Why The Liberals Are Winning and Will Win

[Kathianne]

Bottom line, while they are evil, the GOP now has its own evil doers and a huge number of stupid members. We're beyond time for a new party.

Go down as Gingrich has said, with all the morality and self-righteousness, leaving the future to those you proclaim to be against. But you have your superiority to hold onto.

https://hotair.com/david-strom/2023/10/04/thoughts-on-the-mccarthy-ouster-n582336


Thoughts on the McCarthy ousterDAVID STROM 12:01 PM on October 04, 2023

Thoughts on the McCarthy ouster
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Kevin McCarthy’s ouster has some people shouting for joy, others gnashing their teeth, but most people just think WTF or even “Who?”


The premise behind the ouster is simple: McCarthy was just another in a long line of “swamp creatures” who promised the moon and delivered a piece of green and moldy cheese. Far from being a bold, conservative leader, the former speaker betrayed true conservatives by not cutting spending, passing a budget in regular order as promised, and worst of all, compromising with the Democrats in the Senate.


I get that argument. I also think it is wrongheaded.


Defending Kevin McCarthy the man is pointless because that isn’t the issue. Whether McCarthy is a great conservative or a RINO doesn’t really matter at this point, and it didn’t matter much when he was Speaker of the House. My own sense is that he was far more conservative than he was given credit for by his critics, but McCarthy’s opinions as a person hardly mattered the last 9 months.


The only thing that mattered was the math: in the House, there are 221 Republicans and 212 Democrats. In the legislative branch, there is a (barely) Republican House and a Democrat Senate. And, of course, Joe Biden is the most Left-wing president in modern history.


In other words, McCarthy had little freedom of action, and unlike Nancy Pelosi he barely had the votes to become Speaker in the first place, after an extended battle to get there. He entered the office crippled by the very people who eventually kicked him out of it.


If there is one word to describe the McCarthy era it is “constrained.” McCarthy had no room to move in any direction, and that will be true of the next Speaker if we ever get one. He was constrained by Democrats and constrained by his own party. He had a sword of Damocles over his head from the moment he took his seat.


Matt Gaetz and his compatriots moved to vacate the speaker’s chair because they disapproved of McCarthy’s leadership, as was their right. They believed that McCarthy’s delivering a piece of moldy green cheese instead of the moon was a matter of choice on McCarthy’s part, and that somebody else could do better.


Who? How? Do they have an alternative who can in this environment actually deliver better outcomes?


That is the only question that matters.


I, for one, don’t care much about whether McCarthy got a raw deal or a fair deal. He got the only deal on the table. If I were his friend I would care, but I’m not.


What I care about is whether the country will be better or worse off when this drama is over.


The biggest issue on the table will likely be the investigations into the Biden corruption, COVID-19, and the weaponization of government. If the new Speaker of the House needs Democrat votes in order to assume power, as seems quite possible, those investigations will be the price the Democrats demand to get their votes.


The investigations are the only things that matter in the 2024 Congress. I hate to say it, but that is true. The next Speaker will be as constrained by the math as McCarthy was–if you don’t have the votes and the power there isn’t much you can do. Every bit of progress made is just sanding down the edges a bit.


But the investigations matter. Biden’s corruption? Not so much, except in the abstract sense that the public has a right to know and Biden should be exposed. But Biden will not be removed from office, and I doubt even Hunter will go to jail, no less Joe.


But getting to the bottom of COVID and the weaponization of government matter, a lot. What is at stake is the very soul of our Republic, and we need to get the public on our side. This is the fight against creeping totalitarianism. And if a new Speaker gets into that position by abandoning or neutering those investigations he will have sacrificed our best chance to save the country in order to make minor changes to the budget.


I don’t think Gaetz was wrong in what he desired–he has a point. I think, though, that he likely made things worse by demanding it. He may even have led the charge to make the results in the House move to the Left by making the next Speaker dependent on Democrat votes to stay in power.


