Comments on: The Circles Mike Johnson Will Have To Square http://www.chrisweigant.com/2023/10/26/the-circles-mike-johnson-will-have-to-square/ Reality-based political commentary Wed, 13 May 2026 04:47:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: dsws http://www.chrisweigant.com/2023/10/26/the-circles-mike-johnson-will-have-to-square/#comment-204613 dsws Fri, 27 Oct 2023 19:56:50 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=24269#comment-204613 On the other hand, this isn't forever. In a few years, the current lunatic fringe (without moderating their views, tactics, or rhetoric in the slightest) will become the new "moderate" Republican faction. Maybe Johnson will say that a state should be allowed to classify zygoticide as second degree murder instead of first, or that Trump has to be beatified first before he can be elevated to sainthood. Or maybe he just won't say the next Republican orthodoxy fast enough. Either way, the lunatic fringe will always be in charge of the Party, and eventually he won't be one of them. On the other hand, this isn't forever. In a few years, the current lunatic fringe (without moderating their views, tactics, or rhetoric in the slightest) will become the new "moderate" Republican faction. Maybe Johnson will say that a state should be allowed to classify zygoticide as second degree murder instead of first, or that Trump has to be beatified first before he can be elevated to sainthood. Or maybe he just won't say the next Republican orthodoxy fast enough. Either way, the lunatic fringe will always be in charge of the Party, and eventually he won't be one of them.

]]> By: dsws http://www.chrisweigant.com/2023/10/26/the-circles-mike-johnson-will-have-to-square/#comment-204612 dsws Fri, 27 Oct 2023 19:23:07 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=24269#comment-204612 Johnson doesn't have to do anything. The lunatic-fringe Republicans aren't going to kick him out, because he's one of them. The "moderate" Republicans aren't going to kick him out, because they have no real objection to the lunatic fringe. The voters aren't going to kick him out, because members of the House are chosen by the state legislatures every ten years, and the voters have nothing to do with it. (Exaggeration, of course, but far less so than it would be in a sane country.) Johnson doesn't have to do anything. The lunatic-fringe Republicans aren't going to kick him out, because he's one of them. The "moderate" Republicans aren't going to kick him out, because they have no real objection to the lunatic fringe. The voters aren't going to kick him out, because members of the House are chosen by the state legislatures every ten years, and the voters have nothing to do with it. (Exaggeration, of course, but far less so than it would be in a sane country.)

]]> By: dsws http://www.chrisweigant.com/2023/10/26/the-circles-mike-johnson-will-have-to-square/#comment-204611 dsws Fri, 27 Oct 2023 19:13:14 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=24269#comment-204611 The word "coequal" is not in the Constitution. Neither is the concept. All powers are given to Congress. The only things that a president can do with absolutely no involvement of Congress are to grant pardons and to "require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices". The courts are even more of an afterthought. Literally, the presidency is Article II and the courts are Article III. All powers of the federal government are in Article I. The word "coequal" is not in the Constitution. Neither is the concept. All powers are given to Congress. The only things that a president can do with absolutely no involvement of Congress are to grant pardons and to "require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices". The courts are even more of an afterthought. Literally, the presidency is Article II and the courts are Article III. All powers of the federal government are in Article I.

]]> By: dsws http://www.chrisweigant.com/2023/10/26/the-circles-mike-johnson-will-have-to-square/#comment-204610 dsws Fri, 27 Oct 2023 19:05:32 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=24269#comment-204610 Bills that include anything about taxes have to originate in the House. But actual bills are made mostly out of amendments, so that clause means diddly. Bills that include anything about taxes have to originate in the House. But actual bills are made mostly out of amendments, so that clause means diddly.

]]> By: Bleyd http://www.chrisweigant.com/2023/10/26/the-circles-mike-johnson-will-have-to-square/#comment-204609 Bleyd Fri, 27 Oct 2023 18:41:48 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=24269#comment-204609 nypoet22 [2] My understanding is that the full "power of the purse" belongs to Congress as a whole, which is composed of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. While we typically refer to the House of Representatives as "Congress", the constitution defines Congress as entire bicameral legislature, not just one of the houses. The House of Representatives is specifically in charge of initiating revenue bills, but spending is on both houses. Please correct me if I'm wrong though. nypoet22 [2]

My understanding is that the full "power of the purse" belongs to Congress as a whole, which is composed of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. While we typically refer to the House of Representatives as "Congress", the constitution defines Congress as entire bicameral legislature, not just one of the houses. The House of Representatives is specifically in charge of initiating revenue bills, but spending is on both houses.

Please correct me if I'm wrong though.

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2023/10/26/the-circles-mike-johnson-will-have-to-square/#comment-204608 nypoet22 Fri, 27 Oct 2023 17:04:36 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=24269#comment-204608 at least in theory, the house is supposed to have the power of the purse, being ostensibly closest to the people. of course, gerrymandering has seen to it that the opposite is true. at least in theory, the house is supposed to have the power of the purse, being ostensibly closest to the people. of course, gerrymandering has seen to it that the opposite is true.

]]> By: Bleyd http://www.chrisweigant.com/2023/10/26/the-circles-mike-johnson-will-have-to-square/#comment-204607 Bleyd Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:11:16 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=24269#comment-204607 The House Republicans, and people in general, tend to forget that the House isn't an equal branch of government to the Executive branch. The House is HALF a branch, equal to the Senate, but less than the Executive branch in full. When the House chooses to negotiate with the Senate and President, they should be accounting for 1/4 of the influence involved, with the Senate being another 1/4, and the President being 1/2. That's how the branches are supposed to be weighted in order to maintain a balance of powers. The House Republicans, and people in general, tend to forget that the House isn't an equal branch of government to the Executive branch. The House is HALF a branch, equal to the Senate, but less than the Executive branch in full. When the House chooses to negotiate with the Senate and President, they should be accounting for 1/4 of the influence involved, with the Senate being another 1/4, and the President being 1/2. That's how the branches are supposed to be weighted in order to maintain a balance of powers.

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