House Cancels Votes to Avoid Embarrassment Over Hegseth Impeachment - Republicans are sending members of Congress home early to avoid a vote on the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

[u/Quirkie]

https://newrepublic.com/post/215490/house-cancels-votes-avoid-embarrassment-hegseth-impeachment

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[u/kevendo]

Mike Johnson claimed there aren't enough votes.

This, right here, proves there absolutely are enough votes.

[u/Tacitus111 → u/kevendo]

He probably wouldn’t be convicted, but Johnson is trying to provide cover for Republicans who would be forced to vote to save Kegbreath and have that be used against them in the coming election.

[u/kolby924 → u/Tacitus111]

Exactly. Bunch of wussies… it’s disgusting. I really don’t know how they
Can look in the mirror.

[u/Tacitus111 → u/kolby924]

They have no shame and no moral compass. That’s really it.

[u/AJediWookie123 → u/Tacitus111]

Ding ding ding, we have a winner. Standard conservatives are remorseless robots who hoover up money and dispense hurtful laws. They're evil.

[u/degrees_of_certainty → u/AJediWookie123]

aka exceptionally bad people

[u/AJediWookie123 → u/degrees_of_certainty]

I posted this a few days ago. We really need to start treating conservatives for who they really are, the enemy of humanity. Who they vote for are climate destructionists, religious fanatics, who are morally vapid, and constantly kill people both with policy and straight up murder. Their policies are killing the planet, and we are some of the idiots who live on that planet. We need to treat them...appropriately.

[u/UnquestionabIe → u/AJediWookie123]

Oh I've been doing that since I became politically active after seeing them steal the 2000 election. They're enemies of humanity for sure but more the tools by which the true ghouls, the various billionaires and other oligarchy adjacent losers, try to destroy America

[u/AJediWookie123 → u/UnquestionabIe]

100%

[u/1HappyIsland → u/AJediWookie123]

I fully agree. Anyone who claims to be a Republican is a traitor to the ideals of America. They only care about themselves and have no regard for others. How can you support a pedophile rapist con man and be a good person? It is not possible.

[u/Whos_that_Gorilla2 → u/1HappyIsland]

They're crazy people. They'll take food out of the mouths of millions of babies, kill them directly by cutting off the drugs that save them from getting HIV from infected mothers, and then look you straight in the face and tell you you're a "baby killer" for advocating for the right to abortion that would really prevent an unformed, unconscious, not yet person from ever suffering for one day. They love suffering. It would be one thing if they were just selfish, but they want other people to suffer on top of that.

[u/Batmanischill → u/Tacitus111]

There's only one way to deal with such traitors, but they managed to dig themselves in there. Crazy how so many pos people got into government; there should of always been the absolute highest psychological evaluations done yearly on all members of congress. They should have strict and rigorous tests that have to be taken to prove your worthy of even making suggestions. Look at the republicans and all we have is selfish moral less criminals mostly. Aside from Massie and a few others.

[u/drteq → u/Tacitus111]

They have captured their supporters into a misinformation bubble, most will never hear of any of this.

They aren't held accountable by the people that vote them into office, that's really it.

[u/BeerDudeRocco → u/kolby924]

Vampires can't see their reflection, that's how

[u/wahoozerman → u/Tacitus111]

Don't let it work.

If they wanted to, any handful of Republicans could remove johnson, hold the vote, then put him back in place as speaker.

He's just their convenient fall guy.

[u/meTspysball → u/wahoozerman]

The voters they are afraid of can’t tell that republicans have been robbing them for 47 years. They aren’t going to get the nuance here.

[u/Th3_Admiral_ → u/meTspysball]

Why would they care anyway? I don't hear a lot of Republican voters clamoring for Hegseth to be removed. To criticize one of their own would be heresy. 

[u/daehoidar → u/wahoozerman]

He's not even a fall guy bc Republican voters do not fucking care. He is shielding them to tank the damage instead of letting it get into the congressional races, but it honestly probably wouldn't even matter.

