Democrats are sick of bailing the GOP out of their own messes, and boy, are Republicans whining about it

Anyone who has paid even the slightest attention to the events leading up to the historic ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker of the House knows exactly who is to blame here: McCarthy and his fellow Republicans. For years, they’ve rolled out the welcome mat to Donald Trump and his wrecking crew of MAGA camera hogs, foolishly believing that they could harness the chaotic villainy without getting burned in the process. They refused to listen to former Trump “fixer” Michael Cohen when he warned Republicans in 2019 that those who “follow Mr. Trump as I did, blindly, are going to suffer the same consequences that I’m suffering.”

Granted, McCarthy didn’t get hauled off to prison like Cohen. But he still faced a tasty comeuppance this week when the sadistic bullies he empowered in his caucus, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, vacated his seat for no other reason than the sheer satisfaction of taking out their leader. Now shellshocked Republicans know who they want to blame for everything that has happened, and — surprise! — it’s not themselves. Oh no, they’re mad at Democrats for refusing to swoop in and save McCarthy from his fate.

  • logicbomb@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    122
    ·
    9 months ago

    Hilariously, nobody can explain why it would be in Democrat interests to save McCarthy. He could have negotiated with them, but he refused to do so.

    He was already reneging on the agreement he made with Biden. He unilaterally started pointless impeachment hearings on Biden, instead.

    McCarthy reportedly told his own caucus that if he remained Speaker, he’d go against the Democrats even more.

    All the Republicans have to do is to elect a new Speaker. Every single Congress has been able to elect a Speaker so far.

    Oh and by the way, it seems that Trump cannot be elected Speaker due to some rules of the House that Republicans put in place about electing someone with felony indictments.

    • Nougat@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      32
      ·
      edit-2
      9 months ago

      Oh and by the way, it seems that Trump cannot be elected Speaker due to some rules of the House that Republicans put in place about electing someone with felony indictments.

      Not saying that’s untrue, but source? I’d like to look it over for myself.

      Edit: Found this.

      Yes, the GOP has Rule 26(a) and the Democrats have Rule 4, both of which say the speaker can’t hold the seat while under indictment. However, these rules aren’t legally binding and aren’t always followed.

      • logicbomb@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        19
        ·
        edit-2
        9 months ago

        Despite my pointing out the rule, I do actually agree with your research.

        If you saw parts of the Impeachment investigation clown show that the House GOP put on, you’ll see the GOP repeatedly flouting the rules, and Democrats calling them out for it. For example, IIRC Jamie Raskin pointed out that it goes against House rules to impugn the president’s character, for example, they were calling him a liar, on the floor of the House, except in an impeachment inquiry. And that they weren’t allowed to have an actual impeachment inquiry without a vote. These are both House rules. He was overruled by the chair with an explanation along the lines of “This meeting is to investigate Biden, so those comments can be allowed.” Which obviously goes against the rules of the House.

        My real, true hope for the rule is that it gives everybody an excuse to do what they want to do, anyways. I think very few people actually want Trump to be Speaker. I think even Trump doesn’t really actually want the job. It’s similar to the Presidency. He probably wants to be chosen, but in reality, he doesn’t want to do the work. And he’s happiest if he doesn’t get the job, and can whine and complain that the system has been rigged against him.

        The position of Speaker is all procedure. You have to attend these long boring meetings. You have to know the rules. You have to read the rules and procedures aloud from a book in front of you. Let’s not forget that Trump is functionally illiterate. If he tried to actually perform that role, it might be massively embarrassing for him. He also wouldn’t have time to perform the role. So if he was elected Speaker, I think he would basically hold the role in absentia.

        So I agree it’s possible that Trump is the next Speaker, but my hope is that the rule gives everybody a reason not to choose Trump.

        • rbhfd@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          9 months ago

          Conspiracy theorists will claim that it was all determined long ago and they started indicting Trump to prevent him from becoming Speaker.

    • BigMcLargeHuge@mstdn.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      13
      ·
      9 months ago

      @logicbomb @MicroWave

      This is what happens when self-entitled children get elected to office and why I hate half of my fellow citizens with such vitriol.

      They shit on the floor, smeared paint on the walls and then burned down the entire house.

      Their take on it?

      “I can’t believe you let me do that. Whats wrong with you?!?!?!”