There was a huge circus today at the US House of Representatives. They ousted the Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
In a 435-member assembly, Republicans have 221, Democrats 212, Vacant 2. Need 218 to be majority party. Therefore, Republicans have thin majority.
A small number of Republicans (8) were dissatisfied with Speaker McCarthy. Reason. You will laugh at it. Speaker McCarthy sought and got the help of Democrats to pass a bill. (My personal opinion is what is wrong with that?) No Confidence Motion against your own party leader can happen only in USA.
The leader of this (8) renegade group, filed a motion of no confidence against Speaker McCarthy yesterday, October 2. McCarthy did not delay. He immediately brought the No Confidence Motion against him this morning, October 3, for a vote.
The Final Vote: Remove McCarthy 216 votes. Do not remove McCarthy 210 votes. 7 did not vote due to absence from the House for various reasons.
My question is why Democrats sided with this small group of 8 Republicans and ousted the Speaker. But again, I don’t know the inside politics.
Back then, PM Vajpayee routinely discussed and sought the help of opposition parties. He was praised for it. I think it's a virtue, but power-mongers might use anything and everything to achieve their ends.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rajesh. The situation here is a little bit more complicated. One of the provisions in this bill was more money for Ukraine.
DeleteRepublicans do not want to give more money for Ukraine. Democrats wants to give more money for Ukraine. But the Speaker McCarthy got the bill passed with the help of Democrats. This angered 8 Republicans.
Very well explained for anyone who is not conversant with the dynamics of US politics. Quite probably, there is more to it than meets the eye. Politics is always quite complicated.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Pradeep. Politics is very complicated, especially in USA. Can a BJP MP bring a No Confidence Motion in Indian Parliament against Mr. Modi?
DeleteLooks strange unless a handful of republican members had a grudge already against the Speaker and utilized this opportunity .
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Mr. KP. There may be some other grudge personally and we don't know.
DeleteTypical Politics!! Feel sorry for Speaker McCarthy . If 8 ppl filed No confidence, did he really have to bring it for vote? Meaning was it mandatory or he did it just to ascertain his authority as Speaker?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Viyoma. Long time no see. Hope you are doing well. Very good question. He had to bring it for discussion and vote any day. But McCarthy decided to do that immediately. I think he miscalculated about the Democrats. In my opinion, he thought Democrats will either support him or be neutral and abstain from voting.
DeleteAmerican senators are so morally upright. And they fearlessly demonstrate it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Kirtivasan.
DeleteJust 6 votes difference Between "Remove" & "Do Not Remove".
ReplyDeleteHad the 7 absentees been present & voted for "Do Not Remove", he would be IN
Thanks for your comments Anita. I think McCarthy misjudged the democrats that they will either support him or abstain and be neutral.
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