The Toddler Caucus

Sigh.

This, from ABC News, pretty much says everything there is to say about the current state of play among House Republicans:

On Tuesday night after nominating Rep. Mike Johnson for speaker, Republicans invited reporters inside the room where they had been huddling for hours. Roughly 100 Republicans stood behind Mike Johnson to show their support as he took questions.

ABC Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott asked Johnson, who voted to overturn the 2020 election results, if he stood by that vote.

The members in the room started booing when Scott asked the question.

“Oh, boo,” they shouted.

“Shut up, shut up,” Rep. Virginia Foxx said.

“Next question,” Johnson said.

Scott also asked if Johnson supports additional aid to Ukraine and Israel.

“You asked your question! You asked your question,” some members shouted.

“Go away! Go away,” another member said.

“We’re not doing any policy tonight. Any other questions?” Johnson asked.

What an embarrassment.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is a Professor of Security Studies. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Flat Earth Luddite says:

    Well yes, they are an embarrassment. My God what an embarrassment. But on the other hand, what a dead bang spot on impersonation of the toddler in Chief. Judas Iscariot, they even got the tone right.

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  2. Leadership on display, dontcha know.

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  3. Sleeping Dog says:

    In every competitive district, Dems or their affiliated PACs, should be running ads using C-Span footage showing how childish and unserious the R’s are and comparing that to the business completed under Pelosi.

    5
  4. MarkedMan says:

    @Sleeping Dog: Do you really think the Republican base would see this as childish? No one but the hardcore base on either side is watching this

    4
  5. TheRyGuy says:

    I’m not sure I’ve ever read a post that so perfectly summed up how far someone has fallen.

    The southern border has been broken for 30+ years. Congress hasn’t followed a reasonable, responsible budgeting process for almost 25 years. The people he wanted to be in charge have now got the United States tapdancing on the edge of WWIII in not one but two regions.

    But you can be as reckless, irresponsible, depraved, corrupt, stupid, foolish, and awful as you can be and James Joyner won’t really care as long as you behave like a good little boy or girl. But be a bit rude? Uncooth? Not go along with the narrative? James Joyner has no patience for that!

  6. Kathy says:

    Suddenly I began hearing Pink Floyd’s Fletcher Memorial Home:

    Take all your overgrown children away…

    2
  7. Scott says:

    For those who can stand to watch, the House is currently voting:

    https://live.house.gov/

    1
  8. Jay L Gischer says:

    I dunno. I agree it’s childish.

    AND, (a catchphrase is a catchphrase) Republican Members have been saying much more campaign-ready things in front of the cameras for the last two weeks. Things like, “we don’t deserve to govern”, and so on. This particular bit is more ambiguous than that.

    1
  9. Jay L Gischer says:

    It appears to be official. 220 Republicans voted for Johnson. So, the House is back in business, run by an election denier.

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  10. Scott says:

    @Jay L Gischer: Matt Gaetz wins, the American people lose.

    3
  11. Jay L Gischer says:

    @TheRyGuy:

    The southern border has been broken for 30+ years.

    What is the impact that this has had on you, personally? I’m seriously curious, because in the end, this is about where we spend money. So, what is the issue that leads you to prioritize spending more money on border security. (Just in case you’re curious, I’m ok with spending more money on it, in exchange for dealing with the Dreamers in some way other than deporting them. But it’s not a spending priority with me, since it doesn’t seem to have any impact on my life at all).

    Congress hasn’t followed a reasonable, responsible budgeting process for almost 25 years.

    I don’t understand this either, but I’m pretty sure the changes you reference started under Newt Gingrich, and a Republican-held House.

    The people he wanted to be in charge have now got the United States tapdancing on the edge of WWIII in not one but two regions.

    So, in your calculus, Biden invaded Ukraine, and Biden instigated the attack by Hamas? Is that what you’re saying? Democracy isn’t worth fighting for? Self-determination isn’t a thing? Is that what you think?

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  12. Scott says:

    @TheRyGuy:

    Sigh.

    But you can be as reckless, irresponsible, depraved, corrupt, stupid, foolish, and awful as you can be and James Joyner won’t really care as long as you behave like a good little boy or girl. But be a bit rude? Uncooth? Not go along with the narrative? James Joyner has no patience for that!

    What an embarrassment.

    10
  13. Sleeping Dog says:

    @MarkedMan:

    I could care less about the R base, congressional races in the competitive districts are won or loss based on turnout and the small percentage of voters that aren’t solid for one party. It’s that small cohort that needs to be convinced to vote against the R.

  14. SenyorDave says:

    Seriously, the question about overturning the question should be the first question every reporter asks Johnson.

    1
  15. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @TheRyGuy: Go back to the romper room, they are used to childish tantrums there. I am sure they can give you a lollipop to sooth your bruised soul.

    4
  16. Flat Earth Luddite says:

    @Scott:

    But isn’t it just like the guy who didn’t bring any weed or booze to the party to sit in the corner and Bogart the entire stash?

    2
  17. Ken_L says:

    It’s disappointing Mr Joyner felt the need to mock House Republicans for conducting a rigorous exercise in finding the best person to fill the Speaker’s position – a project that required some members to put aside their preoccupation with the national interest and concentrate instead on the interests of the Trump Republican Party. Today is the day House Republicans became a government!

    1
  18. Ken_L says:

    @Scott: Sorry, but it’s embarrassing that after all these years, liberals still get goaded so easily into responding to trolls.

  19. charontwo says:

    But be a bit rude? Uncooth? Not go along with the narrative? James Joyner has no patience for that!

    Actually, I find the moderators here remarkably tolerant of behavior that would bring out the Banhammer at LGM or BJ. Take a look at some of the vituperation in the recent Israel threads for example.

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