Don’t let the title fool you. I had to check for a moment to make sure Hell hadn’t frozen over because, for a moment, I almost found myself agreeing with Amanda Marcotte. After all, the Republicans in the House of Representatives are in disarray and we run the risk of a Democrat once again being named Speaker of the House. Then I continued reading Marcotte’s post and, well, I realized it wasn’t cold down below and Marcotte was off on another of her tirades against reality.

Let’s face it, my first warning I needed more caffeine before reading the article should have been the full title: House GOP in total chaos: So much for fascist order and discipline! While it’s true there is disagreement between House Republicans, the rest of the title is nothing more than projection by Marcotte. The same can be true about the first several paragraphs where she does her very best to paint the Republican Party with the same brush as Hitler and the Nazis in World War II. Of course, it doesn’t dawn on her that the same comparisons and condemnations she applies to the Right can be flipped and done to her beloved Democrats.

 Videos of goose-stepping soldiers and myths about full employment and the trains running on time have persisted in the cultural imagination. The belief that the far right is ruthlessly efficient and well organized terrifies its opponents and emboldens its supporters, then and now.

Remove the “goose-stepping” modifier, and you have the perfect description of the USSR, at least the one it projected over the years before it broke apart. Efficient, well-organized, full-employment have been myths of socialism since its beginning–and are what the Dems have dangled before the American public for decades.

So, do we have a case of the pot calling the kettle black? Nah, just Marcotte doing her best to play smoke and mirrors so her readers don’t see where the danger really lies.

I don’t know whether Marcotte suffers from selective memory or simply doesn’t believe she’d ever be called on her BS. Either way, all I can do is shake my head. Among her so-called proof that the Republicans aren’t capable of tying their own shoes, much less electing a Speaker, is this tweet:

Nancy Mace's scarlet letter: "What can you really say about a politician who has reached the most consequential realm of government but still seems to want to be noticed for their style more than their substance?" https://t.co/bCyO6TcZ8E

— Monica Hesse (@MonicaHesse) October 11, 2023

Marcotte’s comment?

Her real point, clearly is, “Look at me” — and she definitely hasn’t read “The Scarlet Letter.”

Funny, I guess she forgot about the cadre of female congress critters dressed straight out of the Handmaid’s Tale during the State of the Union (iirc), not to mention their support of others who dressed that way to protest the nomination and confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

Much as I hate to say it, Marcotte is right about one thing: the Republicans are in a mess right now. It’s her reasoning, if you can call it that, that is wrong. Not that it should surprise any one.

The Republicans in the House have to stand strong. They have to look at the big picture and realize what will happen if they let the Speakership slip through their fingers. They also have to look at what is best for the country, not just what looks good for the next sound bite on TV.

The chance to do so starts now. It is time to pull together and elect a Speaker. Keeping up the in-fighting only helps the opposition.

As for Marcotte, she should look at her own party before damning anyone else.

It doesn’t take much to find warning signs for the Democrats, signs they have continued to ignore. In 2021, NPR warned of a unity problem with in the Democratic Party. When that liberal bastion says their is an issue–and does so publicly–you know there’s an issue. Around the same time, The Standard warned that the current Administration suffered from an “ideological split” in the party. (That’s why the Administration hasn’t been any more successful at pushing its agenda through than it has–ASG) Even in light of the events in Israel, there are reminders of the split inside the Democratic Party.

But that doesn’t mean the Republicans should ignore the problems within their own Party. Far from it, especially in light of the latest news to come out of the nation’s capital. In a move that illustrates the issues within their own party, a group of so-called moderate Dems are proposing a deal with Republicans regarding the Speakership.

In light of our nation’s pressing issues, a looming government shutdown, and the attacks on our key ally, Israel, we strongly support an immediate vote to expand the Speaker Pro Tempore’s authorities to all for the consideration of a legislative agenda limited to the most pressing issues. . . .”

On the surface, this might seem like a good thing. Frankly, it is difficult to see anything wrong with the offer. Except–and you knew there had to be an “except”–they have put a 15 day limit on the limited grant of authority. Then they could vote to extend (or not) for another 15 days. Frankly, a decision on a new Speaker needs to happen now, not two weeks and certainly not a month or more from now. We have a budget crisis on our hands, not to mention the border crisis, the Israel/Hamas crisis, and so much more.

The Grand Old Party needs to quit resting on its laurels and pull together. It needs to take a long, hard look at what is best for the country and each member of Congress should be doing to make it happen. The in-fighting has to stop now, before we lose the country once and for all to the Dems once and for all.

Featured Image created using Midjourney AI.