#House GOP in disarray

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

July 23, 2024

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

JUL 24, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris continues her momentum toward the 2024 presidential election since President Joe Biden’s surprise announcement on Sunday that he would not accept the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. 

Today more than 350 national security leaders endorsed Harris for president, noting that if elected president, “she would enter that office with more significant national security experience than the four Presidents prior to President Biden.” As vice president, she “has met with more than 150 world leaders and traveled to 21 countries,” the authors wrote, and they called out her work across the globe from her work strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region to her historic trip to Africa and her efforts to expand U.S. relationships with nations in the Caribbean and North Central America. In contrast to Harris, the letter said, “Trump is a threat to America’s national security.” 

Those signing the letter included former Central Intelligence Agency director Michael Hayden, former director of national intelligence James Clapper, national security advisors Susan Rice and Thomas Donilon, former secretaries of defense Chuck Hagel and Leon Panetta, and former secretaries of state Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. 

In a New York Times op-ed today, former secretary of state Clinton praised Biden for his “decision to end his campaign,” which she called “as pure an act of patriotism as I have seen in my lifetime.” She went on to say that Vice President Harris “represents a fresh start for American politics,” offering a vision of an America with its best days ahead of it and, rather than “old grievances,” “new solutions.”

Clinton noted that her own political campaigns had seen her burned in effigy, but said, “It is a trap to believe that progress is impossible” and that Americans cannot overcome sexism and racism. After all, she pointed out, voters elected Black American Barack Obama in 2008, and she herself won the popular vote in 2016. “[A]bortion bans and attacks on democracy are galvanizing women voters like never before,” Clinton wrote, and “[w]ith Ms. Harris at the top of the ticket leading the way, this movement may become an unstoppable wave.”

Today, Harris held her first campaign rally, speaking to supporters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the Republicans held their national convention just last week. The energy from the 3000 people packed into the gym where she walked out to Beyoncé’s song “Freedom” was palpable. 

She began by thanking Biden and touting his record, then turned to noting that in her past as a prosecutor, California attorney general, U.S. senator from California, and vice president, she “took on perpetrators of all kinds—predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So,” she said, “hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type.” She went on to remind the audience that Trump ran a for-profit college that scammed students, was found liable for committing sexual abuse, and “was just found guilty of fraud on 34 counts.” 

While Trump is relying on “billionaires and big corporations,” she said, “we are running a people-powered campaign” and “will be a people-first presidency.” The Democrats, she said, “believe in a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by but to get ahead; a future where no child has to grow up in poverty; where every worker has the freedom to join a union; where every person has affordable health care, affordable childcare, and paid family leave. We believe in a future where every senior can retire with dignity.”

“[A]ll of this is to say,” she continued, “Building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency. Because…when our middle class is strong, America is strong.”

In contrast, she said, Trump wants to take the country backward. She warned that he and his Project 2025 will “weaken the middle class,” cutting Social Security and Medicare and giving “tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations,” while “working families foot the bill.” “They intend to end the Affordable Care Act,” she said, “and take us back…to a time when insurance companies had the power to deny people with preexisting conditions…. Remember what that was like? Children with asthma, women who survived breast cancer, grandparents with diabetes. America has tried these failed economic policies before, but we are not going back. We’re not going back.”  

“[O]urs is a fight for the future,” she said “And it is a fight for freedom…. Generations of Americans before us led the fight for freedom.  And now…the baton is in our hands.”   

Meanwhile, MAGA Republicans are still scrambling for a plan of attack against Harris. One of their first angles has been the sexism and racism Clinton predicted, calling her “a DEI hire.” House Republican leaders have told fellow lawmakers to dial back the sexist and racist attacks. 

MAGA Republican representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) has taken a different angle: he introduced an impeachment resolution against Harris, while others are demanding that the House should investigate Harris and demand the Cabinet remove President Biden under the 25th Amendment. The Republican National Committee has decided to make fun of Harris’s laugh.

But concern in the Trump camp showed today when Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio shared with reporters a “confidential memorandum” trying to get ahead of polls he says will show Harris leading Trump. He said he expects to see a “Harris Honeymoon” that will end quickly. 

Trump has continued to post angrily on his social media feed but is otherwise sticking close to home. His lack of visibility highlights that the Republicans are now on the receiving end of the same age and coherence concerns they had used against Biden, and there might be more attention paid to Trump’s lapses now that Biden has stepped aside. CNN’s Kate Sullivan noted today, for example, that “Trump said he’d consider Jamie Dimon for Treasury secretary, but now says he doesn’t know who said that.” 

