A Few Things to Keep in Mind about The GQP House Majority

[MineralMan]

1. The Senate can and will vote down any GQP partisan measure sent to them by the GQP House.

2. President Joe Biden can veto any bill sent to him, should the Senate not vote down a GQP bill.

3. There is no unity in the House. Any reasonable proposals by the majority of House Republicans will be voted against by at least 6 GQP House "rebel" members. Anything proposed by those "rebel" members will not pass in the House. There will be few resolutions or bills that can get a Republican majority vote because of that.

4. While it will take only one GQP House member to call for a vote to have McCarthy removed as speaker, there is no majority that will vote to remove him. Period. While that means we are stuck with McCarthy, remember that McCarthy is not a bright fellow.

5. Several of the "rebel" GQP House members may well be charged or named by the DOJ as unindicted co-conspirators in the Jan. 6. insurrection. That will not be helpful to those "rebels."

6. All committees doing "investigations" of Democrats will have members from both parties. While the GQP will have majorities, those will be majorities of only one or two members. The Democrats on those committees can speak out and explain what is going on. There will be no "free lunch" in the House of Representatives.

7. Both the White House and the Senate are Democratic Party strongholds. Both will check any nonsense from the GQP House.

8. The Department of Justice is an Executive Branch department. The House has no control over it whatsoever.

9. None of the "rebels" in the House are particularly smart people. That does not work to their benefit.

[LiberalFighter]

1. All good points. And few from the other side understand.

Both in Congress and the public.

[MineralMan]

2. Very true.

[Escurumbele]

113. I agree with your point that most of the GQP members are not smart people, but they don't

have to be, someone else, smart, is telling them what to say, and do. They are just marionets of the thinkers behind the curtain.

It is the same deal as when G.W. Bush was president, he is not very smart, but the people behind the curtains are, he was just there to take orders and make a fool of himself. Same with the buffoon trump, although the buffoon thinking he is smart deviated from the orders.

[yankee87]

3. All true

Thank goodness the GQP is not the brightest bulb in the package. Like was stated, McCarthy is pretty much an idiot.

[TheBlackAdder]

75. While not smart, he's next in line after the VP and perhaps he knows something is brewing.

[The Jungle 1]

102. I don't think they are all true.

If one member asks for a recall vote and all the Democrats vote to remove him then it would only take a couple of republicans to join in. IMO
I wonder if the member asking for the recall vote can be a Democratic member. We could ask for a vote everyday.

[MineralMan]

105. I doubt that Democrats would vote to remove him.

His replacement could be much, much worse.

And yes, I believe that any House member can call for that vote. However Democrats are going to try to get things done in the House. Disrupting that probably isn't a really good idea.

[The Jungle 1]

107. My feeling is we made a political mistake.

We should have nominated a moderate republican and supported him. We would have only needed a few republicans to join.
Now the radical right is in control of the house.
Would it have worked. I do not know. It was worth a try.

[MineralMan]

109. Actually, the radical right is NOT in control.

All it has accomplished was delaying the selection of the Speaker for a couple of days. Everything gets voted on in the House. So, the radical right has 20 sure votes. That's all.

Think beyond the past three days. What Democrats have is a proven, solid resolve not to let the right have its way. Watch.

[The Jungle 1]

119. There probably is a bigger plan.

I will go with that

[leftieNanner]

4. Thank you for the reminder

They seem to think they are all powerful.

Like the wizard of Oz.

[MineralMan]

7. Yes, very much like the Wizard of Oz.

Thanks for that comparison.

[calimary]

5. Those are very good points.

Excellent reminders!

We have many ways to contain whatever damage they do.

[MineralMan]

8. In many ways, the GQP has plenty of enemies within itself, too.

[spanone]

6. ...K&R...

