Watching

Jan 5, 2022 8:45 p.m. – See postnote before Comments section.

Jan 5 10 a.m. CST – There are comments coming in, but no time to add a few of them.  See the end of post for others.  They’re worth reading.  Check back later this afternoon.

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We’re in the third day of paralysis in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul area.  Not that it’s too bad, compared to the recent catastrophe in Buffalo NY area, for instance.  But even in relatively nice winter weather, no wind, near 32 degrees, a foot of snow is a foot of snow – pretty to look at, but for most of us, old-timers in particular, paralysis.  (Our neighbor across the street opened her window for a brief lament yesterday; her mother had a stroke about the time the snow began; her dad was home alone (and doing okay); but she and family couldn’t get to the hospital to see their Mom.  I’n certain there are many similar stories.)

This was the kind of day it was.  We’re due to go to the Orchestra later this morning, if the long driveway is open…stay tuned on that.  Snow removal is one of those businesses where it’s ‘feast or famine’.  We’re not the only driveway in this town of over 3 million….

The paper guy did make it, this morning:

Jan 5, 2022

Two headlines ‘above the fold’ in today’s paper: the first one is easily read.  The second “Rebellion in GOP paralyzes House“.

It happens that the days of the big snow coincided with the still unfinished process to select a Speaker of the House of Representatives, the third most powerful government official in the United States of America.  The last to ascend to President from Speaker of the House was Gerald R. Ford, then speaker, who became vice-president after Spiro Agnew resigned, then president after Richard Nixon resigned in 1974….

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I suppose my interest in watching two days of a political gang fight makes me a political junkie.  So be it.  We, the people, elected all 434 of the combatants, and we, the people, will be stuck with the results of what we’re witnessing in Washington D.C.

For those who didn’t watch, or don’t know the rules, the House elects its own Speaker, who is always (but doesn’t have to be) a member of the House.

There are two main political parties in our country; the majority party ordinarily selects someone of its own to lead.  The Speaker has an immense amount of procedural power.  The founders built a three-legged stool at the beginning of the U.S.: President, House of Representatives, Senate, moderated by a Supreme Court.

Generally, the process has mostly worked reasonably well.  It has always been subject to manipulation; in these fevered days, it can seem out of sight.

In the first six ballots Tuesday and Wednesday, the largest vote getter was the Democrat Hakeem Jeffries of New York; but the winner needs to get one more than half of the total House membership of 434 – 218 votes, spoken in person by each Representative.  This makes for a long time period.

Each time Jeffries received 212 votes.  On the last vote before adjournment yesterday, challenger Kevin McCarthy had 201 votes; someone I’d never heard of, had 20 votes, and one person voted “present”.   For all intents and purposes, there was no change, up or down.

So, when they do the 7th vote today, from ground zero again, the last vote was 212-201-20-1.  I have bold-faced the 20 on purpose.  That’s about 5%.  They most certainly won’t vote for Jeffries, but apparently they don’t trust McCarthy….

I will spare you any prediction.  Your guess is as good as mine.  If you want the 20 to win, I suggest being very careful about what you pray for….

If all of this is not too confusing, enter the fact that the House of Representatives does not officially exist at this moment.  The temporary chair is a clerk, along with other clerks attempting to keep order among a group of prima donnas.

My understanding, the new Congress will not exist until the members are sworn in, which will not happen until a leader has been selected with at least 218 of the members agreeing on who that leader will be.

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The goings on remind me of a somewhat civilized Jan 6, 2021.  All that is missing is the riot.

On each ballot, the candidates have to be nominated, and towards the end yesterday the nominating ‘speeches’ were clearly oriented to getting a 10 second sound bite on someone’s evening “news”.

I have my favorite ‘cheap shot’ against the Democrats from a Republican who was nominating one of her own, but I’ll spare you what she said.  No question some news media reported it as news somewhere last night.  It represented what U.S. politics has devolved to, and probably the spectacle I’m watching is a fitting end, at least for the time being.

USA Today seems to be keeping track of this food fight in suits fairly well.  Here is its reporting.

This is your United States, and mine.  Pay close attention.

MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA:  POSTNOTE 8:45 p.m. Jan. 5: I watched little of today’s business in the House of Representatives.  We had tickets to the morning concert of the Minnesota Orchestra, and it was a magnificent performance of pieces by Samuel Coleridge Taylor, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Maurice Ravel.  This concert will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. Friday on Minnesota Public Radio 99.5; on Twin Cities PBS (TPT-2) and available for streaming at minnesotaorchestra.org and on the orchestra’s social media channels.  View the program notes here pages 20-25.

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

from Lois: Found this, from Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, 10 August 1824, interesting after reading about the House Speaker voting. Here is another view on political parties.

from Chuck:  Wish we had more concerned citizens.

Here’s my spin on listening to the first day of the new Congress.

On Jan 3, 2023, the first day of the new 118th Congress, the needed quorumof the House of Representatives started the day with a prayer and the pledge of alliance.

Highlights of the Chaplain’s prayer the new congress heard“ETERNAL GOD, YOU SPOKE AND THE EARTH BROUGHT FORTH LIFE. WITH A WORD YOUR SPIRIT BREATHED INTO HUMANITY THE ESSENCE AND PURPOSE OF OUR VERY BEING. … BREATHE INTO THE BODY OF THE 118th CONGRESS YOUR WORD OF TRUTH AND JUSTICE, COMPASSION AND WISDOM. GIVE EACH MEMBER THE GUIDANCE TO BE FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF THIS DIVINE TASKING AND TO WIELD THIS PRIVILEGE CAREFULLY. … REMIND US THAT AMIDST ALL THE DEBATE, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE FINAL WORD. …. LAY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN THE MANTLE OF BOTH RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY….  CALL THESE WHO REPRESENT THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF THE AMERICANS WHO HAVE VOTED THEM INTO OFFICE TO HEED FIRST YOUR VOICE AND THEN AS THEY UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND ITS MORAL PRINCIPLES, GRANT THEM STRENGTH AND REASON, PURPOSE AND INSIGHT. … GIVE US EYES TO SEE YOUR GUIDING HAND, EARS TO HEAR YOUR WISE TRUTH, AND HEARTS TO HOLD FIRMLY TO THE FAITH WE PROFESS IN YOU. WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR MOST SOVEREIGN NAME. AMEN.”

The intent of Pledge they all made“Liberty and Justice for all”.

What they did next:  Debated who should be elected Speaker of the House.  A vote that has only needed one round of voting for the last 100 years.  Then spend ____ days using precious time, taking ____roll call votes with no focus on any of the urgent issues facing God’s earthly creations.

If these elected officials could abide by the prayer they all heard and keep their pledge of allegiance to our nation that each made, our democratic republic would finally be on the right track.  But the first task of the new congress was to elect a new Speaker of the House.  There can only be one.  But it could be anyone.  Not even an elected member from either party.  But the republican majority is divided. The MAGAs vs the old school John McCain Republicans.  And in their inner party debate to elect Kevin McCarthy into that position was started with a truthful statement a leading republican who is opposed to McCarthy becoming chair.  He said that congress has been the last to know the truth – that our government is broken.

And…

But their first task of the new congress was to elect a new Speaker of the House.  There can only be one.  But it could be anyone.  Not even an elected member from either party.  But the republican majority is divided. The MAGAs vs the old school John McCain Republicans.  And in their inner party debate to elect Kevin McCarthy to that position was started with a truthful statement a leading republican who is opposed to McCarthy becoming chair.  He said that congress has been the last to know the truth – that our government is broken.

But the first task of the new congress was to elect a new Speaker of the House.  There can only be one.  But it could be anyone.  Not even an elected member from either party.  But the republican majority is divided. The MAGAs vs the old school John McCain Republicans.  And in their inner party debate to elect Kevin McCarthy to that position was started with a truthful statement a leading republican who is opposed to McCarthy becoming chair.  He said that congress has been the last to know the truth – that our government is broken.

“Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule–and both commonly succeed, and are right.”  H.L. Mencken

from Kathy: I am watching most all the f it too. Nancy seems relaxed and totally engaged. The 20 or so Republicans interested in obstructing.

from Len: You are a patient man.  Dems will lose again as none of the 20 will support the Democrat candidate and no matter-McCarthy or Scalise, it is bad for the Dems.

