Will McCarthy's Ousting Leave US Politics 'Paralyzed'? | DW News

Oct 4, 2023 | Members of the US House of Representatives removed Speaker Kevin McCarthy from power in a historic vote Tuesday. McCarthy's ouster represents the first time in the history of the United States that a speaker — the leader of the House majority and second in line from the presidency behind the vice-president — has been removed from office. …

McCarthy Is Ousted as Speaker, Leaving the House in Chaos: A handful of far-right Republicans broke with their party and voted to remove Kevin McCarthy from his leadership post. He said he would not run again. »

McCarthy’s Extraordinary Downfall Reflects an Ungovernable G.O.P.: The glib Californian made many promises and paid a price when he was unable to fulfill them. But his demise also reflected the challenge of wielding a Republican majority that refuses to be governed. »

Robert Spencer: House Votes Down Proposal to Know the Enemy

Jihad Watch director Robert Spencer discusses the House of Representatives' vote against a measure that would require military officials to study the motivating ideology behind the jihad threat.

Republicans Take Control of US House of Representatives
BBC: The 112th US Congress has convened in Washington, starting a new legislative session in which resurgent Republicans aim to cut the size of the US government and its spending.

The new Congress is being sworn in two months after mid-term elections which saw President Barack Obama's Democrats suffer heavy losses to the opposition.

Republican John Boehner has taken over the key role of House speaker.

A BBC correspondent says the stage is now set for ideological battle.

Mr Boehner, a Midwestern conservative, was confirmed as House speaker on Wednesday afternoon, replacing liberal San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi.

Ms Pelosi passed the speaker's gavel, which she called a "strong symbol of peaceful democracy", to Mr Boehner in an official exchange of power.

In his opening remarks, Mr Boehner said the objective of Republicans was to give government back to citizens of the US and provide honesty and accountability.

"No longer can we fall short, no longer can we kick the can down the road. The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin to carry out their instructions," Mr Boehner said. (+video) >>> | Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Obama to Be Stoic Spouse in Marriage of Inconvenience
BBC: One thing is not in doubt: there will be tears before it's over.

The man who will be sworn in on Wednesday as speaker of the House, Republican John Boehner, cried when his party won in November, cried afterwards when he explained he had been at that moment thinking of his modest background, helping out in his dad's bar, and then cried again on TV when he was asked why he'd cried.

Whether he'll weep again now, I cannot say, but it may be a moment when all Republicans may feel like getting out the hanky. The scale of their achievement is enormous: two years after the election of Barack Obama on a huge wave of abstract ideals like hope and change, they won the mid-term election hands down. Today they take charge of one of the most important components of American government, the House of Representatives. They have cut the Democratic majority in the Senate too.
In this fluid mix comes not just tears, but tea.

There will be many new faces in Congress. Fresh faces, steeped in the fiscally conservative Tea Party movement. They really are different. Many of them took not the tired old route of a little light lawyering and then a stint in the city council or state government. Here are car salesmen, pizza restaurant owners, opticians - people who've never before been politicians.

They are filled with a sense of mission and mandate, a belief that they have been elected by the American people to overturn what they see as Mr Obama's socialist agenda. Read on and comment >>> Mark Mardell | Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Israel Lobby Presses Congress to Soften Obama's Tough Stance on Netanyahu
THE GUARDIAN: American Israel Public Affairs Committee circulates letter urging White House to 'reinforce' relationship with Israel

America's main pro-Israel lobby group is mobilising members of Congress to pressure the White House over its bitter public confrontation with Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.

The move, by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), appears aimed at exploiting differences in the Obama administration as it decides how to use the crisis around settlement building in Jerusalem to press Israel toward concessions to kickstart peace negotiations.

Aipac has persuaded more than three-quarters of the members of the US House of Representatives to sign a letter calling for an end to public criticism of Israel and urging the US to "reinforce" its relationship with the Jewish state.

