Political Stew
Caution - It May Cause Indigestion
Dang, we are near the end of 2023 already. How is that possible? Here at The Storm. By Norm, I thought it would be a fine time to whip up a cauldron full of Political Stew. Let’s see if there’s anything tasty in the pot, shall we?
In November, one of the loudest ultraconservatives in Congress, Texas Republican Representative Chip Roy, in a speech from the floor of the House, gave Democrats quite the early Christmas gift. He excoriated his fellow Republicans for being totally unable to govern, saying,
“One thing! I want my Republican colleagues to give me one thing ― One! ― that I can go campaign on and say we did. One! Anybody sitting in the complex, if you want to come down to the floor and come explain to me, one material, meaningful, significant thing the Republican majority has done . . .”
And, also included in Roy’s blatherfest:
“With all due respect to (the) former President, they sure as hell didn’t get border security done when we had the White House and the House and the Senate. Nothing!”
“Talked a big game about building a wall and having Mexico pay for it. Ain’t no wall and Mexico didn’t pay for it, and we didn’t pass any border security.”
Apparently, even Republicans believe Republicans are full of shit. Democrats all over the country have dreams of campaign ads featuring that surprising helper of Democrats, Chip freaking Roy. It is ridiculous, pathetic, amazing, and hilarious, all at the same time.
I have bashed Republicans a lot in this forum. So, it’s only fair to praise them when they do something with which I agree. Recently, The House of Representatives expelled an alleged crook that somehow had infiltrated their little club, George Santos, a Republican from New York.
The only way this worked is because 105 Republicans voted with almost all of the Democrats to expel Santos. To give the boot to a member without it seeming like politics as usual, requires the member’s own party to be onboard with it. 105 Republicans did the right thing. Should there have been more votes to expel? Well, yes. The guy is as crooked as they come (allegedly). However, 105 was enough to call the vote bipartisan, and not a political hit job. “Way to go” to the 105 for doing what needed to be done.
We all know Joe Biden is too old to be President. And so is the loser of the last election. I guess having all that power is too intoxicating for these guys to give up. I wonder if the real reason ol’ Joe is hanging on is that he believes he is the only one who can keep Cheetoface out of the White House.
We’ve seen what an unmitigated disaster it was when the former guy was in power. And, there is every reason to fear that putting him in again would be an even greater disaster. Does anyone truly think that he won’t use the office to pardon himself, enrich himself, and attack his political enemies? Just as his dictator role model buddies in Russia and North Korea do? Does anyone truly believe that he gives a damn about anything, anything, other than himself?
I think Joe Biden, for all his faults, actually cares about his country and the office of the Presidency. Perhaps in his heart of hearts, he knows he is past his prime, but maybe he thinks the only way to save America from the apocalypse of another term for his predecessor, is to keep on going.
In my mind, the best case scenario would be for Agent Orange to be found guilty of all 91 counts against him and to be led to the slammer in handcuffs. And after all the cheering and celebrating has subsided, Joe could gracefully stand down and let a younger generation of leaders take this country forward. I’m not betting my house on this happening. But, a guy can dream, can’t he?
What to make of former Representative Liz Cheney? She has received much praise for her opposition to Biden's predecessor, which could be seen as courageous and principled, I suppose. It did cost her a seat in the House of Representatives, as the MAGAs of Wyoming voted her out because of her vocal opposition to Sunkist Jesus.
I have to ask - is being courageous and principled really praiseworthy? I mean, shouldn't being courageous and principled be expected behavior for our elected officials? Do we have to praise people for doing what's right? Shouldn't doing what's right, regardless of party affiliation, be the default? For all of us?
Okay.
Liz Cheney bravely stood up to the MAGA masses, at the cost of her job. Good for her. Coming out against her party’s leader in such a public manner is admirable. Many others should be following her shining example.
However, let us not forget that she was part of the problem, voting with her Republican President at a rate that was well over 90%, and voting not to impeach him the first time. Despite his many misdeeds, she did not break with him until after he incited the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol. Before that, the Republicans who enabled him throughout his disastrous Presidency, bear some responsibility for what followed. We should not forget that.
Is California governor Gavin Newsom running for president or not? At the very least he is attempting to position himself as a viable alternative if Joe Biden won't or can't run again. Is that why he "debated" Florida governor Ronald McSantis (yeah, I know that’s not his name)?
I'm not sure what Newsom was hoping to accomplish by participating in such a spectacle. I fail to see the benefit of sharing a stage with McSantis, who has all the charm and charisma of a wet dishrag. If you’re Newsom, what do you gain by winning against someone like that? And if you lose, then what does that say about you?
If Gavin Newsom wants to be president, then he should officially toss his hair-gel-stained hat into the ring. Don’t pansy around about it. If he’s not running for president, then he should stop bothering us and tend to the problems in California. So says me.
So, former Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, is quitting the Congress, eh? Perhaps it reveals a character flaw of mine when I revel in the misfortune of others, but, my first reaction to this news was, "Hahahahahaha!"
He was so desperate to be Speaker, that, in return for the support of the lunatic fringe of his party, he gave them the means to take the Speakership away from him if he didn't do what they wanted him to do. Which is exactly how it went.
What did McCarthy think was going to happen? That the loons in his party would suddenly become responsible legislators whose only concern would be what is best for America? That they would not set fire to all the political dumpsters on Capitol Hill? C'mon, only an idiot would have believed that. H’mmm . . . well, if the shoe fits . . .
The most ridiculous part of McCarthy’s ouster from the Speakership was when he blamed the Democrats for the chaotic mess. While it was true that the Dems provided the vast majority of votes to can him, it was his failure to control his own people that did him in.
Say what you want about Nancy Pelosi, but nothing like that ever happened on her watch. The Right’s favorite Boogeyman (sorry, I guess that should be Boogeyperson) did what a leader does - she led. And her people followed.
It is laughable to suggest it was the Democrats’ responsibility to save McCarthy’s job. If the shoe was on the other foot, how many Republicans would have voted to save the Speakership for Nancy Pelosi or Hakeem Jeffries? My guess would be: 0.0%.
Anyway, congrats on your retirement from Congress, Kev. And, as you run back to California, embarrassed and humiliated, with your tail between your legs, try not to think about this - you did it to yourself.
Rudy Giuliani, what in the hell happened to you, bud? Years ago you were revered as America’s Mayor, now you’re America’s laughingstock. Recently we heard that the Georgia women you defamed won a $148,000,000 judgment against you, and what did you do? Well, you went and possibly defamed them again! Oh Rudy, Rudy, Rudy, for chrissakes, it’s hard not to see your behavior as a desperate, pitiful cry for help.
I guess you hitched your fate to the wrong horse’s ass, eh, bud? Tell me Rudy, just between you and me, was it worth it? Do you wish you had never met that narcissistic, morally bereft, addlebrained liar? Ah, that’s okay, bud, you don’t have to answer. You’ve had to declare bankruptcy and your life is in shambles, so the answer is pretty obvious.
Well, in any event, good luck at the prison work farm, bud.
Postscript: After such a spicy batch of Political Stew, for dessert I really wanted to end on a positive note. But, given the state of politics in the United States of America at this time, I couldn’t think of anything positive. (Insert shrug emoji here.)
Great article, Norm. I totally agree with you. When did we become so alike?