[albacore]

9. Stupid people can do a lot of damage.

[debm55]

10. Thank you, Mineral Man. I feel a little less stressed after reading your post.

[MineralMan]

11. I'm glad to hear that!

[Midnight Writer]

12. My biggest fear is if the Supreme Court limits the ability of Federal Agencies to issue regulations

without explicit Congressional approval.

It is safe to assume the Republican House will refuse to approve any of the regulations needed for our Government to work properly, especially regulations on climate, worker's rights, taxes, civil rights, corporate power.

This summer will be the danger point, with the Supreme Court handing down their latest Federalist Society approved decisions and the GOP House playing games with the debt limit.

[MineralMan]

13. We'll have to see what the SCOTUS does.

I'm not comfortable making predictions on that at all.

However, recent rulings by some red state Supreme Courts are very interesting. I'm watching those. It looks like some state courts are saying, "Not so fast there, Sonny!"

[Tree Lady]

14. The only thing they will have on their side

Is the media which seems to love messing with democrats. They will make a bigger deal than should be of all the investigations especially before next election.

But that said when the indictments come and they will, the media will absolutely love that since it has never happened before with a president.

I think the media knows the indictments of Trump and some congress people will draw more attention than old news Hunter laptop.

[MineralMan]

15. Well, the media serves the media first.

So, if they can pull in more views by focusing on something, they will do that.

What I've noticed is that TFG is no longer of much interest to anyone in the media. That is, if you think about it, pretty remarkable.

[Tree Lady]

25. Amazing they finally tired of him

Maybe finally realized everyone else has including a bunch of his people. I have seen some Trump stuff come down from yards.

[ShazzieB]

90. I think the media has figured out how irrelevant he has become.

And they are acting accordingly.

It became too conspicuous to ignore when a small group whose MAGA credentials got them elected to Congress refused to vote for McCarthy as speaker despite Trump's endorsement. It was already apparent when so many of his personally handpicked candidates failed to get elected in Novemer, but the way Lauren Boebert and others openly defied TFG's wishes during the voting this past week made it even more in-your-face painfully obvious that many of his former worshippers no longer care what their former lord and master wants.

Even the media can no longer deny that the MAGA monsters Trump himself created no longer answer to his beck and call, and that is starting to be reflected in their coverage.

[onetexan]

16. Thank u MineralMan, for so thoughtfully listing these facts out

Hopefully this should calm some nerves. I know it's made me feel better.

[MineralMan]

18. My pleasure.

[housecat]

17. A good list to keep in mind. Number 8 (both 8's) are my favorites. And #10 Biden's judge appointees

will be another feather in our quivver.

[MineralMan]

20. Ooh, nice catch on the double 8s.

I fixed it. Thanks!

[housecat]

93. ty

[MiniMe]

19. What worries me most is funding

And raising the debt limit. The house has to start that process up.

[MineralMan]

23. Yes, there are issues that must be addressed.

We'll have to watch those closely, for sure.

[certainot]

100. limbaugh spent weeks in 2011 selling there's no way US could default and then it wouldn't matter if

we did. it's there in his transcripts. he was basically working for putin whether he knew it or not and hopefully dem leadership can finally figure it out and prevent another huge fucking time waster and possible disaster.

there is no way republican millionaires and billionaires who's interests limbaugh was supposed to serve would like that but putin would and putin was already using him since at least palin 2008 and 'climategate' in 2009

it would behoove dem leadership to recognize and expose these dittoheads (trumpers) as kremlin tools the next time media starts getting pushed around by 'public concern' and blathering about the debt ceiling

[Lonestarblue]

32. They have already threatened to shut down the government over raising the debt ceiling.

While we can assume the 20 holdout insurrectionists will not vote to raise the debt limit, I think we can also assume that most (and perhaps all) of the 150+ election deniers now in the House will not vote for anything other than a bill that destroys part of the government. The House needs 218 votes to raise the debt limit. I think most Democrats would vote yes, but will there be even six Republicans who will vote yes without demanding extreme cuts to SS, Medicare, and other programs?