As Tim Alberta noted Sunday in The Atlantic, the Trump campaign tapped J.D. Vance in an attempt to harden the Republican base, only to find now that he cannot bring to the ticket any of the new supporters they suddenly need. 

According to Harry Enten of CNN, Vance is the first vice presidential pick since 1980 who has entered the race with a negative favorability rating: in his case, –6 points. Since 2000, the usual average is +19 points. Vance won his Senate seat in 2022 by +6 points in an election Republican governor Mike DeWine won by +25 points. Vance “was the worst performing Republican candidate in 2022 up and down the ballot in the state of Ohio,” Enten said. “The J.D. Vance pick makes no sense from a statistical polling perspective.”

Sarah Longwell of The Bulwark, who specializes in focus groups, noted that swing voters groups “simply do not like” Vance. “Both his flip flopping on Trump and his extreme abortion position are what breaks through,” she wrote. 

The 2024 election is not consuming all of the political oxygen, even in this astonishing week. Today, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that eight large companies must turn over information about the data they collect about consumers, product sales, and how the surveillance the companies used affected consumer prices. 

“Firms that harvest Americans’ personal data can put people’s privacy at risk. Now firms could be exploiting this vast trove of personal information to charge people higher prices,” FTC chair Lina M. Khan said. “Americans deserve to know whether businesses are using detailed consumer data to deploy surveillance pricing, and the FTC’s inquiry will shed light on this shadowy ecosystem of pricing middlemen.”

The eight companies are: Mastercard, Revionics, Bloomreach, JPMorgan Chase, Task Software, PROS, Accenture, and McKinsey & Co.

In the House, Republicans have been unable to pass the appropriations bills necessary to fund the 2025 U.S. budget, laced as they are with culture-wars poison pills the extremists demand. Today House members debated the appropriations bill for the Interior Department and the Environment which, among other things, bans the use of funds “to promote or advance critical race theory” or to require Covid-19 masks or vaccine mandates. 

According to the European climate service Copernicus, last Sunday was the hottest day in recorded history. The MAGA Republicans’ appropriations bill for Interior and the Environment calls for more oil drilling, fewer regulations on pollutants, no new regulations on vehicles, rejecting Biden’s climate change executive orders, and reducing the funding for the Environmental Protection Agency by 20%.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[tomorrowusa]

REPUBLICANS IN DISARRAY!!!!11!!1!

Steve Scalise has withdrawn from the House Speaker race. Gym Jordan is back in the race despite the fact that he lost the last time the GOP caucus chose a candidate.

CNN spoke with GOP former Rep. Fred Upton. He basically said that he was relieved to be back in Michigan with his wife and grandkids these days.

House Republicans are meeting again on Friday afternoon. But a number of them have already stated that they would not support Gym Jordan for Speaker.

Journalist David Gregory told CNN that he expects Democrats to eventually jump in and try to work out a solution; the total GOP House shitstorm reflects badly on Congress as a whole and there's work to be done with multiple crises around the world and at home.

Republicans are simply unable to govern. At the heart of all this is Donald Trump having hijacked the party for his own purposes.

Don't let people spew bothsiderism to you about Democrats and Republicans in the House. Whether people agree with her or not, the House was infinitely better managed by Nancy Pelosi for eight years than it was by Kevin McCarthy for eight months.

[rosielindy]

Im deeply grateful for the work Marc Elias does. Speaker Jeffries works for me! Manifesting…. 🙏🏼

[tomorrowusa]

The free-for-all among Republicans in the US House of Representatives is causing many people to quote the late Monsieur Mallet du Pan – though not always accurately. The original is shown above.

Kevin McCarthy was the last of the three "Young Guns" to be devoured by the Tea Party revolution they helped inflame.

Kevin McCarthy’s Downfall Is the Culmination of the Tea Party

The fact that McCarthy and the other Young Guns were once called tea party people because they dallied with the movement does not mean that the tiger wasn’t going to consume them in the end.

• Like Saturn, the Revolution devours its children. —Jacques Mallet du Pan

Orig. French: A l'exemple de Saturne, la révolution dévore ses enfans. 