So, what can we plan on? Play the loyal opposition, plan for the election of 2024, and hope voters wake up. Recruit, educate, and organize.
Not any more a dismal outlook than 2022. In fact, it is optimistic- we get another chance.

from Candace: I highly recommend this.

from Fred: Good Blog! I’ve been watching the H of R carnival on and off but was thinking about a MN Orchestra break tonight after checking out the lineup. I can have classical music when I’m editing and doing online research but not writing. I’m partial to my fellow Scandinavian, Grieg, even though he is Norwegian. We visited his home outside Bergen during one of our trips to that region. His piano stands ready.
7 replies
  1. norm hanson
    norm hanson says:

    Really get to see a sixth ballot and still no speaker. These are the boys and girls who when in the minority were free to criticize Pelosi et al claiming that if they got control of the House as was readily predicted, they were bring leadership and responsibility back to government. It is just to watch them carve up each other now that they are in “control” with no idea in hell as to how to govern. Not a clue! Just so great to see them exposed for who and what they really are! I love it!!!!

    Reply
  2. Jim Klein
    Jim Klein says:

    Dick, be “…very careful about what you pray for”, indeed. I am old enough, and thus, you are too, to remember the days when a very large segment of American voters lamented that “there is no difference between the two parties”. For those of your readers younger than us, this was during the days of Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter… right up to Reagan. By the time it was “a thing” it was already passing out of existence, but it actually HAD been true during the time of Eisenhower. BOTH parties wanted to nominate him for President in ’52.

    Many voters in the 50s 60s and 70s felt they had no real choice. What government did, both for them and to them, did not change very much, in their eyes, based on who they elected President, Senator, Governor, USRep, etc. If you count all offices, Federal and State, the vast majority of Americans were represented by at least one member of each party. Even then, the GOP was the more conservative party, on balance, and the Dems the more liberal/progressive. But we spoke of liberal Republicans (NY Gov. Nelson Rockefeller) and conservative Democrats (most, but not all, Dems from anywhere in the South, or from a rural state like Montana or the Dakotas. Yes, they had Dems in the Dakotas back then. One of ’em got nominated by the Dems for President, and was nobody’s idea of a conservative!).

    What that meant, though, in the present context, is that there were always office-holders who were capable of switching sides, either for one vote, or for an entire “genre” of votes (economic, or criminal law, etc.), or even of switching parties permanently.

    Today, if you hold an office and you disagree vehemently with your party in one issue area, you have no place to go – because you don’t agree with the other party on anything ELSE, and they won’t have you. And you get kicked out of your party, because you lack “purity”. Two words: Liz Cheney.

    As a young man, I always used to wonder why what we are seeing in the House this week didn’t happen – in fact, didn’t ALWAYS happen. Why didn’t “true believers” in something or another use the power they had to stop progress on ANYTHING until they got what they wanted? Now I understand. It was because they could be cast aside. There were so many “in the middle”, and those centrists OVERLAPPED the parties. Had the radical right, OR the radical left, tried something like what is happening now, their “opponents” in their own party would have found enough votes from sympathetic members of the other party – they’d have quietly “traded” something for those votes, of course, but nobody would actually be “betraying” anything. It was most important for the Center to hold.

    Now, the parties really are different from one another. They do not overlap AT ALL. And it is inconceivable for the most conservative Dem or the most liberal Republican to “bolt” on anything of real importance. Especially since they do not overlap. The first is STILL far to the left of the second. In fact, there is a great big gaping space between them.

    The extremists of each party no longer fear being marginalized by those who pass for centrists – it is now the other way around. And on the Dem side, just as much as the GOP side, that “de-marginalization” of extremism is actually celebrated.

    Maybe de-marginalization IS good. I don’t think so, but then, growing up in NW Suburban Chicago, I kinda liked my liberal GOP US Senator Chuck Percy, and the occasional liberal GOP Governor. But those who disliked that version of the two party system worked hard over many decades to get us where we are now – they got what they prayed for. But it seems to ALSO not work – just in different ways. They weren’t VERY CAREFUL about what they prayed for.

