Republicans Turn Congress Into a Circus

 By Mildred Robertson

Well, four down and 221 to go. That's how many Republicans are in the U.S. House of Representatives. And we may have to go through all 221 in order to get a Speaker of the House. Nealy three weeks after Kevin McCarthy was ousted as House Speaker, the House languishes rudderless as infighting among Republicans has brought the governance of this country to a standstill. Without a Speaker, the House can do no legislative work, including averting a government shutdown in a little over a month. 

But even with this looming national crisis Republican legislators can't get on the same page as they battle it out to see who will lead the Republican majority. They have already gone through Steve Scalise, (R-LA) Jim Jordan, (R-OH), and Tom Emmer, (R-MN) with only Jordan going to the floor to face defeat three times, losing more votes at each round. With more and more Republicans jumping out of the clown car to throw their hats in the ring, we appear to be no closer to resolution than when McCarthy was ousted on October 3rd. 

It appears the factions in the Republican delegation have devolved to the point that they are no longer one entity. It seems we now have a three-party government with a unified Democratic Party, while  Republicans morph into two distinct parties. These two factions, a radical right-wing and a semi-moderate middle, hold no common values. Throw into this mix a thrice impeached, four-time indicted former president struggling to maintain a grip on power and suddenly you are viewing the greatest show on earth; a three-ring-circus posing as a governing body of the most powerful country on earth. 

So who is the next up on deck? Well, it appears Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA), will be presented as the Speaker Designate today, Wednesday, October 25th...but the day is young. Who knows what entertainment may yet be in store for us as the circus continues.  This 2nd term legislator represents Louisiana's fourth congressional district. A Trump ally, Johnson vociferously supported Trump's efforts to overthrow the 2022 election results. Trump, who still wields enormous power over the Republican legislators in the House, quashed Emmer's efforts to win the seat.

As we waste yet another day as Republicans continue their battle to seat a Speaker, it makes one wonder how they will be able to manage the hard task of governing when they have struggled so mightily to select a leader of their caucus. If they cannot pick a leader...if their members refuse to be led, how can they possibly govern? 

And if the House cannot function adequately to provide us sound government; where does that leave the rest of America? This circus may in fact be a horror show. In the end, it is America that will be the victim.