Driving Off The Cliff
05/01/23 06:12
Jan. 5, 2023 (Vol. 17 No. 3) - You may have seen the news story out of California: A family of four was dramatically rescued this week after their car plunged approximately 300 feet off a cliff. At first, it was a story about a miraculous rescue. But now it has changed, as the driver has been accused of trying to kill his wife and children by deliberately causing the crash. That is a perfect metaphor for the Republican caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. The nation has stood witness for the past two days at what President Biden has rightly called "an embarrassment." After six votes, the Republican majority has been unable to elect a speaker. There are nearly two dozen MAGA-maggots who have completely jammed up the wheels of government by refusing to support the man their party's caucus selected as its choice for speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy. It's not clear what their complaint against McCarthy is. They haven't really articulated it. (No surprise, since this isn't a particularly articulate crowd.) What this seems to be about is a small group of marginalized neo-cons making a power grab. We are left with a stalemate, as the tail is trying to wag the dog. I do not feel any sympathy for McCarthy. After all, this is a disaster of his own creation. After the January 6 insurrection, McCarthy had the opportunity to severe ties with the seditious former president. Instead, he hurried down to Mar-a-Lago to kiss his ring - or someplace else lower in his anatomy. In short, McCarthy continued to fan the flames of a fire that is now out of control. The irony is that many Republicans are now turning to Democrats in the hope that they can bail them out of this mess. Without Democrat votes - or non-votes - the lower chamber of the U.S. Congress will continue to sink even lower in the murky MAGA swamp it created. At least for now, the Democrats would much rather sit back, eat popcorn and remind the country "we told you so." That may not be the most adult position they should take. And things may change by the end of the day. But, for now, that approach is totally justified. Unless Democrats can swing a deal that will take Hunter Biden's laptop, abortion restrictions and other ultra-conservative non-sequitur distractions off the legislative agenda, they should just sit back and let the Republicans simmer in their own stew. The Republicans have chosen to drive their clown-car caucus off the cliff. There's no need for the Democrats to join them. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle!