What's Going on in the US House of Representatives?

[Pilgrim]

More than a few "hardliners" voted against "MAGA Mike." Ninety three House Republicans voted against the measure, with 127 voting for it. The "hardliners" are not happy. How long will it be before they turn on "MAGA Mike," a speaker who cannot govern without cooperating with the Democrats?

So all the members who voted against the Johnson bill are "hardliners"? This sounds like more labeling, straight from "Rules for Radicals", which the Democrats have used generously this year, just the way Johnson was immediately labeled a right-wing extremist and a MAGA Mike. This proposal passed because he gave the opposition two things they wanted: keeping spending at 2023 levels and no hard spending cuts. On the other hand, there was no aid to Ukraine, which Biden had originally insisted on. Results are what count, and each side got enough to hold their nose and vote for passage. It would appear that the "MAGA" label does not apply to Johnson after all.

When McCarthy did the very same thing MAGA Mike did, the hardliners used the motion to vacate the chair to boot him out of the speaker's seat. What keeps them from doing that now? Honeymoon period? If so, how long will that last? If not, what is the reason he still has his seat?

It's becoming apparent that the demise of McCarthy was due to the personal animosity that existed between him and Gaetz along with a few other renegades. McCarthy struggled to get the Speakership in the first place, and was desperate enough to agree to the one-vote rule that resulted in his demise. Johnson appears to be more savvy than that, and will likely work to get that rule rescinded. It would be in the best interest of both parties to do so.

Have the dysfunctional ways of the House Republicans suddenly and miraculously been cured?

This liberal exaggeration might have had some appeal during the three-week intra-party squabble, but it no longer holds water. Disagreements within political parties have always existed, and the Democrats themselves are going through one right now with the radical pro-Hamas faction causing considerable headaches in dark blue states like NY, and among the college-age voters who are revolting against Biden. Both parties will have to deal with idiots like Matt Gaetz and Rashida Tlaib and their respective squads. So far it looks like Johnson has the chops to make things work. Labels are just talk - results are what counts.

 

[ATeam]

So all the members who voted against the Johnson bill are "hardliners"? This sounds like more labeling, straight from "Rules for Radicals", which the Democrats have used generously this year,

I used the term because you used it above. You spoke of a few hardliners. I was less precise and yield to your objection.

just the way Johnson was immediately labeled a right-wing extremist and a MAGA Mike.

Johnson is a right-wing extremist.

It's becoming apparent that the demise of McCarthy was due to the personal animosity that existed between him and Gaetz along with a few other renegades. McCarthy struggled to get the Speakership in the first place, and was desperate enough to agree to the one-vote rule that resulted in his demise. Johnson appears to be more savvy than that, and will likely work to get that rule rescinded. It would be in the best interest of both parties to do so.

I agree it is best for the rule to go. I'll agree about the personal animosity part too, but that is not the end of the story. The extremists are pissed and I do not expect them to remain quiet or avoid further mischief.

This liberal exaggeration might have had some appeal during the three-week intra-party squabble, but it no longer holds water.

We'll see. As I said, I do not expect the extremists to remain quiet. That's not their way.

So far it looks like Johnson has the chops to make things work. Labels are just talk - results are what counts.

As I said, we'll see. Johnson may not have "the chops." He may be simply lucky that he got this bill through during his honeymoon period. If he gets Ukraine and Israel aid through, that will tell us more about who he is as a speaker. In his favor, he has tapped the brakes a bit on the House move toward impeaching Biden.

 

[muttly]

Apparently the “honeymoon” is over.

Grace C on GETTR : Yes, @RepMikeJohnson. You’ve been told accurately today in your meeting. You absolutely have a WarRoom problem.

Yes, @RepMikeJohnson. You’ve been told accurately today in your meeting. You absolutely have a WarRoom problem.

gettr.com

 

[ATeam]

Apparently the “honeymoon” is over.

Grace C on GETTR : Yes, @RepMikeJohnson. You’ve been told accurately today in your meeting. You absolutely have a WarRoom problem.

Yes, @RepMikeJohnson. You’ve been told accurately today in your meeting. You absolutely have a WarRoom problem.

gettr.com

If it is true, as Bannon says, the "War Room people" are "mad beyond belief," that is meaningless if MAGA Mike and his House Republican supporters have decided to write off the extremists, embrace the help of the the Democrats, and actually govern. To do that, Johnson will have to compromise some of his own principles and deviate from his previous extremist behavior. We'll see how this plays out over time.

