Have you gotten tired of the word “unprecedented” yet? Or, as the ex-president is fond of saying, “the likes of which the world has never seen.” If “unprecedented” was a drinking game, we’d all be pretty tipsy after watching the news.
We are now heading into week-3 of the Congressional shutdown. It is not unprecedented, but it certainly has given U.S. citizens a good look into the ongoing spectacle that passes for the U.S. House of Representatives. I had planned to write this column after the third Speaker vote, scheduled for today, or tomorrow, or maybe… but then…
It was unprecedented, earlier this month, to have a Speaker of the House removed from his position. However, the fifteen floor-votes it took to make him speaker back in January, the infighting, the partisanship, and the ongoing circus atmosphere are not unique to today. It just seems worse now, doesn’t it?
The term “unprecedented” should be cautiously used, since history is filled with stories that, if we had watched and learned, may have predicted today’s news. Winston Churchill asked in 1946, “Is the only lesson of history to be that mankind is unteachable?” Sadly, almost 80 years later, the apparent answer is yes.
While the House spins its wheels, wars are starting, terrorism threats are increasing, and government shutdowns are looming. So, what has the House been doing? After filing an impeachment inquiry without evidence, as retribution for the ex-president, and removing their Speaker of the House, they took a week off to “cool down.” Then, after ten days, and after not being able to elect a Speaker, they took another long weekend to browbeat those Republicans who dared to defy the Jim Jordan nomination.
What seems unprecedented is the House of Representatives productivity. Are we voting today? No? Tomorrow? Wait, tomorrow starts another weekend – maybe we should just make it a long one.
Eight House members paralyzed one half of Congress 15 days ago, and then blamed Democrats for not voting to retain Kevin McCarthy. Saturday Night Live writers must be salivating.
Recent House news details new indictments of George Santos for stealing credit card funds from his constituents. Then, this week we saw film of him hurrying through the halls of Congress, carrying a two-month-old baby, and then, after handing off the baby, screaming obscenity-laced rants at reporters. That was comical… and sad. Other recent observations include the oft-viewed video of Lauren Bobert’s absurd antics at a live play in Colorado, and Marjorie Taylor Greene is back to talking about Jewish space lasers, apparently being reminded by the Israel invasion.
Jordan’s own strong-arm pressures on those party-members who have resisted his speakership makes this constituent wonder if these folks care about governing the rest of us or is power their only goal. Even Sean Hannity said on the air, “Jim Jordan is my choice to become Speaker of the House.” Ahhh, another balanced newscast.
You can view Congress as a comedy, but when you look past the spectacle, it becomes tragic. There are things that need to get done.
The good news? It could be seen as reassuring that at least 20 Congresspersons could not be swayed by threats to vote for a Speaker that they feel is not qualified.
It is hard to legislate when you are in the majority. I believe most members of Congress would prefer to be the minority party, where they can just vote no and then blame the other party for everything.
Let’s look at Jordan’s resume. Russell Dye, a Jordan spokesperson, noted that Jordan has signed his name to support more than sixty bills that became law, created by other legislators.
But what Dye failed to address is that Jordan has never sponsored any bill that moved through the House, let alone got to the Senate. Jordan was elected to the House in 2006.
When Dye was questioned about Jordan’s legislative shortfalls, and asked what Jordan has accomplished for his district, he cited no legislation accomplishments, because there are none. He went on to say the congressman “has always done what he told the voters he would do — whether it’s assisting seniors getting Medicare and Social Security benefits, expediting passports, helping veterans, meeting with thousands of constituents, or touring hundreds of businesses in Ohio’s 4th district…”
Wow!!! Jordan, who many of his constituents describe as a “fighter,” is overwhelmingly popular in his district. I guess we can see why. He helps people get passports, meets with people, and tours businesses.
And, besides all that, he displayed a penchant to ignore legal Congressional subpoenas to appear before a House Committee, to answer questions about his role in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Now, however, he wields subpoena power on the Judiciary committee, and threatens legal action on anyone that would not comply.
Irony has never been a problem in Congress.
Curt MacRae, lives in Coldwater, MI / publishes rants on rant-able topics at this site.
All published posts are tweeted (@curtmacrae) – direct feedback welcomed at rantsbymac@gmail.com
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