Their constituency does not care about anything, they don't even have a world view. This is why Republicans can just tell them what to believe on a day-to-day basis, even if it contradicts with yesterday's talking points

[u/donkeyrocket → u/Tacitus111]

Oddly this could have been a boost for the midterms for Republicans as they could have saddled Hegseth with the absolute blunder that has been the Iran war. The average Republican is dumb enough to probably even be spoon fed that it's Hegseth's fault for rising gas prices and general costs.

I really can't imagine Hegseth is broadly popular with the average Republican voter to the point that "he made Trump look bad so he's got to go" wouldn't play in their favor. Trump would be pissed as Hegseth is perfect for him as his incompetence is overshadowed by his fealty.

Odd move by Johnson but I suspect it's more Trump isn't on board and would be livid and fuck the whole thing up even though that'd fuck over the party even more in the midterms.

[u/NetworkSingularity → u/donkeyrocket]

I was reading the other day that the real problem is that Hegseth is super popular with Trump himself. Which is the only reason he’s not getting pushed out

[u/Rynowash → u/Tacitus111]

There’s no shortage of corrupt, evil shit to be used against them in a court of law, let alone an election.

[u/OutrunTheForeverYeet → u/kevendo]

I legitimately don't know the last time Johnson kept the House in session for a full month.  This is lunacy. 

[u/AuroraFinem → u/OutrunTheForeverYeet]

“Lawmakers headed home after working just seven days in Washington following the end of the summer break.”

This should honestly be a crime.

[u/Concert_Lover → u/OutrunTheForeverYeet]

I have never seen a boss so lenient. Letting someone take three months off with paid vacation and miss all votes then when he finally shows up he lets them leave early

[u/OutrunTheForeverYeet → u/Concert_Lover]

Are you talking about Mitch McConnell? He is in the Senate.  Equally worthy of criticism, but different representative body. 

[u/toriemm → u/OutrunTheForeverYeet]

Tom Kean vanished for 3+ months with no explanation. He was 'hospitalized for depression', but wasn't too sad to trade stocks while he was getting paid to not do his job. I'll let you guess if he voted for or against sick leave for his constituents.

Mitch ain't special and unique.

[u/jerfoo → u/kevendo]

Mike Johnson is always "sending the House members home early." Early from what? Do they go on break every two weeks?!

[u/Wurm42 → u/jerfoo]

Johnson keeps sending the House home on recess early to avoid votes that he doesn't want to happen.

In theory, the Speaker has power over what gets a floor vote, but Johnson's control is weak.

Thomas Massie is a particular problem for Johnson because he's anti-Trump, but he's still a member of the Republican caucus. Plus, Massie's been primaried. He's out come January, so there's not much Johnson can do to punish him.

Johnson desperately want to avoid controversial votes and hearings before the November elections, especially anything that touches the unpopular Iran War.

But I don't see any procedural way Johnson can stop Massie from submitting the same privileged resolution to impeach Hegseth when Congress comes back.

[u/maddprof → u/Wurm42]

But I don't see any procedural way Johnson can stop Massie from submitting the same privileged resolution to impeach Hegseth when Congress comes back.

Won't matter then.

Either it's a Dem sweep and Johnson just needs to stall until lame duck period ends and Massie just goes away. Yes, this doesn't stop someone in the next round of congress from repeating what Massie did, but it won't matter because Dems will be in charge of the house and will do it anyway.

If GOP holds onto the house, same story just without the "Dems will do it anyway" part. And all Johnson (or whoever is running the House) has to watch out for the next Massie to deal with.

[u/SNRatio → u/Wurm42]

Ehh. I think Massie submitted this when he did in order to give Johnson an out. If he actually intended for this to come to a vote he would have submitted it sooner. His SOP seems to be "Embarrass MAGA, but don't do any lasting damage" That way he still has a career in the post-MAGA GOP.

[u/nizo505 → u/SNRatio]

post-MAGA GOP

With any luck, the GOP will implode post-MAGA.

