The months-long drama over a Federal government shutdown has exposed deep cracks in the Republican / Forced Birth / Shooters party operation in Congress. Yesterday's last minute vote to pass a 45-day continuing resolution keeping the government open was done over the threats of Trumpian retribution from his hardcore cultists in the House, with House and Senate Republican leadership diminished. From the WaPo:
"In the span of three hours, rank-and-file Republicans bucked House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, leaving both GOP leaders weakened Sunday heading into a critical legislative period.
First, after days of internal rebellion, McCarthy (R-Calif.) threw in the towel at a Saturday morning meeting. His leadership team had run the numbers, and at least six Republicans would oppose any plan to keep the government open by the midnight deadline.
With just four votes to spare on a GOP-only plan, McCarthy gave up and turned to Democrats to help pass a 'clean' resolution to keep the government open at current levels into mid-November. [snip]
Across the Capitol, McConnell had spent the month of September delivering floor speeches dedicated to the defense of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who visited the Capitol nine days earlier to rally support behind President Biden’s request for $24 billion in military and diplomatic support. He worked with Biden administration officials to pare back that request to $6 billion and ask for more funding later this year.
So when the Senate GOP gathered at lunchtime Saturday for a roughly 90-minute meeting, McConnell delivered a pitch to rally support for the original plan — a funding plan that included $6 billion for Ukraine.
His caucus overruled him. They preferred McCarthy’s plan to keep the government open by ditching the debate over Ukraine money until later this year.
The diminished stature for the two leaders could have big consequences." (our emphasis)
The clear drift of authoritarian Republicans toward Russian thug and war criminal Vladimir Putin's aim of conquering Ukraine is especially repugnant and anti-American, but clearly what Putin stooge Trump wants. Squeaker of the House McCarthy, on the other hand, made the bed he finds himself in by desperately bartering his powers to the most fascistic members of his caucus in order to be Speaker (on 15 tortuous ballots). Now the Republicans voting to keep the Federal government operating will face the Malignant Loser's wrath, who wanted to shut down his Federal prosecutions and to cripple President Biden in the year before the Presidential elections. Sad!
