Down by one point late in the fourth quarter, the Republicans took the ball and drove all the way down the field to their opponent's one-yard-line, only to have McCarthy punt it away on first down. Every single advantage the Republicans had has been squandered. Every single one. The absolute best outcome they possibly could have had was 100% guaranteed if they had done nothing. They had the only bill on the table - a bill that had already passed the House. The Democrats had nothing. No bill. No alternative. Nothing to negotiate against. Only the Republican bill. Yet McCarthy decided to draft a bill for them - a bill that gave them everything they could possibly want with zero mandates for spending cuts - a bill that gives them a cushion for another $4 trillion in deficit spending, enough to get them through the next election.
Instead of milking this for everything it was worth - monthly debt ceiling increases that would yield more concessions each time - McCarthy rolled the next 20 opportunities into one massive bill, and squandered everything. Everything!
Let's remember who was in here cheering the Conservatives on during the Speaker fight. Let's remember the members here who warned against McCarthy, and who cheered each and every time he came up short. And let us never forget the members here who ridiculed them for it, who called for a quick McCarthy confirmation in unison for their preferred Presidential candidate. I sure as hell won't.
