Just in case you were not paying close attention to this weeks political drama; on the anniversary of the January 6th, 2021 Insurrection, as President Biden honored the heroes who risked their lives to save our Democracy when it was on the brink of destruction, ironically Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who supported Fmr. President Donald Trump’s Insurrection and the “Big Lie” that the election was stolen from him, McCarthy was voted to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 118th Congress of the United States of America. Usually most Americans don’t pay close attention to this process because it takes place in a few hours as our judicial process is routinely followed without incident. However this year, because of the dysfunction and division in the Republican Party, the process took four days, fifteen rounds of ballots, numerous meetings with Republican leaders, and concessions that the opposing Republicans made McCarthy agree to before voting for Kevin McCarthy of California to finally became the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Several concessions were demanded of McCarthy. One of them is that it now can take just one person to complain, vote, and remove the Speaker.
McCarthy is third in line to the Presidency. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the most powerful position in the American Congress. God forbid, if something were to ever happen to the President, the Vice President would take over as the leader of the nation, and if something were to happen to the Vice President, then the Speaker Of The House, would become President. The speaker presides over Congressional procedures. For the past week, none of the new Congressmen or Congresswomen could be sworn in, amidst other numerous procedures that were held up as a group of Republicans made their demands of McCarthy before they would vote him to this position.
Representative Hakeem Jeffries from New York was also on the ballot, and had the majority of the votes for the Speaker position in thirteen of the fifteen attempts, but not enough to win. According to the number of Representatives present, Jeffries was short 6 of the 218 votes needed to win. However he would never get those votes because of the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, and there was no way that the Republicans would elect a Democrat to become the Speaker of the House while they have the majority. So, the vote was done over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over again until the “so called rebels” on the floor of the House voted “present” instead of against McCarthy. The “present” vote reduced the number of votes required to win, and McCarthy was able to secure his leadership on the fifteenth ballot. The rebels, called themselves the “Never Kevin’s” and opposed his election to the position. They would not vote for McCarthy unless their demands were met and they would not vote for Jeffries because he is a Democrat. Something like this has not happened to our United States Congress in over 160 years (one hundred and sixty). Not since before the Civil War has division like this taken place and the appointment of the Speaker of the House delayed.
So what does this mean for the future of our country? If you do not know, this may be a good time to start paying attention. The decisions made by this Congress will effect everything from balancing the national budget that has been on the brink of default several times, to potential challenges to achievements accomplished by President Biden, social security, medical care, climate change, and much more. Remember, it was Republican pressure that pushed through Supreme Court Justices who would overturn Roe vs. Wade during the Trump Administration. The Republican agendas to ‘Make America Great Again, aka MAGA, comes as a potential threat to Americans who are not rich and/or privileged. Look out for investigations into those responsible for the January 6th 2021 Insurrection to stop. The January 6th investigators are very close to identifying those who are responsible for the Insurrection that helped President Trump from inside Congress and hold them accountable. The House of Representatives has the power to stop these investigations. Some may find it amazing that on the very day that those who were complicit in the Insurrection from the inside helped to elect the very person who made it possible for President Trump to continue with the big lie that the election was stolen, who voted to overturn the certification of the 2020 Presidential election, and who visited Trump days after the Insurrection showing his support, is now Speaker of the House and third in line from becoming President of the United States. McCarthy thanked President Trump publicly for helping him win his Speaker of the House position although it took fifteen tries, was a global embarrassment to the United States democracy, and humiliating for McCarthy. In McCarthy’s own words that he quoted repeatedly from his father, that “it’s not about how you start, but how you finish.” However, the anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history, January 6th 2021, nearly ended in an election with the same people who were potentially complicit in the Insurrection. Timing would have the election of the Speaker of the House completed in the wee hours of the morning of January 7th, instead of on the 6th.
The Republican Party in its fractured state, will hopefully find a common ground and unite its leadership. Time will tell. Meanwhile, it’s time to pay attention as these days will surely be a part of history that defines the make or break of America. The new Republican leadership in the House of Representatives will likely use their power to suppress any truth that does not serve them or put them in a positive light. Watch for narratives that makes light of this and other atrocities flood mainstream news. This is a time to be aware of leaders with agendas to undo or usurp policy that disrupts their personal power and control over what is good for the whole of the American people despite the desires of the majority and democracy. On the anniversary of the Insurrection, a few people were given the power to weaken and control one of the most powerful positions in the United States government. It took fifteen attempts for Kevin McCarthy to finally win, but time will tell if that win set the stage for a new beginning or the beginning of the end. The same Republican Party division and dysfunction that held up McCarthy’s election until a few people got what they wanted still exists, just now with more power.
HON HAKEEM JEFFRIES OF NEW YORK, SPEECH AS THE NEW MINORITY LEADER OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries becomes the first African American Minority Leader of the United Stated House of Representatives.
HON KEVIN MCCARTHY OF CALIFORNIA, SPEECH AFTER SECURING HIS LEADERSHIP AS SPEAKER OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy becomes the new Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives after four days and fourteen defeats.
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