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Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker in Republican-led House

washingtonpost.com

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

#71

Post by quesera »

zzzeek wrote: post #67
quesera wrote: 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.

If I had to guess, it's a vote of no-confidence for McCarthy's willingness to bring forward a baseless impeachment inquiry, and to coddle his toddlers. But I repeat myself.

It's hard to write that sentence in a non-partisan way (and I didn't try). This goes nowhere good, conversationally. :)

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

#72

Post by jfengel »

mcphage wrote: post #51
lalajollyton wrote: post #3

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.

Yeah, who would possibly vote for Joe Biden—a successful, stable, and reliable president?

I keep hearing comments like that, even from people otherwise in Biden's side. I try to avoid the news; what I hear is only the stuff that creeps over my barriers (and is hopefully in some sense "important").

Biden seems to be dull but moderately effective. He's had no great legislative triumphs, but that's no surprise. The few things he's tried to do dramatically, like student loan forgiveness, have been slapped down by the Supreme Court -- again, no surprise. His son appears to be a real jackass, but only after you factor out vast amounts of outright lies.

He's successfully supported the war in Ukraine, kept inflation and gas prices from getting all that much worse, oversaw the pandemic and transition out of it. Not thrilling, but competent. And yet his approval levels are worse than those of a guy who is literally under indictment for, among other things, mishandling vast amounts of classified material.

Is there something I'm missing? Or do people just want something that the President can't, and shouldn't, do?

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

#73

Post by mcphage »

jfengel wrote: post #72
mcphage wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, who would possibly vote for Joe Biden—a successful, stable, and reliable president?

I keep hearing comments like that, even from people otherwise in Biden's side. I try to avoid the news; what I hear is only the stuff that creeps over my barriers (and is hopefully in some sense "important"). Biden seems to be dull but moderately effective. He's had no great legislative triumphs, but that's no surprise. The few things he's tried to do dramatically, like student loan forgiveness, have been slapped dow…

> Is there something I'm missing? Or do people just want something that the President can't, and shouldn't, do?

I dunno, I don't get it either. "Dull but moderately effective" seems pretty damn good after the previous 4 years. Yeah, it would be nice to have an inspiring leader that brings the country together, but there's no way I'd give up "dull but moderately effective" for the slim chance that there's an inspiring leader out there and that they could get elected, and be effective in office.

So... yeah. I have trouble taking people who don't want him to re-run seriously. 81 million people voted for him, hoping he'd be better than the other guy. So hopefully they'll turn up again now that they know they were right!

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

#74

Post by mcphage »

tootie wrote: post #66
mcphage wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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…

> 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.

Yup. Which seems dumb, but... y'know, maybe he didn't want to save his job? He probably didn't want to go out like this, but there's not too much shame in being ousted by crazies. He got his name on the list of speakers of the house, and maybe he just doesn't want to do it anymore.

> It's crazy but the only plausible option I see right now is for 10 GOP moderates to back Hakeem Jeffries.

I suspect that would be a bridge too far. But getting a small number of Democrats—especially in tight districts—to vote for a moderate Republican speaker, in exchange for some concessions, probably could happen. I don't know if it would—the new Speaker would probably also need to be in a district where having Democrat support isn't seen much as a bad thing, and probably need assurances that they wouldn't be primaried. On the other hand, courting that Democrat support might cost them enough GOP support that they'd never get elected anyway. I dunno, shit's complicated.

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

#75

Post by tootie »

mcphage wrote: post #74
tootie wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

> 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. Yup. Which seems dumb, but... y'know, maybe he didn't want to save his job? He probably didn't want to go out like this, but there's not too much shame in being ousted by crazies. He got his name on the list of speakers of the house, and maybe he just doesn't want to do it anymore. > It's crazy…

I think you are right. I think McCarthy straight up quit. As much as it sounds plausible for a handful of moderate Dems approving a moderate Repub, it won't happen. Not least of which because at least 10 Repubs won't support a moderate Repub. They'd need at least 20 Dems to cross the aisle for somebody truly trustworthy, respected and commanding and that person just doesn't exist. The only names besides McCarthy that have been floated are all far to the right of McCarthy who had already signed off of horribly objectionable policies (shutdown and impeachment). There's just nobody who can fit the bill in the GOP. After Hakeem Jeffries, the next most likely candidate would be like bringing Newt Gingrich in off the street.
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