[u/smurf123_123 → u/SNRatio]

I think he's actually all about lasting damage. When all this is over MAGA will be a toxic mess that the mainstream GOP will be trying to distance themselves from.

The macroeconomic fall out from all this is still picking up steam and by the time the average person is really getting hosed the tide will finally turn. Trump is going to be an absolute trainwreck for them by the end of his term.

[u/shawnaroo → u/jerfoo]

The idea of the house being out of session for even weeks, much less months, is completely insane in today's world. You're the top level of the federal legislature of a super power country of 350 million people. The idea that it's fine for you to go over a month and a half without needing to have any debates and/or votes on the house floor is absolutely ludicrous.

I get that these representatives are supposed to be interacting and talking with their constituents back home and that's one reason why Congress takes these breaks, but this isn't the 1800's anymore. They're not spending months on the Oregon Trail to get to the west coast, most representatives can get from DC to anywhere in their home state within a day, easily.

We're still in the middle of a war that the President straight up unilaterally chose to start, and in August the House was only in-session for 9 days in August, and now Johnson has decided to bail on the rest of September after having only been in session for 7 days so far this month.

And yet these same bunch of assholes won't stop telling us that we can't give the people things like guaranteed health care or any significant safety net because then people might not want to work six million hours per week.

[u/jerfoo → u/shawnaroo]

I agree and also think we should flip it.

I think the House members should be in their districts almost all the time. They should do virtual House gatherings. Stay out of Washington and away from the grift.

[u/DataDude00 → u/jerfoo]

Early from what?

Most Republican policies are deeply unpopular so they have taken the approach that it is better to literally stop working than go on record about their plans

[u/SomeRandomRealtor → u/kevendo]

Yep. If he was good enough at his job, they’d hold the vote to show off how much Congress believes in him. He knows that even any vote that saves Hegseth exposes how wildly unpopular he is. 

[u/scarr3g → u/kevendo]

Yep, if there weren't enough votes he would happily let it go to a vote, to protect Hegseth.

[u/aaronhayes26 → u/kevendo]

I don’t doubt that he would have survived, but forcing them to vote would have made republicans go on the record as approving of Hegseth when they’re up for election in two months.

[u/ChewbaccaFuzball → u/kevendo]

It should be based on the percentage of people that show up 😆

[u/Alb_ → u/kevendo]

He's a lying piece of shit.

[u/robodrew → u/kevendo]

Accountability equals "embarrassment" to these fools.

[u/ChileCheeseburger]

The Republicans are Bravely running away. Can't have civic responsibility running amok these days. That might result in actual progress.

[u/SassyMcNasty → u/ChileCheeseburger]

Brave Sir Robin always goes through my head as republicans flee away from ice storms, school shootings, and their literal fucking job.

[u/pm_me_your_trebuchet → u/SassyMcNasty]

When impeachment reared its ugly head

Kegsbreath bravely turned and fled

[u/DuMbAsS_lOsEr_6_7 → u/pm_me_your_trebuchet]

Mike Johnson is a baby back bitch

[u/Little_Mouse8799 → u/SassyMcNasty]

His head smashed in  And his heart cut out  And his liver removed  And his bowls unplugged  And his nostrils raped  And his bottom burnt off  And his pen--

[u/Blind-_-Tiger → u/SassyMcNasty]

Unfair to Brave Brave Brave Brave Sir Robin:

"He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp

Or to have his eyes gouged out and his elbows broken

To have his kneecaps split and his body burned away

And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin

His head smashed in and his heart cut out
And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged

And his nostrils raped and his bottom burnt off
And his penis split and his—

Sir Robin
That's, that's enough music for now, lads"

He had to face a three-headed giant knight, the Republicans just have to face their own Jiminy Crickets. There's a great scene about this from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish but it's kind of a joke spoiler: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z1iBZBNZ4lA&ra=m

Vote them out, please!

