Rep. Matt Gaetz is Trying to Oust Speaker McCarthy.

Let the drama begin.

Photo by Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash

At least for the short term, the United States has managed to avoid a government shut down. Of course, not everyone is happy about it. If you follow politics at all, the far right of the GOP pitching fits about this is as sure a thing as water being wet. Leading the charge is none other than Matt Gaetz, who has apparently already vowed that he will be forcing a vote in an effort to oust house speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Marianna Sotomayor, Leigh Ann Caldwell, and Mariana Alfaro with The Washington Post write:

“Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said Sunday that he is determined to try to oust Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position as House speaker after McCarthy passed a stopgap measure to fund the government with Democratic support.

Gaetz said Sunday that he plans to introduce a motion to remove McCarthy from his leadership position, marking a dramatic escalation of the long-simmering tensions between the men. Gaetz did not say when he would introduce the motion. Once he does so, the House would have 48 hours to vote on the matter.

“I think we need to rip off the Band-Aid. I think we need to move on with new leadership that can be trustworthy,” he said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”…”

And…cue the inevitable drama for the coming weeks.

Not that I have any interest in Kevin McCarthy’s political future, but this should serve as yet another reminder that for people like Matt Gaetz, disfunction and a stagnant government that cannot do its duties for the American people is the entire point. There’s been lots of talk particularly following the rise of Bernie Sanders in 2016 and those who have taken on his message since then that there’s a lot of division within the Democratic Party.

Well, once again, it seems to be nothing in comparison to what the Republican Party is dealing with. The fact that Trump’s most ardent defenders and loyalists in the halls of congress have enough pressure to make Kevin McCarthy fear for his job a factor in his decision making, but not enough to actually get their will imposed.

Stalemate, and that’s the whole purpose.

Matt Gaetz does not care if you’re sick and can’t afford medication. He doesn’t care if you’re struggling mentally but can’t afford help. He doesn’t care if you can’t afford to keep a roof over your head. He just wants to be in the headlines. He just wants to keep his base angry. That’s what the right wing thrives on, and that’s only been exploited by those like Gaetz who have risen up on the coattails of Trump. They’re the only ones who benefit from this type of behavior, and it’s all nothing but a game to them.

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