At this point, Democrats should decide who the moderate R is that they will vote for

[onenote]

36. Folks keep acting like there are moderate repubs that would work with Democrats

against McCarthy. But no one can name them.

One name is mentioned -- Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. But he's a unicorn. The fate of other "moderates" was sealed in the 2022 elections:

Ten repubs voted to convict Trump (Fitzpatrick, by the way, was not one of them). Only two are still in Congress, the others having retired or been primaries out of office. The two that are still around aren't exactly moderates -- anti-choice, voted against the 1.7 trillion budget, etc.

Nine repubs voted for the 1.7 trillion budget. Seven of them aren't around any more. Fitzpatrick is one. The other is Womack of Arkansas -- who voted against the Respect for Marriage Act.

The message has been sent loud and clear to repubs willing to break with the orthodoxy (which, by the way, is represented not just by the crazies but by McCarthy himself ) -- deviate too much and you have a target on your back.