comment: >
  
  Most of them are independently wealthy, so the paycheck from Congress won't be missed by most.
context: Beginning? That's been the goal for decades. >
  
  Newt Gingrich doesn't get the recognition he deserves. >
  
  Infamy would be more appropriate. >
  
  People confuse that with renowned. >
  
  “The impasse has ground all congressional business to a halt”
  Remember, when Trump was elected Steve Bannon said their goal was deconstruction of the administrative state. The republican party has long been the party of obstruction and deregulation. They would love to get rid of every federal agency and privatize to put more money in the pockets of corporations. 
  The message provided by conservatives that somehow churches and nonprofits will fill the gap is laughable. 
  If you have ever worked for a nonprofit, you know what it takes to raise funds to just support the mission. Non-profits and churches are not able to take on the load that would be required to fill the gap.  
  I remember laughing when I heard a Republican woman come forward after Roe v. Wade was overturned. The reporter asked her, Now that Republicans have overturned Roe v. Wade, what is the plan to help women and families with social services, family leave and childcare? This Republican woman’s response was, of course, that churches will step in and help.  
  But just like Republicans said, “Repeal and Replace” for years, while railing against Obamacare, there is no plan other than more money in the pockets of the rich and in the pockets of shareholders and corporations. >
  
  Ask the Irish how good churches are at stepping in to help.  What a joke. >
  
  The beginning was when they tried to murder some members and the VP. >
  
  The beginning was in the 1950’s when they embraced anti-Semitic / anti-Black policies and messaging from the KKK, through the 60’, 70’s, and 80’s of the Southern Strategy, the Reagan years, and making crack cocaine & marijuana felonies while powder cocaine & opioid pills are like a slap on the wrist. 
  Trump isn’t even the first time they’ve been brazen about it - Watergate, anyone?
  This is their last tenuous clawhold of relevance and power; they know it’s over and won’t yield a single bit, even if it destroys everything, because after this, Democratic candidates will campaign for a generation on how the Republicans tried to overthrow the government >
  
  I hope you’re right, but I feel like I have heard “this is the GOPs final grasp at relevance” every election cycle of my entire life. >
  
  I believe that everyone is granted one wish in their life.
  I already used mine, but someone else can use theirs. >
  
  No, neither establishment GOP or the batfuck lunatic brigade actually want this dysfunction.  They want control so they can grift and take bribes while fucking over Democrats.  They can't do any of that with in-fighting and naming one of their own the Speaker.  
  Remember, Speaker is third-in-line to the Presidency.  Its a very powerful position.  Establishment GOP obviously want Kevin, because he's soft-headed and exceedingly easy to control. 
  The batfuck lunatic brigade, helmed by Gaetz and Boebert and MTG and Jim "The Child Rapist Defender" Jordan, want one of them to hold the power, and not Kevin, because they know Kevin is the tool of the establishment, which is trying to excise all the Trump from its ranks so they can reclaim control.
  This is the result of catastrophic dysfunction within their own party because of their continued catering to batfuck lunatics who are now trying to eat away the rest of the party like the cancer they are. 
  Kevin and the rest of the establishment will absolutely carve the ~20 or so lunatics like MTG out of committee assignments and other positions of power.  And, predictably, the batfuck lunatic brigade doesn't like being carved out of power, and they've made their entire career out of rabid intransigence, so if they can fuck over the rest of their party, they will.  
  Just like their lord and savior, Donald Trump.
  Cancer eating cancer, really. >
  
  Unfortunately, Kevin has already promised leadership/chairmanship positions to the loony right wingers.  But that's not enough. >
  
  Methinks they don't trust Kevin's promises.
  Logical, when the entire party is based on being deceptive liars that swindle people. >
  
  At least they can look to their Dear Orange Leader to learn how to honor their word...
  ​
  nevermind they're fucked >
  
  Breaking government has been a GOP goal for decades. Why do we think there's no real urgency from them to have a functioning legislative branch, particularly the chamber of Congress that has to initiate all the funding bills. >
  
  Because none of them will get paid until they elect a leader and swear in the Congress.