Pretty sure Gaetz doesn’t want that. Losing spectacularly and gloriously is worse than fighting to a stalemate. Chances are that Gaetz will have the chance to do the former–and we will also pay the price. I hope not, but I worry that will be true.


He wont–he can’t–get what he demands, because the power to deliver it isn’t there. If McCarthy had 240 votes he could have delivered it, but not with 221. He didn’t even have the votes to retain his position, and delivering policy changes requires more votes than that.


Gaetz and company were demanding what can’t be given right now: conservative governance. I want that too. But that option isn’t on the table with Schumer and Biden in office. The investigations might help remove them and make progress possible.


Vacating the Speaker’s Chair made that end goal harder. It helps the Democrats and harms the conservative movement. Not because McCarthy was the man to move us forward, but because we needed somebody to hold things together until we have a chance to move things forward–a chance that doesn’t exist right now.


Gaetz made a point–a pretty good point–and in doing so he likely made things worse for the country and the Republican Party–but I repeat myself. If every member of the Republican Party were a member of the Freedom Caucus they would have no more power than they do today, and I guarantee that the outcomes would change by only a bit.


It is the outcomes that matter–not just now, but especially for the future. The stakes are high, and Gaetz went all-in holding just a pair of 3s.

That was a bad bet.

[Kathianne]

I was thinking, 'what does this remind me of???' Oh yeah, '0 schools in the district had 1 or more students proficient in math.' Next days headline, 'Schools have an updated curriculum to help students 'come out' and protect them from possible parental abuse.'

Caring about the important things in the midst of chaos:

https://hotair.com/headlines/2023/10/04/hoyer-gets-the-boot-too-n582353


Hoyer gets the boot, tooPOLITICO 12:00 PM on October 04, 2023
House Republicans have told Rep. Steny Hoyer to vacate his Capitol hideaway office, the former majority leader’s office confirmed Wednesday.


The move comes as acting speaker Rep. Patrick McHenry ordered former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to vacate her Capitol hideaway office too, as POLITICO first reported. Former House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn did not have an office in the Capitol this Congress, his office said.



[Well, I used the Willy Wonka clip yesterday, but this is pretty much the same deal. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Perhaps House Democrats were under no obligation to stop Republicans from shooting themselves in the foot, but after participating in it, Republicans are under no obligations to extend their special privileges. FAFO. — Ed]

[Abbey Marie]

And the thing is, the Dems would never do this to one of their own.

[Gunny]

Bottom line, while they are evil, the GOP now has its own evil doers and a huge number of stupid members. We're beyond time for a new party.

Go down as Gingrich has said, with all the morality and self-righteousness, leaving the future to those you proclaim to be against. But you have your superiority to hold onto.

https://hotair.com/david-strom/2023/10/04/thoughts-on-the-mccarthy-ouster-n582336

Caught Gingrich earlier on a Hannity clip. Hannity of course saddled up and rode the fence:rolleyes:. Not Newt. He called Gaetz and Co party traitors that should be expelled. There's no gain here other than Gaetz getting over on McCarthy. Politically, it's a loss.

The Dems meanwhile are yucking it up.

[Kathianne]

Gingrich's editorial:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/03/newt-gingrich-matt-gaetz-remove/

[Gunny]

Gingrich's editorial:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/03/newt-gingrich-matt-gaetz-remove/Hard to disagree. Saw what Pelosi said over the weekend and I think it's the first time I ever agreed with her. She abstained from voting.

Then there's the Donald. He asked on Truth social something like "Why are Republicans always fighting each other instead of the Dems destroying the Nation?". Almost choked. The question is correct. Coming from the architect of the dysfunction, I find it a bit hard to take.

[Kathianne]

A round up of sorts of just how stupid the GOP has become. Just the party of chaos, hoping that somehow it will create something on par or better than the founders did:

https://hotair.com/generalissimo/2023/10/05/so-seriously-house-gop-now-what-n582569


So seriously, House GOP, now what?DUANE PATTERSON 11:21 AM on October 05, 2023

So seriously, House GOP, now what?
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
The Southern Border has finally gotten so much in control that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas ordered immediate fencing as an immediate need, and waived 26 federal regulations in order to fast track the construction.


