My goodness, Georgia, how can you bear to get down in the weeds every day? Thank you for sharing your research and describing in detail how little actual work is being accomplished. But perhaps a toddler tantrum timeout is exactly what’s needed?
I think we are in for 14 months of continuing resolutions at best and no new funding initiatives whatsoever. The amendments that the MAGA bunch are hanging off appropriations bills that are going to the floor are ridiculous and the bills themselves are absurd, so I can't see Democrats passing them in the House or if they do pass, that they will get out of the Conference Committee. The most likely outcome I see is to keep the funding at current levels and make do and hope that the CRs will keep getting passed.
We have to be sure that we take back the House and keep the Senate and the presidency. I think that there is a large contingent of Democrats that are ignoring the damage that could be done if there isn't another CR in January and there is a 12 month government shutdown. There will be a huge amount of anger created. Add in the crazy that may be unleashed if Trump is convicted and things are too volatile to take for granted. There is an assumption that voting will be fair across the country in 2024. But that is an assumption not a certainty. If the MAGA followers stormed the Capitol, what would constrain them from having armed Proud Boys show up at polling places?
I could be being a Pollyanna right now, but I am not anticipating a disruption at the Polls in the 2024 election for one simple reason. It hasn't been occurring at the elections of 2022 and 2023. The fair number of insurrectionists in prison or headed that way soon has perhaps put a damper on the Proud Boys etc. Trump has repeatedly called for his supporters to stage a protest at various times, and nothing has happened. I think the MAGA cult is more loud than dangerous.
My "keep me up at night" fear is the average voter who has no idea we had zero inflation between September and October and prices fell 2.1%. Who has no idea of the best economy in 50 years, the impact of the Infrastructure Bill nor the amazing diplomatic prowess of Biden and Blinken. I could go on and on, but you understand more than I do.
The media is massively anti-Biden particularly the New York Times and the Washington Post. The No Labels Party is breathing down our necks, Jill Stein is back and Kennedy is intent on doing something.
I share your concern on the uninformed and the misinformed voter. At the other extreme is the overly polarized voter. I need look no further than a Nextdoor post I read yesterday where the author asked the simple question of how to explain inflation to her young children in language they could understand. Some of the responses included “Biden” and “Keep voting Dems.” Which takes me back to Georgia’s lead point using Chip Roy’s speech as an example, many R voters needn’t see any congressional action to their benefit, they will always vote straight ‘R’ the entire ballot. On voting day in the precincts dominated by D’s of largely minority demographics and most likely to vote ‘D’ the entire ballot, the Proud Boys needn’t show up. As recently occurred in MS, they’ll simply not print enough ballots and close the polls; or as per laws passed in other jurisdictions, ban the passing out of water to long lines or sitting on chairs on the public sidewalk.
I subscribe to the NYT and the WaPo. I don't perceive them as anti-Biden. They do have staff that focus on the shiny objects (outrages) that R's put out, which is a distraction.
I expect the Capital Police and National Guard will be ready for another riotous attempt to block proceedings in 2024 and 2025. The greater challenges will be in battleground states.
Johnson just gave a toddler time out to the entire House until November 28, not so much to cool off, but to allow time for the Heritage parental units to talk to the toddlers and change their diapers. As many parents know and count their blessings they don’t fall victim to, there are those defiant toddlers that will never learn or tolerate correction. I’m no child psychologist, but some things are learned and some are innate. Some of those defiant toddlers end up in jail, some storm the Capital, some belong to the House Freedom Caucus.
Georgia, I am so impressed by your knowledge and your dedication to sharing what you know. I always look for your comments on other substacks. I hope other people notice that you have your own. I just saw it in your comment today. Thank you so much for your work.
Thank you for this detailed view into the dysfunction in the Republican "led" house. The Republicans' blocking of Democrats' ammendments and squelching of debate is an attempt to shove unpopular policies down the American public's throats. It is akin to extreme Gerrymandering, and totally in character.
