11 Comments
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Vincent Fazio's avatar

Who were the 16 absent democrats? I can see 1 or 2 emergencies. Do your job!

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susanus's avatar

I’d like to know more about this too.

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Barbara Fox's avatar

Too bad; a more humble man, would have realized he lacked the requisite moral courage, experience and necessary leadership qualities to even consider this post. He is the ultimate hypocrite hiding behind his supposed Christian values. What a complete mess he is and history will judge him and many others harshly

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Jeff Goldwasser's avatar

Did Mike Johnson every really have control of the House? He has never impressed me as a man with great political skills. Since he was elected Speaker, he has been riding on the discipline and pressure emanating from the White House. It is no coincidence that the fragility of his situation comes at the same time that the President is facing perilously low approval numbers, appears to be faltering in his political judgment, and people are already starting to talk about him as a lame duck.

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William m Gaffney's avatar

Good column. I like when you hit on several items

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susanus's avatar

Johnson has been hanging on by his fingernails ever since he was elected. I don’t think he will last much longer but then again I don’t think there is anyone who wants to take over the job.

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Denis Bergquist's avatar

Does the delay of the vote on ACA subsidies until after MTG's departure next year call into question whether the vote can be canceled because it does not have signatures from enough *current at the time of the vote* members?

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susanus's avatar

There are other Republicans ready to sign if needs be.

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DerekF's avatar

I don't understand the Republican strategy. With the majority as small and tenuous as it is, I would expect that protecting the moderate, swing-district members would be the primary focus and objective. The right-wing of the party all hail from safe districts, but if they lose their moderate colleagues, they will be relegated back to minority status and have no ability to direct the House. If you argue that angering the right-wing would cost Johnson his job as Speaker, so will losing the majority.

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menehune's avatar

ALOHA. On the COCONUT ONE FINGER WIRELESS. ..................................

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DocOnTheRange's avatar

Congress has been very interesting to follow these past few months! As a political observer, it’s rather boring when the parties all vote in obedient lockstep.

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