s Speakership, a project born out of lies, deception, extremism, and a deal with the Devil (the Freedumb Caucus). As karma inevitably will, it came back to bite McCarthy on the ass, and now he’s lost his power, office, and reputation.
It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving smiling jackass.
Ah, well, McCarthy has never been the sharpest tool in the box.? And when you owe your position to people like Matt Gaetz…well, you can’t very well claim to be surprised when the suspected pedophile/sex offender calls for your head.
Mehdi Hasan from NBC had one of the greatest takes of all time:
To make McCarthy’s downfall even more delicious, the schadenfreude served up online was priceless:
Donald Trump's niece, Mary Trump, similarly gave a quick shot. "We did," she wrote with an emoji face with sunglasses.
Blogger Jay McKenzie had this to say: "Change your @." McKenzie then suggested "@PunishedKevin" for a potential new ID.
The Lincoln Project commented, "Bookmarking this :)."
Republicans Against Trump wrote, "You brought it on yourself and the country when you gave the keys to the most deranged pro-Putin extremists in the GOP."
After some initial indications that McCarthy would try and rally support for another attempt to secure the Speakership, he’s decided to spare himself the potential embarrassment of a second rejection.
He finally recognized the reality before him- he has as much chance of regaining the Speaker’s gavel as I do of winning a Pulitzer Prize for brilliant and incisive writing.
Yeah, like THAT’s going to happen….
Given the GOP’s never-ending gift for thoroughly debasing itself, Senate Minority Leader and poster child for TIAs- trans ischemic strokes- Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released a statement that lauded Kevin McCarthy as being a veritable saint just shy of Jesus Christ:
“Speaker’s tenure was bookended by historic fights, but as he reminded his colleagues when he took the gavel, ‘our nation is worth fighting for.’”
Sure, and so is a decent steak, but you don’t see Republicans lining up to fight for that, do you?
McConnell’s statement continues:
“The Speaker’s appetite for worthy causes steered a narrow majority to seize historic opportunities for the American people and for conservative principles. His willingness to face the biggest challenges head-on helped preserve the full faith and credit of the United States and showed colleagues how to handle every outcome with grace.
“Speaker McCarthy brought the hopes, dreams, and concerns of the people of California’s 20th congressional district to the highest reaches of our national conversation. He embraced his role as foremost steward of the Capitol, welcoming American families to the center of their representative democracy.
“I am particularly grateful to the Speaker for our close working partnership. As Congressional Republicans continue the essential work begun during his tenure, Speaker McCarthy’s unapologetic patriotism and unshakeable optimism will remain a valuable guide.”
Good Lord, I can feel my gag reflex beginning to kick in….
Someone should consult a surgeon about removing Leader McConnell’s lips from McCarthy’s ass.
When Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison weighed in, it wasn’t to praise the former Speaker but to grab a rhetorical shovel and deservedly bury him:
Ladies and gentlemen, these are the MAGA Republicans of the 118th Congress. Since House Republicans assumed the majority in January, we have witnessed time and again the feckless, incompetent, and chaotic Republican leadership that has done nothing but bend the knee to Donald Trump and make a mockery of our institutions. Enough is enough; the American people expect a government that serves them – not the egos of Donald Trump and MAGA extremists in Congress. In the midst of Republican chaos and incompetence, Democrats will continue to be the adults in the room and fight to deliver for the American people like we have every single day since President Biden was sworn into office.
It’s great that Democrats will continue to be the adults in the room, but the recalcitrant children still have a slight majority in the House. That being the case, there’s every chance the House will continue to be the shitshow it’s been for the past couple of years.
Nothing will get done, and the feces-flinging monkeys will continue to rule. The mess will be EPIC.
It doesn’t matter who Republicans choose to be their new Speaker. The poor fool will be hamstrung by the Freedumb Caucus from the outset, meaning that MAGA fools will continue to think they run the show. Ultimately, nothing will get done because no will will control the House. The inmates will continue running the asylum, and the feces-flinging monkeys will riot.
Frankly, it’ll be less stomach-churning to watch sausage being made.
It would be nice to think that Republicans will suddenly see the light and act like mature, responsible adults. Let’s face reality; any deliberative chamber that doesn’t keep Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, and Marjorie Trailer Greene muzzled and leashed can’t be taken seriously. There are too many unserious and immature people on the Far-Right for anyone to harbor any hope of anything substantial being accomplished. Hell, these clowns can’t even agree on what their priorities are.
Some want to impeach President Joe Biden, never mind that there’s no evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors. Some want to turn America into Gilead and the reproductive functions of women into the exclusive property of the State. And some want to make The Former Guy the King of the World, with the power to order the summary execution of anyone who happens to cross him for any reason…or no reason at all.
There’s considerable sentiment that the GOP clown show in the House over the past two years will cost them their majority. As one who wants the best for my country and is sick and tired of the sideshow we’ve been subjected to, it’s time for the adults in the room- Democrats- to have a shot at running things in the House, Senate, AND White House.
Republicans have made it crystal clear they have no interest in or ability to get serious about the day-to-day realities of governing. They want to burn things down, which is hardly a recipe for making America great again.
It’s time for the GOP to be relegated to being the loyal opposition for a few years. Let them spend a few years bitching and moaning about being unable to get their priorities passed. Perhaps that will force Republicans to get serious about running people who will be deliberate and genuine about governing.
I doubt it, but I try to give people the benefit of the doubt….
If they can do that, perhaps the GOP will again deserve to be taken seriously. I have difficulty imagining that happening, considering the current roster of clowns and asshats that pass for party “leadership.”
If the party of Lincoln can purge its leadership of the clowns, asshats, and egomaniacs currently taking up space and install intelligent, capable, and reasonable politicians willing to compromise, they might have a chance. Otherwise, the GOP will remain a permanent clown car relegated to remaining a laughing stock, never to be taken seriously again.
It’s time for the adults in the room to run the show and get shit done for this country. Gun control. Education reform. Healthcare reform. Infrastructure. I could go on, but you get the point.
America deserves better…but Republicans won’t give it to us.
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I do wonder what the absence of a Speaker means for the budget in 45 days or so.