House on Fire: GOP Split Stalls Speaker's Vote
All eyes have been focused on the U.S. House of Representatives this week as a rump group of Republican lawmakers effectively blocked the election of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. In a country controlled by big-money forces, the democratic process in the House, at least, ground to a practical halt as Republicans failed to agree on a choice for Speaker this week.
As Democrats ate popcorn and sent out smiley emoticons over the Internet, the House struggled to get underway in the new session as it carried the weight of a divided GOP.
This is the result of an election which went to the Republicans in the face of an electorate which cannot find a Republican legislative agenda to support. As Republicans have failed to present any real policy program there is no real reason to support the party. Thus, a tepid quagmire has engulfed the flailing Republicans as Democrats watch powerless and concerned from the near-by shore.
