Familiar Suspects Block Defense Spending Bill Again

Familiar Suspects Block Defense Spending Bill Again

Just when we thought we had seen it all, the United States House of Representatives takes on a new identity – a full-fledged motorcycle gang! Yeah, you heard that right, they’ve been on their 15th beer run of the day. Can you picture it? Politicians donning biker gear, revving their engines, and racing through the streets of Washington D.C. Okay, maybe not, but the chaos that’s currently unfolding in Congress is an apt parallel to the madness and violence leading up to the Civil War. I couldn’t help but dive into Joanne Freeman’s captivating book, aptly named Field of Blood, reminiscing about the good ol’ times when the Speaker of the House had control over more than just their office chair and their coffee order. Let’s see how this saga unfolds. > “Instead, GOP hardliners again blockaded the floor for the second time in three days – leaving McCarthy unable to call the party’s own defense spending bill to the floor. This time, though, it came as a shock to many GOP leaders, who believed they won over enough holdouts to finally bring up the Pentagon funding bill. Perhaps more ominously, the ultraconservatives’ gambit proved what many in the GOP had already suspected: That McCarthy is essentially powerless to avert a government closure that could begin Oct. 1.” – Politico > > Ah, the House Republicans were not having any of it. They erupted in fury, and boy, did they let it out. Congressman Steve Womack, sporting a headache that could rival a hangover, called this whole situation a painful series of missteps, leaving the GOP conference scratching their heads. “If you can’t do the defense bill,” Womack wondered aloud, “what can you do?” As they made their way down the Capitol steps after the failed vote, Representative Anthony D’Esposito echoed the collective frustration, claiming that some politicians seem to be playing “policy warfare.” Can we have less Call of Duty and more progress, please? Seriously, these guys are beyond frustrated.” – Politico > > Surprise, surprise! The usual suspects were at the center of all this drama. According to The Washington Post, Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene, Dan Bishop, Andy Biggs, Eli Crane, and Matthew M. Rosendale thought it would be a grand idea to vote against advancing the measure to a final vote. It’s like that one friend who always backs out of plans at the last minute, leaving everyone high and dry. This time, even Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole decided to play the switcheroo, changing his vote from “yes” to “no.” Well, at least they made it exciting by keeping the motion alive for future iterations by postponing it. Talk about political gymnastics! – The Washington Post Seriously, folks, this is a cannibal circus we’re witnessing in Congress. I can almost visualize elephants and tightrope walkers dominating the once-respected halls of power. It’s like the Democrats are sitting on the sidelines, munching on popcorn, and laughing at the absurdity happening on the other side. Can you blame them? I mean, who would want to be part of the Problem Solvers caucus or the New Democrats Coalition, desperately trying to negotiate a way out of this never-ending impasse? But hey, let’s not forget who created this mess—the Republicans themselves. Yep, they unleashed the beasts, and now they’re finding out what a taste of their own medicine tastes like. Turns out, Republicans and Democrats taste pretty similar. Who would’ve thunk it? – Charles P. Pierce