Considérations sur la nature de La Révolution de France

[schraubd]

Harris '24

To be honest, I didn't have strong feelings about whether Biden should or shouldn't drop out of the race. But his decision to step down should be seen as an incredible act of selflessness and statesmanship. Joe Biden has had an amazing array of accomplishments as President. But this step was entirely about ensuring that the fascist maniac atop the cult of personality that's become the GOP does not return to the White House in January, and he deserves great praise for that. The media, it seems clear, is not ready for the circus to leave town. It is bombarding us with calls for an open convention or speed primary or some nonsense about picking Mitt Romney -- anything to maintain the frenzy of Democrats in chaos. But overwhelmingly, the reaction I'm seeing from most Democrats is relief: relief that we have a resolution, and relief that we're in good hands with Harris. Whereas the drumbeat to get Biden out the race, while partially media generated, did reflect at some level of genuine concern from actual Democrats of note following the debate disaster, right now it's going to be very hard to maintain a narrative of Dems in Disarray given the rapidity with which the party coalesced behind Harris. Indeed, virtually all the chatter I've seen about the need to Avoid A Coronation!!! comes from the usual pundit has-beens -- I'm seeing essentially no appetite from any Democrat of note to offer themselves up as an alternative to Harris, and she's rapidly securing endorsements from every sector of the party. Kamala Harris is going to be the nominee, Democrats seem very happy that Harris is going to be the nominee, and I'm excited to rally behind her and return her to the White House. The next few months won't be easy. For example, we can expect the media's interest in the age of candidates to disappear as rapidly as its interest in classified document security. But Harris is a good woman, a good leader, and a good politician. We can do this. Let's get to it. via The Debate Link https://ift.tt/md4BE2Y

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Arthur Delaney and Jonathan Nicholson at HuffPost:

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers rejected a ploy by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to combine legislation to fund the government with a right-wing bill attacking the illusory threat of illegal voting. Johnson’s gambit failed thanks to unified opposition from Democrats, plus objections from a handful of Republicans who complained the bill didn’t cut government spending enough. The vote tally was 202 to 220, with two House members, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voting “present.” Fourteen Republicans broke ranks to vote with Democrats against the bill, while three Democrats voted with Republicans in favor.

The bill’s defeat did not come as a surprise — Johnson initially scheduled a vote for last week, but postponed it amid warnings from several members of his own party that they would vote against the package. Ahead of the failed vote on Wednesday, Republicans openly talked about a plan B, and Johnson himself suggested in an extended football metaphor that he would need to call another play after this one yielded no gain. “We’re on the field in the middle of the game, the quarterback’s calling the play, we’re going to run the play,” Johnson said. “We have a thick playbook, of course, with all sorts of ideas in it. But when you’re on the field and you’re calling a play, you run the play.”

[...]

One outcome several Republicans anticipate is that Johnson will move a short-term government funding bill, known as a continuing resolution, without the voter fraud language attached. Johnson himself refused to rule out passing a clean funding bill in response to a reporter’s question last week.

Former President Donald Trump, however, has repeatedly urged Republicans to shut down the government if Democrats won’t accept the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act. “If Republicans don’t get the SAVE Act, and every ounce of it, they should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form,” Trump wrote Wednesday on his website. “Democrats are registering Illegal Voters by the TENS OF THOUSANDS, as we speak - They will be voting in the 2024 Presidential Election, and they shouldn’t be allowed to.” Republicans have provided no evidence whatsoever that undocumented immigrants are registering to vote in massive numbers. It’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and voter registration forms already require signatories to attest to their citizenship under penalty of perjury. For those reasons, experts say, noncitizen voting is exceedingly rare.

House Republicans in disarray! They voted 202-220 against the plan that would combine funding to keep the government open with the SAVE Act, a bill that that is based on manufactured outrage about noncitizen voting. 14 Republicans broke ranks and voted no (largely from the right), while 3 Democrats voted yes.

See Also:

The Guardian: US House fails to pass federal funding bill as shutdown deadline nears

[nodynasty4us]

From the March 27, 2024 essay:

But whether it's because of exhaustion or avarice, the GOP's perilously tiny majority could shrink even further—and perhaps collapse into a minority. There would likely need to be at least four more Republican departures for that to happen, but even if that doesn’t come to pass, Norm Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute points out that it would only take a small COVID outbreak, say, to temporarily reduce GOP ranks to the point where Democrats could seize control.

In a conversation with Daily Kos Elections, Ornstein, one of the foremost scholars of Congress in the country, explained what exactly Democrats would have to do to capitalize on an unprecedented opportunity like this. The mechanics are straightforward, but the most important thing, Ornstein emphasized, is that Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his leadership team have to start planning now so that they are fully prepared to take advantage of what would likely be a very limited window to act.

