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RANSOM NOTE: McCarthy receives list of demands from seven in his party, complicating speaker vote

RANSOM NOTE: McCarthy receives list of demands from seven in his party, complicating speaker vote

RANSOM NOTE: McCarthy receives list of demands from seven in his party, complicating speaker vote

Poor Kevin McCarthy is having a really, really, REALLY tough time. He’s been craving that brass ring so much that his finger itches.

All of his efforts on the road to the speakership may now be for naught – from the devotion he’s shown to fearmongering about the Southern border, to the meticulous crafting of his lies, to the operation he had to surgically attach his lips to Trump’s rear.

Ok – I made that last one up. But he might as well have.

And now, after sacrificing his time, his energy, and his dignity, he may in the end have nothing to show for it — only time will tell.

Already facing significant opposition within his own party — including at least five confirmed “no” votes — a pesky opponent in Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and anger over the fact that committee assignments aren’t getting done while McCarthy tries to wheel and deal, the California congressman’s campaign for the speakership has just been complicated by a letter he received from five sitting and two incoming members of the House, demanding that he address their concerns if he wants their support.

The letter was signed by Republicans Scott Perry (PA), Dan Bishop (NC), Andy Ogles (TN), Chip Roy (TX), Andrew Clyde (GA), Eli Crane (AZ), and Paul Gosar (Loonyville).

The demands range from “reasonable” to “really bad idea” to “McCarthy’s gonna freak.”

You can read the entire letter here, or just thank me for the following summation:

Reasonable demands:

More time to consider bills

Power to introduce amendments

Less large omnibus bills and more individualized bills

No more Republican leadership putting their thumbs on the scales during elections

Really bad ideas:

No raising the debt ceiling without steep hardline cuts

Ending vaccine mandates

A Church-like committee to investigate “weaponized government”

(Frank Church led a committee in the 1970s that investigated all the nefarious things our CIA and other agencies were doing, including operations abroad and the CIA working with the mob. It was an effective investigation. But the Republicans would likely use such a committee to prosecute the “deep state.”)

McCarthy’s gonna freak:

They want to decentralize power and maintain the ability to “Vacate the Chair” (remove the speaker) at any time.

So that last one may be a no-go for Kevin. You see, while he might not have anything resembling an actual plan of government or a legitimate ideology or much in the way of human compassion, he does know when the rug might be pulled out from under him, and he’s unlikely to be Ok with that.

He’s willing to make Faustian bargains if they involve selling his soul, but probably not if he has to agree to open up the power he so craves to consistent oversight.

McCarthy wants to wield that gavel like Thor with his hammer. But right now it’s Kevin who’s getting hammered.

Should be a good show in January.

Poor Kevin in the House all alone during Christmastime could probably do without Ross making fun of him so mercilessly. But you can still show Ross your appreciations on Twitter! @RossRosenfeld

Ross Rosenfeld

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