Someone flinched first in the federal government shutdown soap opera

By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times

It had all the drama of “High Noon”, a classic, old-time shootout of a cowboy movie.

Millions of federal government employees were expecting to lose their paychecks at midnight last Saturday when the budget expired. Folks at the White House were nervous about the impact on the reelection chances of President Joe Biden if the government went dark.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy made a deal months ago with 21 conservative hardliners in his Republican caucus to secure enough votes to become Speaker of the House. They insisted there could be no temporary budget bill under any circumstances.

They were threatening to strip him of that position of power if he didn’t hold out for a new budget with no more military or economic aid to Ukraine, a drastic cut in spending for all 12 major cabinet departments and other funding and policy changes opposed by the Biden Administration.

As the hours ticked away on Saturday, McCarthy apparently double-crossed his radical rightwing element and had the House, with help from Democrats, pass a temporary spending bill that keeps Uncle Sam in business through Nov. 17. The vote was 335-91 with 90 Republicans voting in opposition.

The bill went immediately to the Senate where it passed easily, 88-9, and President Biden signed it Saturday night, declaring “This is good news for the American people”.

Personally, I was shocked and dismayed by the demand of GOP House members that we abandon Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion. Russia reportedly has sustained more than 100,000 casualties and not a single U. S. active duty soldier, sailor or airman has been killed in that conflict because we are only sending weapons and ammunition.

I wonder if those extremist politicians like Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. Thomas Massie, Rep. Matt Gaetz and Rep. Jim Jordan who oppose Ukraine aid would prefer that we hold off opposing Russian aggression until they start invading Alaska across the Bering Strait? Hell, it’s only 55 miles wide.

As for McCarthy’s decision to finally put the best interests of his country above petty partisanship, I admire his surprising act of political courage, but it could cost him his job as House speaker.

Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.