The rest of what they do will be useless nonsense, but funding bills are where the big fights will occur, and McCarthy will not go out on a limb to get a budget bill passed.

[mcar]

40. There are several new or reelected Rs

from NY and other swing districts. I can imagine that some of them will be willing to work with Democrats to pass a debt ceiling extension. They want to get reelected and will have trouble doing so if they act like MAGAts.

[PortTack]

45. They will no doubt vote against the debt ceiling and budget

Look at their history…it hasn’t worked in the past and won’t work this time either.

Any shut downs will be on them. President Biden is too smart and cares too much about the American ppl to deal with these terrorists

[Alice Kramden]

21. Thanks for these points

Very helpful to my blood pressure

[MineralMan]

26. Glad to help!

[Algernon Moncrieff]

22. Also a reminder to McCarthy's detractors: GQP could have had full J6 committee representation

He chose not to....

[MineralMan]

24. Very true.

[iluvtennis]

27. Good stuff Mineral Man - thanks for posting this as it lifts my spirits after McCatthy won the seat.

[MineralMan]

54. I'm glad.

[bdamomma]

28. MineralMan

call them for what they are "domestic terrorists". That's like calling the insurrectionists, visitors.

[SheltieLover]

30. Absolutely!

Ruskie assets!

[SheltieLover]

29. And no oversight of SC Smith!

[rso]

31. GQP

Great summary. I assume that any single dem member can also call to vacate.

[MineralMan]

56. Yes, I think so, too.

[.

[lindysalsagal]

33. As usual, they will provide no substance, just headlines for Fox Noise.

Hope their voters are happy.

[panader0]

34. Good post MM. My question is about #4. Will only GQP House members be able to call for

a removal of McCarthy or can a Democrat do it as well?

[MineralMan]

57. Any member, I think.

[Dave says]

35. Doing nothing does not resolve ...

… the debt ceiling. Be prepared for a lengthy shutdown and a further reduction in our debt ratings.

[Dave says]

36. Apologies I see already discussed above

[llashram]

37. thanks

something(s) to keep in mind when the horror in the House strikes we are family, no shit!

[Native]

38. Basic points that so many people don't have a clue about. I for one am going to enjoy the shit show.

[PortTack]

47. Same!

[MineralMan]

58. Yup.

[mcar]

39. Happy to rec this

voice of reason. Thanks.

[MineralMan]

70. Thanks!

[FakeNoose]

41. Great pointers! I love Number 9

Number 9 also goes for Kevin McCarthy himself.

Thanks MineralMan

[MineralMan]

59. Thanks!

[Permanut]

42. Well said.

K & R

[peggysue2]

43. Excellent reminders, MM

So that the blood pressure of DU members and Dems elsewhere can drop to reasonable levels.

[MineralMan]

60. I hope so.

[Samrob]

44. Number 8 is a worry. The House holds the purse strings. But right on with all the rest. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

94. What normally happens with purse strings and other issue bills

is that the House will pass some financial bill and send it to the Senate. The Senate is usually working on their own version and they might decide to do an up or down vote on the House version and/or will do a vote on their own and then take the text of it and offer it as "an amendment as a substitute" and slap it back onto the original House bill, and send it back to them.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

In the "old days", when reconciling bills, the chambers would just go ahead and create a Joint Conference Committee with members from both chambers and both parties and work out the differences. Nowadays it seems that process happens more informally (could be due to the technology making it easier to do collaborative stuff like that).

And in many cases, the House may have even sent them something that was unrelated to money but had some other subject that the Senate had planned on considering and passing. So they will use that bill to add their money amendments "as a substitute" and send it back to House. That way the money stuff is still on some vehicle that "originated in the House" but doing it this way can help streamline the legislative process (consolidating bills), while adhering to the Consitutional authorities.

[Elessar Zappa]

46. Kicked and recommended.

All great points, Mineral Man. It’ll be a shitshow and a circus but a largely impotent one.

