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Holy entitlement, Batman! Republicans are furious Democrats didn't save Kevin McCarthy from himself (www.salon.com)

submitted 10 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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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.

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[-] scops@reddthat.com 78 points 10 months ago

There's a junior Congressman from NC, Jeff Jackson (D) who offers really candid views of the House floor. He sent out a newsletter after the vote which provided some insight on what Dems were thinking about the vote.

The Speaker knew he was going to lose those folks, but he was hoping to peel off a few votes from the minority party.

Some folks in the minority were expecting him to reach out and say, “Hey, let’s make a deal. I’ll offer you this, and I want your vote.”

But instead, he went on TV the day before and basically said, “Here is my offer to the other party: Nothing.”

The minority party heard that from him and said, “Well, ok then, best of luck.”

That said, I’m not sure the Speaker could offer anything to the minority party. If he did, and his party found out, they’d be furious, and then he wouldn’t need six votes anymore - he would need 20 or 30 or 50.

...

My sense is that if he had felt it were at all possible for him to stay in power by working with the minority party, he absolutely would have done it - he just knew it wasn’t.

[-] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago

Reading that summary just tells me that everything is for sale in congress. Votes. Elected officials. Bills. Citizens. Everyone is constantly trying to get leverage to get what they want, and the country is caught in between them.

[-] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 18 points 10 months ago

I mean yeah, that's kinda the whole point of how a representative democracy is supposed to work, minus outside lobbying.

The whole crusade folks went on against pork barrel legislation basically just trashed a full half of the tools politicians can use to negotiate a consensus. Probably not a coincidence that infrastructure integrity has taken a nosedive ever since it became taboo to ask for bridge repairs to sign on for a bill.

[-] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world -2 points 10 months ago

Really? They’re supposed to sell each other and/or us out to get wha they want?

[-] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 8 points 10 months ago

The process I described is literally the complete opposite of that. It's frustrating when it obstructs needed legislation but if it means the average rep and/or senator is more able to be negotiated into supporting a given measure then what the fuck ever!

[-] scops@reddthat.com 2 points 10 months ago

I'd encourage you to check out some of the other content Jeff Jackson has put out. I originally followed him on reddit, but it looks like he also uploads to Youtube. He obviously has a progressive bias, but to hear him say it, most Congress reps (both sides) will wind up the media until the doors close, then their rhetoric tones down and they get to work. The far right are the exception in that they are NOT there to be productive, and the shouting and clickbait are as deep as they go.

[-] ghostdoggtv@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

The GOP is a political mafia whose donors believed they had whipped the Democrats into servitude. Good for democracy.. down with the Grand Old Pedophiles

[-] psmgx@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

My sense is that if he had felt it were at all possible for him to stay in power by working with the minority party, he absolutely would have done it - he just knew it wasn’t.

aye, i think he saw the wind was blowing against him either way, so he decided to get up and lambaste the Dems on the way out

[-] MoonStache@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Jeff is awesome. I hope he sticks around for a while.

this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2023

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