Arrr, ye scurvy dogs! 'Tis a real tale o' House speaker brawl! Ol' Kevin McCarthy be holdin' on 'cause o' this reason, mateys!
2023-10-22
Avast ye scallywags! Methinks the former scurvy Speaker Kevin McCarthy was given the ol' heave-ho over two fortnights past. But blimey, why ain't them Republicans managed to fill his shoes? I'll tell ye this, matey, the truth be more mystic than the fabled treasure of El Dorado!
Republican infighting in the House of Representatives is not causing dysfunction, but rather revealing the dysfunction that already exists. The Republican Party has long been divided between its donors and leadership, who have different priorities from the voters and conservative members. This misalignment has been growing for years, and now some Republicans are openly calling for collaboration with Democrats just to maintain funding. This infighting recently led to the derailment of Rep. Jim Jordan's campaign for Speaker of the House. Jordan, once a conservative leader, had become a team player with House leadership, but his friendliness with the Republican right led to opposition from establishment Republicans and major donors. Despite strong support from Republican voters, Jordan's nomination was blocked. The establishment Republicans and donors were more concerned about Jordan's skepticism towards Ukraine aid and lack of ties to the business world. Republican voters expressed their wishes through small-dollar donations and angry phone calls and emails to the Republicans who voted against Jordan. However, these Republicans would rather leave the speakership vacant than elect someone they cannot control. They prioritize maintaining the status quo and appeasing special interests over the wishes of actual Republican voters. This infighting and dysfunction ultimately benefit the politicians who want to maintain the support of their donors while sidelining those who seek to make a difference. This fight over the next Republican House speaker is not the cause of dysfunction, but rather a revealing of the dysfunction and its loyal patrons.