Disorder in the House

 I give credit to local radio DJ Brad Hockmeyer for pulling out and playing this cut by Warren Zevon, from The Wind, the last album release before his passing in 2003. Besides being a great rock n roll song, it captures this moment of the rise of anarchic sentiment in this country, two years downstream from the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. 

The lyrics are quirky and hilarious ("even the lhasa apso seems to be ashamed"), but here's the serious angle: 

I just got my paycheck
I'm gonna paint the whole town gray
Whether it's a night in Paris
Or a Fresno matinee
It's the home of the brave
And the land of the free
Where the less you know
The better off you'll be

I'm not worrying about the stalemate, really:  If there were a real need for the House to act in these days (like a declaration of war or a Defense budget proposal), they'd get it together in a moment.  This is about a bunch of showboating extremists who have found a way to get public attention for their rants, and they want it to continue for the next two years.  Anything that can gain the support of the unified Republican Members (imagine there could be such a thing) would have no chance in the Senate or with Joe Biden's veto pen.  His only chance will be to find some areas of agreement with some Democratic Members. 

What Kevin McCarthy needs to do is tell the rebels, at some point in the next days, that this is their last chance, that after that he will begin to treat with Democrats.  It is very tempting for him--his one and only true career ambition, to be listed in the honorable annals of Speakers--and it is so close.  There are two ways for him to go:  one would be a minimal agreement for some number of Democrats to vote "present"  (30 or 40, I'd say) which would allow Kevin to become Speaker if he can retain his 200 supporters, the other would be a more radical coalition approach with a portion of his party and most of the Democratic votes.  The latter might require him to agree to share House governance rules that are currently also being debated with the extremists.

Either requires direct negotiation with Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries, or his designated choice--there aren't going to be breakaway Democratic Members he can seduce for the additional votes he needs.  Here's a summary of what Jeffries should expect: 

1. Whatever concessions McCarthy was making to his extremists are cancelled;
2. No election deniers will be named to any House committees;
3. A free vote on the John Lewis Voting Right Act; and 
4. McCarthy's commitment to a timely vote on raising the debt ceiling and his support to pass it. 

I don't think the Democrats really can ask for more, at least in the minimal case, and #1 and #2 will be an easy agreement.  Some of the proposed measures designed to allow more participation from backbench Members may also be agreeable to both parties.