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Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker in Republican-led House

washingtonpost.com

61–70 of 75 posts

Re: Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker in Republican-led House

#61
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So then we're not worrying about the "anti-war" position anymore, alright. I mean, grassroots Republicans elected Reagan who beat the Soviets and Bush who wanted to "fight them over there so we don't face them here", they're certainly comfortable with spending money on the military. They haven't historically wanted to spend that money on welfare though, so I'm not sure that Americans are going hungry because of Ukrai…

The GOP spent trillions in Iraq and Afghanistan but billions for Ukraine is too expensive.

Iraq didn't have the money or influence to buy US politicians.

Russia does.

Re: Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker in Republican-led House

#62
Politics aside, there is one mechanical aspect about this I find interesting. Basically if you have a majority vote split down party lines, all it takes is a small group (size greater than the difference between majority and minority parties) to wield quite a lot of influence. Gaetz seems like he's calling the shots in this gambit. I guess this has always been true, but interesting to watch it play out.

Re: Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker in Republican-led House

#63
post #59
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OK, I will keep this in mind, however what's different about this particular political story is that it's also extremely historic, nothing like this has ever occurred in the history of the US and this is the first speaker to ever be removed in this way; at the very least this kind of instability can have impacts on things like financial markets. I would not share a simply political story like how Joe Biden is doing i…

I'd say it's "historic" but it's not important. It will roil markets less than a shutdown would, and that story would not be particularly HN-worthy either. Sometimes I wish there was a way to designate some posts "off topic" but still be visible on the front page -- like a topical Jubilee Day. I'm genuinely interested in what some of the HN crowd think about (some of) the non-tech, non-intellectually-curious stuff th…

It is too early to say, if it is important or not.

Re: Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker in Republican-led House

#64
post #16

With the Republicans in disarray and the Democrats fielding Joe Biden, it seems like a good time for a 3rd party candidate for the 2024 election. Possibly the most realistic context for an actual shot at a 3rd party presidency that I've ever seen.

US has two-party system. You can't have 3rd party with First-past-the-post and Electoral College.

Yep. Passing the NPVIC is the primary way forward to regulate the Electoral College to respect the popular vote.

There is too much polarization and utopian-adjacent extremists in the US political system at present.

It would take some careful thought how to improve on what the founders could not anticipate, but the current system needs a check & balance on all 3 of POTUS, COTUS, and SCOTUS to replace an unfit-for-office official.

One possibility: Perhaps a 4th branch of government with appointed-for-life by sortition panel of elders who are a safety net "board of directors" whose only function is removal of a particularly unfit elected official by unanimous vote. Their only qualifications for candidacy is that they must be of unreproachable integrity, be at least 45, have no political ties, hold no other office, and have no financial conflicts of interest. A removed elected official would be replaced according to the succession plan for their role, a special election.

Another, more radical possibility: Do away with all political parties, unlimited dark money campaign financing, and populist voting of media celebrities. Instead, fill the highest elected offices by sortition of credentialed professionals for a single 2 year term. Instead of political parties, coalitions would form around positions on issues (more nuanced than parliamentary coalition governments). COTUS and POTUS would still exist, but they would be reduced to organizational administrators who don't need to pander to billionaires. While it takes away the illusion of a sacred freedom, it replaces it with the leadership of uncorrupted, educated people who aren't constantly seeking the approval of campaign donors.

Re: Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker in Republican-led House

#66
post #50
post #4

His speakership was hanging by a thread from day 1. I don't see any path to a new Speaker so long as the Freedom Caucus are intent on watching the world burn.

> I don't see any path to a new Speaker so long as the Freedom Caucus are intent on watching the world burn. Well, there’s always reaching across the aisle.

McCarthy had a chance to do that and came out saying he would not be willing to give Dems anything at all to save his job. Right now the GOP agenda is 100% anti-liberal politics. The impeachment hearings taking place with no credible evidence is exhibit A. Advocating a government shutdown is the other. Dems basic ask would just be "can we debate some actual legislation" and the answer from the right has consistently been "no". The GOP have a 9 vote majority, 1 of them is under indictment and 10 completely unreasonable maniacs who just want to cause chaos. It's crazy but the only plausible option I see right now is for 10 GOP moderates to back Hakeem Jeffries.

Re: Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker in Republican-led House

#67
post #59
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OK, I will keep this in mind, however what's different about this particular political story is that it's also extremely historic, nothing like this has ever occurred in the history of the US and this is the first speaker to ever be removed in this way; at the very least this kind of instability can have impacts on things like financial markets. I would not share a simply political story like how Joe Biden is doing i…

I'd say it's "historic" but it's not important. It will roil markets less than a shutdown would, and that story would not be particularly HN-worthy either. Sometimes I wish there was a way to designate some posts "off topic" but still be visible on the front page -- like a topical Jubilee Day. I'm genuinely interested in what some of the HN crowd think about (some of) the non-tech, non-intellectually-curious stuff th…

TBF I also found this story to be intellectually interesting, like, why the Democrats quite amazingly voted in lock-step unison to vacate the seat, which is not at all how the Democratic party has behaved for the past 30 years (either in unison, or against the "status quo"). It flipped my own intellectual sticky bit at least.

Re: Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker in Republican-led House

#68

With the Republicans in disarray and the Democrats fielding Joe Biden, it seems like a good time for a 3rd party candidate for the 2024 election. Possibly the most realistic context for an actual shot at a 3rd party presidency that I've ever seen.

Almost kinda seems like we're seeing a fork of the Republican party right now.

Re: Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker in Republican-led House

#69
post #67
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say it's "historic" but it's not important. It will roil markets less than a shutdown would, and that story would not be particularly HN-worthy either. Sometimes I wish there was a way to designate some posts "off topic" but still be visible on the front page -- like a topical Jubilee Day. I'm genuinely interested in what some of the HN crowd think about (some of) the non-tech, non-intellectually-curious stuff th…

TBF I also found this story to be intellectually interesting, like, why the Democrats quite amazingly voted in lock-step unison to vacate the seat, which is not at all how the Democratic party has behaved for the past 30 years (either in unison, or against the "status quo"). It flipped my own intellectual sticky bit at least.

What did McCarthy offer the Democrats for their support?

Re: Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker in Republican-led House

#70
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, in this case the war was started by someone else, with neither aid nor encouragement by anyone American. Acting to help one of the fighting parties win doesn't seem noticeable "pro-war", AFAICT, it's just a question of how the war ends, as opposed to other possible ends of the same war.

The US is sending billions of dollars over to fund the war, which McCarthy supported and grassroots republicans opposed, that's why he was ousted.

Fund the war is an odd way to put it IMO, since the war would be there anyway… but leave that. I don't follow American politics. Do grassroots republicans oppose helping Ukraine now? I seem to remember that some months ago, a large majority of democratic voters did and a smaller majority of republican ones. How has the situation changed?
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