David, While your comment is far more creative, my take-away is that, prior to passage of a relatively clean bipartisan CR, every Republican from a Biden-won district voted for a 30% across-the-board spending cut. I urge their Democratic 24 challengers repeatedly to amplify, in my view, this disqualifying fact.
Re "every Republican from a Biden-won district voted for a 30% across-the-board spending cut": it seems to me that you're making the same mistake the news media keeps making: that the typical Republican has a measurable I.Q.
No, I'm saying that, when you're hanging on by a thread — winning in a district you never should have won in — you might want to hide the scissors (i.e., you might want to keep your mouth shut about spending cuts that are never popular among your Democratic constituents, who are already chafing at the bit to unseat you!)
So, no: Democratic challengers should shout that Republican stupidity from the rooftops!
David, Frankly, I’ll never understand why these Biden-won-district Republicans continue to support McCarthy who pressed them to vote for the steep cuts to appease the MAGA wing, that, in turn, opposed said CR.
It's called "tribalism": "Is he a member of our 'tribe'? Yes? Then he has our support, period!"
Pathetic, but the way of the world — except, of course, for Democrats: "Did Al Franken — a comedian — make a lewd (though harmless) gesture — FOR (locker room) LAUGHS — toward a (presumably) sleeping female associate's breasts? Yes? Then drum him out of the Senate!"
And, on the other side of the aisle? "Did Lauren Boebert make much MORE than a 'gesture' toward the crotch of the guy sitting next to her at 'Beetlejuice', who was making much MORE than a 'gesture' toward Boebert's breasts? Yes? Then that puts her first in line for a Presidential Medal of Freedom!"
While they are at it they ought to be making sure that while Republicans voted NO to raising the minimum wage, they stuck a COLA for their own salaries in the CR to avoid the shutdown.. I’m not fully sure if that got removed from the CR..
What really knocks me out is: Sarah Palin's 18-year-old daughter gives birth to a baby, Lauren Boebert's 17-year-old son fathers a baby, and, to the Republicans, these are "gifts from God"! But let Sasha or Malia Obama do the same thing at the same age and you know what you'd hear from those same Republicans: "SLUTS FROM HELL!"
Thanks, Tracy. I've been waiting for someone to add to my list, since said additions would be basically endless.
Just love the guy in the video: "Oh, what's this: a breast? Well, it certainly looks like it could use a good massaging." Then Boebert: "Well, it would simply be wrong for me not to reciprocate (hand to guy's crotch)".
I can't bear to look at it again - soooo disgusting !!! And this by a Representative of the House?!! So beyond 'unbecoming' that she should have her committees taken away from her - honestly!!!
As long as there's a group of people who place gun-toting, teen mom ignoramuses on a pedestal — rather than, say, taking away their committee assignments — then this country really has no hope.
“Kevin McCarthy is drowning. Throw him a cinder block, not a life jacket.”---Steve Schmidt
Very funny but true, although, forget the cinder block, just throw him an anchor from the USS McCain. This way he’ll know the difference between a man of honor and sacrifice, versus a man of little consequence, honor or valor.
I agree, he screwed the democrats already after agreeing to a bi-partisan deal, and then being unfit, I mean unable, to rein in his FreeDumb caucus.
And when he says there needs to be an adult in the room; I agree, although it’s a relative term. What does it matter if you have an adult who combined with the rest of his caucus have been committed to an insane asylum?
McCarthy needs to go, but the only question I have is who comes next? What’s left of the Republican Party are just a bunch of chaos agents and sycophants for Trump.
Maybe 80 relative Congressmen and women remain. They should start a centrist party and rebuild. Clearly, there is only one party that came to Washington to govern, and it’s not McCarthy and his cohorts.
Teaching McCarthy about honor is a satisfying aspirational thought but it can’t be a priority right now. Better play out the answer to your good question about what comes next before you disengage while McCarthy is ousted. Hint: what comes next will not be 80 Republicans suddenly deciding to break away and form a centrist party.
"Teaching McCarthy about honor" is a useless and impossible task. He's a whimp and will be dishonorable to his dying day. I pray not one democrat get involved in this dirty Republican business. That Gaetz himself become speaker is simply unthinkable!!!
Didn't McCarthy get the job once before and lose it because he "couldn't speak?" Was it that he was caught saying 'hey, see how we managed to wreck, with lies, the chances of Hillary Clinton?' It's just about like Trump boasting he could get any price he asked for Mar a Lago, from any number of Saudis. Unfortunately they're stupid. Just stupid about what laws are about? Hm.