[u/freethrowtommy → u/ChileCheeseburger]

Josh Hawley gave the Republicans the blueprint for how to “run bravely”.

[u/Wicketbitit → u/ChileCheeseburger]

When accountability reared it's ugly head Sir johnson turned and bravely fled Brave brave brave brave sir johnson!

[u/pantsmeplz]

One of the Dem talking points in this election HAS to be the dereliction of duty by GOP. We have to be nearing some kind of record for fewest days in session and legislative acts?

[u/ZTays88 → u/pantsmeplz]

I actually would be curious how it compares to other years or presidential terms.

[u/mortemdeus → u/ZTays88]

The 118th (last one) was the least effective in modern history. The 119th (current one) is on pace to be the least effective ever for any congress with a trifecta.

[u/IrrationalFalcon → u/mortemdeus]

Reminder that the most effective Congress (89th) was when progressives last had real control. Repealing racist immigration quotas, passing Medicare/Medicaid, the Voting Rights Act, FOIA, and the 25th amendment, was all done between 1965-1967. This also isn't even including how much they did outside the landmark bills

[u/CheesypoofExtreme → u/IrrationalFalcon]

That's because progressives believe in a government by the people for the people.

An ineffective government isn't cutting waste - it actively makes its citizens' lives worse and takes power away from them. Conservatives want an obedient population, not one that can make collective decisions.

[u/nate445 → u/mortemdeus]

Republicans cannot govern.

[u/Greizen_bregen → u/nate445]

They have no interest in governing. They want to rule.

[u/Smart-Response9881 → u/Greizen_bregen]

They want to demonstrate that government is inefficient, and should be privatized.

[u/Greizen_bregen → u/Smart-Response9881]

Also very true. A techno-oligarchy. Except they're veering fast down the road of Fascism.

[u/OppositeLopsided5875 → u/ZTays88]

Pretty sure this congressional session is the least productive ever. There are members of Congress who have advanced zero bills even after years in office.

[u/HaulinBoats → u/OppositeLopsided5875]

Oh are you referring to Jim Jordan? The guy who has never done a thing except look the other way from SA victims?

[u/smokeNtoke1 → u/ZTays88]

The house of rep has been in session almost half the days an average session would have had up till this point, using the average # of days for each session since 2001.

U.S. House of Representatives: ~100 to 105 voting days on average (Compared to just 65 days logged by the end of August 2026).

And the senate is just confirming judges day after day but are also below average for days-in-session.

[u/There_is_always_hope → u/pantsmeplz]

This shit should be illegal. They should not be able to cancel votes just because. It's a disservice to Americans.

[u/fourthandfavre → u/pantsmeplz]

Some stats comparing to other midterm election years.

Lowest number of voting days since 1994.

Lowest number of hours in sessions since 1990.

Fewest bills enacted since 1990. Only 34 passed. Lowest in the last 36 years was 1998 and 81.

1990 I believe is just the year they started tracking it.

[u/innocent_bystander → u/fourthandfavre]

And all this when the R's control House, Senate, WH, and SCOTUS. They should be passing stuff left, right, and sideways.

[u/PunctuationGood → u/pantsmeplz]

Oh yeah. That'll convince the people who want a literal dictator with a criminal past.

[u/mikedvb → u/pantsmeplz]

Dereliction of duty by any government official from the bottom to the top. Senate, Congress, and the President are included.

Term limits and age limits as well.

[u/marteney1]

When our Dems did this in Texas, I was told that federal officers were going to hunt them down like dogs and drag them in to force quorum.

[u/learns_the_hard_way → u/marteney1]

This exactly.

[u/FleetingBeacon → u/marteney1]

As far as I'm aware, state forces did?

[u/LittleOtter301 → u/FleetingBeacon]

Yes and no the states did issue civil arrest warrants and did dispatch state officers to arrest them however they didn't have the jurisdiction to actually and sanctuary states didn't cooperate. They essentially compel them to come back by creating financial penalties that increasingly compounded until they literally had no other choice to return or face millions of dollars and fines and for many Democrat legislators that might not have actually been financially doable.

