The Capitol is still standing, but how does the revolt continue there? At night, the heart of American democracy is still lit up in a wonderfully peaceful way, but fences have also been put up and police stationed to at least prevent another mob from storming the building. On January 6, 2021, supporters of Donald Trump, who had lost the election, attacked the dome, which could bring Trump to court. Now, two years later, radical Republicans from his orbit have been trying for two days now to unhinge this outwardly renovated institution from the inside.
You can go in, you are elected representatives of the United States of America. In the House of Representatives, a democratic ceremony should first take place on Tuesday, the election of a speaker and the swearing-in of the elected representatives. It is always like this when the newly occupied parliament meets. Rule of law routine, some MPs were accompanied by their families. However, on day one and then on day two, they were unable to appoint a speaker and start work because some Republicans prevented exactly that.
Kevin McCarthy should have been there immediately, the Republican was set to succeed Democrat Nancy Pelosi. For years he led the Republican minority faction, now the man from California is the voice of the majority. In November’s US midterm elections, his fractious party narrowly won back the House of Representatives, occupying 222 of the 435 seats (one currently vacant), but that’s theoretically enough. Still, McCarthy failed the first ballot, and then the second and third before the vote was adjourned. It continued on Wednesday, three more defeats. Continued on Thursday.
Cheering too early: Republican Kevin McCarthy (seated) rejoices after his nomination for election as Speaker of the House.
(Photo: EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/REUTERS)
In round three, the dissenters voted unanimously for the far right Jim Jordan, a former wrestler
There hadn’t been anything like it in the House of Representatives in a hundred years, and only twice since the Civil War. 19 to 20 Republicans swerved. They voted twice for multiple contenders, voting for far right Jim Jordan, a former wrestler, in round three, and for Byron Donalds in rounds four, five, and six. Almost all of these rebels are hardliners from the Republican Freedom Caucus, most basically Trump supporters and deniers of President Joe Biden’s November 2020 election victory.
Episode seven is scheduled for Thursday noon, and until the end no one knew how this showdown would end. McCarthy believes he deserves this job. You will talk – “and you will solve the small problems”. Little problems? They are huge, fundamental problems for Republicans, Congress and the US. “There are several stages to Dante’s Inferno, and we’re in one of them right now,” says Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey.
A hardcore faction has been using almost any means to dismantle parliament and thus the government since their idol Trump had to vacate the White House. Some of them are taking extreme positions on issues such as abortion, firearms, migration or state funding. For these people, the Democrats are nasty socialists and money wasters, they want to shut down the Biden administration no matter what. Some blockers, like gun-loving Lauren Boebert or Matt Gaetz, seem like their primary concern is sheer destruction. They enjoy the stage and know that MPs cannot be sworn in or budgets passed without a speaker.
Will there still be an agreement? A compromise candidate? Will McCarthy’s challengers raise the price until he pays, with more money for the wall on the border with Mexico or board positions? is there a deal “Time is on our side,” says one of the dissenters who deeply despise Washington and the business of the capital, Bob Good of Virginia. “It’s worth waiting a few days or a few weeks to get the best speaker possible. The country cannot afford to continue with what we’ve always done to get what we’ve always gotten .”
The Democrats are behind their group leader Hakeem Jeffries
For weeks, McCarthy and his allies have been negotiating in vain to scrape together the 218 votes needed. Two things are certain for the time being. First, the Democrats are currently united and all of their 212 MPs are behind their group leader, Hakeem Jeffries. He garnered more votes than McCarthy on Tuesdays and early Wednesdays, raising questions about whether moderate Republicans might make the Democrat the speaker (which is unlikely to happen). Second: The Republicans are torn, which is also shown by the Senate next door. Their veteran minority leader, Mitch McConnell, is also a staunch conservative, but also a cunning strategist and avowed Trump opponent. In these dramatic days, it is no coincidence that he is seen with the Democratic head of state Biden in his home state of Kentucky to show that Republicans can also be statesmanlike.
Trump’s role? Diffuse. On Wednesday, after much hesitation, he called for “all of our great Republicans to vote for Kevin. Don’t turn a great triumph into a huge and embarrassing defeat.” McCarthy will do a good job, “and maybe even a great one.” It was of no use at first. Whoever becomes the spokesman from the ranks of the GOP, the Grand Old Party, predicts a columnist of the Washington Post“the job will be hell on earth.”