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Congress must agree on a funding plan by Sept. 30 or the nation’s government will shut down. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is responsible for overseeing these discussions, but he is encountering difficulties in managing far-right representatives such as Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO).
Straight Arrow News contributor Rashad Richey contends that the impasse is largely due to McCarthy’s leadership shortcomings. He points to one surprising Republican who displays more sensible judgment than some of his colleagues despite experiencing cognitive decline.
Who’s really controlling the speaker? Well, Matt Gaetz is. It’s because of Matt Gaetz that he was able to cross the threshold and become speaker. It is now because of Matt Gaetz, according to the narrative, that the government may actually shut down because his demands have not been heard.
Well, is that even true? Of course not. Naturally, Matt Gaetz, in his conservative ideology, those values — if you could call them that — are present. But there are other things that Matt Gaetz would like, and just like the first time, we don’t really know all of them this time.
But there is someone who actually is talking like he has sense in the Republican Party — ironically, Mitch McConnell. Now, say what you want to say about Senator McConnell, the minority leader. He said, very plainly, it would be a disaster if the government shut down because of the Republican rhetoric happening now.
So, let me get this right. Mitch McConnell — even though he is obviously experiencing cognitive decline — still has way more sense than Matt Gaetz. Yes.
But why is all of this happening in the first place? Well, because of McCarthy’s lack of leadership. This is why I said on day one, McCarthy did not become speaker because he’s a leader. He became speaker because he’s not.
