Minority Rules

Not even a third of Republicans are happy Kevin McCarthy was ousted, yet here we are.

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Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary Jim Jordan is seen during a hearing with Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Rayburn House Office Building on Wednesday September 20, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Matt McClain/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

A committed minority thwarts the will of the majority of the party. And after proving themselves a credible threat by their willingness to hand victory to the other side, that small share manages to take control of the whole operation.

That’s been the story of the Republican Party for the past eight years. We see it very much in the broken House Republican Conference, which is now following the path that the party as a whole has been taking since first acquiescing to Donald Trump’s hostile takeover bid in 2016. 

Radicals don’t usually beat pragmatists, but when insurgents can take advantage of a majority’s instinct for self-preservation, the fulcrum on which power tips can quickly move to the extremes.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    “The big, dangerous fiction that animates much of our politics these days is that America is doomed, a failing nation in decline. The truth is that there has never been a better time or a better place in all of history to be alive. We are, as a whole, rich, free, healthy, and safe. But most of our politicians currently depend not on persuasion, but panic.”

    Bravo! I’ve traveled America in recent years and everywhere I go I’m struck by how much this is a great country and Americans are good people. My countrymen make me mad sometimes, but I make some of them mad too so it’s all fair in the end. There’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be than here, in the greatest country on Earth.

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  2. Moorechaos

    Chris, just wanted to say "looking good!" Saw you on News Nation tonight, Mr. "Bag of Meat". Keto is doing you well! Good on ya.
    Robin Moore

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    1. Avatar photo
      Ben Connelly

      Stirewalt’s on the Keto diet?

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      1. Moorechaos

        He talks about it from time to time on Ink Stained Wrenches podcast.

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  3. Avatar photo
    PJ

    "Lord hear our prayer"

    Good luck with that. Sending thoughts and prayers.

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  4. Avatar photo
    DougAz

    To Mr. Stirwalt and Ms. Klees.

    Comments are where we actually get to know interested and interesting people.

    Who wants to be "lectured" by a political operator like Stirwalt et al, castigated, maligned and misrepresentated? That we Liberals and Progressives are here, to point out that the unitary flaws occasionally presented by Conservatives, is a symbol of Speech in our Democracy.

    Neither Liberals or Classical Conservatives have a unitary and singular claim to America, or our governance.

    We on the Left, Liberals, Progressives, Social Democrats, Democrats, have the same love of country as any and all Conservatives.

    When we are maligned as Marxists, Leninists, Communists, Socialist, we are just as maligned when Conservatives are called Fascists and Nazi.

    Why have comments if you don't want conversation about the topic?

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  5. Avatar photo
    Jhc

    "But most online comments are worse than nothing, generated by a handful of addicted superusers looking to generate discord, dunk on their rival trolls, or cheer on like-minded combatants. ...

    "Convincing people that it’s either him or oblivion is to a demagogue’s great advantage. But I encourage you to rebel. Skip the comments and see America for what it was, is, and Lord hear our prayer, will remain."

    Hear, hear! Mr. Stirewalt. This online commenter says, "Well said." ;-)

    And following up literally on your "see America for what it ... is" remark, my suggestion to your interlocutor (Eileen Klees) is that she get out of the house and take a road trip. It's a great country when you take the time to see it first-hand and meet its people. It's kind of hard to find unpleasant people, traveling that way. (No fly-overs allowed!)

    For that matter, a road trip through Canada is a good idea too. We had a great time doing that in Quebec & Ontario this summer.

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    1. Bigdonmck

      Yer right! Some decades ago, I took several road trips with various buddies and managed to drive to all 48 continental states. And had a beer in every single one.
      And the people....from having a cold one with Bubba inside the levee across the river from Cincinnati to an anonymous mechanic who noted our Illinois license plates and kindly adjusted our carburetor on our rented RV in the mile high mountains of New Mexico...there some fine folks in America.

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      1. Avatar photo
        Jhc

        It sounds like you have some good memories. I'll drink to that.

        I've visited most, but not all, of the Lower 48. My best memory is making a cross-country trip "by thumb" 50 years ago, when that was still possible. I met a lot of *amazingly* friendly people that way. (Plus a couple of jerks, but only 2 or 3.) Overall, it was a great trip: about three weeks and a little over 2000 miles. It helps to not be in a hurry to finish.

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        1. Bigdonmck

          Wow. "Thumbing" cross country! I tip my hat to you. I doubt those fine times will ever be matched today. Thanks for your story. Have a good one.

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  6. Randall Briggs

    Having Rep. Jim Jordan as speaker of the House would be very bad news for Republicans hoping to maintain or enlarge their majority in the lower chamber next year. It does not take an oracle to see how shutdowns, impeachment, and continual chaos would weaken Republicans chances up and down the ballot.

    Republicans losing seats in the House would be a good thing, would it not?

    And then there is this:

    Trump pushed weak candidates in key midterm races and wasted a massive GOP advantage. His selfishness then, as now, comes at an extraordinary price for the rest of the party.

    But it's "the rest of the party" that has allowed him to exercise his selfishness with impunity. He calls for the execution of the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the leaders of the GOP are mostly mute. Nicky Haley works her way up to calling that "irresponsible," but quickly adds that it's "not disqualifying." How can we feel sorry for a party whose leaders know the right but choose the wrong?

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    Jerrymasters7vwp

    Your response to Ms. Kless' question is extraordinarily encouraging.

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  8. Deleted Comment

    This comment has been deleted

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    David M

    Whatever you do, don't read the comments!

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    1. Avatar photo
      Bill B

      Yeah, but I've been assured that those who don't read the comments are condemned to repeat them.

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      Show Jay Janney the 🚪!

      But how would I know not to do that except by reading your comment? 🙄 If the flux capacitor I ordered ever gers delivered I'll go back in time and not read 'em...

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  10. Jack H Wolf

    On the DeSamtis LOOKS TO BLOCK HALEY’S MOMENTUM subhead:
    “Top officials with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign made the case to a gathering of top donors opposed to Donald Trump on Friday that rival GOP candidate Nikki Haley could not defeat the former president in a head-to-head matchup"
    This is the exact opposite of the most recent polls seen in the RCP aggregate which shows Haley beating Biden in the national popular vote by +4 and DeSantis losing to Biden by -1.

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