Opinion | With the House GOP in full meltdown, Democrats could offer a way out
www.washingtonpost.com
A power-sharing arrangement in the House is unlikely, but here’s what it might look like.

The crackup in the House GOP has gotten so bad that some Republicans are now asking Democrats for help in electing a speaker. So far, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the current favorite among the right, hasn’t gotten anywhere close to the 217 votes he needs to secure the job.

With Republicans fractured and in need of saving, what should happen is that a few vulnerable members (such as those representing districts Joe Biden won in 2020) join Democrats in supporting Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), for the position. But that’s unlikely, because any Republicans who dare to do this would see their careers implode.

The next best thing, then, is a deal that both sides can accept. Republicans will have to offer meaningful concessions to Democrats to have any hope of getting their support for a consensus, relatively moderate GOP speaker.

At an absolute minimum, a compromise would tackle the core problem: That a few extreme members can propel the House into total meltdown, rendering it ungovernable. Several high-profile, non-MAGA Republicans, such as Reps. Mike D. Rogers (Ala.) and María Elvira Salazar (Fla.), have publicly called on Democrats to specify what they would need to throw the GOP a lifeline — and Democrats have several ideas in mind.

  • Nougat
    7•8 months ago

    But unlike Republicans, Democrats have a vested interest in a functioning government and serving the people. That’s not happening while Republicans are milling about trying to grab power for themselves.

    Getting some concessions that the Republican majority would almost certainly reneg on would be both a tactical and strategic failure. A functioning government that serves the people is one with far fewer Republicans in it.

    • spaceghotiOPEnglish
      1•8 months ago

      Agreed, but that’s our responsibility. House Democrats can’t do anything about that until we get out the votes.

      • Nougat
        7•8 months ago

        It’s too late. The Republican majority in the House is going to fuck everything up, with or without a Speaker. Democrats should not be party to that. Republicans in government will move us all from democracy to open government-supported fascism. Appeasement doesn’t work against fascism. Cooperation doesn’t work against fascism. Appeasement and cooperation only make a person complicit in the outcome.

        It’s going to get much worse than it already is, but we can’t go back the way we came. The only way out is through.