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Steve Cohen's avatar

Okay, but what is happening with the Problem Solvers Caucus? According to Axios (https://www.axios.com/2023/10/03/problem-solvers-caucus-mccarthy-removal-speaker) it's in danger of splintering over anger from its Republican Members that the Democratic members did not see fit to support Kevin McCarthy, instead voting with their fellow Dems not support McCarthy. Isn't it a big ask for Dems to support a Speaker who's allowing their President to be impeached over nothing? A Speaker who empowered the lunatic fringe? Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were willing to risk their future political careers instead of kowtowing to Trump. Do Republican "Problem Solvers" really expect Democrats to back them without some concessions over the terms of the capitulation?

Josh Marshall today called the Problem Solvers a "group organized by the No Labels folks". He offered no information backing this claim, but assuming it's true, you should know that virtually all Democrats view No Labels as a GOP front to siphon votes from Biden, enabling a Trump win, whatever their intentions may be.

I agree with you that a "coalition" needs to be formed, but it seems a precondition of that is an understanding of why the previous regime fell other than blaming the Dems. Asking Republicans to support Hakeem Jeffries may be too big an ask, but there are other options who are better than McCarthy was. They need to offer something more than demanding support for McCarthy's rotten coalition.

I suspect that somewhere in the dark reaches of the Capitol, discussions on this are occurring. I certainly hope they succeed.

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Eric Brody's avatar

I agree with you that the complaint of these Republican members of the Problem Solvers Caucus is...inadequate. One wonders whether they are in earnest or merely striking a pose. I mean, they have to understand the many ways in which McCarthy double-crossed the Democrats in order to placate the villains in their party.

Presumably an overture to elevate Fitzpatrick or some other reasonable Republican with Democratic support would take away their trust complaint.

Yes, No Labels is bent on an evil course. That does not necessarily mean that Problem Solvers Caucus bears a taint. Principled people who had leadership/advisory roles are leaving No Labels on account of the presidential election agenda that is now obvious. Those who are leaving now were not necessarily wrong for having joined. Whether No Labels is revealing a nature that had been hidden or has changed, the Problem Solvers Caucus – whatever its ties to No Labels – ought to be evaluated on its own record.

We will find out by the end of next week whether constructive conversations will have taken place and perhaps born fruit.

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Steve Cohen's avatar

Fair enough.

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Patris's avatar

This will eventually evolve into a comic opera. He and his so called party are kids who in their dreams realize they’re in school with no clothes on. Just in this case, they’re adults in Congress with no clothes on.

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Eric Brody's avatar

The speakemperor certainly had no clothes, but that is a different story...

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Eric Brody's avatar

Further on this theme – October 14

Nancy Pelosi Is Wrong

The speakership does not belong to the majority party.

https://decencyandsense.substack.com/p/nancy-pelosi-is-wrong

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Eric Brody's avatar

Further on this theme – October 10

An Urgent Opportunity for Bipartisanship

The Democratic caucus and Republican Problem Solvers can restore the damaged House of Representatives.

https://decencyandsense.substack.com/p/an-urgent-opportunity-for-bipartisanship

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Bruce Lawrence's avatar

If non-MAGA Republicans and centrist Democrats want to troll Trump and his House lackeys in the process of electing a Speaker who could take care of business, they should choose Liz Cheney. Trump would be livid, McCarthy would be shamed, and Gaetz would realize he'd totally pwned himself.

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Patris's avatar

A therapist told me that the dream typically means one feared being unprepared (not doing your homework/or failing to study). I think these dufuses qualify. No?

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