Republicans Prevented a Shutdown, but Chaos Still Prevails in the House | Vanity Fair

By Eric Lutz

Following the Veterans Day weekend, the tumult in the Republican conference that had been quietly brewing once again erupted. The supposed simmering tension led to a metaphorical slap from Kevin McCarthy to Tim Burchett, with McCarthy being the previous House speaker and Burchett, an extremist who had voted for his expulsion. There was also an incident involving the Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, who appeared to embody the modern GOP’s immaturity by lashing out at Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz, stating rather oddly that he “looked like a Smurf.” The latest speaker, Johnson, had to adjourn the legislative proceedings early in anticipation of Thanksgiving after 19 of his extreme right-wing colleagues blocked an appropriations bill.

In spite of all this commotion, Johnson's week may turn out surprisingly better than how it began. His interim government financing scheme has reached President Joe Biden’s desk, potentially allowing him to stave off a government shutdown while he maintains his position—at least temporarily. Johnson expressed satisfaction with the result, stating, "We’re pleased with the outcome,” after successfully having his “laddered” continuous resolution pass through the chamber, aided by some support from the opposition.

However, this success does nothing more than temporality conceal the disarray within the Republican ranks. The issues that had haunted the House GOP during McCarthy's leadership—who denies blindsiding Burchett—persist under Johnson’s rein. Johnson was able to prevent a government closure for the holiday period without initiating a motion to vacate, but by doing so he has merely postponed the confrontations till the new year.

Fringe elements this week hinted at what these clashes might entail. Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry dismissed the temporary financing solution as “failure theater.” Representative Bob Good, although expressing support for the speaker, issued a caution, saying, “we are not going to continue to do business as usual here in Washington”—a clear indication that his patience will be limited when spending conflicts resurface in the coming year. Echoing a similar sentiment, far-right Republican Chip Roy commented, “This better not be the model of the approach, or there will be, you know, trouble in so-called paradise."

The state of this conference can hardly be described as idyllic. The intra-conference disputes that led to and were aggravated by the protracted speaker selection process this fall is part of the concern. The turmoil within the House GOP signals what transpires when an innately unserious party ill-suited for governance is entrusted with governing responsibilities. Similar ludicrous behaviors permeate the Senate GOP, and also underscore the Republican presidential primary. However, the majority they hold in the House highlights their folly even more conspicuously.

Attempting to downplay the evident dysfunction, Johnson stated, “We’re not frustrated. I think we’ve had a great run.” However, not all the members of his party seem ready to feign harmony within the House GOP. “I want my Republican colleagues to give me one thing—one—that I can go campaign on and say we did,” demanded Roy, the far-right member from Texas during an impassioned speech. “Explain to me one substantial, meaningful, significant thing the Republican majority has done.”