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The United States piled up $275 billion dollars more in debt on Monday. It’s risen $448 billion in the last two weeks. It’s projected to climb a trillion dollars this month. And with the 10-year Treasury yield about to hit 5%, the cost to finance that debt is going to become all-consuming before you know it.


House Oversight released more Hunter Biden documents that show political figure 1 as, not surprisingly, The Big Guy, Joe Biden. If the President’s off his meds, he’s a zombie. If he’s on his meds, he’s corrupt.


[Duane ‘Generalissimo’ Patterson has exclusive content for VIP members every week, and co-hosts the VIP show “Week in Review” with Ed every Friday. Join us to support the fight against Big Tech, mainstream media, and government censorship. Become a Hot Air VIP member today and use promo code SAVEAMERICA to receive a 40% discount on your membership!]


We’ve got real, real problems, and they’re mounting rapidly. Fortunately, we have a gang of self-sabotaging morons riding to the rescue this week in order to make sure that there’s no focus on the serious issues, and no counter to the broken off spigot of leftist floodwater drowning the country.


Matt Gaetz and the rest of the Knucklehead Caucus carried out the Cleavon Little scene in Blazing Saddles when he became sheriff of Rock Ridge by voting with every Democrat to depose Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Now keep in mind, there isn’t a lick of principle involved in the decision. Their purported reason for needing to vacate the chair was because Speaker McCarthy allegedly made a deal with the Democrats to push through a continuing resolution in order to avoid a government shutdown, when in fact that violated his promise to conduct regular order by passing appropriations bills.


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The rest of the story, of course, is that these same Knucklehead Caucus members torpedoed the very appropriations bills that went through regular order. They were marked up in conference committees, passed out of committees, and were torpedoed on the floor for no other reason than to create the shutdown showdown. Once they got to the shutdown showdown and McCarthy refused to play that game and negotiated an alternative, they removed him.


In a week, thanks to these super geniuses, they have galvanized the overarching takeaways American have of the two major political parties.


One of the two political parties is hellbent on destroying the country. That may sound like rhetorical hyperbole, but what else can you call it when you are being overrun at one of your two major land borders by millions of people, of which you have no ability to process or assimilate? Or you reward rampant crime by ending cash bail, propose and pass laws forbidding retail owners or employees from fighting back against crime happening to you? Or you refuse to fund law enforcement to combat the rising crime wave? Or you infect the minds of youth with graphically-illustrated pornography in schools and use the power of the Justice Department in order to investigate and harass parents that try to stop it? The Democratic Party are attempting to destroy the country as we know it for the sake of progress.


The other party, the Republican Party, has a countering vision. Their vision is that they do not want to be in a position of leadership or influence to offer a competing vision. No, we’d rather scuttle any chance of slowing or defeating any of the bad stuff for the duration of the Biden administration. And the House GOP certainly are not showing they are serious about adding to their numbers in Congress for the purposes of leading after the 2024 election.


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The House is currently on a break until Tuesday so that members who want to try to pick up the pieces and file for Speaker can come up with a campaign and work on their fellow members. Allegedly, there will be a vote, or series of votes, for Speaker on Wednesday. It will take 218 to pick the new Speaker. Here’s why it’s unlikely one will be elected anytime soon.


A Republican Speaker can’t lose more than 4 votes. That’s means only half of the Knucklehead Caucus have to hang together to keep this chaos going in perpetuity. No Speaker candidate in their right mind will agree to the gig unless the conference scraps this insane motion to vacate rule. Matt Gaetz and the Knuckleheads will refuse to give that control up. So we’re at an impasse of which there seems no solution.


