This is the Senate. The "impeachment inquiry" (with the strongest fucking air quotes I can muster) is in the House. It's the House that's holding up the budget; the Senate has passed multiple spending bills in recent days, with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Government isn't functioning and is about to shut down, but our representatives can agree that the Senate must maintain the traditional theatrical appearance of competence and authority. Priorities.
No, no, no. It's maintaining the visage of wealth (which is also authority). It has nothing to do with looking impressive or competent, and everything to do with signalling what economic class you're supposed to come from to belong there.
The Senate already handed the house their part of the project. McCarthy refuses to put it up to a vote because the far right terrorists will call for a motion to have McCarthy removed as speaker.
THAT SAID: yeah the Senate could be spending their time getting other legislation passed before McCarthy shuts down the government.
I personally was a fan of the beard. Made him feel more imposing. Normally not a desirable trait in a Senator, but seeing as how he likes to fuck with the conservatives, and how literally their base takes masculinity and power, I think it worked. But at the end of the day, I back the person, not the facial hair.
In complete fairness the Senate is actually working on the shutdown - their last vote on a CR package passed 77-19 (all nays were R) but McCarthy in the House is rejecting it outright.
He told his colleagues that if he spoke or voted in the well, he would wear a suit, and if he was wearing his usual garb, he'd vote from the cloak room. Democracy is saved.