[u/AbeRego → u/marteney1]

hunt them down like dogs

Ah, the Kristi Noem strategy!

[u/CitySeekerTron]

Party, or Country.

Pick one.

[u/RojoTheMighty → u/CitySeekerTron]

oh, they have. A long time ago. The answer is.. not good.

[u/Bzr21 → u/CitySeekerTron]

Republicans not only picked party a long time ago - the went a big step further and picked a fascist cult leader ..

[u/Cactusfan86]

The Trump era has shown how truly flawed our government design is.  Short of a new constitution I honestly don’t know how you salvage this shit

[u/Phenganax → u/Cactusfan86]

“… That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government … [and] when a long train of abuses and usurpations… evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

Thomas Jefferson — The Declaration of Independence (1776).

[u/whomad1215 → u/Phenganax]

However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.

Washington's farewell address. Literally said exactly what would happen about 240 years ago

[u/Cult45_2Zigzags → u/Cactusfan86]

Maybe try reforming the Supreme Court, also expand the House and Senate

[u/Cactusfan86 → u/Cult45_2Zigzags]

Sure, but any change that is just voted in by Congress can be undone immediately when idiot Americans vote in republicans again because chicken tenders get too expensive or something 

[u/Sn0H0ar → u/Cactusfan86]

They don’t even need to get too expensive, the republicans just need to tell them that they’re too expensive and they’ll believe it.

[u/3rdUncleMeatSandwich → u/Sn0H0ar]

Ground beef is almost seven dollars a pound and republicans are telling people it’s two

[u/RandomRedditReader → u/3rdUncleMeatSandwich]

You're getting it for $7? $8.99 here MP, practically $10 for brand name. The only ones feeling the pain are poor people, not the retired boomers sitting in one of their villas.

[u/nate445 → u/Sn0H0ar]

Or tell them something is more expensive but it doesn't matter, like they're currently doing with high gas prices.

The people who complained about gas prices under Biden were now told that this is "a necessary hardship" and they all believe it without question.

[u/Real-Document-6577 → u/Cactusfan86]

Republicans don’t care about the economy.

Their overlords, the Global 1%, tell the world that Republicans are better for the economy because they being the “financial experts”, say they are.

When in fact Republicans act on the interest of the Global 1% to preserve the 1%’s wealth. “Financial Experts” tend to be interested in, and therefore good at money and capital gains. So when they tell you, a commoner, that Republicans are good at economics it’s because it specifically serves their interests even if they ultimately know in the long terms it’s detrimental to society.

These Americans aren’t voting based on the price of chicken nuggets. The same people who would say a Democrat deserves to be impeached over the price of chicken nuggets, will say the price hike is a necessary inconvenience and sacrifice we need to make under Trump.

JD Vance said that he would bring about Armageddon if the collective Evangelical body can’t have its way.

It’s religion…..it’s religion, always has been.

It’s about “sweet baby Jesus” and having insane seizures while kicking our shitkicking boots up in the air and yelling in a southern draw,

“oohh! I got the Holy Spirit all up in me!” and saying like a lunatic, “abbah ta’ enba’ shatta’ shatta!!”🤪🤪

These evangelicals have their hands on the wheel, driving towards a clff snd screaming “Jesus take the wheel!” While taking thier hands off the wheel and we’re all just along for the ride.

[u/Ao_Kiseki → u/Cactusfan86]

I mean they literally ignore the constitution. At some point no system of government works if the populace is stupid and complicit. 

[u/Rynowash → u/Cult45_2Zigzags]

If SCOTUS wasn’t in on the take- much of this would be shut down. It’s ALL corrupt.

[u/senorsmartpantalones → u/Cult45_2Zigzags]

Replace the Executive Branch for a prime minister.

[u/scarr3g → u/Cult45_2Zigzags]

Expanding rhe house does no good, when one person controls it.... And that one person controls the speaker of the house.