After weeks, or maybe months of this circus, a handful of moderate Republicans, like perhaps the four freshmen New Yorkers including Mike Lawler, Republicans that eked out narrow wins in 2022 in Democratic-leaning districts and would like to continue, will in all likelihood form a de facto coalition government with the Democrats. They’ll negotiate with Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic leadership in order to come up with somebody that both sides can stomach as a Speaker, but of course with a price. Perhaps the committees will have to have more Democratic membership, or even co-chair power. It will almost certainly be a future speakership for the rest of this Congress that has a less conservative mission and performance than what took place for the last 10 months. And honestly, I can’t blame them a bit for having to go down that road. This can’t go on.


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This is what Matt Gaetz and the Knucklehead 8 have wrought, and they don’t seem to care. Nihilists seldom do care about how their actions affect others. I’ve never in my adult life called for working against any Republican. I esteemed Liz Cheney quite a lot, although regretted deeply the fact that Donald Trump seemed to break her. I was sorry to see a bright political future completely disintegrate, but recognized the need for it to happen, and finally became resigned to the need for her to go. What happened this week is different.


In this case, there’s no defense, no excuse, and there’s no other option. No mercy. They have to go. They are not conservatives. They are not Republicans. If they stand for any election, whether it be in the House, or future Senate or governor runs, they must be defeated. Treachery, especially stupid treachery, cannot be rewarded. It must be punished, or else we are no longer a party that stands for anything.


As a Republican, when you have a week in which George Santos doesn’t even make the top five on a list of craziest Republican Congressman, you know we’re in a lot of trouble. And honestly, Santos currently may have fallen outside the top 10.


In baseball, there was famously the Mendoza line, named for shortstop Mario Mendoza, who had a career batting average of .200. In any group of people of a couple hundred or more, you’re going to have some crazies in it. That’s just a given. The House GOP has their Santos line. It’s best not to be below it. Every member who knifed Speaker McCarthy this week has fallen below the Santos line, and there should be no pathway offered for their return. Ever.

[Gunny]

A round up of sorts of just how stupid the GOP has become. Just the party of chaos, hoping that somehow it will create something on par or better than the founders did:

https://hotair.com/generalissimo/2023/10/05/so-seriously-house-gop-now-what-n582569Not much to add to that. Boggles the mind that the right either cannot see this for what it is, are too stupid to see it for what it is, or just don't care anymore. I'm guessing the majority is in the latter.

It's like everything else in this country anymore. 4% got their way over 96%.

[Kathianne]

Not much to add to that. Boggles the mind that the right either cannot see this for what it is, are too stupid to see it for what it is, or just don't care anymore. I'm guessing the majority is in the latter.

It's like everything else in this country anymore. 4% got their way over 96%.

Well it looks like the 96% in Congress 'get it,' and Gaetz doesn't like the choice of new President pro tempore. Without a break, possible fists would have been thrown. I think a reasonable response to watching 4% flush the system down:

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2023/10/05/gaetz-is-already-unhappy-with-speaker-pro-tempore-heres-why-n2629361

[Gunny]

Well it looks like the 96% in Congress 'get it,' and Gaetz doesn't like the choice of new President pro tempore. Without a break, possible fists would have been thrown. I think a reasonable response to watching 4% flush the system down:

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2023/10/05/gaetz-is-already-unhappy-with-speaker-pro-tempore-heres-why-n2629361Gaetz talking a big game. We should be working now to elect a new speaker and working on appropriations Bills he and his faithful will block:rolleyes:

This guy is trying to bully his way in charge, and succeeding unless someone steps on him and squashes him like the insignificant bug he is.

[Kathianne]

Gaetz talking a big game. We should be working now to elect a new speaker and working on appropriations Bills he and his faithful will block:rolleyes:

This guy is trying to bully his way in charge, and succeeding unless someone steps on him and squashes him like the insignificant bug he is.

Gaetz is now trying to sound 'serious.' Basically saying the threats against him from the other than far right, which he is fund raising on, don't scare him. They now need to govern.

Meanwhile, watch for a Democrat Speaker of the House.

[Gunny]

Gaetz is now trying to sound 'serious.' Basically saying the threats against him from the other than far right, which he is fund raising on, don't scare him. They now need to govern.

