Yesterday the House of Representatives descended into chaos, and we are all to blame.
All Democrats joined with 8 Republicans to vote “Yes” for Kevin McCarthy’s removal as Speaker. All other Republicans voted to retain Mr. McCarthy.1
Both parties had an opportunity to elevate principle above party, and blew it.
Mr. McCarthy’s sin was insufficient adherence to what some in his party call principle. I submit that whatever name they want to call it, what Mr. McCarthy did in preventing the country from defaulting on its obligations was insufficient adherence to tribal identity.
Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida was the prime instigator of the Republican revolt against the Speaker, but he is nothing special. Indeed, he reminds me of his counterpart on the Left, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. They have much in common. Both are photogenic, popular, and represent strains of political thought in their respective camps.
However, both are also poor legislators. Mr. Gaetz can point to 2 pieces of legislation with his name on it that have become law. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez can point to nothing.2 Mr. Gaetz and Ms. Ocasio-Cortez provide further evidence of their incompetence whenever they open their mouths. These 2 do not pass laws; they virtue-signal and are paid for it.
But no, rot here starts with the top. Mr. McCarthy did little to directly challenge Gaetz and his supporters. My real beef, however, is on the Democratic side.
Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader, convinced his fellow party members to support the Republican minority in dethroning Mr. McCarthy.
This, for the man who helped Congress overcome the threat of default. For working with Democrats, this is Kevin McCarthy’s reward, from Democrats. I know all is fair in love and war, and this is politics, the one true blood sport, but Really?
As a citizen, I am most decidedly put out.
I have written about this before:
In the above piece I go into Game Theory, and how the opportunity presented to “defect” in The Prisoners’ Dilemma can be pretty overwhelming. Misters McCarthy and Jeffries have made my case for me, but none so pointedly as Mr. Jeffries.
Consider: what if Hakeem Jeffries had instructed some of his members to retain Mr. McCarthy in his role as Speaker?
The Republicans would have remained in control of the House. The status quo would have been maintained.
Mr. Gaetz and his supporters would have lost in their effort to dethrone Mr. McCarthy. This would be a political loss. Any political loss costs influence.
Mr. Jeffries could have peacocked as a statesman, and would have earned it. This would be a political win. Any political win increases influence.
Mr. McCarthy would be beholden to the Democrats for his position. This would demonstrate that sometimes people across the aisles need each other.
So, we could have had the status quo in terms of control of Congress, but with minority voices in one party diminished, and an opportunity for better mutual understanding between the leadership.
But this is not what happened.
Our politicians are as craven as we worry them to be. I’ve written about that before, too:
But politicians take their cues from us. I’ve covered this as well:
This is why I said we are all to blame. Politicians emulate us. They really do listen to those who vote them into office. They better, if they want to be elected.
This means that the responsibility for our politicians’ behavior also lies with us.
If we only talk with those with whom we agree, if we only listen to those who think as we do, if we actively denigrate those on “the other side,” why would we expect our politicians to be any different?
Yesterday we saw a lost opportunity.
Today we all have the opportunity to set a different example.