Rep. Buck: No Moral Fortitude in Speaker’s Race

GOP colleagues in the hot tub.

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In between voting for House speaker, Representative Ken Buck joins Steve and Declan to talk about House politics, GOP reluctance to acknowledge who won the 2020 election, and whether an honest speaker can yet be found. Plus:

-Buck’s relationship with GOP colleagues

-Scalise not wanting to bring wrath of MAGA base

-Jordan and Scalise votes to decertify elections

-Why Buck voted for McCarthy in the 15-round melee in January

-Will colleagues support reform? (Spoiler: no)

Show Notes:

-Watch this episode on YouTube

-Sarah Isgur: It’s Time to Amend the Constitution

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Comments (40)
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  1. Avatar photo
    Wj

    Ken Buck - you cowardly fool.

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    1. John Trapnell

      I posted my concerns that this stand was purposeless on Buck’s site a couple of weeks ago when this first happened. Now this move has proven the case. Like Gaetz, he was just out to take down some enemies and get notoriety for doing so. I live in his district and am done with him. It doesn’t matter who is elected anymore. The Dems vote as a lock-step block and the Republicans have their own 5th column to ensure their failure.

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  2. Matthelm1970

    This is such a prime example of why politicians in general and republicans in particular should never ever be trusted. In fact there may be a direct and strong correlation between statements of deeply held beliefs (like buck on this pod 2 weeks ago) and the likelihood of doing something completely at odds with those beliefs in relatively short order.

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  3. Dominic

    Remember when Ken Buck was really mad about a Speaker who would say the 2020 election was not stolen?

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  4. Russell J

    Appreciate the discussion. I get the frustrated listeners. Not sure that a more confrontational interview would produce better results. It would certainly prevent future discussions. Buck opposed Jordan in round 1 so he is at least willing to signal unhappiness to different sides even if he sort of implied moderates are the problem.

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    Tomadonna

    Im glad everyone else is already dunking on the 'rather live in Gaza or Ukraine' comment.

    However, i am here to point out whatever 'logic' he used to out McCarthy applies way more to Jordan. So im interested to see what mental gymnastics he is about to do.

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    David Burke

    That Hayes didn’t call out Buck about that ridiculously asinine California comparison says a lot more about Hayes than Buck.

    You left a glaring hole there, Steve. And if a Dem or Progressive had said that about, say, Texas or Florida, to another journalist on another broadcast, you be ranting on the The Dispatch podcast with spittle on your lips.

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    Ben Connelly

    This was a good interview.

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  8. EireExpat

    There was so much wacky in this “conversation” I can’t believe Steve let it slide. Is this Congressman supposed to be a “normy GOP?”. Where to start (ignoring the Bobert-esque comment about California) - so I’m a conservative because what I want to conserve is that if a Constitutional Convention (never used ) whereby 3/4 of the States somehow duly decided the 2nd amendment has been expanded too much by the SCOTUS “Constitutional Amenders” we can’t let that super majority get their way??? So let’s make sure only republicans in SCOTUS get to decide what those people in the 1790s really meant

    an unserious party of unserious people

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    SeanM76

    Congressman Buck is a conservative politician who sounds like he would agree with DeMint that he would rather have 40 of his version of conservatism instead of being in the majority with some who are moderate. I wish one of you would have asked if he didn't agree with the two main choices for speaker. Why did he not run or support someone else? It seems like it is easier to throw pot shots at people than to try to truly change things. He may not be as crazy to me as Gaetz but he is closer to him than I would like. JMO

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  10. Francislyo

    Buck is a politician AND a member of the Freedom Caucus, so we should expect to disagree with him on some important issues. He was rightly called out by most commenters below on his ridiculous statement (no hint that it was a joke) that he'd rather live in Gaza than California. A cheap shot - as much as he extols being true to your statements, he’ll never actually face that dilemma.

    That said, as a Californian I suggest that if that cheap shot can be traded for exerting a moderating influence in his caucus, I'll have a thick skin. I think that Buck’s suggestion of gradually reducing the deficit over 10 years deserves realistic (not posturing) debate. Further, I hold that Buck was correct to oust McCarthy.

    McCarty used his party leadership and clout as Speaker to reform the crazy MAGA reputation that existed before his patronage, McCarthy punished/demonized those who opposed Trump and commissioned Tucker Carlson to rewrite Jan 6th history. He elevated and normalized MAGA craziness, influencing the transformation of many ordinary Republicans into MAGA true believers who spout demonization of Democrats as evil global elites who sacrifice children and drink their blood, and that Democratic Jews use space lasers to start wildfires. The day after Democrats saved him from his party’s debt and shutdown crises, McCarthy went on CBS to excoriate the Democrats for Jan 6th AND blame them for the shutdown crisis, and also state that as Speaker he would hold Ukraine aid hostage to MAGA priorities.

    Not saying that I’m in Buck’s camp - he seemed to single out both McCarthy and moderates as impediments to reigning in spending BECAUSE they compromise. D'oh! But I need to compromise also - it was Buck et al who ousted McCarthy so now we can overthrow McCarty’s MAGA overlords, and I thank them. It’s time now for a handful of brave Republicans to join with Democrats and vote in a moderate Republican Speaker.

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