"Democrats should be mapping out a careful plan," Ornstein said. "If you have a week, you need a package ready to go that you can move with lightning speed."

The piece goes on to suggest what Democrats could accomplish if they move fast after gaining temporary control of the House, including passing a regular budget for fiscal year 2025.

(Via Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire.)

[mariacallous]

https://www.tumblr.com/mariacallous/742512002829795328/httpswwwtumblrcommariacallous742491062072950

Fair enough, I'm just a bit on edge since KOSA's just gotten enough Senators to basically get it passed in the Senate. While the House is supposedly chillier towards it, it's still nerve-wracking that this awful bill is getting closer and closer to being passed, especially with the comparisons to SESTA FOSTA and the Patriot Act, the very real harm it could cause, etc.

That makes sense.

I am wondering if the shrunken GOP majority and the general disarray in the House will help kill progress for the bill.

[bllsbailey]

Conservative Radio Host Makes the Case to Keep the Government Open

Hugh Hewitt

We’re days away from a government shutdown. House Republicans unveiled a six-month continuing resolution to keep the government funded as Congress presses on with the budget reconciliation process that will make the Trump tax cuts permanent, secure the border, and finish the wall, among other things. I don’t mind a good shutdown, but we can’t afford one now.

We can’t let the liberal media and the Democrats have a win here, which will be a ‘GOP in disarray’ narrative. Also, with Democrats having no message, why give them this easy dub? On his show Monday, Salem Media Group's Hugh Hewitt made these points in supporting the CR on the Hill: Keep the deportations rolling, keep the rebuilding of our defense going, and keep the DOGE DOGE-ing. 

Eye on the prize, which is getting through the budget reconciliation process relatively unscathed. Also, even CBS News pointed out why the Democrats want a short-term funding measure, which is the alternative: they’re worried about DOGE (via CBS News) [emphasis mine]:

House Republicans unveiled a continuing resolution over the weekend, which would extend government funding through September. The stopgap measure would increase defense spending, along with additional funding for veterans' health care, while decreasing non-defense spending below 2024 levels. The bill also includes more funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The resolution first goes to the House Rules Committee, before a vote on the floor as soon as Tuesday. Republicans, who have a razor-thin majority in the House, are working to shore up support on the measure, with opposition expected from House Democrats. Already at least one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, has pledged to oppose the continuing resolution.  […]  If the House is unable to find the necessary support for the six-month continuing resolution, lawmakers would likely move to a shorter-term funding measure that would give appropriators more time to flesh out new spending bills. Democrats have signaled in recent days that they prefer the latter approach, which would likely find wide bipartisan margins in both chambers, while frustrating conservatives.  Many Democrats have reservations about the six-month stopgap measure, warning that it would give the Trump administration and Department of Government Efficiency even more latitude to carry out cost-slashing efforts. That's because a continuing resolution, unlike regular appropriations bills, lacks a congressional statement of direction on how funds are to be spent by a department or agency. Democrats have also expressed frustration with the spending reductions in the continuing resolution. But Democrats generally aren't inclined to let the government shut down, and House Republicans — expected to leave town after the stopgap measure passes — are exerting pressure to avoid a shutdown.  Should the House find enough support to approve the six-month stopgap measure, it would then go to the Senate. But the upper chamber poses its own hurdles. Republicans have a 53-seat majority in the Senate, but 60 votes are necessary to propel the bill to passage, meaning support from Democrats will be needed. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has also pledged to oppose the measure, making support from at least eight Democrats necessary to pass the measure and send it to the president's desk.

Let’s see how things play out, but Republicans, I would hope, are thinking long-term about the real domestic goal this year. It’s not haggling over short- or long-term CRs, but it's not on this fight. Keep the doors open, get the budget reconciliation package through.

Trending on Townhall Videos

[directnewssourc]