The open letter, which has been circulating among members of Congress for the last week, says that while it is recognised that there will be differences between the two countries, they should be kept behind closed doors. "Our view is that such differences are best resolved quietly, in trust and confidence," it says. >>> Chris McGreal in Washington | Tuesday, March 30, 2010

US on the Brink of Embracing Socialized Medicine! Barack Obama's Health Reform Set to Pass Senate after Abortion Deal
THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama's goal of health care reform received a key boost when Senate Democrat leaders said they had secured the key 60th vote needed to pass legislation.

The Senate bill is now expected to be put to a vote before Christmas, despite Republican delaying tactics.

Democrats from the Senate and the House of Representatives will then still have to hammer out major differences between their two versions of health reform before a final bill can be delivered to Mr Obama.

The president has made health reform his domestic policy priority and White House aides welcomed reports that there were now 60 supporters for a compromise deal in the Senate.

Mr Obama devoted his weekend radio and Internet address to the issue he campaigned on in 2008.

"Now - for the first time - there is a clear majority in the Senate that's willing to stand up to the insurance lobby and embrace lasting health insurance reforms that have eluded us for generations," he said.

The breakthrough came when Sen Ben Nelson, a socially conservative Democrat, told his party colleagues that he was willing to accept new wording that restricted federal funding for abortion.

It also emerged that he had secured extra federal funding for health programmes in his home state of Nebraska after days of negotiations.

His support appeared to give Senate leader Harry Reid the 60 votes required in the 100-seat chamber to overcome the threat of a Republican filibuster. >>> Philip Sherwell in New York | Saturday, December 19, 2009

THE TELEGRAPH: Barack Obama’s Top Ten Foreign Policy Follies: This has hardly been a stellar year for the projection of American global power. Weakness, rather than strength, has been the hallmark of US foreign policy under Barack Obama, from the Iranian nuclear crisis to dithering over the war in Afghanistan. Instead of strong American leadership, the White House has all too often offered humiliating apologies for America’s past and embarrassing gaffes.

Here is a list of the ten biggest foreign policy follies of Barack Obama’s first year in office. I’ve tried to make the list inclusive of all corners of the world, ranging from Tehran to Tokyo to Khartoum, and frankly could easily have expanded it to a top 20 or even top 30 list. There are plenty to choose from, including some of the most cringe worthy moments in modern American history. >>> Nile Gardiner | Wednesday, December 23, 2009

House Condemns Iran's Crackdown on Protests
USA TODAY: The House has voted to condemn Tehran’s crackdown on demonstrators and the government’s interference with Internet and cellphone communications, the Associated Press reports.

The vote was 405-1, with two members voting present, The Hill reports.

Here is the text of the resolution:

The House of Representatives expresses its support for all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law; condemns the ongoing violence against demonstrators by the government of Iran and pro-government militias, as well as the ongoing government suppression of independent electronic communication through interference with the Internet and cellphones; and affirms the universality of individual rights and the importance of democratic and fair elections.

The resolution was initiated by Republicans as a veiled criticism of President Obama, the AP says. >>> Posted by Doug Stanglin | Friday, June 19, 2009

US State Rejects Gay Marriage Law
Gay banner courtesy of Google Images.
BBC: Lawmakers in New Hampshire have rejected a bill that would have granted marriage rights to gay couples.

The state's Senate passed the bill, but the House of Representatives voted it down by 188 votes to 186.

The chamber had approved an earlier version of the bill, but blocked the new version, which included legal protections for religious groups.

The state's governor, John Lynch, threatened to veto the bill if it did not include religious exemptions. >>> | Wednesday, May 20, 2009

House of Representatives Votes for Troop Withdrawal in Iraq
BBC: The United States House of Representatives has voted in favour of pulling most combat troops out of Iraq by April next year.

The new legislation calls for the Pentagon to begin withdrawing combat troops within four months.

The vote comes despite President George W Bush's threat to veto any timetable.

Both the House and the Senate must pass separate legislation and then reconcile their two versions for a measure to be passed to the president.

Correspondents say the House of Representatives, controlled by the Democrats, is hoping to pressure the Senate to approve a similar timeline.

It is the third time this year the House has voted in favour of legislation to end US military involvement in Iraq. US House votes for troop pullout (more)

WATCH BBC VIDEO:
US House wants troop pullout

Mark Alexander