Jim Hartman: The House GOP’s ship of fools

On Oct. 3, a gang of eight Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy as House speaker in a political coup creating chaos.

Reps. Matt Gaetz, Nancy Mace, Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, Matt Rosendale, Bob Good, Tim Burchett and Ken Buck united with 208 Democrats to topple McCarthy without a plan, a replacement, or even a policy goal in mind.

Four percent of the Republican House conference trumped the 96% who supported McCarthy.

This gang demonstrates the degraded state of the Republican Party in this era of rage. Chaos, the hallmark of Trump’s presidency, has now spread to House Republicans.

Members in safe seats, like Gaetz, can fuel their own fund-raising and careers by claiming to “fight” for a variety of causes without doing the hard work to accomplish what they claim to be fighting for.

Gaetz is a narcissistic nihilist with designs on running for Florida governor. He has no loyalty to the GOP.

Driven by spite against McCarthy, Gaetz is the subject of a House ethics probe involving allegations of sexual misconduct, illegal drug use and misuse of campaign funds (all disputed).

The gang’s stunt shows no evidence they understand the reality of divided government. That requires House GOP unity to have any leverage against a Democratic Senate and president. Even then there has to be compromise.

It’s basic civics and should be obvious but too many Republicans apparently come to Washington with an intent to shut things down and count their social media followers rather than govern.

On Sept. 30, McCarthy chose the only option to avoid a pointless government shutdown by passing a bi-partisan funding bill through Nov. 17.

McCarthy worked until the day before the shutdown deadline to pass a 45-day funding bill that included spending reductions, money for border security, and a commission on the growing federal debt. It wouldn’t have passed the Senate, but it would have given the House leverage in conference.

Instead the GOP’s rejectionists defeated everything.

The real winners with the motion to vacate were House Democrats. They were given new opportunities going into the 2024 election by making Republicans appear to be dysfunctional losers, involved in a circular firing squad amongst themselves.

A recent Gallup survey shows voters tend to agree with the GOP on issues but dislike the party.

Americans – especially swing voters Republicans need to hold the House – will see McCarthy’s removal as evidence Republicans don’t have their act together and are dominated by extreme MAGA Republicans.

Meanwhile the House is frozen. Without a speaker, the House cannot conduct business. It can’t take action even for emergencies.

Nevada GOP Rep. Mark Amodei worries the delay makes passage of legislation harder, including his Nevada state lands bill (H.R.3173).

Majority Leader Steve Scalise and hard-right Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan are candidates for the next speaker, with McCarthy willing to return. GOP divisions and confusion reign.

Hardline House Republicans, and Trump, urge government shutdowns as a tactic in budget fights. They ignore history. Shutdowns never have changed policy and Republicans always get blamed.

Surveys showed Republicans took blame for the 21-day shutdown of 1995-96 under Bill Clinton (for demanding spending cuts before they relented) and the 16-day shutdown in 2013 under Barack Obama (for trying and failing to defund Obamacare).

Trump spurred a 35-day shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019 – the longest in modern history – to demand funding for a border wall. As pressure mounted and Democrats held firm, Trump backed down reopening the government without having secured any concessions.

Another shutdown looms ahead on Nov. 17.

New York GOP Rep. Mike Lawler spoke about his fellow Republicans who’ve provoked the current chaos: “This is stupidity,” Lawler said. “It’s a clown show,” he added , the inevitable result of “running lunatics” for Congress.

House Republicans are aboard a ship of fools.

E-mail Jim Hartman at lawdocman1@aol.com.