Did I hear Eric Trump went and shook hands with Letitia James today? Doesn't he feel awkward about all his online rants? If so I think it's the same issue as with the other two.
Wisdom is to follow Nancy Pelosi’s guidance to the D House Leadership — do not get involved. I’m normally a proactive person but right now just stay out of this week’s fracas.
Potentially Speaker Jeffries. If the R's are so fractured, there is the possibility the remaining moderate R's (as in Biden won their districts) might go with a centrist D. Jeffries is rational and articulate. That's what happens when you have a strong team that can work together. They can step in and lead.
That will never happen. There are not enough true Patriots in the Republican Party anymore, not even a handful, that would put the best interest of the United States first.
Liz- I love your your wide-angle thinking. Mentioning MTG and Jeffries in the same sentences with “speaker” ( in two different posts ) sure covers the gamut from the ridiculous to the sublime.
Thank you, you're very kind. Comes from being a DC native and working on the Hill on both the front end (summer intern 8th Congressional district MD when Watergate occurred) to the end of my Federal career at the Library of Congress.
Did she say that? Is that why Democrats never said anything and let the GOP say all their lies with no denials anywhere? That was a criminal mistake if so.
Oh, I thought it meant she'd said generally to House Democrats, "Don't get involved in the nutty lies of nutty Republicans." I've heard hints of this-- I think from Brian Schatz. There must have been such a policy, coming from somewhere. Democrats are much better talkers than Republicans and it's just a crime that this has gone the way it has, just from some idyllic idea.
I agree wholeheartedly that the House Democrats should not, in any way, support McCarthy. In my opinion every one of them should refrain from even voting. As for the oh so worn out “adult in the room” predictably uttered by him..... the entire student body of a small grade school would be more trustworthy, dependable, and honest than Republican House members. The Democrats should confine themselves to commenting from the peanut gallery.
Meanwhile, Trump was in California this weekend ranting to the states’ GOP, who raved at his profanities, hate mongering, and not so veiled threats. It’s hard to imagine how he could possibly get worse, but somehow he managed to once again. He’s a dangerous man, made more so by his devotees.
Different rooms, but you are right. I just read her book 'Enough'. She made it clear in the book that she was very reluctant to testify and she's been through a lot. She's not perfect but I think she's very brave. Liz Cheney deserves a lot of credit for getting that important testimony to us of course.
The problem with letting the chaos caucus oust McCarthy is that it amplifies their power, which is the opposite of what’s needed. McCarthy is odious, but he is not the biggest problem.
I'm actually sitting back and wondering which way MTG will jump. Will she go with Gaetz in hopes of picking up the Speakership, or will she stay with McCarthy.
Too many Americans have “checked out” in favor of sports, television in its various iterations, alcohol and every other escapist variation. The state of the Nation we’re in is showing what our ignorance has allowed. I’m now reading Noam Chomsky’s REQUIEM FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM and boy, does he break it down.
I totally agree with everything you say except, I think the dems should keep him in place. Why? Because even though he is exactly what you say he is, who will replace him? Someone even worse? I think by supporting is position it puts the dems in charge and by doing that, it zeros out any power the far right had and will have going forward. I know this is a risky post I am making here, but I think He will need dems and to a large degree it puts us in charge. OK, start yelling at me.
I agree with you. I have no love for Mr. McCarthy. He is feckless and disingenuous, and those are his better qualities. However, whoever replaces him would likely be worse, IMHO.
From my interpretation of Steve’s warning, his point was to let the Rs feed on each other, further underscoring the spectacle of their unmoored recklessness. While they continue feasting on themselves, one hopes Trump continues his courtroom downfalls and the Rs on the “I’m not sure who I’ll support for president.” sidelines will be sickened to their core and wake the Fu${ up!
Jerry, no yelling here. Always good to get points of views. My gut says let McCarthy stew in his own juices. He just reneged on a deal he made with Biden for the budget. Whatever happens will be a spectacle that Democrats should watch carefully but not interfere with. McCarthy isn’t honest enough to trust that any Democratic’s support will be rewarded by him doing the right think the next time.
I’d love to know what Nancy Pelosi would do in this moment. She deferred to Hakeem Jeffries, which is the right thing to do. But that woman is brilliant! What would she do?
Both McCarthy and Gaetz are abusing any power that they may have. Wasting time, funds, and not getting any work done. This CLOWN SHOW should be kicked out of the House. People should be put into place who know the regulations and respect the powers of the Constitution!
