Could House Speaker Kevin McCarthy be in a stronger position than ANYONE (including him) realize?

Politics aside, he is doing a horrible job as Speaker. He can't control a sizable portion of his party. He couldn't even get enough votes to even discuss a defense authorization bill, something that is usually a noncontroversial for Republicans. He tiptoes around the MAGAs, deathly afraid that someone (and it only takes one) to call for a vote to get rid of him.

However... what if it is an empty threat?

I think that if a vote to get rid of him were called, it would fail. If it passed? No one would step forward to replace him. They see it is a tough and thankless job, nearly impossible to get the various Republican factions to move in the same general direction, let alone lockstep. He might even be voted back in.

Given this, it would be in his, his party's, and even our country's best interest to ignore the MAGATs. He could even reach across the aisle for votes on issues that both sides could agree on, like bringing the defense authorization bill to the floor.

Ah, but there's the rub. McCarthy has no spine. He wouldn't dare ask for votes from the Democrats because that would violate the Republican self-imposed rule to only vote on motions that can pass with only Republican votes.

Too bad. It would be better for the country if he had more courage. Then again, maybe not. A flailing Republican party is amusing to watch, and they are limited in the evil they can do. Then again, they are unable to do even the necessary things...