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So Kevin McCarthy met Donald Trump (“Lots to discuss!), and I have a hard time finding an analogy for having a meeting with someone who (according to you) “bears responsibility” for an insurgency that attempted to reverse the peaceful transfer of power just before the House’s minority “leader” announced his choices to sit on the select committee to investigate what happened on January 6th.
The problem, of course, is the unprecedented nature of what Trump has done and is doing. Of course, Trump remains the de facto leader of the Republican Party, that is, he has incredible influence without any statutory authority. Technically speaking, Kevin McCarthy has more formal authority, but good luck with that. Truth be told, meeting with Trump is a bit like meeting the head of state of a foreign country: Trumpistan. They have strange customs, speak a foreign language and worship an idol. They have a lot of guns, know how to use them, and, oh yeah, also determine if you get your next career promotion.
For this reason, it makes sense that McCarthy to have meet for Trump. But couldn’t they exercise a little discretion? Again, Trump is the guy who just tried to overthrow the government. Every five minutes more horrific revelations emerge. Less than 24 hours ago, leaks about Trump’s “Reichstag moment” surfaced. Sometimes in these cases people hold secret meetings. One could imagine a scenario where Kevin McCarthy realizes that it would be improper and reckless to be seen with Trump, and where Trump also accepts this reality. In this scenario, Trump and McCarthy could secretly meet in a conclave to chart the future, with Trump – sous-rosa – at the helm. Going through the secrecy movements would be a nod to normalcy, which is why Trump prefers to flaunt it.
It is also a sign of domination. The reunion, after all, takes place at the Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey. No one goes to Jersey unless they have to. Kevin McCarthy is under duress. He turns around like a dog, as Trump might say. Their last meeting (as far as we know) was at Mar-a Lago, in case you’re looking for a trend.
If we’ve learned anything from “Bargain to Win” from Jack Donaghy, it’s that home court advantage is key (by the way, this way Trump can make sure he gets a chair. higher and an extra scoop of ice cream). It’s a game. When candidate Trump summoned then RNC chairman Reince Preibus to Trump Tower, it was already over. They might as well have given the nomination to Trump then. Since Napoleon summoned the Pope from Rome to Paris (where he crowned himself), this was true.
Forget about kissing the ring, the implicit point is that McCarthy performatively licks the bottom of Trump’s shoes (and I’m keeping it clean, here). Trump, not McCarthy, is the leader of the Republican Party. Trump can be the 2024 presidential candidate if he wants to. Or he can be the Speaker of the House (assuming Republicans take over the House). Or he could probably get Kevin McCarthy to dress like Little Bo Peep if he wanted to. He is the master, and when the master summons you, you go.
At least this meeting ostensibly has a purpose (unlike most meetings normal Americans go through), ostensibly to discuss midterms, special elections, and fundraising – and more likely to help choose. Republicans to fill five positions in a 13-member group led by Democrats. Committee.
Now Nancy Pelosi has veto power, which means this agenda item, like so many other agenda items, might be unnecessary. Still, I guess names like Jim Jordan and Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert would be brought up, if only to force Pelosi to dismiss them. Pelosi has previously named Republican Liz Cheney, who was the third Republican in the House before McCarthy demoted her for telling the truth, instead of Trump’s “truth” about what happened on January 6.
That day, according to Carol Loennig and Philip Rucker’s new book on Trump last year, Cheney recalled that “as these maniacs walk through the place, I stand in the aisle and he said, ‘We have to keep the ladies out of the wing. Let me help you.’ I slammed his hand and said, ‘Get away from me. Damn, you did that. “
That is, what Trump wants, and McCarthy will do on his behalf, is to make sure it all feels futile and performative. After all, he wouldn’t want this to give the impression that the institutions were functioning properly, or that an investigation into what happened on January 6 was serious, competent and level. And McCarthy, who has said he will testify as to what happened that day if need be, will do what the boss says to make sure that doesn’t happen.
The Republican Party used to defend something; now it holds behind Donald.
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