As tactically amuseing as it can be to suggest throwing MCarthy a cinderblock. What the hell happens after? Any way Dems can pull him up and continue to pull his chain? Thereby essentially holding majority? He’s already been bailed out by Dems once. What does he now owe them, and what would one more time do?
MccCarthy is the tip of the sewer and Gaetz is the chief shoveler. Definitely a partnership made for America's lowlife. They are more than just despicable and deplorable. They are like those family members one persists in denying as existing, they bring so much shame.
Let us not forget that Speaker of the House is third in line to the Presidency. Who in that conference can do the job and be worthy of that spot in the national succession? That's the question for me and I don't see a viable answer. When it comes down to it, Gaetz may lose another round because there isn't really a replacement. My guess: he proposes himself. Wait and see.
Jane, it is truly frightening to think of Matt Gaetz, 2 heartbeats away from the presidency. Even more disconcerting is the more realistic possibility of Jim Jordan. Talk about a "house" of horrors.
Agree! But Kevin McCarthy is just as bad in his own way IMHO. These guys are all in the gutter. They don't belong in the House or in any elected body of government. Talk about rotten to the core -- we are seeing it and worse, paying for it. We are paying their salaries and they are abusing our trust.
I agree that none of them are worthy of their titles. It makes me cringe when they refer to themselves as leaders. No leadership training I took ever identified any of the personality traits I see being exhibited in the houses of congress.
IMO Steve nailed it with the phrase: vapid narcissism. That's what I see in the House. The people's business, serious issues, national security, international relations, the Russian war all seem to be far less important than their personal grievances. Grievance government for personal gain. That's what we have elected and we continue to elect this. Which is why I see Weimar all over again.
This was a fact I have failed to rank as a critical factor. Third in line. I can only hope the on-ground strategic ninjas fully recognize the extant perils of this weak link. Never allow Joe and Kamala on the same plane, helicopter, car, bus, golf cart, same room, same anything. Together and one slip-through lucky Trump inspired berserker could initiate an irreverable avalanche. Wish they would also vet the secret service with a fine-tooth comb. A good many of those guys are spit shiners and ooyahers, hyper military oriented, and have a more than average potential for fascist orientation. Polyographs are not enough.
I think that McCarthy is going to somehow survive this, if for no other reason than many Democrats are concerned that whoever might replace him would likely be even worse.
Steve, everything you say about Kevin is true. But can you please address this question: Suppose that Kevin's replacement as Speaker refuses--for the rest of this congress--to ever put a bill to fund the Ukraine war on the floor? And suppose that through a deal with democrats, Kevin is willing to put that Ukraine bill on the floor (as a condition for bailing him out temporarily)? One outcome allows atrocities in Ukraine to increase unabated, and the other fulfills our commitment to a decent outcome there. Can you please factor this into your assessment?
Has there ever been a time in American history where members of a political party "can't wait" to "out-despicable" each other:
"I can shut down the government!"
"Oh yeah? Well, I can take food out of the mouths of millions of underprivileged children!"
"Oh yeah? Well, I can close down their schools!"
"Oh yeah? Well, I can force 10-year-old rape victims to bear their rapist's child!"
"Oh yeah? Well, I can shut down the Justice Department, so lying, degenerate ex-Presidents can never be held accountable for their crimes!"
"Oh yeah? (fill in the blank)."
Pre-civil war. We have not quite reached the caning (1857?) on the Senate floor but we are also not that far away.
1856. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_Caning_of_Senator_Charles_Sumner.htm
Thank you .....
David, While your comment is far more creative, my take-away is that, prior to passage of a relatively clean bipartisan CR, every Republican from a Biden-won district voted for a 30% across-the-board spending cut. I urge their Democratic 24 challengers repeatedly to amplify, in my view, this disqualifying fact.
Re "every Republican from a Biden-won district voted for a 30% across-the-board spending cut": it seems to me that you're making the same mistake the news media keeps making: that the typical Republican has a measurable I.Q.
David, I don’t get your point. Are you suggesting that Democratic challengers not bother to amplify this contrast?
No, I'm saying that, when you're hanging on by a thread — winning in a district you never should have won in — you might want to hide the scissors (i.e., you might want to keep your mouth shut about spending cuts that are never popular among your Democratic constituents, who are already chafing at the bit to unseat you!)
So, no: Democratic challengers should shout that Republican stupidity from the rooftops!
