'The Schadenfreude Is Palpable'
It's becoming clear that their protracted battle for speaker is starting to get to Republicans
The old saying might go, “Double your luck and double your fun,” but by the end of Wednesday, all Kevin McCarthy had doubled were his losses and his humiliation.
The House Republican leader tried another three times to get to those magic 218 votes to finally become speaker — and only came away with three more failures.
Add those to the three fumbles that the California Republican notched the day before, and by the end of the sixth ballot Wednesday, the pressure was starting to get to Republicans.
In particular, the fractured Republicans seem not to appreciate their unified Democratic counterparts — or at least the obvious sense of unreserved glee their taking at the expense of the hapless and chaotic Republicans.
Democrats have made no secret of the joy they're taking at the expense of Republicans as they sit back and watch right-wingers implode.
In fact, popcorn has quickly become the symbol of how hard Democrats are trolling Republicans.
Rep Robin Kelly, of Illinois, is just one House Dem flaunting the salty, buttery snacks they're keeping at hand.
And the Democrats and their popcorn appear to be doing the trick: Republicans are noticing and are not liking it.
“There’s headlines about the chaos. This and that. Yesterday our colleagues on the other side of the aisle were tweeting their bags of popcorn that they had out. They love it,” said Rep Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), as he rose to nominate McCarthy for one of the leader's quixotic Wednesday attempts. “The schadenfreude is palpable.”
And Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) took a jab at Democrats as she spoke to nominate McCarthy for speaker as the House began its sixth consecutive vote for the top leadership slot.
“Diversity of thought is a good thing. It’s one of the things that sets us apart from our friends on the other side of the aisle. Yes, diversity of thought is a good thing. But they want us divided. They want us to fight each other. That has been made [clear] by the popcorn and blankets and alcohol and blankets that is coming over there,” Cammack said, although it wasn't immediately clear how serious she was given that she appeared to laugh as her remarks prompted clamor from Democrats in the chamber.
What effect — if any — this bit of psychological warfare will have as Republicans reconvene is unknown.
But the 212 House Democrats sure are having a great time.
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