    Robert Reich, a personal hero of mine, has been writing for several weeks that the GOP in the House still has about 40 sane members – VERY conservative, but sane. He has argued that the Dems should work with those 40 to identify one of the 40 to make speaker and vote with their 5 bravest to make it happen. Reich even has a personal favorite among the 40. It’s a noble thought. The flaw, I think, is the Reich seems to think that it would only be the 5 Republicans that would be acting bravely. I think many of the Dems, even with the “cover” of voting with every OTHER Dem, would be attacked over the perception of disloyalty and lack of purity. It would be OUR extremists that would be “primaried”. Or, to put a finer edge on it, it would perhaps not be the Ilhan Omar’s of the caucus, but the ones just slightly toward the center FROM her – the ones who live in very ‘blue’ districts who ALREADY fear being primaried from their left. Folks like Betty McCollum. To execute the Reich plan, we need 5 brave hearts among the sane Republicans, AND we’d need ALL the Betty McC,’s to be very brave as well. I’m not picking on Betty, here, I imagine she’d do it. But there are many like her, ideologically, but without her seniority, standing in the community, name recognition, etc. The Reich Plan is gonna be a really hard sell for many of them…

    Reply
  3. norm hanson
    norm hanson says:

    Seven times and still no cigar for the man who first said that he had had it with that guy aka Trump and then crawled down to Mari Largo on his belly to grovel for forgiveness and a blessing from the man child who would be king. No self-respect at all!! Just so great to see!!!

    Reply
  4. Jim Klein
    Jim Klein says:

    Dick, Something additional just occurred to me this afternoon as I read the latest concessions by McCarthy.

    I have lately been critical of the MN DFL leadership’s negotiating skills. You may remember that last session they constantly tried to get the GOP to give them things the DFL wanted by holding up legislation that BOTH sides wanted. As if that gave them any leverage. It would have been ineffective if done in private negotiating sessions, but bordered on the insulting and the idiotic since they did it so publicly. Hortman was the worst, but was not alone. Walz, for all his other faults, appeared never to buy into Hortman’s fantasies of being able to generate negotiating leverage in this way, and would usually remain silent when asked about it.

    This year, the MN DFL is going to have to negotiate among themselves, and I gotta say that so far it does not look good. There are and will be other issues, but I’m thinking specifically about state tax on Social Security, which was an issue they really should have come to a decision on BEFORE they sent caucus-hand-picked candidates out into swing districts to run on the issue of full repeal. Especially since now Leadership seems to think the debate will only be between partial repeal and no repeal, thus leaving their most vulnerable freshmen out to dry…

    HOWEVER, in DC, the GOP’s Kevin McCarthy seems to have spent the week so far giving a whole new meaning to the word “negotiating”. 20 vote against him. He makes a concession and allows it to become public knowledge. 20 vote against him again. He makes another concession, and it becomes public. “Rinse and repeat”. He is awful close already to having nothing at all left to concede, and in return, he has gotten… NOTHING, that anyone is aware of. Where did this guy learn to negotiate?

    But I suppose we shouldn’t expect our legislative leaders, state or federal, to know how to negotiate within their party, or with the other one, if “we” (voters on both sides) specifically send them to the Capitols with expectations that they WON’T.

    Reply
  5. norm hanson
    norm hanson says:

    Eleven times and still no cigar in spite of McCarthy prostrating himself in front of the MAGA wing nuts so that they could walk all over him and, yet, still vote against him. Just so great to see!!!

    Reply
  6. Patricia/Patsy Stahl
    Patricia/Patsy Stahl says:

    Had minor surgery on my rump while you all were watching TV–seems about the same activity to me! LOL My opinions about these last three days, the news part of which I missed except on the nightly PBS News Hour: On TV and other media many are watching our elected government representatives obstructing instead of compromising; making power plays instead of cooperating; stating–with elaboration and repetition by “opinion journalism”– disinformation and miss-information instead of stating true facts; and presenting opinions as facts. Meanwhile, I was dealing with a medical system in chaos with clear winners and losers (though all express themselves as losers) because profit-making–rather than patients and the staff who truly care for them–is the driving force. Discouraging? Yes. Overwhelming? Yes. Reason to give up. No. Reason to join the fray to increase the volume and spread of obstructionism, power plays, opinions as facts, dis- and miss-information as facts? No, no, no. Reason to be supportive of each other’s caring, helpful behaviors? Hell, yes! Thanks for doing so.

    Reply

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