Sorry, I hard disagree. Democrats have nothing to gain by and no responsibility for gratuitously voting for McCarthy. Republicans claim they have the majority, and that is how they control the chamber. But in fact, they do not, because an even more extreme right-wing third party is operating in bad faith under the GOP banner.
So the GOP wants the benefits of chamber control (speakership) without the responsibilities (voting majority). To not hold them to a voting majority is to give them a windfall of power without the votes to justify it.
They would have effectively owned him and forced him to act as a proper Speaker and not a political Muppet.
They have no reliable leverage, unfortunately. After this vote, Gaetz and his merry band of misfits may change their mind. Similarly, their only “leverage” would be McCarthy honoring whatever agreement they came to prior to the vote.
Sorry, I hard disagree. Democrats have nothing to gain by and no responsibility for gratuitously voting for McCarthy. Republicans claim they have the majority, and that is how they control the chamber. But in fact, they do not, because an even more extreme right-wing third party is operating in bad faith under the GOP banner.
So the GOP wants the benefits of chamber control (speakership) without the responsibilities (voting majority). To not hold them to a voting majority is to give them a windfall of power without the votes to justify it.
They would have effectively owned him and forced him to act as a proper Speaker and not a political Muppet.
I can only assume this was offered and McCarthy would rather go down in flames than serve on his knees.
They have no reliable leverage, unfortunately. After this vote, Gaetz and his merry band of misfits may change their mind. Similarly, their only “leverage” would be McCarthy honoring whatever agreement they came to prior to the vote.