By Ruth A. Sheets
Republicans finally elected Kevin McCarthy Ringmaster of their circus in the House of Representatives. He has already proven himself a less than stellar entertainer, although he thinks he is magnificent! The American people saw the show two weeks ago and know there are problems with a guy who loses a vote 14 times. And, his side of the aisle may remind them uncomfortably of a school playground or a circus tent!
We know McCarthy paid a price (his soul perhaps) to get the job of Ringmaster, but he is letting some clowns whose goal it is to run the circus into the ground, control the action, while he waves his arms, shouts platitudes, and pumps up bills he knows will never pass the Senate because they are so bad and unpopular. Maybe they represent a slice of the soul he traded to the clowns.
The first act, of which the Ringmaster is most proud, called for cutting funding for the IRS. One can’t help but be suspicious of those who voted for this one. We the People are pretty sure they don’t want the IRS learning that they or their families or their donors lied on their tax returns. Such lying was fine when the IRS didn’t have enough people to investigate the rich folks. With the bill passed in the previous Congress more staff can be hired so ordinary people can get their questions answered and corrections made, but also rich tax evaders can be found and summoned. I and the circus audience would love to see the newly enhanced IRS checking out those who voted to cut IRS funding. Then, let us know if there are discrepancies. The clowns should have fun with that. Oh No! Their taxes might not be exactly right? Beep! Beep!
Republicans just can’t let the issue of abortion go, so in the Fetus-Lovers’ Ring, acrobats leap on bills to ban abortion everywhere in the United States, twisting and turning to avoid being called hypocrites as they encounter memories of mistresses and girlfriends who got abortions for them. They know a large majority of Americans, even Republicans don’t want the ban, but they jump for it anyway. Note, it is not in the Center Ring, so mostly passed unremarked. The audience knows this is just a sideshow that will go nowhere, but it’s something Republicans, mostly white men, will do to feed their hungry base.
And in the far right ring, on the tightrope, George Santos (his stage name) is trying to stay aloft as constituents throw truths at him like balloons whushing right past him, hoping he will fall, but so far he hasn’t. He is wobbling, though.
Next in the Center Ring, Raising the Debt Ceiling! This action has been done by every Congress, even by Trump’s, but Ringmaster McCarthy has plans for the show. He wants to force Democrats to cut all kinds of services to the American people, like Medicare, Medicaid, and the military so it can’t help Ukraine (many of the clowns are fans of Russia’s Putin, you know) before he will agree to raising the debt ceiling. Of course, this would put our economy at risk, but Ringmaster McCarthy is now beholden to Gates, Jordan, Greene, Boebert, and the rest of the insurrectionist clowns and that is what they want, and he agreed so he could be Ringmaster. Remember?
Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellin just informed us that the debt ceiling (our ability to pay our already-accumulated debts) will be reached on January 19th. There are work-arounds for the Treasury Department, but those work-arounds will only hold for a couple of months. McCarthy and his insurrectionist bosses know that and want to cause a disaster, the bigger the better. Their ignorance lets them believe it won’t impact them. Of course, their states will demand (beg for) money when the next storms hit or wildfires and floods rage. There won’t be funds for them, Ah, how sad! I guess Republican mansions won’t be harmed, so who cares.
Ringmaster McCarthy is now trying to make sure none of his performers will defect and vote to raise the debt ceiling against his wishes. One wonders what a man without a soul has to trade or to use as a threat to any Republicans who actually care about this nation and might stand against this circus. It will be interesting to watch his “dealmaking.” The problem for Ringmaster McCarthy, the Democrats will as a bloc vote to raise the debt ceiling. With a 4-vote majority, McCarthy needs to have only 6 defectors to lose, and any member of the House can call for his removal from the job of Ringmaster. My hope is that someone, preferably a Republican will do that and someone, a patriot will call for the vote and at least 218 members, Democrats and a few Republicans will do the right thing and vote to raise or do away with the debt ceiling, the latter being preferable.
In the meantime, the Ringmaster and his clowns are planning to do massive investigations of Democrats and the FBI for anything they feel mad about (they’re toddlers, you know). Who will serve in these investigation clown cars? Why the insurrectionists, of course, the above-mentioned gang will be first to be selected and the other clowns will jump in. We the People will watch their shenanigans as they whine, interrogate, accuse, and whine some more. The audience can only hope this goes on for the next 2 years so Democrats can point out to the American people, with evidence, that Republicans have done nothing, absolutely nothing for them. OK, that is a dream, but with the right kind of messaging, it could work, and, it will be true!
So, my fellow Americans, who’s heading out to see the circus with me? Be sure to bring your phone, a good book, some games, knitting or crocheting because once the show gets rolling, we will all see just how pitiful House Republicans and their Ringmaster really are and we will need something interesting to do to keep from being bored to death. One can only watch toddler-adults for so long, despite their clownish behavior, before losing it.
However, the circus could close and real work could get done if . . .
1. the members of the House who participated in the January
6th insurrection were indicted and sent to jail for say, a year or
two for betraying our country
2. The Speaker started acting like an adult instead of a
childish ringmaster who has no idea what is going on and doesn’t seem to care
much as long as he gives the insurrectionists everything they demanded for
their votes, to keep him in office
3. the Republicans in the House demanded serious
consideration of bills that would actually help the American people and forced
McCarthy to bring them up for discussion and a vote
4. the House immediately raised the debt ceiling with no
strings attached.
Since I doubt any of these will happen, better bring our stuff to keep us occupied while in the big tent.
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