Kevin McCarthy: The First Speaker to be Ousted in a Historic Vote
Kevin McCarthy becomes the first speaker to ever be successfully ousted in a motion to vacate vote. One day, you can tell your grandchildren you were alive to witness this completely pointless bit of history.
Gaetz’s Political Stunt: A Pointless Endeavor
Matt Gaetz’s self-aggrandizing political stunt makes no sense and changes nothing — other than perhaps his fundraising totals. And other than some platitudinous blathering about “the establishment” and “the uniparty,” I still haven’t seen anyone offer a coherent reason — even ex post facto — for how any of this is the “best way to advance the conservative agenda.”
It would be one thing, perhaps an admirable thing, if Gaetz had gone on this crusade for a coherent ideological or principled reason. But his post-ousting demagoguery and grandstanding about issues completely unrelated to McCarthy’s job performance proved it was a personal matter.
“I don’t think voting against Kevin McCarthy is chaos,” Gaetz explained. “I think $33 trillion in debt is chaos. I think that facing a $2.2-trillion annual deficit is chaos.” Now, there are numerous people to blame for the impending fiscal disaster, but McCarthy is no more guilty than most.
One of the least convincing claims by Gaetz’s defenders is that McCarthy was punished for ignoring the base. “The base,” of course, is a popular euphemism for the most vociferous populist faction of the GOP. This faction enjoys blowing things up — mostly their own party’s prospects. In this case, the “base” was represented by eight Republicans and the entire Democratic Party.
And among these principled eight GOPers who were fighting for the honor of the base — what The New York Times called the “far-right faction” — were Nancy Mace (who said Gaetz was a “fraud” the last time he tried to knock off McCarthy) and Ken Buck (who we last heard was reportedly looking for a CNN gig.) I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the future of conservatism was not the motivating factor for their votes.
Most Trump-endorsed candidates didn’t even participate in McCarthy’s removal. Trump himself tepidly supported the speaker because, as he noted, the man had said “very great things” about him. And, really, what’s more important? Though, I bet McCarthy was expecting a far more energetic defense after pathetically ingratiating himself to the former president a couple of weeks ago.
Even if Gaetz had excellent reasons, Republicans did not eject McCarthy. Eight Republicans can’t do anything by themselves. No, 208 Democrats ousted McCarthy with the help of some petulant backbenchers nursing personal vendettas. It is a political coup for the Dems.
Gaetz, who only yesterday was going on about McCarthy’s “secret deal” with Democrats, had no qualms sitting on the opposition side of the House plotting to oust a speaker who holds a rickety five-seat majority. If there was actually a brewing House rebellion, Gaetz would have been able to corral far more votes.
But Gaetz wanted to “break the fever” of DC, so he teamed up with minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, “the squad,” and Adam Schiff, and so on. Jeffries claimed he was supporting Gaetz’s efforts because Republicans have shown an “unwillingness to break from MAGA extremism in an authentic and comprehensive manner, House Democratic leadership will vote yes on the pending Republican Motion to Vacate the Chair.
The notion that Democrats are backing a leading MAGA loyalist because they want to temper the “extremism” of Republicans makes about as much sense as Jamaal Bowman’s fire alarm story. Democrats keep pretending they yearn for a more responsible GOP and stable political environment, then keep supporting every fringe effort and candidate to undermine both.
Of course, no one is owed anything. McCarthy isn’t the only person available in DC to serve as a middling Speaker of the House. And, frankly, if he’d been more talented at the job, he might have headed off this challenge more effectively. But it’s doubtful anyone is going to perform better with a slender majority and the Senate and presidency in Democrats’ hands.
But then again, none of that matters when you’re having a tantrum.
How many votes does it take to remove a Speaker of the House?
The House voted 216-210 to oust McCarthy, with a handful of conservatives joining Democrats to remove him. Seven members were absent. S and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stage this grand political theater. And for what? To make a point? To prove some sort of power? It’s hard to say. What is clear is that this whole endeavor was a giant waste of time and resources.
McCarthy’s Competence and Loyalty
Regardless of how one feels about McCarthy’s political ideology or his leadership style, it cannot be denied that he has been a loyal ally to former President Donald Trump. He has defended Trump and his policies, and he has been instrumental in pushing the Republican agenda forward.
In terms of his competence as a speaker, McCarthy has been able to navigate a deeply divided Republican Party and maintain a fragile majority in the House. He has had to juggle the demands of different factions within the party and find a way to keep them united. While not everyone may agree with his decisions or strategies, it is clear that he has been able to maintain some level of control.
Moreover, McCarthy has been successful in fundraising for the Republican Party and has played a crucial role in supporting Republican candidates in elections. His ousting will undoubtedly have implications for the party’s fundraising efforts and could potentially impact their chances in future elections.
The Implications of McCarthy’s Ousting
The ousting of McCarthy as speaker has broader implications for the Republican Party and the political landscape as a whole. It sends a message that no leader is safe, regardless of their loyalty or competence. It sets a dangerous precedent that could potentially lead to a more volatile and unstable political environment.
Additionally, the ousting of McCarthy could further divide an already deeply divided Republican Party. It could embolden the more radical factions within the party and push them further away from the mainstream. This could have significant consequences for the party’s ability to effectively govern and win elections.
Furthermore, the ousting of McCarthy could be seen as a win for the Democratic Party. It gives them ammunition to paint the Republican Party as unstable and divided, which could potentially sway voters towards the Democrats in future elections.
A Pointless Bit of History
In the end, the ousting of Kevin McCarthy as speaker was nothing more than a pointless bit of history. It was a political stunt that served no real purpose other than to satisfy the personal ambitions and egos of a few politicians. It did not advance the conservative agenda, it did not improve the lives of the American people, and it did not strengthen our democracy.
As we reflect on this historic vote, let us remember that our focus should be on finding common ground, working towards solutions, and putting the needs of the American people above petty political games. Let us strive for a more united and effective government that serves the best interests of all
Now loading...