For the moment, it appears Johnson is willing to compromise his principles and deviate from his previous behavior. He accepted Democratic help to get a budget continuing resolution through. He has tapped the brakes a bit on impeaching Biden. He seems open to funding for Ukraine and Israel.

In keeping with his track record, he endorsed Trump. But that is not an internal House matter that impacts the ability to get things done, one way or another in the House. It may turn out that Johnson will say everything the MAGA conservatives want to hear while actually compromising MAGA principles in the interests of the greater good.

And if that means writing off the Freedom Caucus, so be it. And if that means pissing off the War Room people, who cares?

 

[Pilgrim]

Apparently the “honeymoon” is over.

Grace C on GETTR : Yes, @RepMikeJohnson. You’ve been told accurately today in your meeting. You absolutely have a WarRoom problem.

Yes, @RepMikeJohnson. You’ve been told accurately today in your meeting. You absolutely have a WarRoom problem.

gettr.com

If anyone needs to know what right-wing extremists look like, this is it. Apparently Johnson isn't one of them, as the liberals have tried to portray him. He seems to realize that getting sensible legislation passed requires sacrifice from both sides. If factions from both are complaining it must be a good bill.

 

[ATeam]

If anyone needs to know what right-wing extremists look like, this is it. Apparently Johnson isn't one of them, as the liberals have tried to portray him. He seems to realize that getting sensible legislation passed requires sacrifice from both sides. If factions from both are complaining it must be a good bill.

I continue to believe Johnson is a right-wing extremist. A couple of initial moves as House Speaker does not a non-extremist make.

Can a tiger change its stripes? No. Can a politician compromise his beliefs? Absolutely. But compromising one's right-wing extremist beliefs does not mean he has changed those beliefs. It means he is deviating from them to serve another purpose.

Can a human being genuinely change what one believes? And are politicians allowed to do that? The answer to both questions is yes. People are allowed to change their minds. While it is rare, when a politician rises to say "I have changed my mind," I generally praise the move as a display of courage and personal integrity. As human beings, we all learn and grow as we move through life. Changing one's mind is allowed.

If you happen to be a public official with a public track record of holding and acting on a particular set of beliefs, you are still allowed to change your mind and behavior, but you will have a number of people calling you a hypocrite and furious at you for the perceived betrayal.

So, what is it with Johnson? Is he still holding his right-wing-extremist beliefs but compromising them for the greater good? Or has he genuinely changed his mind about his beliefs and is now setting out on a new path? I think the former is the more likely case.

 

[ATeam]

Santos is Done and May be Expelled

"House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, a Mississippi Republican, will make a motion to expel Santos as soon as Friday..."

"Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a New York Republican and committee member who has also held off on expulsion up until this point, also says he will now support it. ... 'There is significant evidence that he exploited his position for personal gain. He is undeserving of public office,” Garbarino said in a statement.'

"Santos ... announced he would not seek re-election in 2024."

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/16/politics/ethics-committee-releases-santos-report/index.html

 

[skyraider]

Does he still get a retirement check and medical???????????????????????

 

[Ragman]

Santos is Done and May be Expelled

Lock him up!

 

[ATeam]

Santos is Done and May be Expelled

"House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, a Mississippi Republican, will make a motion to expel Santos as soon as Friday..."

"Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a New York Republican and committee member who has also held off on expulsion up until this point, also says he will now support it. ... 'There is significant evidence that he exploited his position for personal gain. He is undeserving of public office,” Garbarino said in a statement.'

"Santos ... announced he would not seek re-election in 2024."

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/16/politics/ethics-committee-releases-santos-report/index.html

When the Santos seat is vacated, it will be filled by special election. As of June 2022, 40% of the district's active voters were registered Democrats, 28% were registered Republicans, and 32% were either registered with some other party or unaffiliated. [Source]

 

[muttly]

When the Santos seat is vacated, it will be filled by special election. As of June 2022, 40% of the district's active voters were registered Democrats, 28% were registered Republicans, and 32% were either registered with some other party or unaffiliated. [Source]

So what? How was he elected before by the same constituency make-up?

 

[muttly]

Lock him up!

Still crickets from Senate Leader Schumer demanding Menendez to resign.

 

[LDB]

Because Schumer is worthless trash, like the vast majority of democrats and a significant minority of republicans, and should also be expelled.

 

[muttly]

If anyone needs to know what right-wing extremists look like, this is it. Apparently Johnson isn't one of them, as the liberals have tried to portray him. He seems to realize that getting sensible legislation passed requires sacrifice from both sides. If factions from both are complaining it must be a good bill.

