How long?

January 7, 2023

Another in a series of observations of life as I know it.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s dream job could turn into a nightmare for the American people. To get the votes, he surrendered to demands of a fringe element of the Republican party. Kevin McCarthy’s concessions to the extremists in his party make it far more likely that the MAGA Republican controlled House will cause a government shutdown or a default with devastating consequences to our country.

-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Shumer

~~~~~

The last week in our nation has been like traveling in a car with several small children. Are we there yet? And then five minutes later, the same question arises from the back seat. Are we there yet? It was, even for adults, an interminable ride. A chaotic spasm of Kabuki theater in 15 acts, which included a near fist fight among members before the long awaited denouement. Now dear citizens, the bus is moving but the driver is missing. The House of Representatives elected, barely, a straw man. An empty suit. A ceremonial leader who early this morning walked to the dais with the only vestige of power that he did not give away. A gavel.

In case you missed it, while Congress was once again being subsumed by coup plotters and thinly veiled insurrectionists on this 2023 version of January 6th, another far more noble passion play was being enacted just down the street in the White House. The Presidential Citizens Medal was bestowed on the men and women who protected our nation on January 6, 2021 and in the months after, up to and including our most recent election. Some medals were given posthumously to still grieving families. The irony of these two side-by-side moments was lost on no one. Well, except the 20 hardliners in the House chamber. Frankly, I found the split screen proscenium arches hard to take. Nobility framed next to abject servitude. Democracy touching toes with anarchy. Dear god, make it stop.

Kevin McCarthy wanted the trappings of office. The gold drapes, the big suite with his name on the door. The gavel, of course. But in stooping to conquer, he traded away everything, including the wretched rags of his soul. Every single thing. He would have optioned the cancellation of July 4th if he had to. Jettisoned his mother from 5000 feet. Killed the family dog. Nothing was too outrageous to offer his captors. And so he did, lock, stock and barrel. Now he can easily be ousted by one lone crackpot. And lest we forget, there are at least twenty such whackadoodles waiting in the wings to once again upend American government. Fifteen excruciating ballots, showcasing American weakness to the world. Families who came for ceremonial swearings-in left to to wait, just like the rest of a bewildered nation. And George Santos, in this morning’s early darkness, was seated as a representative. Can somebody cry Mercy.

Meanwhile, back at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the President told a brief but hair raising story to all of the medal recipients. At the G7 Summit of world leaders last March, Mr. Biden quipped to his colleagues, “”America is back”, expecting backslaps and applause. Instead, one of the other leaders asked a simple, blinding, withering question:

For how long?

How long indeed. The Faustian bargain made by a vainglorious hollow man will soon reveal just how long. From my perch in the nosebleed seats, it’s not going to be a lengthy wait.

Caption: “Chaos”, unknown German artist, acrylic on canvas