With Paul Ryan going into retirement-- thank you, Randy Bryce!-- three ambitious, careerist Republicans are running to be House GOP top dog, likely Minority Leader:
• Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA)• Majority Whip Steve Scalise (LA)• Crackpot Freedom Caucus Molestation Enabler Jim Jordan (OH)
All three are extremely right wing and all three are devoted Trump rubber-stamps. According to the 538 Trump Adhesion barometer, Scalise is one of the very few members of Congress who have voted with Trump 100% of the time, McCarthy has voted 98.9% of the time with Trump and Jordan-- who often votes to the right of Trump and everyone else-- has voted with Trump 85.7% of the time.Trump, who doesn't like people who been shot and doesn't like people who only voted with him 85.7% of the time, gave an unofficial nod to McCarthy Thursday night. Trumpanzee was hosting a fat-cat fundraiser to benefit the Protect the House SuperPAC at the hotel he owns down the street from the White House. There were dozens of right-wing congressmembers at the high-dollar event and they pretty much all interpreted his remarks wishing Ryan farewell and then turning to McCarthy and saying "I look forward to working with you," as an endorsement. Fuck-Up, Jr and his girlfriend, ex-Gavin Newsom wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle, agreed.The event raised 15 million dollars. Please help offset that by contributing to progressive Democratic candidates by tapping on the thermometer on the right. Saclise must have been very disappointed after endorsing a whole weekend hunting alligators with Fuck-Up, Jr and Guilfoyle a couple of weeks ago. We're still checking out the rumors that a video exists of Guilfoyle skinning alligators.According to the right-wing blog called the Washington Examiner, "Many people have doubts about McCarthy, worrying that he is too flexible and holds few core beliefs or principles other than that its a good idea to form political relationships. He's no policy wonk. But even his critics recognize that he is the party’s preeminent political animal in the House. He is king in the back-slapping world of grip-and-grin. He has been hyperactive. On the final months running up to the midterm elections, he is racking up frequent flier miles to campaign with beleaguered Republicans, even though few people give the GOP much chance of retaining control of the House. In the week before traveling to Pittsburgh, McCarthy’s schedule took him to Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, Ohio, Maine and New York."
[Q]uestions remain about McCarthy's second effort to grab the speaker's gavel.McCarthy says, "I'm willing to take a risk. I'm willing to fail at things, because I think I learn from them at the same time, and I’ve always believed in constant improvement and education… I think that combination has all worked. I've always said timing was the most important part of politics. It may be on a personal level the right timing for me, but it may not be the opportunity. Am I ok with that? Yeah.”Supporters say McCarthy was humbled by his failure in 2015 and has worked on what were weaknesses, including messaging and speaking ability. His most damaging gaffe three years ago was a comment to Sean Hannity that the special investigation of the fiasco in Benghazi that left four Americans dead was an attempt to damage Hillary Clinton's poll numbers....[People see H]is most visible quality, personality and relationships with members, as a main driver of his support within the conference. Friends and colleagues say McCarthy is uniquely able to recall moments and dates that are important to his 23 congressional colleagues... “He remembers members’ anniversaries better than the members remember their anniversaries. If you’re a member of Congress, your spouse is just as likely to get a ‘Happy Anniversary’ text from Kevin McCarthy as they are from their spouse,” said Gowdy, who, along with Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), another close friend McCarthy, dined with him to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year.“His wife wasn’t here, my wife wasn’t here, and Tim Scott doesn’t have a wife,” Gowdy said with a laugh.But have GOP conference dynamics changed enough over the past three years for McCarthy to win?“He’s everybody’s friend, and when you’re everybody’s friend, you’re nobody’s friend. You can’t be everybody’s friend. You can’t be. I think he’s going to have some problems,” said one GOP House member, pointing to missed opportunities to get members floor time for local needs. McCarthy's team took issue with the critique, noting each GOP freshmen has had a legislative priority pass on the floor in each of the past two Congresses.McCarthy will face opposition from the Freedom Caucus. Despite an improved relationship with Rep. Mark Meadows (NC), the group’s chairman, there are still questions and doubts about what kind of deal McCarthy would have to strike a deal with the right-wing group, which is expected to have about 40 members if Republicans retain their majority.According to another House Republican, McCarthy has had “general discussions” with various factions to broker a deal, but McCarthy himself demurs, saying his talks, including those with Meadows, range across many topics.“Not from a point where you need this or that," said McCarthy, describing his haggling with Meadows, "We’ve had conversations and we’ve had that prior to the scenario of [Ryan] departing. How do we work more as one? Meadows and I get along well and we work well together. Now can we get everybody to work well together?”Rep. Jim Jordan, who says he is running for speaker to win the job, not as a ploy to increase the influence of the Freedom Caucus, is especially concerned about about the concentration of power in the Steering Committee, a source close to Jordan said.
