“The notion that Democratic leaders must work with Republican leaders in order to have political legitimacy is well and truly dead,” writes Nicole Hemmer at CNN. Hemmer is an associate research scholar at Columbia University. I hope she’s right. Republicans disagree, I’m sure. A lot of media disagrees. But I think most Democrats have had enough.
So yesterday Nancy Pelosi decined to seat Jim Jordan and Jim Banks on the select committee to investigate the January 6 insurrection. Then Kevin McCarthy had a fit and withdrew all the Republicans he had put forward for the commttee. And now editorial pages everywhere are filling up with expressions of either deep concern about Nancy’s “blunder” or gratitude that Jordan won’t be allowed to turn the hearings into a clown show.
Hemmer continues, “At a deeper level, Pelosi’s actions here also constitute a crucial development: the rejection of bipartisanship as a positive force in US politics.” Again, this announcement may be premature, but at least Pelosi’s actions constitute the point at which Democrats have stopped taking the “bipartisanship” bait. It’s a step.
Greg Sargent and Paul Waldman:
Which goes to a larger truth about this moment: Efforts at a real examination of arguably the worst outbreak of political violence in modern times — and efforts to protect our democracy more broadly — will not be bipartisan. These things will be done by Democrats alone.
Of course, there is one Republican on the committee, Liz Cheney. Pelosi is considering adding Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. Kinzinger was one of the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump. There is also talk she might add former Virginia GOP Rep. Denver Riggleman, a retired intelligence officer, in an advisory capacity. Riggleman is known to be, um, critical of the current Republican party.
So there will be some token bipartisanship, but we will be spared Jordan and his antics. And Kevin McCarthy can’t do anything about it.
Effluvia?"
Ok, maha, I'll give you "effluvia" on McCarthy's latest antics.
But McCarthy's response to the initial bipartisan commission was more like F-Uvia!!!
Remember, HE himself wanted a commission prior to facing the ire of The Bald Orange Tire after he heard about it. He was for a commission before he was against it.
Nancy ate Kev's lunch, gave Kev a wedgie, and stole Kev's allowance.
Also, too: Any day without brainless, sleeveless, but harbor-buoy LOUD, Gym Jordan in the news, is a great day! Any day with him in it, is a grating day.
IMO, this development is one of the most important things since Biden took over. I hope Pelosi can seat Kinzinger, but she's doing great so far. It's a testimony to McCarthy's stupidity, that he blew his best chance to scuttle the investigation for real by turning down a classically bipartisan committee. Beat by a little old lady (81) from San Francisco.
I am hopeful / confident that whatever this committee digs up it will be damning and make very clear to the country what the Republicans are really about. Their stupid noise machine will not be able to drown this out, as evidenced by Jim Jordan's puerile lies about Pelosi holding back the Capitol Police (she had zero control over them).
Pelosi has been on a roll since she tore Trump's speech to shreds in front of the country.
Listening to both Nancy Pelosi and Liz Cheney in regard to their determination to seek the truth about the insurrection leaves me with a good feeling by witnessing their integrity. It goes deeper than just hearing their words. It's a quality that emanates from their spirit, and it's something that can't be feigned.
And on the other hand McCarty's lies and deceits were written all over his face.
Very happy to see "integrity" in your post, because lets face it – it is becoming a rare commodity among our representative and pundit classes. This country is facing multiple crises but there is no more integral crisis than the honesty crisis we are now facing. It needs to be called out in big red letters every day by the remaining honest brokers we have left…
I think Kinzinger would be a great pick. He never bought into Trump's crap, despite being from a pretty Republican area of northern Illinois. He has the same conservative beliefs and values he has always had, but that's fine. He's no fool, and he works in good faith.
I'm old enough to remember when Republicans and Democrats hung out together and respected each other. Before Newt Gingrich, there were tons of guys, and women, like this. Watching Kinzinger these last few years has been like taking quick jaunts on a time machine.
Very happy to see "integrity" in your post, because lets face it – it is becoming a rare commodity among our representative and pundit classes. This country is facing multiple crises but there is no more integral crisis than the honesty crisis we are now facing. It needs to be called out in big red letters every day by the remaining honest brokers we have left…