David, Frankly, I’ll never understand why these Biden-won-district Republicans continue to support McCarthy who pressed them to vote for the steep cuts to appease the MAGA wing, that, in turn, opposed said CR.
It's called "tribalism": "Is he a member of our 'tribe'? Yes? Then he has our support, period!"
Pathetic, but the way of the world — except, of course, for Democrats: "Did Al Franken — a comedian — make a lewd (though harmless) gesture — FOR (locker room) LAUGHS — toward a (presumably) sleeping female associate's breasts? Yes? Then drum him out of the Senate!"
And, on the other side of the aisle? "Did Lauren Boebert make much MORE than a 'gesture' toward the crotch of the guy sitting next to her at 'Beetlejuice', who was making much MORE than a 'gesture' toward Boebert's breasts? Yes? Then that puts her first in line for a Presidential Medal of Freedom!"
Pathetic!
While they are at it they ought to be making sure that while Republicans voted NO to raising the minimum wage, they stuck a COLA for their own salaries in the CR to avoid the shutdown.. I’m not fully sure if that got removed from the CR..
Sam, Hypocrisy notwithstanding, I understand the cost-of-living-adjustment remained in the final CR draft.
Great rap up of the circus.
You can add: oh yeah, well I can vape anytime or anywhere I want to even in a theater.
What really knocks me out is: Sarah Palin's 18-year-old daughter gives birth to a baby, Lauren Boebert's 17-year-old son fathers a baby, and, to the Republicans, these are "gifts from God"! But let Sasha or Malia Obama do the same thing at the same age and you know what you'd hear from those same Republicans: "SLUTS FROM HELL!"
Thanks, Tracy. I've been waiting for someone to add to my list, since said additions would be basically endless.
Just love the guy in the video: "Oh, what's this: a breast? Well, it certainly looks like it could use a good massaging." Then Boebert: "Well, it would simply be wrong for me not to reciprocate (hand to guy's crotch)".
The absolute classiest of class acts.
Enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSjqhn0EazU
I can't bear to look at it again - soooo disgusting !!! And this by a Representative of the House?!! So beyond 'unbecoming' that she should have her committees taken away from her - honestly!!!
As long as there's a group of people who place gun-toting, teen mom ignoramuses on a pedestal — rather than, say, taking away their committee assignments — then this country really has no hope.
Holy S**t well said!!!
Thank you. Feel free to add as many "Oh yeah?'s" as you'd like
Can't top this.
Thanks, Patric; glad you liked it.
Still waiting for someone to "finish" the concept (i.e., to "fill in the blank(s)"
“Kevin McCarthy is drowning. Throw him a cinder block, not a life jacket.”---Steve Schmidt
Very funny but true, although, forget the cinder block, just throw him an anchor from the USS McCain. This way he’ll know the difference between a man of honor and sacrifice, versus a man of little consequence, honor or valor.
I agree, he screwed the democrats already after agreeing to a bi-partisan deal, and then being unfit, I mean unable, to rein in his FreeDumb caucus.
And when he says there needs to be an adult in the room; I agree, although it’s a relative term. What does it matter if you have an adult who combined with the rest of his caucus have been committed to an insane asylum?
McCarthy needs to go, but the only question I have is who comes next? What’s left of the Republican Party are just a bunch of chaos agents and sycophants for Trump.
Maybe 80 relative Congressmen and women remain. They should start a centrist party and rebuild. Clearly, there is only one party that came to Washington to govern, and it’s not McCarthy and his cohorts.
Just some thoughts....:)
Any one Dem who would vote to save McCarthy would be an idiot. Remember!! He’s the one that agreed to impeach Biden
Teaching McCarthy about honor is a satisfying aspirational thought but it can’t be a priority right now. Better play out the answer to your good question about what comes next before you disengage while McCarthy is ousted. Hint: what comes next will not be 80 Republicans suddenly deciding to break away and form a centrist party.
"Teaching McCarthy about honor" is a useless and impossible task. He's a whimp and will be dishonorable to his dying day. I pray not one democrat get involved in this dirty Republican business. That Gaetz himself become speaker is simply unthinkable!!!
Didn't McCarthy get the job once before and lose it because he "couldn't speak?" Was it that he was caught saying 'hey, see how we managed to wreck, with lies, the chances of Hillary Clinton?' It's just about like Trump boasting he could get any price he asked for Mar a Lago, from any number of Saudis. Unfortunately they're stupid. Just stupid about what laws are about? Hm.
