Ever since the Republican party barely took control of the House of Representatives in 2022, we’ve seen nothing of real substance emerge from that body. Under invertebrate Kevin McCarthy’s “leadership,” we’ve seen plenty of performances, some of which have been entertaining, but most of which have been tragedies and dramas rather than comedies. Such is the House of Representatives Theatre, with Kevin and his understudies (who often upstage him) on one of the biggest stages in our nation.
Wouldn’t it be great if the major news outlets would include reviews of Congressional performers among its theater reviews? I can just picture headlines like “Jim Jordan Bombs as Oz’s Scarecrow!”; “Marjorie Taylor Greene Gets The Hook!”; or “Lauren Boebert Fits Title in ‘Gone With The Wind’!” Imagine an awards event featuring Best Bad Actor, Best Misdirector, Best Madeup Stories; Best Projections; Best Soundbites; Best Fog Making... Perhaps the awards could be called the Congressional Annual Confabulation Awards (the CACAs).
Seriously, though, perhaps job performance reviews like many of us have experienced in our careers would be a good thing to establish. An organization such as the Congressional Management Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes reviews of congressional offices and staff, could develop a program for reviewing members of Congress themselves. Of course, since CMF depends on cooperation with members of Congress for its very existence, developing such a program would require a level of receptivity and introspection that’s in short supply.
Since Donald Trump descended the golden escalator in 2015, a new age of governtainment was born. The rich symbolism of showmanship over substance and descent over ascent (or just maintaining altitude) began a trend of devolution that rivaled any reality TV show (including Trump’s The Apprentice). Our nation became so consumed with the ensuing subterfuge, intrigue, backstabbing, and utter chaos that we lost sight of the fact that we were losing our place on the world stage and ignoring or exacerbating problems in our own domestic arena. Trump’s supporting cast has continued to follow his lead, but President Biden has managed to take command of most of the scenarios he’s faced.
We’ve witnessed the questionable 15 round decision of the Speaker of the House being the undisputed champion of that once august body. We’ve seen McCarthy’s capitulation to the demands of the Raucous Caucus, and the assignment of the least ethical and capable of its members to important committees and chairs. We’ve watched as those committees have fumbled and stumbled with whistleblowers who seem to believe Lauren Bacall’s infamous line that all you have to do is “Put your lips together and blow.” And we’ve seen the drama of the mismatch between McCarthy and President Biden over the debt ceiling, where an outplayed McCarthy tried to rewrite the script to declare victory and claim that his caucus was stronger as a result.
When the dais becomes a stage and performance is seen as an act of entertainment rather than an act of accomplishment, production is seen as theatrics rather than results, and the Constitution is seen as an improvisational script rather than a charter, it’s clear that it’s time for the House to find a new director and bring in a new cast. I look forward to a Grand Reopening in 2024.
CACAs. I love it. The sign of a very low level of intelligence is when you don't know enough to be embarrassed by your pathetic behavior.
The GQP House is dedicated - not to governing - but finding payback. Vengeance is the mission.
The fact that they could leave for a six week vacation and return to only 12 days to work out funding our government should be enough to demonstrate their incompetence and their danger to our military preparedness- let alone the millions of Federal workers that will unemployed.
Speaking of which, Bob, they are writing their own "performance appraisals". Dismissal would be the only conclusion.
Vote Blue, no matter who.
MTG & LB as a pair of hookers in "Taking America for a Ride".