Republicans gathered late in the evening to hear quick speeches from the congressmen seeking the job, though none has a clear shot at the gavel. Eight candidates are in the running for one speaker after one dropped out. Behind closed doors, they made their elevator pitches to colleagues ahead of internal party voting.
Senior-most among the hopefuls is Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, but neither he or the other lower-level Republican lawmakers are expected to quickly secure a majority. Instead he and others are reaching out to Donald Trump for backing ahead of elections to choose a nominee. One, Rep. Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, dropped out.
“They all called asking for support,” said Trump, the Republican front-runner in the 2024 presidential race, who was in New Hampshire registering for the state’s primary ballot.
I’m (hilariously) holding out hope “moderate” Republicans jump ship and form a third (anti Trump, centrist-conservative) party. That then creates a coalition with the Dems. Saving our democracy, dooming Trumpkins, and putting moderate liberals in charge of the House.
. . . that’s when I always wake up.
I don’t see it happening either. It’s striking just how many unprincipled cowards there are in the political center or center-right. Just gutless yes-men, with a smattering of yes-women who would much rather see the country burn than get called out by Trump.