Did I hear Eric Trump went and shook hands with Letitia James today? Doesn't he feel awkward about all his online rants? If so I think it's the same issue as with the other two.
Wisdom is to follow Nancy Pelosi’s guidance to the D House Leadership — do not get involved. I’m normally a proactive person but right now just stay out of this week’s fracas.
Nice general rule, but you know she’d be looking one or two or ten moves ahead. What would she see?
Potentially Speaker Jeffries. If the R's are so fractured, there is the possibility the remaining moderate R's (as in Biden won their districts) might go with a centrist D. Jeffries is rational and articulate. That's what happens when you have a strong team that can work together. They can step in and lead.
That will never happen. There are not enough true Patriots in the Republican Party anymore, not even a handful, that would put the best interest of the United States first.
I totally agree. God forbid they go against their lobbyists friends to help the American people!
Liz- I love your your wide-angle thinking. Mentioning MTG and Jeffries in the same sentences with “speaker” ( in two different posts ) sure covers the gamut from the ridiculous to the sublime.
Waiter! I’ll have what she’s having!
Thank you, you're very kind. Comes from being a DC native and working on the Hill on both the front end (summer intern 8th Congressional district MD when Watergate occurred) to the end of my Federal career at the Library of Congress.
Not a native, but several decades in the national security community here.
A political nightmare of epic and historical breadth.
Very few options to avoid a catastrophe...that’s what.
Did she say that? Is that why Democrats never said anything and let the GOP say all their lies with no denials anywhere? That was a criminal mistake if so.
According to Tagan Goddard's Political Wire, and quoting Playbook (Sept 30 2023). Do not rush to bail McCarthy out.
Oh, I thought it meant she'd said generally to House Democrats, "Don't get involved in the nutty lies of nutty Republicans." I've heard hints of this-- I think from Brian Schatz. There must have been such a policy, coming from somewhere. Democrats are much better talkers than Republicans and it's just a crime that this has gone the way it has, just from some idyllic idea.
I agree wholeheartedly that the House Democrats should not, in any way, support McCarthy. In my opinion every one of them should refrain from even voting. As for the oh so worn out “adult in the room” predictably uttered by him..... the entire student body of a small grade school would be more trustworthy, dependable, and honest than Republican House members. The Democrats should confine themselves to commenting from the peanut gallery.
Meanwhile, Trump was in California this weekend ranting to the states’ GOP, who raved at his profanities, hate mongering, and not so veiled threats. It’s hard to imagine how he could possibly get worse, but somehow he managed to once again. He’s a dangerous man, made more so by his devotees.
He is a very dangerous and deranged man and an ongoing threat to our nations national security.
Sadly Cassidy Hutchinson was more of an adult in the room than Kevin McCarthy, and Mark Meadows, and the Never Again Presidiot and many others.
At least she had a sense of honor and patriotism. More so than anyone else in that room full of treasonous traitors.
Different rooms, but you are right. I just read her book 'Enough'. She made it clear in the book that she was very reluctant to testify and she's been through a lot. She's not perfect but I think she's very brave. Liz Cheney deserves a lot of credit for getting that important testimony to us of course.
The problem with letting the chaos caucus oust McCarthy is that it amplifies their power, which is the opposite of what’s needed. McCarthy is odious, but he is not the biggest problem.
I'm actually sitting back and wondering which way MTG will jump. Will she go with Gaetz in hopes of picking up the Speakership, or will she stay with McCarthy.
Wondering which is the bigger dick . . .
Did you mis-speak and mean 'has' the bigger dick? Because she's not capable of any deeper thought than that...imho...lol
Hahahahaha.
Not only odious, but stupid. Too bad.
Remember how he fumbled the start of the Ja 6 committee. Now we’ll see....
Too many Americans have “checked out” in favor of sports, television in its various iterations, alcohol and every other escapist variation. The state of the Nation we’re in is showing what our ignorance has allowed. I’m now reading Noam Chomsky’s REQUIEM FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM and boy, does he break it down.
I totally agree with everything you say except, I think the dems should keep him in place. Why? Because even though he is exactly what you say he is, who will replace him? Someone even worse? I think by supporting is position it puts the dems in charge and by doing that, it zeros out any power the far right had and will have going forward. I know this is a risky post I am making here, but I think He will need dems and to a large degree it puts us in charge. OK, start yelling at me.
I agree with you. I have no love for Mr. McCarthy. He is feckless and disingenuous, and those are his better qualities. However, whoever replaces him would likely be worse, IMHO.