[u/Uncle_Boiled_Peanuts → u/scarr3g]

Expanding the House is the only feasible way to make the Electoral College more fair, because it does not take a Constitutional amendment. A state's electoral votes = its senators + its representatives.

[u/SapientChaos → u/Cactusfan86]

Citizens United is the issue.

[u/AirCaptainDanforth → u/SapientChaos]

From 13 million 2010 when Citizens United was adjudicated to almost 600 million today. That's how much the billionaire class has ramped up spending on elections since Citizens United. How can my "voice" be heard over the hundred of millions of dollars stuffing our politicians ears and pockets?

[u/Miqo_Nekomancer → u/AirCaptainDanforth]

That's the neat part, it can't!

[u/MoonBatsRule → u/AirCaptainDanforth]

It's not just the money, they largely control the information delivery mechanism now.

[u/ctbowden → u/SapientChaos]

One of many issues. We basically need to reset to pre-Reagan and lump Internet companies into FCC regulation ... then reform from there.

[u/slow70 → u/ctbowden]

That and revisit the New Deal and Second Bill of Rights proposed by Roosevelt.

There are thinkers, writers, literal folk heroes, soldiers, artists and statesmen of all sorts that throughout our history have articulated the exact aims we seek. We need to dig into those roots and hold high the charge and responsibility we all share.

There's much work to be done. Together.

[u/Responsible-Food3681 → u/slow70]

You have no idea how much I've pined for a modernized Bull Moose party.

[u/boverly721 → u/SapientChaos]

They might as well have called it Citizens United in the Dumpster because they threw us all in the trash. Money = speech is an insult, the argument should have been laughed out of court.

[u/Miqo_Nekomancer → u/boverly721]

Money = Speech is part of the "dream" that the South fought for in the Civil War. "I have money so my voice should matter the most. It also means I'm superior to other people, so I should be able to own them and control them."

[u/Cactusfan86 → u/SapientChaos]

It is a problem, but not even close to the main issue at this point IMO

[u/NeedMoarCowbell → u/Cactusfan86]

I would disagree - I think Citizens U is THE single issue that allowed all of these smaller issues to get so out of hand. Once you allow corporations to spend unlimited money bribing politicians in the name of “free speech”, your government is bought and paid for. Bribery should be - and for a time effectively was - illegal. But once we allowed that, we had to allow all the smaller things that came with it.

[u/BlueFalcon89 → u/NeedMoarCowbell]

I agree with this take, Citizens U opened the floodgates.

[u/NeedMoarCowbell → u/BlueFalcon89]

Yeah, I mean governments will always have problems and be inefficient and whatever. The thing that makes a government go from "I don't love it but whatever" to "they are failing their people" is corruption; and Citizens U was literally just saying "well, bribery & corruption is legal now".

[u/bsfurr → u/Cactusfan86]

I don’t think the founding fathers envisioned the scenario where half the voting population would support a child rapist who is actively trying to destroy the country. At that point, democracy is already lost. I’m still surrounded by idiots who think Trump is making tough decisions for the good of our country. I think we’re witnessing the fall of America and capitalism itself.

[u/Pre3Chorded → u/Cactusfan86]

Dick Cheney once famously said the US Constitution is not a suicide pact.

He was wrong

[u/Cactusfan86 → u/Pre3Chorded]

The whole system relied on gentlemanly following of unwritten norms.  The moment someone realized they could just be ignored it collapsed

[u/Virindi → u/Cactusfan86]

The moment someone realized they could just be ignored it collapsed

That's not what happened. The billionaires have a plan, and they've been working on implementing it for about 50 years. It's all just coming together now.

