The nation’s government is paralyzed — and it’s hard to imagine a worse time.
The good news is that for the third time at least 20 brave Republicans combined with Democrats to block Rep. Jim Jordan from becoming the next speaker of the House. The nation could ill-afford an ultraconservative, Donald Trump lackey and fellow election denier from leading the lower chamber of Congress or standing second in line to succeed the president.
The bad news is that the latest rejection of Jordan extended the House dysfunction for an 18th day on Friday following the unprecedented ouster of Kevin McCarthy on Oct. 3. For 2½ weeks, and counting, the nation has watched this slow-motion trainwreck.
Surely, it wouldn’t last, we thought. But it’s now becoming apparent that this could go on for a long time. It’s already lasted far too long. The government again faces a shutdown if Congress can’t pass a spending bill by Nov. 17, when the short-term budget deal President Biden signed at the end of September expires.
The lack of a leader in the House, and the resulting breakdown of our legislative process and absence of a budget accord, threatens domestic social programs and undermines our role in preserving world order.
Ukraine, the buffer between Russia and the NATO-aligned nations of Europe, is fighting for survival and to preserve its democracy. The Middle East is on the precipice of a multi-faceted conflagration, triggered by Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel countered by an assault on and displacement of the people of Gaza that is becoming a humanitarian crisis.
Biden has shown statesmanlike leadership with unwavering support for Ukraine, backing for Israel coupled with appropriate words of caution to not overreach, and efforts to break the Gaza stalemate to allow at least some aid to reach displaced Palestinians.
There should be no illusions that a lasting peace in the Middle East can be reached in the foreseeable future. But that must be the end goal. Moreover, any hope for the survival of Ukraine or for keeping the Middle East from spiraling out of control requires leadership and money from the United States.
Yet, our own democracy is in crisis. The government of the wealthiest and most powerful nation will shut down in less than a month if there is no budget deal.
Why? Because the Republican Party is in shambles. Hard-right conservatives engineered McCarthy’s ouster with little thought about a succession plan that could succeed. For them, bipartisan compromise is simply off the table. Indeed, it was such compromises by McCarthy, which kept the country from financial breakdown, that led to his ouster.
That most members of the GOP pressed so hard for a divisive member like Jordan to lead the House, that they threatened holdout members of their own party for not backing him, demonstrates how far right most elected Republicans have migrated, how ugly the internal party politics have become and how hard it will be to reach compromise.
Even five California members from heavily competitive districts in the Central Valley and southern part of the state — David Valadao, Michelle Steel, Mike Garcia, John Duarte and Ken Calvert — stood by Jordan through three rounds of voting. Loyalty to the Trump wing of the party, and the fear of a primary challenge from the right, are driving a wedge between Republican members of Congress and representation of their diverse constituents.
At least until the next election, this is the band of leaders the nation has been dealt. Unless Republicans can bridge their differences and land on a unity candidate, who has yet to surface, for speaker, the only hope seems to be a deal between moderates of both parties.
That would be a good outcome for Congress and the nation. But, for now, it’s just wishful thinking.