This could be the end of Mike Johnson already
House Republicans ended up settling for Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House because he’s a nobody with no leverage, and they figured they could walk all over him and get what they want. But what happens when the various House Republican factions end up making demands that are incompatible with each other? That was the end of Kevin McCarthy, and now it looks like it might be the end of Johnson already.
Each Republican Speaker, whether it be McCarthy or Johnson, has quickly come around to the position of caving on the budget instead of going along with a shutdown. This is presumably because the House Republicans in the toss-up districts fear a shutdown will cost them reelection, and they’re privately forcing the Speaker to keep the government open.
But the House Republicans in far right districts, who want to make a chaotic mess of things, are far from pleased about this. They ended up removing McCarthy because he caved on the budget. And now multiple House Republicans are publicly talking about removing Johnson for the same reason.
Chip Roy hinted at removing Mike Johnson days ago, and now Marjorie Taylor Greene is saying it in exact words: “Every day Mike Johnson gets closer and closer to this deal brings me closer and closer to vacating the chair.”
Well okay then. Mike Johnson is going to end up having to cut this budget deal, or something similar to it. And then what? Will Greene and her cohorts go through with ousting Johnson? At this point the House Republican majority is so narrow, such a move could easily result in the Democrats getting to pick the next Speaker. So by all means, please proceed.