From my interpretation of Steve’s warning, his point was to let the Rs feed on each other, further underscoring the spectacle of their unmoored recklessness. While they continue feasting on themselves, one hopes Trump continues his courtroom downfalls and the Rs on the “I’m not sure who I’ll support for president.” sidelines will be sickened to their core and wake the Fu${ up!
Jerry, no yelling here. Always good to get points of views. My gut says let McCarthy stew in his own juices. He just reneged on a deal he made with Biden for the budget. Whatever happens will be a spectacle that Democrats should watch carefully but not interfere with. McCarthy isn’t honest enough to trust that any Democratic’s support will be rewarded by him doing the right think the next time.
Well, there’s a few of us so far. I almost put a note in mine that i expected to be laughed off the site or designated a troll.
Agree. We know is a spineless whiner, which might well be better than the alternative.
indefatigable - had to look that one up.
you are right, of course. It is easy to forgive and forget but all he got us was 45 more days before they do it all over again.
Ukraine funding cannot be a casualty of this, however. the funding MUST go through
Angela, I had to look it up too!! Always a learning session with Steve. That’s also what keeps me here.
I’d love to know what Nancy Pelosi would do in this moment. She deferred to Hakeem Jeffries, which is the right thing to do. But that woman is brilliant! What would she do?
She would say stand back and stand by.
Both McCarthy and Gaetz are abusing any power that they may have. Wasting time, funds, and not getting any work done. This CLOWN SHOW should be kicked out of the House. People should be put into place who know the regulations and respect the powers of the Constitution!
As tactically amuseing as it can be to suggest throwing MCarthy a cinderblock. What the hell happens after? Any way Dems can pull him up and continue to pull his chain? Thereby essentially holding majority? He’s already been bailed out by Dems once. What does he now owe them, and what would one more time do?
MccCarthy is the tip of the sewer and Gaetz is the chief shoveler. Definitely a partnership made for America's lowlife. They are more than just despicable and deplorable. They are like those family members one persists in denying as existing, they bring so much shame.
Let us not forget that Speaker of the House is third in line to the Presidency. Who in that conference can do the job and be worthy of that spot in the national succession? That's the question for me and I don't see a viable answer. When it comes down to it, Gaetz may lose another round because there isn't really a replacement. My guess: he proposes himself. Wait and see.
Jane, it is truly frightening to think of Matt Gaetz, 2 heartbeats away from the presidency. Even more disconcerting is the more realistic possibility of Jim Jordan. Talk about a "house" of horrors.
Agree! But Kevin McCarthy is just as bad in his own way IMHO. These guys are all in the gutter. They don't belong in the House or in any elected body of government. Talk about rotten to the core -- we are seeing it and worse, paying for it. We are paying their salaries and they are abusing our trust.
I agree that none of them are worthy of their titles. It makes me cringe when they refer to themselves as leaders. No leadership training I took ever identified any of the personality traits I see being exhibited in the houses of congress.
IMO Steve nailed it with the phrase: vapid narcissism. That's what I see in the House. The people's business, serious issues, national security, international relations, the Russian war all seem to be far less important than their personal grievances. Grievance government for personal gain. That's what we have elected and we continue to elect this. Which is why I see Weimar all over again.
How about Kamala Harris 1 beat away from the presidency? I shiver in my boots.
This was a fact I have failed to rank as a critical factor. Third in line. I can only hope the on-ground strategic ninjas fully recognize the extant perils of this weak link. Never allow Joe and Kamala on the same plane, helicopter, car, bus, golf cart, same room, same anything. Together and one slip-through lucky Trump inspired berserker could initiate an irreverable avalanche. Wish they would also vet the secret service with a fine-tooth comb. A good many of those guys are spit shiners and ooyahers, hyper military oriented, and have a more than average potential for fascist orientation. Polyographs are not enough.
I think that McCarthy is going to somehow survive this, if for no other reason than many Democrats are concerned that whoever might replace him would likely be even worse.
Steve, everything you say about Kevin is true. But can you please address this question: Suppose that Kevin's replacement as Speaker refuses--for the rest of this congress--to ever put a bill to fund the Ukraine war on the floor? And suppose that through a deal with democrats, Kevin is willing to put that Ukraine bill on the floor (as a condition for bailing him out temporarily)? One outcome allows atrocities in Ukraine to increase unabated, and the other fulfills our commitment to a decent outcome there. Can you please factor this into your assessment?