[Ford_Prefect]

48. While the GQP members aren't particularly smart they represent patrons who are very clever and have

staffs of very sharp, well paid people to advise legislators, to concoct amendments and legislation, along with suggesting directions, subjects, and language for committee investigation. I expect nasty from them all. They may not be the sharpest tools. However they are driven by powerful individual and corporate interests with cultural, anti-federal, and financial agendas.

Do not take them for granted.

The same must be said for the rest of the GOP caucus. They have seen what power Congress with a destructive agenda and cooperative leadership can do. They are still primarily addicted to that sense of power. Many of them were raised up in Gingrich's Party of NO! They see themselves as a brake on social progress, on Great Society goals and agency, and on Justice for All. They imagine that if they can radically reduce federal government, as their mentor and prophet Grover Norquist proposed, all will be as it should. They will entertain any perfidy to accomplish this, as we have already seen many times over, including on and after Jan. 6th.

[spooky3]

49. Great points. And, as inflation declines, Biden and the Dems' popularity

will increase. They can’t do much to control it, but a lot of voters are not too bright either, and blame or credit whoever is in office with any bad (good) economic conditions.

[WarGamer]

50. All true BUT... doesn't mean much

The primary purpose for the GOP'ers is to be a roadblock and the GOP House effectively stops all Biden legislative progress.

[SayItLoud]

51. Add this for when the GQPee starts to "investigate"

Established in 1816 as one of the original standing committees in the United States Senate, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary is one of the most influential committees in Congress.

[pwb]

52. Talk about getting someone shoved down our throats eh?

I hope Seniority members among the pukes stomp these thoughtless voices.

[rubbersole]

53. #5 is what I'm looking forward to.

All good points. Thanks MM!

[MineralMan]

61. Thanks.

[onenote]

55. What "reasonable" proposals do you expect a majority of House republicans to put forward?

As for whether anything proposed by the rebels, there is no guarantee those proposals won't pass. There is more unity among Republicans than you give them credit for.
Consider the following from the last session:

The budget bill: all but 7 repubs voted against it. Those against it included the "rebels" as well and virtually every other member of the republican caucus, including McCarthy. Of those voting for it, only two are still in the House.

The Respect for Marriage bill: while a number of repubs voted for it on final passage, the republican caucus was unanimous in its opposition to the bill being considered.

There are numerous other examples of the vast majority of Republicans voting in alignment with the rebels.

[MineralMan]

62. We will see.

Voters will be paying attention. That is our backstop.

[Takket]

63. good post

i've seen a lot of panic about Jordan wanting to "interfere" with DOJ's investigation of drumpf, but as to your point number 8, Jordan can't really do shit. Jack Smith & Garland will come in and professionally answer all of Jordan's loaded questions while everyone else behind the scenes goes right on working. the most jordan will accomplish is causing Smith and Garland to waste a day or two of working time testifying. but no one is america is going to fall for Jordan's "speeches" (which is really what we'll get, because he isn't going to get info from witnesses, he's just going to spew out his own fake news while the witnesses sit there quietly).

[MineralMan]

67. Thanks!

We need to look at this rationally. That is our strength.

[marieo1]

64. Agreement

Thank You, Mineralman........we needed to hear these things.

[MineralMan]

69. You're welcome..

[marieo1]

65. Agreement

Thank You, Mineralman........we needed to hear these things.

[YoshidaYui]

66. HEY MM!!

haven't seen you in a while, good to see you again! Great points too!

[MineralMan]

68. Thanks!

[bluboid]

71. perfect summary! thank you!

[MineralMan]

73. Thanks!

[GoCubsGo]

72. He also likely screwed some fellow Republicans out of committee seats/chairmanships

with his deals with the "Never Kevin" crowd. These are people who served for multiple terms and paid their dues, only to get usurped by one of these clowns. They are not going take that lying down. All that wheeling and dealing just worsened the divisions in his own party. They'll be too busy fighting each other to do much else.

