The Costs Of Republican Dysfunction
The Costs Of Republican Dysfunction
The House still has no Speaker. The Senate is still being blocked from confirming military nominations. The world watches as leaderless Republicans sabotage government.
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A full ten days after Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted, the House of Representatives remains without a Speaker. An entire chamber of Congress has been rendered useless, as a war and humanitarian crisis is ongoing in Israel and Gaza - where American hostages are currently being held.
On top of this international crisis is the imminently expiring continuing resolution. Congress only has 34 days until the November 17 deadline to come to an agreement and avert a potential government shutdown. In spite of all these looming issues, House Republicans still haven’t been able to resolve their internal disarray.
On Thursday night, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) spontaneously dropped his bid for Speaker after he couldn’t garner enough support. Now, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is continuing his Trump-backed campaign for the top job, but divisions remain as Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) challenged him. Jordan, who has faced controversy over allegations he knowingly overlooked the sexual assault of OSU wrestlers, secured the nomination in an internal vote this afternoon. Jordan only managed to get 124 votes to Scott’s 81. In a follow-up internal vote, Jordan got up to 152 votes.
With a steep hill to climb to get to the necessary 217 votes to secure the Speakership on the House floor, House Republicans threw in the towel and left for the weekend.
Republicans are opting to continue their internal squabbles rather than take House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) up on his offer to elect a bipartisan speaker and end this chaos.
The Republican Party is incapable of governing itself, let alone the country. The New York Times described it succinctly in their headline on Thursday: “With the World in Crisis, House Republicans Bicker Among Themselves.”
As I wrote in my piece last Friday, much of this is by design. One of the architects of this dysfunction was a familiar chaos agent. Steve Bannon was heavily involved in the planning and execution of McCarthy’s ouster, strategizing with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) for weeks. Bannon wants the deconstruction of the administrative state, so this paralysis is exactly what he and extremists like him want to see.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) continues his senseless, unilateral blockade of military promotions and nominations. This is now having practical impacts on national security.
While politics may be performance art to some lawmakers, this isn’t theater. This is real life, with real-world consequences. The costs of this Republican dysfunction are piling up.
What is being held up by Republican dysfunction?
The Israel-Hamas War Resolution In Limbo
The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has sparked a tragic humanitarian crisis. The House of Representatives, traditionally a platform for voicing American policy and sentiment, remains silent. A resolution, which would typically condemn acts of aggression and call for peace, is stuck in limbo. The House's dysfunction has also hindered the passage of an aid package for Israel.
Ukrainian Aid: Another Victim Of The Stagnation
The dysfunction in the House doesn't just impact the Middle East. Ukraine, a nation that has relied on U.S. aid amid Russia’s onslaught, finds itself as the collateral damage of Republican dysfunction. Critical aid to Ukraine, aimed at bolstering its defenses and supporting its sovereignty against Russia, remains stuck in legislative limbo.
It's worth noting that Ukrainian aid was a significant sticking point in the last continuing resolution to keep the government open. The aid was removed by House Republicans. The Republican Party’s increasingly hostile stance towards funding Ukraine’s defense, driven largely by right-wing conspiracy theories, jeopardizes Ukraine’s much-needed aid. This sends a concerning message to global adversaries about the U.S.'s commitment to its allies.
The delay in Ukrainian aid underscores the broader implications of the House's inability to function. It's not just about internal U.S. politics; it's about the nation's standing and reliability on the global stage.
The Looming Government Shutdown
With the clock ticking towards a potential government shutdown, the House's inability to function effectively puts millions of Americans at risk. A shutdown would mean federal employees going without pay, halted essential services, and widespread economic impacts - potential impacts I detailed about a couple of weeks ago. The longer the House remains without a Speaker, the shorter the window becomes to negotiate and pass crucial government funding legislation.
Tuberville's Blockade Becomes Increasingly Consequential
The dysfunction in the House is mirrored in the Senate, where individual senators can wield significant power over nominations and confirmations. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has been exploiting this power by placing an ongoing hold on military confirmations. This blockade is having ripple effects, impacting a number of senior military appointments in the Middle East. As the Pentagon seeks to bolster its presence in the region, especially given the ongoing crisis in Israel and Gaza, Tuberville's actions are proving to be a significant hindrance.
Tuberville's rationale for this blockade isn’t even directly related to the Middle East or the military's strategic decisions. He is holding these nominations hostage until the Pentagon ends its policy of reimbursing service members for healthcare-related travel, a policy he claims will facilitate abortions. This has led to a situation where key military roles, crucial for the U.S.'s strategic interests in the Middle East, remain unfilled or are being temporarily managed by officers in acting capacities.
The implications of this are far-reaching. The Navy's flagship carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, has been deployed near Israel in the eastern Mediterranean as a deterrent. However, the leadership structure that should be guiding decisions is impacted by Tuberville’s hold, according to CNN. The lead officer of the U.S. Navy’s 5th fleet, pivotal for operations in the Middle East, is in a holding pattern for an elevation to a deputy commander role within the U.S. Central Command. This gridlock also hampers the upward movement of other key figures within the 5th fleet and the U.S. Air Forces Central, not to mention roles within CENTCOM.
This entire episode highlights a concerning trend: the ability of individual lawmakers to disrupt essential governmental operations. It goes beyond a single senator's convictions or policy disagreements. It's about ensuring the U.S. maintains a stable and effective presence, especially in regions as sensitive as the Middle East.
Stagnation Of Domestic Policy Initiatives
Beyond the immediate crises, the House's dysfunction means that long-term policy initiatives are also on hold. Such stagnation not only hampers the country's progress but also erodes public trust in the institution's ability to address the needs of the American people.
Economic Repercussions
The U.S. economy thrives on stability and predictability. The ongoing chaos in the House introduces an element of uncertainty, which could deter investments and slow down economic growth. The potential for a government shutdown could lead to market volatility as we approach the deadline.
This Isn’t Sustainable
The House of Representatives, one of the pillars of American democracy, is currently in a state of paralysis. While internal party politics and power struggles are not new, the current level of dysfunction, against the backdrop of global crises and domestic challenges, is unprecedented.
The real-world consequences of this dysfunction are vast, affecting everything from international relations to the daily lives of Americans. It's a stark reminder that governance is a responsibility, not a game, and the nation watches and waits for its elected Republican officials to rise to the occasion.