Meanwhile, watch for a Democrat Speaker of the House.That's what I'm afraid of.

I wouldn't believe it if someone told me the Republican party would just implode this badly. I'm having to watch it instead. I don't think they have the brains to pull to their asses out of the fire on this one, and I firmly believe this will boil over to affecting the Senate. Not to mention the elephant in the room under indictment for 90-ish felonies they refuse to jettison as "leader of the party":rolleyes:

One party rule ought to just about end any hope for this country.

[Kathianne]

That's what I'm afraid of.

I wouldn't believe it if someone told me the Republican party would just implode this badly. I'm having to watch it instead. I don't think they have the brains to pull to their asses out of the fire on this one, and I firmly believe this will boil over to affecting the Senate. Not to mention the elephant in the room under indictment for 90-ish felonies they refuse to jettison as "leader of the party":rolleyes:

One party rule ought to just about end any hope for this country.

While the Democrats infighting released the crazies onto the street and lionized groups like BLM; the Right went with Trump, leading to civil war within the party. It's what I saw happening in early days of primaries, but the vast majority of the right was with him. I'm ashamed of voting for him in 2020, it's destroying what was left of the system-when the right abandoned the rules, it was over.

[Gunny]

While the Democrats infighting released the crazies onto the street and lionized groups like BLM; the Right went with Trump, leading to civil war within the party. It's what I saw happening in early days of primaries, but the vast majority of the right was with him. I'm ashamed of voting for him in 2020, it's destroying what was left of the system-when the right abandoned the rules, it was over.

None of this would have happened, to include Trump period, if there was leadership in the party. I firmly believe a result of the MSM being allowed to tell the right who they like and who to vote for.

[Kathianne]

None of this would have happened, to include Trump period, if there was leadership in the party. I firmly believe a result of the MSM being allowed to tell the right who they like and who to vote for.
and why do you think that Trump and minions worked and still work so hard to demonize said leadership? Even when leadership was protecting them and marshalling their programs?

[Kathianne]

and why do you think that Trump and minions worked and still work so hard to demonize said leadership? Even when leadership was protecting them and marshalling their programs?
A strong case can be made that Trump is a harbinger for future liberal rule, the followers were just along for the ride. The 'train' was actually the path to destruction.

[Gunny]

and why do you think that Trump and minions worked and still work so hard to demonize said leadership? Even when leadership was protecting them and marshalling their programs?


A strong case can be made that Trump is a harbinger for future liberal rule, the followers were just along for the ride. The 'train' was actually the path to destruction.

I was okay with ridiculing weak leadership. It should get those that can lead to stand up and step forward. Sadly, that tactic works on Marines, not civilians in cushy jobs doing just enough to maintain presence and paycheck. Unfortunately, that tactic had everyone willing to fall in behind Trump instead.

And yep, he's driving the train. Bet money NO ONE connects this to him and even will come out and defend him and there being no connection:rolleyes:

[Kathianne]

I was okay with ridiculing weak leadership. It should get those that can lead to stand up and step forward. Sadly, that tactic works on Marines, not civilians in cushy jobs doing just enough to maintain presence and paycheck. Unfortunately, that tactic had everyone willing to fall in behind Trump instead.

And yep, he's driving the train. Bet money NO ONE connects this to him and even will come out and defend him and there being no connection:rolleyes:
Pretty good summation of what we've witnessed and still to come:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2023/10/05/mccarthy_mutiny_reveals_cracks_in_constellation_of _pro-trump_universe_149845.html

[SassyLady]

Gaetz is now trying to sound 'serious.' Basically saying the threats against him from the other than far right, which he is fund raising on, don't scare him. They now need to govern.

Meanwhile, watch for a Democrat Speaker of the House.

Don't think that's going to happen.

[Kathianne]

Don't think that's going to happen.

Considering what is happening, might be the save of GOP.

[Black Diamond]

Considering what is happening, might be the save of GOP.

