Morning Jolt: What the Speaker Fight Says about the Republican Party

On the menu today: The fight over whether Kevin McCarthy becomes the next speaker of the House continues, and after three failed votes yesterday, his prospects don't look great. The notion that 19 or 20 Republicans could force this protracted battle in order to get McCarthy's longtime ally and right-hand man, Steve Scalise, into the speaker's chair feels like we're witnessing what Shakespeare called "sound and fury, signifying nothing." But it does raise the question of whether certain House Republicans prefer the comfort of being in the minority and raging impotently, rather than facing the hard work and difficult compromises that are a requirement of operating in a governing majority. Meanwhile, over in that big Washington publication, I contend that almost all of our political problems can be traced back to MTV's "Rock the Vote" in the early 1990s.

Some Republicans Don't Want to Be in the Majority

I'm less interested in whether Kevin McCarthy becomes the next speaker of the House than in what the current fight says about the Republican Party as 2023 dawns.

Until the House of Representatives gets a speaker, almost nothing can be done in ...

WITH JIM GERAGHTY January 04 2023 WITH JIM GERAGHTY January 04 2023 What the Speaker Fight Says about the Republican Party On the menu today: The fight over whether Kevin McCarthy becomes the next speaker of the House continues, and after three failed votes yesterday, his prospects don't look great. The notion that 19 or 20 Republicans could force this protracted battle in order to get McCarthy's longtime ally and right-hand man, Steve Scalise, into the speaker's chair feels like we're witnessing what Shakespeare called "sound and fury, signifying nothing." But it does raise the question of whether certain House Republicans prefer the comfort of being in the minority and raging impotently, rather than facing the hard work and difficult compromises that are a requirement of operating in a governing majority. Meanwhile, over in that big Washington publication, I contend that almost all of our political problems can be traced back to MTV's "Rock the Vote" in the early 1990s. Some Republicans Don't Want to Be in the Majority I'm less interested in whether Kevin McCarthy becomes the next speaker of the House than in what the current fight says about the Republican Party as 2023 dawns. Until the House of Representatives gets a speaker, almost nothing can be done in ...   READ MORE

ADVERTISEMENT Trending on National Review 1. Editors Groom Awards and Moviegoers 2. The Don for and against Life 3. The Three Callings of Benedict XVI Top Stories Jay Nordlinger The perils of football, &c. On athletic violence; Trump Jr. as Bible salesman; MAGA under oath; Tiger Woods; Paul Silas; David French; and ... NEWS Trump Urges Republicans to Close Ranks Behind McCarthy amid Chaotic Race for Speaker ‘IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT ... NEWS Appeals Court Rules Washington MAGA Hat Teacher Protected under First Amendment ‘That some may not like the political message being conveyed’ cannot ‘outweigh the speaker's ... ADVERTISEMENT PODCASTS Episode 506: Football under Fire Episode 257: Bulfinch's... PHOTOS Today in History: January 4 Las Vegas Gadget Show VIDEO Zelensky Takes Aim at... Biden Claims He Awarded... NRPLUS ARTICLES The Don for and against Life Former Florida Corrections Officer... ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Follow Us & Share 19 West 44th Street, Suite 1701, New York, NY, 10036, USA Your Preferences | Unsubscribe | Privacy View this e-mail in your browser.