Flotsam and Jetsam - Gaetz Gets McCarthy

Because I took yesterday off, my bins are full, and a little dated, so I'm doing something different, just hitting the lowlights and declaring it good enough.

First, with the help of 7 fellow Republicans, Matt Gaetz called for a vote on vacating the Speaker of the House (ousting Kevin McCarthy from the position), and with the help of the united Democrats, succeeded. Stacy McCain,  A Self-Inflicted Disaster as Republicans Vote to Boot Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. "Perhaps some of my readers are not sad to see Kevin McCarthy voted out as Speaker of the House. And I’m here to tell you, you’re wrong." Breitbart, Matt Gaetz’s Vote Succeeds in Ousting Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. 

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Tuesday succeeded in his effort to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). The vote was held by roll call in alphabetical order. The motion to remove McCarthy succeeded, 216-210. Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Ken Buck (R-CO), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Bob Good (R-VA), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), and Gaetz voted to remove McCarthy. The House voted on Rep. Tom Cole’s (R-OK) motion to table Gaetz’s move, which was rejected with the support of ten House Republicans.

PJM's Paula Bolyard,  I Don't Think the House Fight Worked Out the Way Matt Gaetz Thought It Would. I'm not sure he gave that much thought to what happens next. John Hinderacker at Power Line, calls it the Suicide of the House. Ace reports Kevin McCarthy Will Not Run for Re-Election as Speaker. I wouldn't either. 'Bonchie' at Red State hears Nancy Pelosi Ordered to Vacate Her Office by New Acting Speaker, and the Tears Start Immediately. No, she's not being kicked out of Congress, but:

Following McCarthy's ouster, acting Speaker Patrick McHenry ordered Nancy Pelosi to leave the special hideaway office she didn't relinquish following her party's defeat in the 2022 mid-terms. The email notifying Pelosi's office of the order to get out got right to the point, noting that the office will be re-keyed if she doesn't leave.

As one of his first acts as the acting speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry ordered former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to vacate her Capitol hideaway office by Wednesday, according to an email sent to her office viewed by POLITICO.

“Please vacate the space tomorrow, the room will be re-keyed,” wrote a top aide on the Republican-controlled House Administration Committee. The room was being reassigned by the acting speaker “for speaker office use,” the email said.

McHenry is a close ally of McCarthy, and this is almost certainly well-deserved retaliation. According to McCarthy, as part of the passage of the recent 45-day clean continuing resolution, Pelosi had promised to not support Gaetz if a motion to vacate was filed. Instead, the former Democrat Speaker stabbed now former Republican Speaker in the back and actually encouraged her caucus not to save McCarthy. In the end, Democrats joined with a small group of Republicans to end McCarthy's tenure.

Anyway, while I share some of the sympathies of the Gaetz insurrectionists, I disagree with this move. It's hard enough to find someone willing, and at least marginally able to herd these cats. Demands from the furthest right Republican representatives to essentially control the House by stopping work until they get their way reminds me of the old joke about why the asshole is boss of all organs.

Margot Cleveland at Da Fed, has an Email that Shows Weiss Violated DOJ Policy By Sending Letters To Cover For Garland. Breitbart remembers 2019 when Hunter Biden Claimed He Didn’t Receive ‘One Cent’ from Chinese Associate Despite Wire Transfers. Jazz Shaw at Hat Hair thinks Hunter Biden may walk free after all, but not necessarily. I'm betting he gets of with a wrist slap. Jonathan Turley proposes  Four Biden Impeachment Articles and What the House Will Need to Prove. We need proof? Since when?  At the Free Bacon, WATCH: 'I'm Crazy About My Grandkids,' Says President Who Denied Granddaughter's Existence. At this point in his life, lying is reflexive. John Alter at Washington Monthly Could Biden Decide Not to Run?

Jen Van Laar at Red State thinks Tucker's Right: Trump's Fraud Trial in NY Is a 'Grotesque Parody of the System Our Ancestors Created.' Insty cites Never-Trumper ANDREW MCCARTHY: With Trump Already Found Guilty, His New York Fraud Trial Begins. “This isn’t a judicial proceeding; it’s a partisan farce. . . . Most significantly, the good judge imposed the corporate death penalty: putting Trump, his adult sons, and the Trump Organization out of business, taking away their state-issued business licenses, calling for the appointment of receivers to oversee the dissolution of Trump’s business entities, and continuing to subject him to monitors. And now, after all that, the trial begins.” Herr Professor Jacobsen at LI, “the notion that Donald Trump puts a number on a piece of paper and some big bank just says, oh, okay, that’s what it’s worth. That’s not how it works.” "My appearance on Fox Live Now about the real estate trial that started today: “If they wanted to charge him with fraud and penalize him for these appraisals, fine, but to then try to put him out of business, I think shows how political and how vindictive this is.”" John Sexton at Hat Hair, Trump goes from anger to praise for judge in his NY fraud case as the judge indicated a lot of the charges may be past the statute of limitations, but, John Sexton At Hat Hair later hears the Judge clarify that he is not tossing 80% of Trump's case (plus a gag order).

Auguste Meyrat at Da Fed explains why he thinks It’s Looking Ever More Likely That Jan. 6 Was A Fedsurrection.  Am Think's Eileen Toplansky says Never Forget the Jan. 6 Defendants.  NBC, cited at Hat Hair crows  Clarence Thomas recuses in rejected J6 appeal but Capt. Ed points out "This is a pretty straightforward recusal, despite NBC’s attempt to tie it to Thomas’ politics. Eastman clerked for Thomas at one point and likely the two remained in friendly contact since. Eastman also publicly defended Thomas over ethics questions." a little over a month ago. Jazz Shaw dissects Garland's Wizard of Oz 60 Minutes interview. At TNP, Ex-SecDef Esper Worries Trump Will Retaliate Against Deep State If Elected. He's right to worry, on behalf of his friends, and I hope it happens. The only way to save the tree is to kill the rot. 

At Da Fed, Evita Duffy-Alfonso points out These House Republicans Voted To Fund CISA’s Criminal Censorship And Election Interference. Ars Technica reports DOJ finally posted that “embarrassing” court doc Google wanted to hide. "Google exec said users get hooked on search engine like “cigarettes or drugs.”

AP has the sads that Nebraska is imposing a 7-day wait for trans youth to start gender-affirming medications. mrc-TV reports a WIN! Court Upholds TN & KY Bans on ‘Transgender Care.’ From the Orlando Sentinel, Trans, nonbinary group sues Florida in federal court over new bathroom restrictions.  Gail Heriot at Insty, "Again, here is my simple step-by-step legal argument for why it is perfectly okay to require individuals to use the facilities set aside for their biological sex. The argument can be easily adapted to fit Title VII. More argument here."  Twitchy Oh, give us a break: LGBTQIA2S+*%#XYZ wants ANOTHER month to celebrate themselves. In addition to "Pride Month" they want "2SLGBTQI+ History Month." At Da Caller, Transgender Athletes Banned From International Fishing Competition After Entire Nation Threatens To Boycott. If you think upper body strength doesn't matter, try winching in a 800 lb tuna. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: I’m In Love With Shouko’s Mom up and garnerning clicks at The Other McCain.