Attribution: DonkeyHotey, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Featuring the Fabulous Dadbots: Mark M., Mark O., Dave S., Dennis C., Paul C., and Geoff Carter
(Note: Since the writing(s) of this piece, Mr. McCarthy has been ousted from the speakership by members of his own party.)
If you’ve followed the current government shutdown imbroglio, you’re aware that it is happening because the far right Freedom Caucus is blackmailing House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
The nihilistic, burn-it-all-down down faction of the House GOP has McCarthy in a bind. It’s unclear exactly what ransom they are trying to extract, but until they get it, they will not support any resolution, no matter how temporary, to keep the government open. And anything the Freedom Caucus supports will be so far right as to be unacceptable to the Democrat-controlled Senate.
Reasonable observers lament the power held by this tiny minority of radical legislators. But the fact is, these yahoos have no power that was not handed to them by McCarthy himself. They have power over him ONLY because he allows them to have that power.
This is the situation that the victims of blackmail typically find themselves in. Because the blackmailed does not want compromising information about himself to become public, he is in thrall to the blackmailer. But if the blackmail victim is prepared for the truth to come out— and is willing to face the consequences—then the blackmailer loses all leverage.
Consider the case of Milwaukee’s former Archbishop Weakland. A former gay lover had possession of a compromising letter that Weakland had written. He held up the bishop for 400 grand, which the bishop diverted from church funds. Years later, the blackmailer went public anyway! This ultimately led to Weakland’s retirement in disgrace.
If the bishop had been willing to face the music up front, admit his past romantic involvement, and had taken his case to his diocesan flock, he would have been embarrassed. He would have been exposed and humiliated. But he would most likely have been grudgingly forgiven. And the blackmailer would have effectively been told to pound sand.
McCarthy has the option to tell the Freedom Caucus to shove it. He could cut a short term budget deal supported by Democrats and some number of the non-radical Republicans. The resulting compromise would be acceptable to the Senate, and the government shutdown would be averted. But, this would trigger a “motion to vacate” from the nut jobs, and Kevin would once again be fighting for his Speakership job.
It would be embarrassing. It would be humiliating. But he would probably survive. There are no other viable candidates who want the job, and who would be acceptable to enough Republicans to get it (the non-crazy Republicans would not select a Freedom Caucus fire breather as Speaker). Winning this battle, if he were willing to fight it, would cement his position. He would have effectively defanged the yahoo caucus.
The problem is, he’s not genetically capable of taking this risk. Politicians who have risen to leadership roles get there by NOT taking chances. Political natural selection favors the cautious, and often punishes the risk taker. Just ask Liz Cheney.
Mark M.
Well said, and good analogy to Weakland—great name for someone who gave in to the sins of the flesh btw. Reminds me of an e-mail I once received telling me what my password is. Fortunately, all I had to do was deposit a small amount (they start small) via some bitcoin account and my secrets would be safe. Even more fortunate was I didn’t have anything too private (other than the panties prancing thing), so I ignored the e-mail. They did have my correct password, but I think it was an old one…and I hear most passwords can be hacked pdq.
The Times seemed to criticize KM for screwing around with the Biden impeachment process, rather than tending to the more serious matter of keeping the gov open. Was that a bone he was tossing to the rabid freedom caucus pit bulls? Looks like they chewed that to shreds and are just whetting their appetite.
-Dave S.
I’ve been pondering what kind of motivation drove Kevin McCarthy to so tenaciously claw his way to the perch of Republican Speaker of the House. Why would anyone want that job? With the current crop of ‘pub wackjobs, grandstanders, and proud-to-be-stoopid whiskey tangos tearing up the joint, the speaker’s job seems utterly thankless and frustrating. But McCarthy can’t help it: For it is Written and such is his Destiny
He may be like Archbishop Weakland in his susceptibility to be extorted, but in his ambition to be Speaker, he reminds me of Packer Coach Bart Starr. I think both Starr and McCarthy felt God had preordained them to assume the mantles of leadership –Starr with instructions from Jesus to straighten out a team in decline under the much-maligned previous coaches, Phil Bengston and Dan Devine, and McCarthy with a mandate from Heaven to glue back together the pieces of a caucus falling apart despite the efforts of highly-frustrated previous leaders, John Boener and Paul Ryan.
