Unveiling the Chaotic House GOP Drama: The World Holds Its Breath for Republicans to Choose a Speaker

House Republicans opened the next chapter of their political comedy in Washington on Monday, as they desperately search for a new speaker. This comes after ousting the current speaker and rejecting two potential replacements, showing a concerning lack of direction in resolving the crisis.

Throughout the years, Congress has faced impeachments, fiscal cliffs, government shutdowns, and even an insurrection. However, the current state of the modern Republican Party is surpassing previous debacles. This situation is not only embarrassing for senior party leaders but also poses a threat to the House GOP's hopes of maintaining and growing their slender majority in 2024.

Instead of focusing on crucial legislation to fund the government, the House is struggling to accomplish even basic tasks like passing a resolution condemning the Hamas attacks in Israel. This lack of leadership is further exacerbating the already challenging situation.

At least nine new candidates have registered for the speaker's position in anticipation of the upcoming selection process this week. This follows the withdrawal of Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan from the race on Friday, after Majority Leader Steve Scalise did the same the week before. This uprising, which began almost three weeks ago with Speaker Kevin McCarthy stepping down, has now weakened three of the most influential figures within the House GOP. It is possible that a fresh face could alter the dynamics between the extremists who opposed McCarthy and Scalise, as well as the more moderate members from battleground districts who hindered Jordan's progress. However, there are currently no indications that any of them possess the necessary 217 votes required in the full chamber to secure the top position. Furthermore, for whoever eventually claims the role, the daunting task of restoring functionality to the House as a legislative body appears impossible after weeks of interparty conflicts that have bred new resentments and calls for reprisal.

Top row, left to right: Republican representatives Gary Palmer, Mike Johnson, Tom Emmer, Dan Meuser, and Kevin Hern. Bottom row, left to right: Pete Sessions, Byron Donalds, Jack Bergman, and Austin Scott.

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"These House Republicans vying for the role of speaker face a daunting task, as achieving the necessary 217 votes is akin to solving a complex Rubik's Cube," remarked Ohio Rep. Mike Turner, who serves as the chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, during his appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday.

Uniting a House Republican conference that appears clownish is far more challenging than twisting colored squares together in the correct sequence. The Republicans, hell-bent on engaging in a civil war to address divisions within the conservative movement, appear completely oblivious to the deteriorating global stability and the imminent threat of a government shutdown. As a result, this impasse has rendered one branch of the US government inoperable, as the Senate cannot pass laws without the cooperation of the other chamber. "The House needs a speaker because its functioning depends on one," stated Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky during his appearance on CBS "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

The imbroglio goes beyond the typical congressional drama where lawmakers delay and go through their political rituals before eventually taking action. The absence of a speaker has practical consequences for the House's ability to support Israel based on President Joe Biden's new aid request. It also prevents a crucial and contentious debate on new Ukraine funding, which Biden requested $60 billion for just last week. If the US lifeline remains blocked for too long, it could have dire consequences for Ukraine's survival in their war and bolster Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he believes US commitment will weaken, especially with increasing GOP resistance to defending the democratic government in Kyiv.

But let's not overlook the domestic repercussions. The House meltdown could soon start to affect millions of Americans. The GOP has wasted three valuable weeks that could have been used to resolve a spending showdown that may lead to a government shutdown by mid-November. Even if the party swiftly moves toward selecting a new leader, it is unlikely that much substantial work will be accomplished this week.

What the vacant speakership says about the GOP

The vacant seat of the speakers symbolizes the detrimental impact of internal political turmoil on American leadership. Furthermore, it poses a threat to the long-standing experiment in self-governance, in which people's participation relies on accepting incremental change rather than achieving complete satisfaction. This fundamental concept, rejected by the modern GOP, is evident in the assertions made by Donald Trump and his allies in the House. Despite the rejection of his bid for a second term by the voters in 2020, they believe they still possess the entitlement to govern.

The House Republican conference is unable to reach compromises within its own ranks, making it difficult to establish a unified position. This will be particularly challenging when dealing with a Democratic-run Senate and White House, as trade-offs will be necessary. The future Speaker of the House will face similar dilemmas that ultimately cost McCarthy his desired position. They will need to decide whether to appease far-right Republicans with extreme spending cuts that are unlikely to be accepted by the White House and Senate, or to prevent a government shutdown by pursuing temporary funding with some Democratic support. Without a change in dynamics, the new speaker's tenure may be even shorter than McCarthy's.

Additionally, the new speaker will face obstacles due to the fact that chaos and a weakened government are desired outcomes for many grassroots Republicans in the party, which has been transformed by Trump. These lawmakers have embraced extremism to shield themselves from primary challenges and to satisfy the demands of conservative media driven by ratings. Influence within the GOP is no longer earned through years of service leading to committee chairmanships. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who led the eight Republicans voting against McCarthy, understands this dynamic well. Consequently, senior figures lamenting the need for governing are failing to persuade these disruptive members. Donald Trump, despite being impeached twice, making false claims about the 2020 election, and facing multiple criminal trials, remains the leading contender for the GOP's presidential nomination in 2024, exemplifying this style of political theatrics.

Embarrassed GOP leaders plea for an end to the mess

The House GOP's sheer fatigue may open up an opportunity for a candidate who lacks national name recognition and could potentially become a weak speaker, but who is likely to generate the least amount of conflict within the divided conference. Until such a candidate emerges, serious Republican legislators in the House can only express their dismay as enemies of America revel in witnessing the decline of US democracy.

"I find this to be one of the most humiliating occurrences, as without a speaker of the House, our ability to govern is hindered. With each passing day, our government essentially comes to a halt," expressed House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican, during an interview on ABC News "This Week."

McCarthy, who initially supported Jordan but now endorses House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, cautioned on NBC's "Meet the Press" that this situation cannot persist for much longer. "The Republican Party and the nation at large should feel embarrassed by this. We must look within ourselves and find a solution to this problem," stated the former speaker.

Emmer is one of nine GOP candidates vying for votes before an anticipated secret ballot to select a speaker nominee on Tuesday. However, similar to McCarthy, the Minnesota Republican is expected to struggle in winning the support of the House Freedom Caucus, a faction within the GOP leadership team that holds disdain for them.

The other contenders in the race, all of whom are male, include Reps. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, who leads the influential Republican Study Committee; Jack Bergman of Michigan, a conservative mainstream figure and former Marine veteran; Austin Scott of Georgia, who recently entered the race against Jordan but withdrew shortly afterwards; Byron Donalds of Florida, an up-and-coming member of the Freedom Caucus and one of the few Black Republicans in Congress; Mike Johnson of Louisiana, the vice chairman of the GOP conference; Pete Sessions of Texas, a seasoned congressman who lost his seat in 2018 before returning to represent another district; Dan Meuser, a former Pennsylvania secretary of revenue and member of the Problem Solvers Caucus; and Gary Palmer of Alabama, who chairs the Republican Policy Committee.

Former Republican speaker Newt Gingrich, known for his highly partisan style of hardball governing in the 1990s that is now favored by the GOP, stressed the importance of party leaders selecting a candidate who can secure a House majority, regardless of their identity. He cautioned that without a unified front, the process of choosing a speaker could drag on for weeks. Gingrich also emphasized the need for Republican unity not only in selecting a new speaker but also in governing together as critical government funding and budget bills are on the horizon. He warned that the danger lies in electing someone only to face internal divisions in the future, leading to a repeat of past messy situations.

Ignoring the irony of this statement coming from a passionate Georgia Republican, the House GOP has demonstrated in the past three weeks that delivering stability is the least of their abilities or desires.