Eating their own

When TV appearances mean all

Brutal (and brutish) partisan politics have been flourishing for as long as political parties have existed in America. And the country faced off on two sides before there even was an official country. The anti-federalists didn’t know what to call themselves, so they went with, er, the opposite of the other guys.

But the two “teams,” as it were, often played well with those who wore the same jersey. Remember a president named Ronald Reagan and his 11th Commandment: Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.

We wonder if Marjorie Taylor Greene—she of constant political gaffes, who once wanted a judge she disagreed with “disrobed” and who managed to turn “indictable” into a dirty word—remembers Ronaldo Maximus. A few minutes’ reading about his policies/politics/philosophy might change the way she does things. Somebody get her a primer.

With a Congress so evenly divided these days, and a House of Representatives getting closer and closer to 50-50 at every Republican retirement announcement, the party barely holding control of the chamber can’t afford to lose a vote. The gentlelady from Georgia knows this. So she’s leveraging her 1/435th influence to the best of her abilities. And if the rest of Congress doesn’t give her exactly what she wants, when she wants it, then she’ll take her ball and go home. Or at least go to the closest TV camera.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is trying to run the joint, with the constant threat that he’ll be pitched out of the Republican tent like his predecessor. He’s also trying to keep the government running and foreign allies supplied. All the while having to fend off efforts of the MTGs in his caucus who prefer eating their own to any kind of compromise on any subject.

Representative Greene told CNN this week that voters were “furious” at Mr. Speaker for keeping the government open.

Really? We haven’t seen that poll. Representative Greene told the network (she’s on all of them) that she wouldn’t accept any package that gave Ukraine more money to defend itself against Russia. No matter if most other Congress members do.

“Let me tell you, when [the speaker] forces that vote, again, under suspension with no amendments, and funds Ukraine and people find out how angry their constituents are about it, that’s going to move the needle even more,” said Greene.

Asked if that meant a Ukrainian aid package would lead her calling for Mr. Speaker’s job, Greene added: “I’m not saying I have a red line or a trigger, and I’m not saying I don’t have a red line or trigger. And I think that’s just where I’m at right now. But I’m going to tell you right now: Funding Ukraine is probably one of the most egregious things that he can do.”

She’s not saying she has a red line. She’s not saying she doesn’t have a red line.

And that’s just where she’s at right now.

While she seeks attention, a democracy in Europe that was attacked by Comrade Putin watches, egregiously, as its artillery dries up. The southern border of this country remains open (a bill tying Ukrainian aid to border security is still a possibility). And all other members of the House of Representatives have to watch CNN or Fox News to figure out what MTG’s demands are this morning.

The Republican infighting might be best publicized by the likes of Representative Greene, because she’s in the business of getting television interviews, but she’s hardly the only internal problem the GOP faces. Hardliner Bob Good (RVa.) is facing a primary in his district, and Republicans—including Marjorie Taylor Greene—are openly campaigning for his Republican opponent. (Party leaders have pleaded with Republican congressmen not to campaign against their party colleagues in several districts. Those leaders are ignored.) Fewer than 100 of the 219 Republican House members went to the recent party retreat in Greenbrier, W.Va. And every week it seems another Republican Congress member announces a plan to retire.

But what does all that matter when the TV cameras are rolling?

Priorities, people.