We need a moderate speaker. Someone who’s voice will potentially guide the U.S. House of Representatives in a way that can overcome partisan favor and usher in a period of political savvy, however unlikely it is we get one.
Oct. 3 saw a major move occur in the framework of American politics. Bakersfield-native Kevin McCarthy, former speaker of the house, was ousted from office in a vote-of-no-confidence bid to reform the Republican power base.
While Kevin McCarthy enjoyed support from some corners of his party, a solid portion of Republicans in congress are outspoken critics, mostly from the pro-Trump wing. In fact, there was even talk of Trump temporarily filling the role, no doubt a premeditated power play orchestrated by McCarthy’s chief ouster, Congressman Matt Gaetz, who represents Florida’s First Congressional District.
Among accusations of cronyism and Trump’s cult of personality running wild in Republican circles, dividing the party, as well as one-half of the U.S., democrats have been dealing with their own minor cataclysms.
Both President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden are not without their own controversies, and recently 2024 presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy Jr. has abandoned ship on the Democrats for an Independent Party run.
This all must coincide with the shift in foreign relations strategy. According to Reuters, some 52-61% of Democrats favor backing the Ukrainian aid effort in their in their effort in their war against Putin’s all-in-but-name totalitarian regime, while under half of Republicans are in favor. Without even considering the affect independent voters in the landscape, military backing seems to not be the exclusively Republican thing it was once thought to be. That position is almost laughably ironic, given the Republicans’ unwavering support of Israel.
I am of course not condemning Israeli support, especially in the wake of unprecedented Hamas terrorist attacks from Gaza which led to over 1200 Israeli deaths and nearly as many Palestinian deaths in retaliatory efforts.
My point is that the current political climate, both foreign and domestic, can sorely afford to be so divisive. Infighting here in the U.S. is not going to help us help our allies nor aid in humanitarian initiatives that will follow these conflicts. It will not help the search for a level-headed, mediatory speaker of the house. Someone who will bridge the gap in America’s heart and help steer the country toward more stability, away from political extremes on either the right or the left.
As of writing this, Kevin McCarthy could still regain his position, but House Republicans have nominated House of Representatives Majority Leader Steve Scalise to succeed him. Time will tell if a moderate voice appears in the most powerful role in congress.