McCarthy installed as Speaker with overtones of 'No Confidence'

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January 6, 2023 culminated one battle between a small core of constitutionalists and the entrenched congressional establishment on the anniversary of a million unarmed Americans rallying in D.C., whom corporatist media and political adversaries branded "insurrectionists." Pressure cooker politics were played out on national television as the "strong six" were inappropriately maligned as "terrorists" by their own party members. It was a dramatic display of what the representational process is supposed to include – debate and the willingness to stand on one’s principles, which has become a rare occurrence in the Capitol. The legislative process is meant to be exhibited in full view, messy and confrontational at times. Authoritarians negotiating behind closed doors who then force their unvetted, secretive decisions on the body, stripping members of their representational role, is not what the founders intended.

The 15 rounds of votes to install the Speaker of the House were a demonstration of legitimate congressional mechanics. It was a battle line drawn by a few staunch representatives who had pledged to be unmoved by establishment influenced members leaning on them to come to heel. The six who chose to be "present" essentially placed a vote of "no confidence." The final vote gave the office to Kevin McCarthy, but it was bestowed with an underlying warning to the new speaker that there are House members who do not trust his motives and will not be deterred from protecting their constituents’ interests. Twenty dissenters forced the issue of rules changes to return power to the body from the centralized authority that has dominated the House in recent decades. The speaker is being restored to the intended role of implementing the will of the People, not that of a self-driven, lobbyist-beholden, high-handed, autocratic gavel-pounder. The reason those members of the Freedom Caucus refused to capitulate to the status quo will be realized when the rules change vote is held next week. Considering that McCarthy has reneged on promises in the past, making his word unreliable, the six appeared to stick to their guns as a message of their resolve. Matt Rosendale, MT, said this regarding the outcome of the election of the Speaker of the House:

"We’ve made tremendous strides in restoring proper order to a Congress that, for generations, sought to serve its citizens instead of itself. Because we took a hard stand, power will be less centralized in House leadership, and individual members will be able to better serve the interests of their constituents."

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Among the rules changes is that of returning to one member being able to bring forward discussion to vacate the seat of Speaker from needing 100 members to make such a call, as was instituted by Nancy Pelosi. It is necessary that whoever holds the speakership be held accountable for their actions, or lack thereof, if they perform in a fashion antagonistic toward the People who empower the office. Outlining the changes, Scott Perry, PA posted these basics on Saturday: Southern Border Security Plan; Budget that halts increase in the debt ceiling; Ending all Covid mandates and funding; Select Committee to investigate weaponization of government law enforcement agencies; Term limit vote; 72 hours to read proposed legislation; Single subject bills; and Jeffersonian Motion to vacate the Chair. Russ Vought, former head of the Office of Management and Budget who, with House members, has crafted plans that balance the budget within seven or 10 years, delved further into the rules changes in this video interview. Because the speaker stands second-in-line to the presidency behind that of vice president, the officer is expected to be a true statesman. That person must rise above the politics of personal glory or representing their single district to be spokesman for the benefit of America as a whole. This is what the long, arduous week of votes on the House floor worked toward achieving – qualifying that individual to be certain he carries out his duty to the People in good faith.