[MineralMan]

74. Exactly.

Trump is no longer in the picture, really, so many will be worried about 2024.

[grantcart]

76. Good list here's 2 more

# 10 The House Democratic Caucus is full of brilliant minds.
a) Outgoing leaders under/including Pelosi, still there
b) New leaders under Jeffries all smart.
c) members not in leadership
Just look at the brilliant minds that were on Jan 6 Committee

Thompson
Schiff
Raskin
Aguilar
Logren

Then there are a bunch of folks like Swalwell and Katie Porter.

My Congressman Rep Gallego went to Harvard.

#11 Our MVP. Every body keeps forgetting to mention the one person that has contributed the most, Donald Trump.
He will continue to get involved and fuck things up.

Donald does 2 things really well
a) Give his part the absolute worst strategic and tactical advice possible. The "don't vote absentee" strategy will go down as the MOST bonehead idea in modern American history.

b) He scares the bejeesus out of Dems so the party that normally can't agree on what time dinner is will not let a sliver of light shine between us.

Honorable mention for #12 Republicans like Cheney/Lincoln Project see McCarthy as a Trump tool and will work to embarrass them.

[MineralMan]

79. Yes, but Trump is losing his MOJO.

[grantcart]

87. Yes but not his microphone

He will still disrupt the Republicans and unite the Democrats.

A wounded animal is more dangerous (for the Republicans) than a healthy one.

[Joinfortmill]

77. Goeth to Greatests!

[MineralMan]

81. And so it is.

[forgotmylogin]

78. It's like they've got 6 Kristen Synemas

Ah…ah…ah…/count

[MineralMan]

80. Yep.

[JanLip]

82. Thank you!!

My spirits were lifted after reading your post.

[MineralMan]

83. I'm glad of that!

[Septua]

84. I ain't holding my breath.

3. There is no unity in the House. Any reasonable proposals by the majority of House Republicans will be voted against by at least 6 GQP House "rebel" members. Anything proposed by those "rebel" members will not pass in the House. There will be few resolutions or bills that can get a Republican majority vote because of that.

Who knows what the hell they will do or how many will join up with the rebels? The entire sorry lot has had only one agenda which was simply to stop Biden and get elected or reelected. All they want is minority control over the majority; their interpretation of freedom to suit their constituency.

9. None of the "rebels" in the House are particularly smart people. That does not work to their benefit.

They aren't smart but they have tremendous determination to get what they want. All those not so smart people damn near pulled off a coup and they are still working towards another...

[Waterguy]

85. The small Republican majority could refuse to raise the Debt Ceiling

First, I think the Debt ceiling should have been repealed a long time ago.

The small far-right Freedom Caucus could wind up causing the U.S. Gov to default on its debt. I think they most certainly are that crazy since they really don't want to perform any worthy legislation that helps the US citizenry.

They will do all they can to push cutting social programs like SS and Medicare as well as Medicaid - it won't get anywhere in the Senate of course. But doing something like that they find appealing as it demonstrates just how strong their Far-Right convictions are.

They join up with other groups to put out their agenda in TV adds up the wazoo - I dunno, groups like the Christian Right, Big Oil,
and the Face books of the world (as protection from Anti-Trust Law), etc...

[TomSlick]

88. I fear they will only vote to raise the debt limit in exchange for cuts to Social Security,

Medicare, etc. Of course, the Senate will no go along and the US will default on its debt. At that point, the national and international economies will collapse. Inflation will skyrocket.

The American people may see for what they voted but the damage will be tremendous and long lasting.

[markodochartaigh]

116. If the US should default on our debt

I doubt that many people who don't already know that the Republicans are to blame will come to understand who is at fault. Panicked people are not insightful people nor are they easy to educate. And, in the end, the ones who are really at fault are the voters who voted for a party whose mantra is "government is the problem", and those who couldn't even be bothered to vote against authoritarianism. When Lady Liberty was held hostage in the tower the US voters did not game our way in to free her.

