Just a few short months ago, Kevin McCarthy was making a reasonable deal with the Democrats over the objections of the Freedom Caucus to keep us from going over the debt cliff. Somewhat to my surprise, he kept his job. Today, the Freedom Caucus is trying to force him to effectively renege on the deal. Are we headed for another agreement with the moderates? Is this deja vu all over again?
The fact that the stakes are lower this time makes it more likely that the outcome will be different. McCarthy is zigging and zagging in an effort to keep the gavel; his decision to direct an impeachment inquiry that has very little chance of bearing fruit is evidence of his desire to appease the crazoids. I don’t think it will work this time. I think we are headed for a lengthy government shutdown, because the crazoids think it gives them leverage over McCarthy, Biden, the Democrats, and the more reasonable GOP members of the Senate. It doesn’t; it just reminds the public how extreme they really are.