Speaker Johnson Must Now Confront His Own Party's Sabotage

More from the article...

... Republicans' impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden is unraveling, Ukraine war aid languishes amid GOP opposition as Russia advances on the battlefield, and the US government is on the brink of a politically damaging government shutdown.

"Over 100 days in, we've yet to fulfill and execute policy," said Republican Patrick McHenry, who briefly served as a caretaker speaker last October after Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy.

Johnson, a novice in high-stakes Washington negotiations whose tiny House majority is riven with infighting, won the speakership in October after Republicans rejected several more seasoned candidates. At the time, Republicans heralded the election of the 52-year-old socially conservative Louisianan as a fresh start for the deeply fractured party.

Yet multiple senior House Republicans, granted anonymity to speak frankly, now portray Johnson as an insecure leader who faces a steep learning curve. Those GOP lawmakers complain Johnson keeps counsel mostly with an insular circle of his own staffers on even the most challenging matters -- and that some senior colleagues are treated as objects of suspicion rather than allies. ...

... A moderate House Democrat is circulating a resolution to protect Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) from a potential removal attempt by one of his party's hardliners, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Centrist Democrats have floated protecting Johnson to give him room to put bipartisan legislation on the floor.

- - - The resolution, authored by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), would require party leadership or a majority of either party's caucus to sanction any vote to vacate the speaker's chair, according to a copy obtained by Axios.

- - - Under the current rules, agreed to by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in his quest for the gavel last January, any single member can force a vote to remove the speaker.

- - - Gottheimer has sent the proposal to fellow lawmakers, according to a screenshot viewed by Axios.

What we're hearing: The resolution would be conditioned on Johnson holding a vote on the Senate national security bill or similar legislation, according to a source familiar with the matter. ...

@#4 ... It's reasonable to consider that all the MAGA legislators are Russian assets. ...

The Putin Caucus?

@#3 ... He's part of it.

He's a gigantic part of the dysfunction. ...

I do not disagree.

But in this instance the Democrats are showing that they have more of an interest in governing than the GOP extremists do.

So, in giving Spkr Johnson this "out" to his current dilemma, the Democrats show they are willing to work in a bipartisan manner to pass bills, and to free Spkr Johnson from the grip of the minority extremist GOP members.

Will it work? Who knows, this is the House, so anything is possible...

@#10 ... Are they telling Johnson that they'll make it next to impossible for the extremists in own party to vacate him . . . On the condition that he bring the Senate National Security bill, and any other related bills, to the floor? IOW, govern! ...

Bingo! (and well-stated)

... Or the shorthand version: Here's your chance . . . What are you, a man or a mouse? ...

If I may ask that same question, in a different manner...

The shorthand version: Here's your chance . . . Do you want the House to govern for the good of the United States (the oath you took), or do you want the House to kiss the ring of the cult-leader fmr Pres Trump?

... Vegas odds, anybody? ...

It's the House. I would not go there. :)

@#12 ... But, but, but . . . they're on the edge of losing the majority anyway. ...

I do not disagree, but I also say, it is way too soon to say that.

Polls this far out, I'll say, have issues.

... Johnson has the option of pulling their fat out of the fire before the election. . if he so chooses . . ...

"if he chooses" - bingo (again).

That is the operative aspect here.

Does Skpr Johnson (2nd-in-line for the Presidency) want to govern, or does he want to be on the happy end of the phone calls he receives from fmr Pres Trump.

The decision is his to make.

@#14

More from the article you cite...

... House Republicans were shocked by some of the recent high-profile retirements announced by their colleagues, which have included powerful committee chairs and rising stars inside the GOP.

But given the miserable state of affairs inside the House right now, they also weren't exactly surprised.

"They've signed up to do serious things. And we're not doing serious things," said Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, a conservative who is retiring after bucking his party on several key issues.

Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, a moderate who represents a key swing seat, pointed to his party's struggle to govern as driving the departures. ...

Well, yeah, fmr Pres Trump's cult-like control over the current GOP is bound to drive away those GOP legislators who came to Washington, D.C. to govern and not to adulate.

@#16 ... But the time for Johnson to make his decision is now. The Dems are giving him a one-off opportunity. ...

For the most part (OK, maybe completely) I agree.

Spkr Johnson has a choice to make: govern and lead, or be a servant and kiss fmr Pres Trump's ring.

Which will he choose?