Many are scared of this. But which gop members would vote for Jeffries? Am I missing something?

[Black Diamond]

Considering what is happening, might be the save of GOP.

Also agreed. If the economy tanks like your sources say, the dems getting all the blame would be good.

[Kathianne]

Many are scared of this. But which gop members would vote for Jeffries? Am I missing something?
They need to get a speaker to get the funding done. 45 days is short, just try with your family budget if something goes majorly wrong. In any case, not a problem for the chaos seekers. Trump is 100% behind Jordan, so there you go.

[Black Diamond]

They need to get a speaker to get the funding done. 45 days is short, just try with your family budget if something goes majorly wrong. In any case, not a problem for the chaos seekers. Trump is 100% behind Jordan, so there you go.

They can't do that with McHenry?

[Kathianne]

They can't do that with McHenry?
Do what? Get the funding through? Umm, that is why McCarthy is gone. No compromise, their way or f off.

[Black Diamond]

Do what? Get the funding through? Umm, that is why McCarthy is gone. No compromise, their way or f off.

So they'll tell him to f off but not a dem. Please help

[Kathianne]

So they'll tell him to f off but not a dem. Please help
As a few of us have said, these are not team players, they are in it for themselves-both for power and money. Note the fundraising. They have no core, conservative or liberal. Whatever works for them.

[Gunny]

They need to get a speaker to get the funding done. 45 days is short, just try with your family budget if something goes majorly wrong. In any case, not a problem for the chaos seekers. Trump is 100% behind Jordan, so there you go.

Pretending Trump doesn't exist, you think Jordan is a bad choice? Just asking. Don't know enough about him. Is he in the Doom Freedom Caucus?

[Gunny]

They can't do that with McHenry?My understanding is they cannot conduct business without a speaker and the pro temp doesn't count.

[Kathianne]

Pretending Trump doesn't exist, you think Jordan is a bad choice? Just asking. Don't know enough about him. Is he in the Doom Freedom Caucus?
He is/was one of the Freedom Caucus founders. I really didn't like him at beginning, he seemed to have mellowed somewhat and I thought he was doing a decent job with the Biden inquiry. Now he's totally subjugated himself to Trump, basically prostrated himself, so he's Trump's pick.

[Gunny]

So they'll tell him to f off but not a dem. Please helpMemory refresh:

Gaetz pulled this crap supposedly for McCarthy not keeping his word (which legislation ever does?) and working with Dems to pass a CR for which Gaetz had to enlist the support of the entire Democrat Party in the House.

So to answer you question, obviously they will.

[Black Diamond]

Memory refresh:

Gaetz pulled this crap supposedly for McCarthy not keeping his word (which legislation ever does?) and working with Dems to pass a CR for which Gaetz had to enlist the support of the entire Democrat Party in the House.

So to answer you question, obviously they will.

I think I get it now. Scary times.

[Kathianne]

I think I get it now. Scary times.

Corrupt politicians-moreso than usual and a less educated electorate than in the past, so here we are.

[Gunny]

Corrupt politicians-moreso than usual and a less educated electorate than in the past, so here we are.Less educated and uncaring. It's a lot easier to just pretend all this crap show isn't happening and focus on I/me and now than to investigate and educate oneself enough to understand where all this leads.

[Gunny]

Have to wonder who the people think is going to pay the government's bills when the government has put us so far in debt they can't hide ripping off our paychecks anymore? It sure won't be them.

[Kathianne]

Less educated and uncaring. It's a lot easier to just pretend all this crap show isn't happening and focus on I/me and now than to investigate and educate oneself enough to understand where all this leads.

Yep, people making their 'points' whether it be social justice or 'we're going to shake things up,' both want to kill the system. Not seeing much on either side to think they are more brilliant than the Founders.

[Black Diamond]

Have to wonder who the people think is going to pay the government's bills when the government has put us so far in debt they can't hide ripping off our paychecks anymore? It sure won't be them.

It's not their money. What incentive do they have not to blow it ?