Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News:
“Fucking chaos” … “a total shit show”
Two texts I’ve gotten from inside the House Republican leadership in the last few minutes.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) September 21, 2023
It occasionally crosses my mind that a sagacious Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) might try to bring his caucus to heel by expelling the leading troublemakers, such as Rep Gaetz (R-FL), not from the caucus, but from the House of Representatives.
And then maybe boot them out of the Republican Party, if he can manage it. Probably not, but I’m no expert on Republican Party rules.
It’s true that McCarthy’s operating on a knife’s edge, but he could try to strike a deal with the Democrats that allows him to retain his treasured Speaker’s position, while implementing a discipline that will smart more than a little for the people making trouble.
If he follows up with a remark about the House being for adults only, he might take the edge of the rest of the Freedom Caucus by slowly, inevitably booting them out.
I haven’t been actually expecting this, as the procedures seem both slow and would result in a warning to the targets. Still, McCarthy might make a go of it because otherwise he may end up with a reputation as the worst Speaker ever.
Even beating the execrable and incompetent Rep Newt Gingrich (R-GA) of nearly thirty years ago.
