Ron Filipkowski - Politics Today Bulletin 29, 12/18/24

… MAGA Republicans are furious at Mike Johnson after he released the CR last night, which they claim is loaded with new and excessive spending. Rather than pass a “clean” CR to continue the existing budget at current spending levels for another 90 days, Johnson decided to add additional spending in a variety of areas that was certain to alienate far-right members.

… Why? It may be that Johnson realized that there was simply no way he was ever going to get Republican unanimity on any spending package and he needed Democratic support. But putting together a CR that makes Democrats happy puts his Speakership very much at risk with a solid block of Republicans rapidly losing confidence in him as a leader.

… The problem for Johnson, or any potential successor if he is replaced, is that Republicans have a tiny majority and they have demonstrated repeatedly that they can’t agree on anything substantive. And new members who were just elected in 2024 are even more militant and far-right than many of the people he has already had problems with in the past. How to govern when you need a unanimous verdict for everything but nobody likes each other or agrees with each other? You don’t.

… How does this play out? It will likely pass with Democratic votes. Lots of Republicans in the House and Senate will vote against it. They will return to their districts for the holidays, go on Fox and Newsmax, jump on social media, and blast away at the feckless leadership of their own party. Trump Unity.

https://www.meidasplus.com/p/politics-today-bulletin-29-121824