The Christmas season is officially over for me tomorrow, All Kings Day. It's also my husband's birthday and the second anniversary of the attempted coup at our Capital. A lot of really disturbing stuff happened in the last few weeks but I still managed to enjoy the season. And now I have reason to laugh again.
I always enjoyed the circus, especially when I was a child. I always loved the clowns best. Their painted faces didn't scare me, and I laughed at their antics. They were always doing silly things like squeezing themselves into tiny cars. They made fools of themselves and laughed about it.
I got a kick out of the clowns in Congress this week. On January 3, the Rethugs took over the House. Former speaker Nancy Pelosi, my heroine, raised the gavel high in the air and turned it over to ... who?
Kevin McCarthy has been jonesing for that job all this time. He's practically salivated about it, promising all the nasty things the Rethugs were going to do once he officially became Speaker. And, in fact, to appease the GQP crazies in the House, all the metal detectors were removed. McCarthy has practically given away his soul to those traitorous criminals and guess what? They won't vote for him!
I'm listening to the eleventh attempt. It sounds like McCarthy and Rep. Jeffries are getting most of the votes but we'll see. Through all the attempts, all the Democrats have unanimously voted for Jeffries. McCarthy needed 218 votes to win as Speaker of the House. On the first round, he only got 203. Over the next attempts, he's lost a few votes.
What if he doesn't win this time? How many times is he going to humiliate himself by continuing to lose to a band of terrorists of his own making? He should have refused to seat the traitors after their participation and involvement in 9/11 but he didn't. Instead, he supported the Big Lie, supported them and, generally, was a weasel for tRumpism.
That this is happening is his own damn fault.
It was hilarious the first two days. Now, though, it's tiresome. Is McCarthy a masochist or something? Why doesn't he get it through his fat head that he probably won't get all the votes he needs?
It does sound like McCarthy's getting a lot more votes as we progress through the House members. What has he given away now?
If he does lose again, I hope someone's able to get through to him and get him to withdraw. I can't think of any Rethug who would make a decent Speaker.
Yes, I have enjoyed the circus but this one has become pathetic and downright embarrassing. The Rethugs and, in extension, Congress and the US are laughing stocks everywhere here and in the world.
It's a bit dangerous, really. Other countries, friends and foes, will view us as being weak and divided. Well, we are though,, aren't we? I have my fingers crossed that somehow Jeffries will win.
I waited until the votes were counted. Well, McCarthy, you lost again: #11.
A Rethug from Louisiania moved to adjourn until noon tomrrow but the Dems yelled NO so loudly the clerk said she believed the nos won. So, of course, the Rethugs demanded a recording of aye/nay votes and that's what is going on now. The voting has another 10 minutes to go and I'm going to wait it out until they're done.
In the meantime, I sure would like to think the Repugs are urging Kevin McCarthy to please please please withdraw his name and allow them to nominate someone else. The House isn't able to swear in new members nor are they able to conduct any business at all until there's a Speaker.
The vote is tied with about 6 minutes to go. It's gonna be a close one. I know the Dems would like to force the issue and not give McCarthy anymore time to try and negotiate a deal. I am thinking in my head The Clash song seems appropriate now. "Should I stay or should I go?" the lyric goes.
The final vote: Rethugs 219 in favor of adjourning. Dems were in 212 in favor of not adjourning and, amazingly, 1 Rethug voted with the Dems. I'd love to know who that was.
Well, on the 2nd anniversary of the coup attempt and with all the metal detectors gone, we're going to have a 12th attempt to choose a Speaker. I have the heebie-jeebies about this for both of those reasons. I pray nothing bad happens tomorrow.