Strategizing Against GOP Dysfunction: A Democratic Playbook for Success in 2026

Strategizing for SuccessAs the political landscape evolves, Democrats are honing their strategies to combat GOP dysfunction and secure victory in the upcoming 2026 elections. The tumultuous events of recent weeks have underscored the disarray within the Republican ranks, providing Democrats with a unique opportunity to capitalize on the chaos.The Republican QuagmireRecent revelations regarding prominent Republican figures, including allegations against former Rep. Matt Gaetz and the health challenges faced by Rep. Kay Granger, have further highlighted the internal turmoil plaguing the GOP. The House Ethics report and personal admissions have cast a shadow over the party, setting the stage for Democratic critique.A Message of DysfunctionDemocratic leaders are swift to seize upon the narrative of Republican dysfunction, with CJ Warnke of the House Majority PAC emphasizing the chaotic nature of the GOP agenda. By portraying President Musk and House Republicans as a 'dumpster fire,' Democrats aim to position themselves as the responsible alternative for voters disillusioned by the GOP's missteps.The Path to VictoryDespite initial concerns about Trump's second term, Democrats are optimistic that continued GOP dysfunction will hinder Republican progress. With a narrow House majority, Republicans face challenges in advancing their agenda, providing Democrats with a window of opportunity to sway voters with their stable leadership approach.Looking AheadWhile past elections have showcased Republican discord, Democrats remain cautious about prematurely celebrating GOP missteps. The road to the 2026 elections will require a cohesive Democratic message and a proactive approach to addressing voter concerns. Rep. Jennifer McClellan emphasizes the importance of staying focused on problem-solving for the American people to secure electoral success.Building a Stronger FutureAs Democrats gear up for the electoral battle ahead, the key lies in presenting a united front against GOP dysfunction. By highlighting the failures of the Republican party and offering a compelling alternative vision, Democrats aim to resonate with voters and secure a decisive victory in 2026.

[tomorrowusa]

Public pressure on Jordan supporters in the House seems to be having an effect.

In the second House Speaker election this week, support for extremist coup-plotter Gym Jordan has slipped.

Jordan’s speakership campaign on its last legs

After halting voting for nearly a day in hopes of securing more Republican votes, Jordan instead lost two more votes on the second ballot. The House then went into another recess, at Jordan's request, before a possible third vote. The GOP is expected to hold a conference meeting Wednesday afternoon as it keeps searching for a way out of its speaker mess. Jordan's total number of Republican opponents reached 22 on the second round of voting. With the list of defectors growing, even after a significant delay, his chances at the gavel are looking virtually nonexistent.

Jordan can afford to lose just 4 Republicans. He lost 20 on the first ballot and 22 on Wednesday's ballot.

The NY TImes reports on grassroots pressure in Iowa.

Christina Bohannan, a Democrat challenging Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks in a competitive Iowa district, said her opponent’s vote for Mr. Jordan on Tuesday “shows her true values and how contrary they are to Iowa values.” She said that more than 60 percent of Iowans reject Mr. Jordan’s position in support of a nationwide abortion ban, and noted that he has never voted for a farm bill, one of the most critical issues for the state. “This is a real slap in the face to Iowa women for Miller-Meeks to support him,” Ms. Bohannan said. “I can’t imagine a clearer example of how Representative Miller-Meeks is selling out Iowans to the extreme members of her party rather than take a more bipartisan position.” Ms. Miller-Meeks on Wednesday switched her vote, backing off her support for Mr. Jordan and voting for Representative Kay Granger of Texas, instead. But the damage had already been done.

Republicans have lost the ability to govern. They are too busy conducting culture wars, spreading conspiracy theories, and praising whatever comes out of the mouth of Donald Trump. Gym Jordan is the poster boy for GOP dysfunction.

There may be another ballot on Thursday.

[amatyultare]

While it’s always a good day to call your Congressfolk, this particular call to action is slightly outdated.

The original post & article are from late July 2023. It is addressing, as far as I can tell, a proposal for a Hyde-Amendment-esque ban on federal money being used for gender-affirming care.

But like the Hyde Amendment, this was proposed as an amendment/attachment to the annual funding/appropriations bill.

Those of you in the US who have glanced at any headlines recently may see where I’m going. We are <72 hours away from the federal government shutting down because the House GOP cannot pass a functional appropriations bill. We’re literally at “Mitch McConnell begs the house GOP to cooperate with Dems better” levels of political chaos.

So again, by all means call your reps! But the House GOP is in such disarray, I doubt this anti-trans proposal is even on their radar anymore. (Now, awful anti-immigrant and harsh border policies, on the other hand…)

Now is an excellent time to tell your Democratic Congress Critters trans Healthcare is important

If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

[fadingsunsjvj]

The return of the anti-Trump resistance

In 2024, Donald Trump was reelected U.S. President and his party (GOP) won the Senate and likely the House of Representatives.  Now, having lost the White House the opposing party (Dems) is in disarray temporarily. The anti-Trimpers are reviving that spirit of resistance.

[sethshead]

GOP in disarray, indeed.

Republicans are too divided by their political arsonists to govern without Democrats rescuing them. So rather than suffer this, please just elect Democrats.