My goodness, Georgia, how can you bear to get down in the weeds every day? Thank you for sharing your research and describing in detail how little actual work is being accomplished. But perhaps a toddler tantrum timeout is exactly what’s needed?
I think we are in for 14 months of continuing resolutions at best and no new funding initiatives whatsoever. The amendments that the MAGA bunch are hanging off appropriations bills that are going to the floor are ridiculous and the bills themselves are absurd, so I can't see Democrats passing them in the House or if they do pass, that they will get out of the Conference Committee. The most likely outcome I see is to keep the funding at current levels and make do and hope that the CRs will keep getting passed.
We have to be sure that we take back the House and keep the Senate and the presidency. I think that there is a large contingent of Democrats that are ignoring the damage that could be done if there isn't another CR in January and there is a 12 month government shutdown. There will be a huge amount of anger created. Add in the crazy that may be unleashed if Trump is convicted and things are too volatile to take for granted. There is an assumption that voting will be fair across the country in 2024. But that is an assumption not a certainty. If the MAGA followers stormed the Capitol, what would constrain them from having armed Proud Boys show up at polling places?
I could be being a Pollyanna right now, but I am not anticipating a disruption at the Polls in the 2024 election for one simple reason. It hasn't been occurring at the elections of 2022 and 2023. The fair number of insurrectionists in prison or headed that way soon has perhaps put a damper on the Proud Boys etc. Trump has repeatedly called for his supporters to stage a protest at various times, and nothing has happened. I think the MAGA cult is more loud than dangerous.
My "keep me up at night" fear is the average voter who has no idea we had zero inflation between September and October and prices fell 2.1%. Who has no idea of the best economy in 50 years, the impact of the Infrastructure Bill nor the amazing diplomatic prowess of Biden and Blinken. I could go on and on, but you understand more than I do.
The media is massively anti-Biden particularly the New York Times and the Washington Post. The No Labels Party is breathing down our necks, Jill Stein is back and Kennedy is intent on doing something.
I share your concern on the uninformed and the misinformed voter. At the other extreme is the overly polarized voter. I need look no further than a Nextdoor post I read yesterday where the author asked the simple question of how to explain inflation to her young children in language they could understand. Some of the responses included “Biden” and “Keep voting Dems.” Which takes me back to Georgia’s lead point using Chip Roy’s speech as an example, many R voters needn’t see any congressional action to their benefit, they will always vote straight ‘R’ the entire ballot. On voting day in the precincts dominated by D’s of largely minority demographics and most likely to vote ‘D’ the entire ballot, the Proud Boys needn’t show up. As recently occurred in MS, they’ll simply not print enough ballots and close the polls; or as per laws passed in other jurisdictions, ban the passing out of water to long lines or sitting on chairs on the public sidewalk.
I subscribe to the NYT and the WaPo. I don't perceive them as anti-Biden. They do have staff that focus on the shiny objects (outrages) that R's put out, which is a distraction.
I expect the Capital Police and National Guard will be ready for another riotous attempt to block proceedings in 2024 and 2025. The greater challenges will be in battleground states.
Johnson just gave a toddler time out to the entire House until November 28, not so much to cool off, but to allow time for the Heritage parental units to talk to the toddlers and change their diapers. As many parents know and count their blessings they don’t fall victim to, there are those defiant toddlers that will never learn or tolerate correction. I’m no child psychologist, but some things are learned and some are innate. Some of those defiant toddlers end up in jail, some storm the Capital, some belong to the House Freedom Caucus.
Georgia, I am so impressed by your knowledge and your dedication to sharing what you know. I always look for your comments on other substacks. I hope other people notice that you have your own. I just saw it in your comment today. Thank you so much for your work.
Thank you for your continuing research and keeping us informed.
Thank you for this detailed view into the dysfunction in the Republican "led" house. The Republicans' blocking of Democrats' ammendments and squelching of debate is an attempt to shove unpopular policies down the American public's throats. It is akin to extreme Gerrymandering, and totally in character.