5 thoughts on “Friday Open Thread”

1. Sad reacts only…

   Judge throws out Trump’s sprawling lawsuit against Hillary Clinton, ex-FBI officials over Russia probe

   “What (Trump’s lawsuit) lacks in substance and legal support it seeks to substitute with length, hyperbole, and the settling of scores and grievances,” Middlebrooks, a Bill Clinton appointee, wrote.

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2. I'm hopeful that we can hold the House. But if we don't…

   Then McCarthy will have a majority of what, 5 – 7? And what's the size of the bat-shit insane clown car? Probably at least 10 after the election. And those 10 have only 1 priority, getting press for owning the libs.

   Aside from setting up investigative committees to investigate everything from Hunter Biden (likely to find at least legal sleeze) to Obama's dog (we know who left that pile of poop in the oval office), they may be incapable of passing anything. Literally a full stop.

   Bad for governing the country but brilliant for illustrating the folly of giving Republicans control of anything.

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   1. Holding the House is going to be a tough pull. Post-census political gerrymandering in red states is likely enough to assure a GOP takeover all by itself. You're right, though. Watching McCarthy, who's displayed next to nothing by way of genuine leadership skills, try to manage the clown show has real entertainment potential.

      On the plus side, I now harbor an ever-so-faint hope that the Dems might not just hold the Senate but may pick up some seats, such that Schumer could afford to flip off Manchin and/or Sinema from time to time.

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   2. At the beginning of the 117th session, the House Freedom Caucus [which won't announce members] was estimated to have 30-46 members.  A few known members didn't run for their seat again or got beat in primaries, so won't be back in 2023 — Brooks, Budd, Cawthorn, Gohmert, & Hice,  Some others "belong," but probably aren't sufficiently hair on fire right-wingers to buck the desires of the overall Conference and a Republican Speaker of the House — Buck, Harris. 

      If the majority does go to the Republicans by a dozen or fewer seats, trying to figure out what they can do will be difficult. A CNN story on the Freedom Caucus ended:

      Still, must-pass bills to prevent government shutdowns and address a looming debt ceiling crisis could create massive headaches for Republican leaders.

      "I don't know what major legislative packages anyone thinks we can get done in a divided government. …

      "Government funding can be a headache, depending on what the majority looks like, but keep in mind: Nancy Pelosi was able to keep her very slim majority together in a very polarized environment."

      And if anyone thinks that McCarthy or any other plausible Speaker has ability anywhere close to Pelosi's, I've yet to read it. 

      So, with a fractured Republican majority in the House, a Democratic majority in the Senate, and President Biden, the scenarios playing out include budgeting only by CRs,  total or partial government shutdowns, and a refusal to raise the debt limit [current limit is expected to cover the government's needs into 2023 — but not through the entire fiscal year that ends September 30, 2023].

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3.  "…the House Freedom Caucus [which won't announce members)…Whaddaya mean, "won't announce member" Are they ashamed of belonging to it, or are the leaders afraid members won't admit being part of it? Sounds like one or the other. 

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