What have the Dems sacrificed on spending? Also, what is the “moderate” plan on “fixing”this? We are at a point where we will never pay off the debt. And the increasing deficits that are eating more of our personal spending power( dollar)
This debt doesn’t look very moderate.

https://www.usdebtclock.org/

 

[ATeam]

So what? How was he elected before by the same constituency make-up?

Santos was elected the same way a handful of other New York freshmen House Republicans were elected. New York Democrats stepped into it big time with their nuttso cash-bail laws. Criminals who should have been locked up after being arrested were set free because of some truly wrong-headed, extreme-left notions about crime and justice. That infuriated voters and the Democrats paid a price. The handful of New York US House districts that flipped blue to red was enough to give the Republicans the razor-thin majority they have now.

The Democrats learned their lesson. The reason the New York Republican freshmen were so eager to expel Santos was they know their seats are at risk. Santos is an albatross Democrats are more than willing to hang around their necks. And the abortion-rights issue, which is energizing and mobilizing voters nationwide is something that they have to contend with as well.

That is how Santos was elected. And that is how a Democrat will be elected when the election to replace Santos occurs. In Santos's district and the other freshmens' districts, Democrats will have an easy case to make with the voters; Santos corruption, Republican dysfunction, and abortion rights.

 

[ATeam]

We are at a point where we will never pay off the debt.

That is correct. Coming sometime, maybe sometime soon, and maybe sometime when it is not widely expected, the US dollar will crash. We have seen many times currencies crash in other countries. The US is not immune from the economic forces that lead to such crashes, but the US is clearly on track for such a crash.

Wise people are positioning their assets to survive and prosper when the coming crash comes.

 

[muttly]

Santos was elected the same way a handful of other New York freshmen House Republicans were elected. New York Democrats stepped into it big time with their nuttso cash-bail laws. Criminals who should have been locked up after being arrested were set free because of some truly wrong-headed, extreme-left notions about crime and justice. That infuriated voters and the Democrats paid a price. The handful of New York US House districts that flipped blue to red was enough to give the Republicans the razor-thin majority they have now.

The Democrats learned their lesson. The reason the New York Republican freshmen were so eager to expel Santos was they know their seats are at risk. Santos is an albatross Democrats are more than willing to hang around their necks. And the abortion-rights issue, which is energizing and mobilizing voters nationwide is something that they have to contend with as well.

That is how Santos was elected. And that is how a Democrat will be elected when the election to replace Santos occurs. In Santos's district and the other freshmens' districts, Democrats will have an easy case to make with the voters; Santos corruption, Republican dysfunction, and abortion rights.

That may or may not be the case in the special election, but observe Rep. Stefanik’s posts I’ve provided. The Dems have a Biden and economy problem. It may show up in the special election, or it won’t. But the overwhelming driving issue in the 2024 election for the whole electorate will be about the economy/ inflation. Trump will be on the ballot as well providing coattails for those districts.

 

[muttly]

That is correct. Coming sometime, maybe sometime soon, and maybe sometime when it is not widely expected, the US dollar will crash. We have seen many times currencies crash in other countries. The US is not immune from the economic forces that lead to such crashes, but the US is clearly on track for such a crash.

Wise people are positioning their assets to survive and prosper when the coming crash comes.

“Wise people” certainly are, but most haven’t acquired/ accumulated sufficient assets. And continuing on this trajectory will make it unattainable for most.

 

[ATeam]

“Wise people” certainly are, but most haven’t acquired/ accumulated sufficient assets. And continuing on this trajectory will make it unattainable for most.

Also correct. When we went through the real estate crash and "Great Recession" 2007-2009, it was bad. Expediters who were in the business will remember the trauma well. When the COVID panic prompted governments to shut down entire countries and states, that to was really bad. But when we have a dollar crash, it's going to be really, really bad.

If you have not yet prepared for the big crash that is coming, you can become a wise person and go to work on that now. Learn how crashes play out. Learn how to prepare. Learn what people who prosper during crashes do, and do that.

 

[ATeam]

More Republican Dysfunction; Santos Goes Off on His House Colleagues

"I have colleagues who are more worried about getting drunk every night with the next lobbyist that they're gonna screw and pretend like none of us know what's going on, and sell off the American people, not show up to vote because they're too hungover or whatever the reason is, or not show up to vote at all and just give their card out like f*cking candy for someone else to vote for them." George Santos