OPINION: 'The GOP floor show in January was undoubtedly a mesmerizing spectacle. The afterparty won’t be anywhere near as much fun,' writes Star contributor Terry Bracy.
In January of 1965, a courageous congressman from Tucson became the first member of the House in the 20th century to run against a sitting Speaker, in this case John McCormack of Massachusetts. When Mo Udall staged his challenge, it was largely a symbolic effort aimed at gaining power for young liberals, many of whom were veterans and had commanded troops on the battlefields of World War II and were now instructed to stand aside and always obey their elders.
People are also reading… The slow-burning, three-day farrago which saw the looniest elements of the GOP hold feckless Kevin McCarthy’s speakership hostage, had the carnival atmosphere of comedy, but the deeper implications of something profoundly worrying. How, we wonder, did things get so crazy? These are the resonant echoes of another entity which defined our politics down around that same period. In the Udall era of the House, civility was expected and members crossed party lines to socialize and travel abroad together. All of that went out the door with the rise of Newt Gingrich, who became Speaker in 1994. Gingrich was a clever strategist who gave nightly speeches to an otherwise vacant House of Representatives, with his real audience being those watching on C-SPAN.
Here’s what hangs in the balance: Social Security, Medicare and the future of the NATO alliance, all of which the GOP’s newly emboldened crazy wing are eager to immolate. Already conversations have begun about the GOP-led House holding up raising America’s debt limit, a fiscally suicidal gambit essentially akin to refusing to pay your credit card bill after racking up massive charges.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Terry Savage: Advice on managing your spending in the New YearSome bad news is coming in the mail. Be prepared to face up to it immediately. The card balances likely total more than you expected. And the brokerage or mutual fund statements likely show less than you hoped.
Read more »
Guardians, manager Terry Francona enter 2023 season under ‘unique’ arrangementChris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, described it this way: “It’s not a five-year deal, but if Tito wants to be here five years, and he’s healthy enough, and it fits into his life well enough, we’d love for him to be here for five years.”
Read more »
Terry Savage: How much did you pay in investment costs and fees last year?If you’re like most investors, you don’t even have a ballpark idea. And those costs can add up — or, more to the point, subtract from your long term investment goals.
Read more »
Hornets Prepared To Talk Trades For Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, Kelly OubreHornets Prepared To Talk Trades For Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, Kelly Oubre - RealGM Wiretap
Read more »
PAWS Pet of the Week: TerryThis handsome gentleman loves treats, pets, and all the love he can get!
Read more »
Gold price backs off on rising dollar, but set for fifth weekly riseGold price backs off on rising dollar, but set for fifth weekly rise. gold markets fed
Read more »