Republicans have proven unequivocally that the Republican Party cannot govern and, therefore, should not be trusted with power. From the time that Kevin McCarthy was voted Speaker of the House, after fourteen humiliating failures and finally being handed the gavel on the fifteenth try, the House has been caught up in a downward spiral. To make matters worse, on the way to get the 218 votes he needed by the fifteenth try, he had bargained away almost all the power of the speakership. Although he was obviously thrilled to be handed the gavel and crowned with the title Speaker of the House, this gavel and title carried virtually no power.
In his at-all-costs quest to secure the Speaker’s gavel, Congressman McCarthy had bargained away the previously mentioned speakership power to a small group of far rightwing Republicans who appeared to be more interested in their personal agendas than in effective governance. To gain the Speaker’s gavel, Congressman McCarthy agreed through his bargaining that a “motion to vacate” could be brought by a single congress member rather than the requirement that it be brought by a caucus or conference.
Shortly after Congressman McCarthy became speaker, these far-right wing members began to demand that he fulfill the promises that he had made to them even though they were at odds with what most of the Republican conference wanted: Let the show begin. While the government was barreling toward a shutdown if, at the very least House Republicans and Democrats could not agree on a stop-gap measure to give them more time to agree on a long-term deal, most Republicans refused to agree to this.
Some Republicans insisted on a deal that would include no funding for Ukraine. Others wanted a deal where funding for Ukraine would be okay but the deal would have to include funding for the border wall. The contemptuous little group of far-rightwing Republicans would not accept the deal unless, among other things, an impeachment inquiry was opened into President Joe Biden. As for the demands of the true overall Republican Party leader, Donald J. Trump, his mantra was “…UNLESS YOU GET EVERYTHING, SHUT IT DOWN!” Because Speaker McCarthy could not unify his conference to pass a stop-gap measure, called a continuing resolution (CR), to prevent a government shutdown, he turned to the Democrats to help him pass it.
Although this worked, the previously mentioned contemptuous little group of far-rightwing Republicans was furious. This prompted Representative Matt Gaetz to threaten to oust Speaker McCarthy from the speakership by introducing a motion to vacate. It was not like this was the first time that Representative gates had threatened to do this so Speaker McCarthy responded with “bring it.” Representative Gaetz brought it and responded to Speaker McCarthy’s invitation to “bring it” with “just did.” The motion passed, a vote was held – and exactly 269 days after congressman McCarthy became Speaker, he was voted out of the job. Mr. McCarthy had come full circle in the job that he had so much coveted. He was once again just congressman McCarthy.
So here we are. Hamas has attacked Israel and hundreds if not thousands of Israelis have died. And, hundreds of Palestinians have also died or been wounded. To make matters even worse, some Americans have died and others have been taken hostage. In the meantime, the House of Representatives does not have a Speaker so the United States is flailing trying to figure out, not only how to help Ukraine but how to help our closest ally, Israel and what should be done about the Americans who died and those that were taken hostage.
Republicans are now in the process of holding meetings to decide on a new Speaker. They are holding these meetings in private in an effort to avoid a debacle on the House floor like the one that occurred when they elected Kevin McCarthy. Based on what has transpired in the Republican conference up to this point, a quick selection of a new Speaker will be a daunting task. After what Republicans have shown you as regards their ability to govern, do you think that they can be trusted with power?!
No one knows for certain what will happen with the wars in Israel and Ukraine. But all of us know that America must make reasonable, well-informed decisions about them and that America should do what is in our mutual best interest with our allies and other struggling democracies. All of us know that America must have a functional government to do this and that she cannot do it with a dysfunctional one.
All of us have seen how the Republican Party functions under their chosen leader, Donald J. Trump, and Americans must believe them. We must believe them because they have boldly and proudly shown all Americans who they are. And it will be catastrophic if we do not believe them because polls show that Republicans have chosen Donald J. Trump – this twice impeached, four times indicted, disgraced former The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America with 91 counts against him, to be their 2024 presidential nominee.
And Trump has already told America and the world what he will do to his domestic enemies if he becomes The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America again. Further, all inferences indicate that if he is returned to office, this time it will be for life.
Think about it! And as you think about it, know that your vote has the potential to prevent Trump from returning to office; and that one vote could be the one that will make that difference. So, we must not grow weary and faint now; instead, we must be even more determined to do what we can to help get out the vote and be sure to vote ourselves. And all the while that you are doing this you should always remember that your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!
Eulus Dennis, author – M2: Street Cop To Top Cop, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line