When Your Enemy is in a Hole, Hand him a Shovel
On Napoleon, Kevin McCarthy and the Speaker Debacle
There is a saying, often attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte. “Never interrupt an enemy when he is making a mistake.” I’ve looked online for the original quote, but I’ve found nine different variations of it and none of the sources seem particularly authoritative. My favorite version of this is the one of which I titled this post.
Which is what Democrats did to Kevin McCarthy in his quest to become Speaker of the House this last week. Again, and again, and again. They didn’t have to do much, they just had to get out of the way. After all, for purposes of what was occuring this week, they were irrelevant, or at least, the GOP deliberately chose to make them irrelevant since this was supposed to be an intra-party choice for Speaker.
Usually, this kind of party squabble remains behind closed doors, within the caucus room. However, a group of 20 or so intransigent Republicans seeking as much attention as they could muster let it spill over into the actual House Chamber, for all the C-Span, CNN and FOX cameras to see. Going into the vote you had the sense McCarthy didn’t have the votes to get over the majority threshold needed to become Speaker, but nobody knew how big the apostate group was, and a vote would put it in context. A consistent 20 opposed McCarthy from the start.
In that first vote, and twelve of the subsequent 14 votes, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries received a plurality; on every single ballot he received 212 votes, an amazing record of consistency and unity for the party about which Will Rogers once quipped, “I’m not a member of an organized party, I’m a Democrat.” On the first three days of ballots, Jeffries had received more votes in total for Speaker of the House than previous long term Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi had received in her 20 year career as head of the party in the House. How did he do it? He did nothing. He let McCarthy and the Republicans keep digging a hole with vote, after vote, after vote.
Meanwhile, Kevin McCarthy endured body blow after body blow of humiliation. These 20 renegades continued to stymy their own leader and embarrass him over and over again with each successive vote. Their stubborness knew no bounds, voting for various candidates in various rounds of voting, just never for the guy who had the clear majority of votes within the GOP caucus. Their membership is a “who’s who” of intransigent nincompoops, including Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy, Paul Gosar and Lauren Boebert. It wasn’t for anything substantive or logical mind you, it was just to show the world that this small group carried weight by having more members willing to blow up what should be an easy vote than there is margin within the GOP caucus for a majority.
Back in the late 1990s/early 2000s, then Speaker Dennis Hastert made an eponymous rule that simply stated no votes go to the floor of the House without first getting the 218 votes solely from GOP votes in order to pass it. From a negotiating standpoint it makes sense; it builds unity within the party, it means you don’t have to work with the opposition at all, and it means you craft legislation as conservative as you want so long as you don’t lose enough moderates to tank it. For years, that has been the governing philosophy of the GOP (and it should not be understated Nancy Pelosi and Dems have largely adhered to this as well, but have been willing to seek help across the aisle when needed).
However, this week demonstrated the very limits of that philosophy. Gerrymandering and Citizens United have gutted moderate ranks from both parties and made many ruby red district Representatives worried only about a primary from their extremes, pushing them away from consensus and compromise. Decades of the GOP’s over the top partisan hostility made Dems unsympthetic to McCarthy’s plight. Merely mentioning the possibility of working across the aisle, especially on such an important position, would be tantamount to heresy. On the second anniversary of a violent Republican Coup on the steps of the Capitol, one in which McCarthy first denounced and then somewhat casually dismissed, all McCarthy could do was sit there and endure failed votes over and over again, losing because the very insurrectionists he sought to endear himself to by turning a blind eye. Following each vote you could almost hear McCarthy say “Thank you sir, may I have another!” just like Kevin Bacon in Animal House. Reaching out to Dems for 15 votes as “present” just couldn’t be considered.
And Hakeem Jeffries and the Dems? The smug schadenfraude could be felt all across the country. If you were a Democrat, how could you not enjoy this? It was like running up the score in a sport where the hometown team was playing its most hated rival and scoring at will. “What, you want to lose ANOTHER vote? Sure!” Jeffries, 212. McCarthy 201. Some mix of afterthought candidates making up about 20.
“Do you want anothe vote? Here’s the shovel to help you keep digging that hole.”
How big was that hole in the end? McCarthy eventually won the Speakership, but he gave away everything of power that actually makes being the Speaker of the House useful. At any time, any single member can bring up a vote to vacate the Chair and put McCarthy’s head back on the chopping block. Those that held the Speakership hostage all week also get to put some of their own on powerful committees like the Rules Committee, and get to decide what bills actually make it to the floor for a vote. Congress, sadly and shamefully, will be a much more dysfunctional institution in the coming months.
McCarthy traded away the farm for some not very magical beans, and a head of lettuce.
Purple America’s Random Culture Critique
The Menu
Watched “The Menu” last night. Without giving too much of the plot away, its about a renowned gourmet chef getting some “just desserts” on people who sucked all the fun and joy out of what had been a beloved interest for him. It’s a fine movie, well acted, not without its flaws, but still an entertaining way to spend 2 hours. Loved the ending to boot.
It occurred to me that this same formula can be applied to any area. Sports. Politics. Movies. Any kind of art or hobby really. It’s like taking some of the worst people on Twitter or Cable, who do nothing but criticize, and put them through the wringer.
So, in light of that, if given the chance, what do you love and who would you subject something similar to for ruining everything that gives you joy about it (and how).1 Post in the comments.
Purple America’s Current Faves
“Abbott Elementary.” Love this show. Reminds one of what it was like in Elementary School, and if you have kids, what they are currently working through.
“Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.” Michelle Yeoh is an international treasure.
“Of Boys and Men,” by Richard V. Reeves. By focusing solely on promoting girls in developmental years, many boys are being left behind.
Damar Hamlin’s charity passing $7 million. Kudos to you all. My best for a good recovery Damar.
Purple America’s Tweet of the Week
For the record, I would take Stephen A. Smith, wire his eyes open like in “A Clockwork Orange,” and make him watch an endless loop of videos of him pronouncing someone (different each time) as the best, greatest, GOAT or the worst at something. If there’s something I hate in sports commentary, it’s ridiculous superlatives, and Stephen A. is the worst and most annoying at it.