Gaming out Matt Gaetz’s bid to oust Kevin McCarthy
Gaming out Matt Gaetz’s bid to oust Kevin McCarthy
Both Republicans likely need the support of Democrats to prevail in their battle over the speakership. Here’s how that could shake out.
Both Republicans likely need the support of Democrats to prevail in their battle over the speakership. Here’s how that could shake out.
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The biggest pocket of votes for Gaetz right off the bat will be the Democrats in the Congressional Progressive Caucus. They hate Gaetz, but more important, it could be suicide for any of the CPC’s 100-plus members to vote to save McCarthy.
Why? Some other Republican will get the role if McCarthy loses it, and McCarthy is relatively moderate by Republican standards. How do progressives benefit from removing him?
There is some reason to dems pushing for McCarthys removal. That said, they're never going to vote for Gaetz or whoever he decides to back. Best case scenario for Gaetz is McCarthy gets ousted and we have gridlock for the next year with no speaker.
It would only take 5 Republican representatives to make Hakeem Jeffries the Speaker. If things keep going sideways within the Republican caucus, one has to wonder if there aren't a handful of moderate Republicans who are sick of the bullshit and support Jeffries. He would still need their votes to pass anything, so they would be incredibly influencial while also sidelining these fools, but the far right would certainly terrorize them
There is no reality in which 5 republicans hand over their majority to a democrat speaker. I’ll put money down. 0% chance lol
If there Republicans were sick of being identified as the party of Nazis, white supremacists, racists, liars, fraudsters, rapists, conspiracy theorists and generally insane people, then the winning move for all of them (except for the above mentioned insane members) would be to collectively vote with the Democrats.
Sure, that would mean handing the House to Democrats, probably losing the House and possibly more in the next elections, and for s number of them it would mean losing their seats - but the alternative is going to be handing the reigns of the entire party over to the Nazis, white supremacists, racists, liars, fraudsters, rapists, conspiracy theorists and generally insane people.
I can name two Republicans in the House for whom any of that was a problem, and they both lost their re-elections. Ironically, one of them was Liz Cheney.
Let’s not mistake my certainty of what they’re doing for approval lol I’m just explaining that it is not happening.
You are much more likely to get 50 (or even 150!) Democratic votes for a moderate Republican than 5 Republican votes for Jeffries....
one has to wonder if there aren’t a handful of moderate Republicans who are sick of the bullshit
There aren't. No wondering about it.
The other side of the argument is that McCarthy is the GOP’s greatest fundraiser, and getting rid of him would help Democrats take back the House. No replacement for McCarthy would have the same set of relationships and the donor network and political operation. In addition, the argument goes, the GOP chaos in the House would pay political dividends.
Removing the lead money maker might be a sound decision. If the Republicans put some cretin like Gaetz in, the money might dry up.
Just like "let Trump win the primaries cuz he can't win against Hillary" tactic?
Surely it wouldn't backfire twice.
I don't think it would ultimately be in the Dems favor to let McCarthy go, especially since they could extract some great concessions from him. He's a snake though, so short leash and a swift end if he goes back on the deal.
Nah, Dems should vote for McCarthy and let the other side play up the narrative that a RINO from California has turned traitor and run to the Dems to keep power. The money will still dry up just as quick, but they'll be able to get what they want from him as well.
The Republicans are not acting like a functioning political party right now.
Having them back in a leadership conference might actually break the party.