[TomSlick]

121. I fear you are correct.

Most of the MAGA crowd will never make the connection. Maybe, just maybe, enough people who voted Republican in 2022 in close elections will get the point. It may not be a good bet but just maybe.

Of course, even if the Democrats retake the House in two years, a lot of damage will have been done.

[Hekate]

86. Happy New Year, MinMan!

All good points.

[Harker]

89. "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

A. Lincoln

[IbogaProject]

91. Still a few major issues

Annual appropriations, the annual defence act (I hate our bloated military) and their endless investigations can all wreck havoc. Also the 'Debt Cealing' B$ will be fully underway one or more times these two years.
Is it bad to hope for some kind of selective disaster to alter the makeup on Congress? I'm talking an 'Act of God', not human intervention.

[lucca18]

92. Thanks MineralMan!

I am bookmarking this, so when I get upset or depressed by their despicable actions, I will read your post!

Happy New Year to you!

[trof]

95. As I said a few weeks ago:

The senate will have their foot on the brakes.
POTUS will have the veto pen.

The next two years will be a shit-show circus, but we will survive it.

[czarjak]

96. Onward, Christian Soldiers though?

Ask one.

[Cha]

98. Solid Encouraging Points.. my Concern

is the Potential Debt Ceiling Crisis and all that Entails.

TY

[MineralMan]

106. There's no question that there are going to be issues

that will be difficult to resolve. The Republicans do have a slim majority, so we're going to see many problems. But, that has happened before. Any time the GQP has a majority, things can get difficult. I'm just saying that it could be worse. Much worse. Republicans incorrectly thought that they'd have substantial majorities in both houses of Congress. They were wrong. The voters decided not to do that. That's a positive movement.

[orleans]

99. just kicking this because it's so good nt

[MineralMan]

103. Many thanks!

[malaise]

101. A brilliant post

😀

[MineralMan]

104. You're far too kind!

[hydrolastic]

108. Is number 5 possible ?

You say
"5. Several of the "rebel" GQP House members may well be charged or named by the DOJ as unindicted co-conspirators in the Jan. 6. insurrection. "
What does that look like? Is there a long lengthy trial and afterwards they get sentenced? While holding their position the whole time? Or do they get arrested and charged? What happens to their position on committees if they are absent? And my final question is. Is there a memo or policy that protects them from arrest while serving ?
Just been wondering for a while now.

[MineralMan]

110. It is possible. Is it likely? I don't know.

There is still much we don't know about what the DOJ will do.

Here's the thing: The crazies on the right have lost much of their clout right now. They barely managed to get a 4-vote majority in the House, and didn't win in the Senate. The voters made it clear that they're not the big winners they hoped to be.

Notice that you're not seeing or hearing Trump on the news lately. He has virtually disappeared from the national news cycle. Even on Fox. He no longer has the ability to go public with his nonsense in the way he once did.

The 2022 election did not work out the way the GQP expected it to. Not even close.

Now, if the DOJ does indict a bunch of people this winter of 2023, including perhaps some of the very people in the House who are making all that noise, they're not going to have as much weight to throw around.

Things are changing. Not as quickly as you might like, but they are changing.

[wryter2000]

111. All very true and thank you

My only real concern is they can block anything we really need, like raising the debt limit.

[CaptainTruth]

112. All true. I the GOP House caucus will be a model of dysfunction.

[pandr32]

114. Nine much appreciated points.

Thank you for helping us keep anxiety in check.

[MineralMan]

117. I'm glad to help, when I can.

Thanks.

[bluestarone]

115. Excellent words!!

[MineralMan]

118. I appreciate that!

[Sneederbunk]

120. No. 4 has a caveat: Unless the Dems also want McCarthy removed.