House Republicans are already talking about ousting Speaker Mike Johnson
There’s a reason former Speaker Kevin McCarthy never allowed a government shutdown to happen, and why current Speaker Mike Johnson hasn’t allowed one to happen either. Much as the far right members of the House Republican caucus might want a shutdown, the House Republicans running for reelection in moderate districts will simply not allow it. They’re afraid that a shutdown would cost them reelection. And while they don’t do their bidding in public, they’ve rather clearly told the past two Speakers that they’ll lose their jobs if they allow a shutdown.
Of course this works both ways, and McCarthy ended up getting ousted by far right House Republicans partly because he wouldn’t allow a shutdown. Now far right House Republicans like Chip Roy are going on TV and talking about potentially ousting Mike Johnson because he keeps caving on the budget instead of doing a shutdown.
It’s hilarious that each Republican Speaker of the House keeps getting squeezed from both sides of their own caucus, and keeps turning out to be too weak to bring the caucus under control. It’s a case study in a total lack of leadership – and how difficult it is to herd rabid animals.
