What did we do to deserve Marjorie Taylor Greene?

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What did we do to deserve Marjorie Taylor Greene?

On Ed

LZ Granderson

January 15, 2024

The 118th Congress

who is responsible for this train wreck of a legislative body?

Is it them or is it us? Because to quote Erykah Badu, I think we took a wrong turn there somewhere.

How is it possible?

That

the same caucus that Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) has been driven from office

now

I’m thinking about a follow-up because their hand-picked replacement in the speaker’s chair, Rep. Mike Johnson (RL

Ouisian

a.), dares to try to govern? It’s as if they expected him to hold him off until November, while the country’s business came to a standstill. “No compromise” could be a powerful slogan on the campaign trail, but…

by definition

democracy

by definition

is a compromise.

And yet here we are, with the far-right fringe of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives, back to shut down the government if that’s what it takes to get everything they want. Even after we all see what happens when the Matt Gaetzes actually perform

Doing

get what they want.

So really. Who is responsible for this conference?

Think about it: the same day the MAGA wing fired McCarthy, so did Hunter Biden

literal

pleaded not guilty in a federal court in Delaware

On

weapons charges. But because Gaetz

the Republican representative from Florida, and Company & Co.

chose to lead an insurrection that day, all anyone talked about was McCarthy’s historic resignation. Gaetz took the attention away from the president’s son and focused it entirely on himself. Narcissism aside, that was just painfully shortsighted. He didn’t even have the foresight to wait 24 hours before throwing his tantrum.

The same political waste happened again on Tuesday when House members considered holding Hunter Biden in contempt for refusing to testify behind closed doors.

Suddenly

the president’s son, Hunter Biden

comes in. And what happens? Egos, meltdowns, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (RG

orgi

a.) state that she is not an expert on porn.

It was clear from the moment Hunter

Bidenhe

As it turns out, the MAGA wing hadn’t even considered the possibility of that

the president’s son

was to appear for the contempt hearing. This despite

him Hunter Biden

already demonstrating a more aggressive strategy a month ago when he held a surprise press conference outside the Capitol in defiance of their subpoena.

Hunter Biden’s son of the president

A confrontational approach is what inspired these lawmakers to come together

on

Thursday,

And

yet apparently no one in that brain trust was prepared for it

him Hunter Biden

to try to pull off something similar.

And this is the caucus of the 118th Congress causing all the fuss?

Who is responsible for this?

Do we blame the George Santoses of the world for manipulating voters, or the Republicans who support his ilk just because they parrot Trump?

Since 2001, Congress’ approval rating has steadily declined. It is now an anemia of 15%. After what we’ve seen this week, I’m surprised it’s that high. The country’s military involvement in the Middle East is escalating, childcare is unaffordable, the climate is in chaos, you name it, there is still a lot of work to be done.

And

Yet Greene is talking about pornography. Why? Because she brought nude photos of Hunter Biden to the Capitol. And the reason she was able to do that is

That

Georgians in District 14 believe she is the best person for the job.

So who is responsible for the ineptitude of the 118th Congress?

We are.

District 1, there in Florida, that’s a political mastermind, there in Gaetz. If he or any of his colleagues become fearful of attention, chances are they will go after Johnson and then go down the list looking for the next politician foolish enough to take on that ungrateful politician.

speaker

function.

I’m not a fan of Johnson’s policies, but I do appreciate his political dexterity. The respected House speakers of the past all demonstrated the ability to work across the aisle and negotiate deals. “Compromise” wasn’t always a poisonous word. In fact, it is the way we figure out a way to live together.

Who is responsible for this conference? It’s tempting to point the finger at them, but the answer always lies with us. The reason Congress’s approval rating is so low is simply this: For decades, we have been directing our anger and fear toward Washington. We need to get back to sending thoughtfulness, maybe even compassion. A little strategic thinking certainly doesn’t hurt.

In the meantime, what we voted for is whatever Congress does or doesn’t do. Of course not

approve

. The collective ugliness we see in the Capitol is a reflection of our worst impulses.

@LZGranderson

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