Ah. Such hubris. As Coach, Bart Starr, the once beloved quarterback hero of the Ice Bowl, went out with a whimper and a losing record. He lacked the toughness and imagination of his mentor, Vince Lombardi (and lacked the sense of rhythm of his brother, drummer Ringo Star). His wussy decisions and expedient, short-term solutions to endemic issues with the Pack only served to drive the team deeper into the hole.
McCarthy seems to be following the same trajectory. Like Starr as Packer quarterback, McCarthy has long been a dedicated and well-liked team player in the Republican caucus. But, as Speaker, he lacks the toughness to twist-arms, divide-and-conquer, and smack-down the wacky wrecking crew. (Does he, perhaps, prance around in his wife’s panties?) He also lacks the imagination to switch tactics, for example, pivoting left just enough to get a few dems on board. I don’t see this ending well for McCarthy.
DC
I’ll grant you, as a head coach, Bart Starr was certainly no Forrest Gregg. And why did all the glory year Packer players have porn star names? Fuzzy Thurston, c’mon! Had to keep pace with Dick Butkus I guess. And speaking of being camera friendly, did you ever take critical note of the photos of football players of that era on their trading cards? Absolutely awesome. Typically the shots were from ground level with the players in some twisting athletic pose that made each one look like a gargantuan Greek God in green and gold. I wonder if it’s still done that way.
Speaking of McCarthy (the Speaker, not the coach), the hubris to believe that he was the golden boy that would be able to pull together the clown show Republican Caucus when his predecessors had to run away screaming into early retirement! My understanding is that he has all the votes he needs to pass a bipartisan budget but he won’t bring it to a vote because the Freedom Caucus has threatened to shiv his ass if he does.
Good luck Kev!
MarkO
Relevant tangent. Spot on with those twisting gods of the gridiron cards—and all the other takes….never knew of the Packer porn connection! Bob Long, (#80, WR), another. I remember the Jimmy Taylor commercials: “I like Coke” (might’ve been all he said. Tough SOB—proof below. Note Hornung with the heater.
Photos: Paul Hornung through the years
Bob Long says Packer fans never forget Glory Years players (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Topps, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Nice photo Dave. You can sure find ’em. BTW, is it just me that sees that Jimmy Taylor has no pants on? Man, I sure hope his jock strap is still in place.
One great porn star name escaped my attention, Willie Wood. RIP to all the lost great ones (football players).
MarkO
Well, c’mon Mark. He was standing next to a guy with a porn star name. Fuzzy… How did we ever start equating the Glory Years Packers with the present idiocracy running the Republican party? Although I do believe Lauren Boebert, with her proclivity to paw and be pawed in public, definitely has some porn star potential.
“Hello, Representative. I’m here to fix your stove. That’s a nice negligee you’re wearing.”
“Thank you. Come on in, Dennis. Why don’t you take off that heavy toolbelt? Do you like Beetlejuice? I just love that movie.”
Why does McCarthy want to do this to himself? I don’t know. I can only guess that this sort of power lust is some kind of disease. Look at Lindsey Graham—the guy has done everything except (that we know of) treat the ex-pres to oral sex. Rudy has ruined himself. I could go on and on. These guys and I don’t know how many others have been blinded by this disease. That’s all I can figure.
G
Forrest was 25-37-1.
Bart was 52-76-3.
Really, they have quite similar records of failure.
Bart coached from 1975 through1984,I believe. The primary Packer reporter and analyst for the Journal-Sentinel was Dave Begel, later of Shepherd Express fame.
Begel attacked Starr relentlessly. It was insane. And at that time, of course, the JS was a pretty big megaphone. Begel never let up, questioning Starr’s strategy, tactics, intelligence, and integrity. I was no fan of Coach Starr, yet I blanched at the unstinting ferocity of Begel.
Mark M.
Yeah, I remember that. Didn’t Bart actually lose it and lash out at him once at a press conference?
G