The Ides of January 6

When the House of Representatives met earlier this week to select the new Speaker of the House, I kept my fingers crossed in the hopes that Republican Kevin McCarthy - of whom I am no fan - would have a rough ride.  Like every other observer, I figured there would be a few defectors - enough to keep the job from McCarthy in a few rounds of voting - before everything settled down and he became the Speaker.  I think that McCarthy thought the same thing but wow….KMc and I were wrong. 

I could not be more delighted. 

From the advent of the racist Tea Party to the Trump-or-die Freedom Party wing of the GOP, I have been waiting for the Republican party to finally blow up.  It’s clear that mainline Republicans have little in common with the Matt Gaetz crew but Republicans have always been good at coming together for the good of the order, if not the good of the nation.  I didn’t think that selecting a new Speaker of the House would bring about a fracture of this magnitude, though it’s a fracture I’ve been waiting to see.

Trump’s nomination in 2016 left me convinced that a GOP breakup was imminent.  I could not believe that the decent Republicans still in the party could make their way forward with the Trumpers.  I was wrong and as the decent folks began to defect from politics all together rather than confront the elephant in the room, the remaining Republicans adjusted quite nicely to the lunacy, even holding on after January 6 when they temporarily had the power to cast Trump out.  I confess that I didn’t see the 2023 Speaker’s election as the point that the party would finally erupt into a circular firing squad.  Yet here we are and, while it lasts, I plan to enjoy it.

I know that it’s not good for the nation; I recognize that it’s a potentially significant fracture in democracy’s skeleton.  I think that if McCarthy does finally get the Speaker’s position, he’s already given away much of the power of the position and he will fail.  His defenders keep repeating that McCarthy is a “good leader.”  The week’s events - and the 11 failed votes to select the Speaker - suggest otherwise and, honestly, point out the real problem of the GOP.  All these years with no faction willing to stand up to the Tea Party, then Trump, and now the Freedom Caucus have left them rudderless and without the ability to lead.  This week’s events are a preview of the dysfunctional House we are about the experience with a Republican majority.  That’s not good for the GOP and it isn’t good for the nation.  At this point, I think the demise of the Republican party is the only thing that can save us.  It seems fitting that we arrive at this moment on January 6.

Saturday, 1/7 update: McCarthy was elected Speaker on the 15th vote but it's looking to be a title in name only, as he negotiated away much of the authority of the position to have the title.  Time will tell how regrettable that decision will prove to be.  I am still convinced that the GOP is fractured beyond recovery and cannot survive in its current incantation.