America won the Jordan showdown, but the House is dysfunctional without a speaker | Opinion

Two weeks ago Republicans in the House of Representatives froze a legislative branch of the U.S. government. The timing of this GOP-led political malpractice could not have been worse. The Republicans are staring at a disastrous government shutdown, inadequate funding for Ukraine and a historic conflict in Israel without formal US congressional support.

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, during his 15-roll call marathon to eke out a victory, imprudently negotiated his own demise by allowing one House member to make a motion to vacate the chair and force a vote. The House insurrectionists weaponized this ill-conceived rule, and McCarthy is now a back bencher.

McCarthy will get his portrait hung in the House Speakers Gallery, but it will be more pro forma than based on achievement. While in House leadership McCarthy raised staggering amounts of cash, suggesting that fundraising prowess doesn’t translate into automatic chops as speaker. He held the gavel but never the power. Power comes with leadership ability. Nancy Pelosi is a case in point.

Americans have watched this spectacle unfold in real time as deals were cut literally on the floor in full view. That was a victory for transparency but showed how the business of the People’s House has become more politically transactional than policy-oriented for Americans’ benefit.

Today we watched — again in real time — as the Republican led US House could not agree on a path forward. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a verified right-wing bomb thrower, was defeated in the first round of voting as his colleagues found his intemperate behavior too much to swallow.

Most disgraceful is that this vote was delayed by Jordan for three days in order to mobilize national right-wing groups for the sole purpose of intimating his moderate GOP colleagues. What a cowardly act.

Jordan put his own ego ahead of American interests. Jordan has had almost 2 decades to demonstrate his leadership qualities. As it turned out, intimidation and a Trump endorsement could not pull him over the goal line.

Relationships and behavior matter.

Before the first vote House, appropriators were making noise to oppose Jordan. This makes sense. Appropriators are a special breed of legislator. They work across the aisle and have general disdain for gridlock and ideological purity. Their world is not defined by “my way or the highway”.

Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, was one Jordan dissenter. Simpson is not easily intimidated by right-wing groups trying to influence his behavior. He has had a target on his back in recent elections by dark money groups trying to pick him off in a primary. House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger, R-Texas, was another anti-Jordan vote sending a strong signal that another Jordan vote is a non-starter.

It is well known that some Jordan votes were committed for one ballot only. So, it’s back to the drawing board for the GOP chaos conference.

Jordan’s ego has been boosted by the 200 votes he received for one of the highest political positions in our country. He may again marshal his right-wing friends from outside the institution to lobby for him. Historically, this is not a good idea.

Members of Congress possess two things — their vote and their word. It might be generally assumed that the lobbyists and special interests own that vote, but that is not true. Outside intervention can often be off-putting and counterproductive.

Who lost today? Jordan, Hannity and Trump lost. America won, but it has also been disadvantaged by further delays in managing the affairs of our country. Jordan is one of the least qualified persons in America to ascend to House Speaker.

Let’s hope that the appropriators, like Simpson and Granger, who had the courage to vote against Jordan, will lead the way in developing an anti-gridlock agenda. Re-activating our government towards positive and practical goals, rather than ideological purity should be the goal.

The insurrectionists need to be sidelined.