Historic dysfunction

 

That's why it's called trumping, Kev.

Vote no. 7, and they're getting cute.  Gaetz voted for "DONALD JOHN TRUMP!" and some other idiot announced himself as representing "the home of Bill and Hillary Clinton" before voting for McCarthy, which I guess means something because half a dozen people applauded.  It's all performance art because Hakeem Jeffries still commands every Democratic vote and McCoward will lose again.  I half expect to hear "GUAM...WHERE AMERICA'S DAY BEGINS..."  But Guam is another colony that isn't represented here, and fair play to you.

"Speakerless House enters third day of Republican chaos" says the Guardian, while some Americans desperately try to "both-sides" this.  Even Robert Reich, who knows better, writes, "There's an alternative and House Democrats and the few remaining 'moderate' Republicans should take it:  come together to make someone like Michigan's moderate Fred Upton or Ohio's David Joyce the speaker of the House" (in return for equal seats on committees).  No, in thunder!  Why should the Democrats save the Trump party from their own folly and chaos?  And as somebody said this morning, whoever thinks there are still "moderate Republicans" has been watching too many West Wing reruns.

For example, here's the deal the insurrectionists who call themselves the "Freedom Caucus" demanded (and got) from McCarthy:  a "motion to vacate the chair," meaning they can fire him whenever he displeases them (or the Wizard of Mar a Lago).  The only thing left to discuss is how often they can sleep with his wife.  Two years ago tomorrow these traitors threw in with the rioters, giving them guided tours and calling them "patriotic tourists."  McCarthy could have moved against them then.   Regrets, he has a few.  America does not negotiate with terrorists.  But Kevin McCarthy does. 😒  

Katherine Clark, the new minority whip, is now making the case for Republicans to go piss up a rope.  Not saving you today, Trumpanzees.  "They said no."  And now, so do we.

Arizona insurrectionist Biggs nominates Byron Donalds, the new sweetheart of Fox News.  Will he remember to mention that Donalds is Black?  Because it's his superpower.

The social media nutters have invented the name "Kievan Ukarthy," which I'm sure is devastatingly witty.  (Kievan = Kiev, the invaders' name for Kyiv?)  Will advise.

Vote number 8, only up to G and McCarthy is losing again.  Arithmetic is hard!

According to Fortune, Elon Musk is supporting McCarthy.  Donalds and his voters may find that their Twitter accounts have been suspended.

Eight?  Nine?  Is there anyone who could command the respect of the Free Dumb Caucus and the rest?  Are we wasting our lives here?  You know it's twenty-two months until the elections, right?

The C-SPAN camera is fascinated by George Santos as he mingles at this cocktail party from hell.  He continues to pad his CV of mendacity, claiming that he voted against the omnibus bill on December 23 and possibly the Affordable Care Act of 2010.  How long before he's nominated for Speaker?

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Believe it or not, other things are going on in the world.  A fire in a dairy plant in Portage, Wisconsin, released a river of melted butter into storm drains, clogging major arteries (not a cholesterol reference).  Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and some heavily armed troops decided to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Temple Mount, apparently to stir anger and maybe a confrontation; the UN Security Council may meet over it.  Sergey Milyakov, a shipping engineer from Murmansk, was found dead in his ship quarters at Paradip Port, Odisha, India.  (He didn't fit through the porthole?)  Kari Lake now introduces herself as "the duly elected governor of Arizona," but a judge says she still has to pay $33,000 costs to Governor Katie Hobbs for defending her lawsuit.  Police in Enoch City, Utah, say Michael Haight killed his wife, her mother, his five children and himself after Tausha Haight filed for divorce.   In other family news, Ovidio Guzman, fentanyl-trafficking son of El Chapo, was arrested in Mexico.

Good news!  Damar Hamlin is getting better.

That is all.