• 1970s: Watergate. Checks on presidential power; conservative backlash begins
• 1981: Heritage Foundation. Mandate for Leadership gives Reagan a blueprint
• 1982: Federalist Society. Federalist Society builds the legal network to advance ideas
• 1980s: Unitary Executive. Reagan pushes for much greater presidential control
• 1990s: Legal movement. Conservative legal networks gain influence over courts
• 2001-08: 9/11. Bush expands executive power via "national security" claims
• 2010: Citizens United. Supreme Court ruling removes limits on corporate spending
• 2010s: Polarization. Money, courts and political power become intertwined
• 2016-20: Trump. Trump tests the guardrails and exposes how weak they are
• 2020-21: Election crisis. Efforts to overturn the election culminate in January 6
• 2022: Project 2025. Decades of planning become an operational blueprint
• 2024: Trump re-elected. Trump wins re-election due to idiots and/or tampering
• 2025-26: The plan is reality. Project 2025 is put into practice

[u/Miqo_Nekomancer → u/Virindi]

Don't forget the fairness doctrine.

None of this gets as far as it has without the Right Wing Propaganda Machine.

[u/Kiromaru → u/Miqo_Nekomancer]

Cable television would sidestep the Fairness Doctrine since it was only written with radio in mind.

[u/obsequiousaardvark → u/Kiromaru]

It also wouldn't impact the internet or social media as well.

People still crowing about the Fairness Doctrine forget that FOX News wouldn't have ever been touched by it.

The airwaves being public was always a fluke of the medium of radio. Other mediums which can be controlled and privately owned, have supplanted it.

[u/Miqo_Nekomancer → u/obsequiousaardvark]

The spirit of it was more my point. We need something at least resembling it to apply to all legacy media formats.

Not much you can do about individual users on platforms though.

[u/obsequiousaardvark → u/Miqo_Nekomancer]

That's the point, you can't have it that way because communicating with radio is different. Radio waves cannot be controlled in the same way an ethernet cable can be. Radio is by it's very nature public infrastructure because literally anyone with the tools can access and use it all the time any time.

That is not the case with an ethernet cable, which is terminated at two ends, with tightly controlled writing scheme. This is a physical item, which can be physically owned by someone. In other words, privatized.

The Fairness Doctrine worked because airwaves are considered a public and shared space. Once the medium of data transferal becomes a privately owned space, the same laws can no longer apply because it is now privatized.

Radio cannot be made private in the same way, so it worked. Unless we move all internet comms to radio (stupid idea for technical reasons) it's functionally never going to happen to those privately owned mediums under current US legal structures.

Now you're in the pickle if seizing private networks for public use, whereas radio was already by it's very nature public, literally in the air around us.

[u/gollumaniac → u/Cactusfan86]

It's also written for a different era. The idea behind the senate was they didn't want big states bullying small ones, but our politics are more national now instead of state-based as it was then. It needs updating to reflect the modern realities, but the existing structure favore those in power so nothing happens.

Jefferson even suggested it should be mandatory to rewrite it every 20 years...

[u/scarr3g → u/Cactusfan86]

There is a reason that most, if not all, of the founding fathers were against political parties.

Instead of 3 branches, we have 2 parties.

[u/hadriker → u/Cactusfan86]

The house and senate rules need to be rewritten so they cant just decide to not work just becasue something comes up they don't like.

[u/PolloConTeriyaki → u/Cactusfan86]

In a Parliamentary system, there would've been a vote of non-confidence....

[u/ChronoLink99 → u/Cactusfan86]

You solve it the same way you've always needed to solve it.

By actually paying attention to civic processes, participating in government, voting in every election (even primaries), and attending town halls.

When you don't do that, you provide an opening for fringe elements that do not represent most people to come in and take over government.

Civic engagement isn't just something you try to remember to do every four years. That would be like exercising once a month and asking "why am I getting fatter?". It's not logical.

[u/SAHDSeattle → u/Cactusfan86]

The solution is simple. If voters take responsibility and enthusiastically engage in their civic duty basically everything gets fixed within 2 years.

[u/old_righty → u/SAHDSeattle]

We’re fucked.

[u/LurkyLurks04982 → u/old_righty]

Yep

[u/NexusNickel → u/SAHDSeattle]

We can't even get people off their cell phones when they drive.

You think people will take their responsibility seriously when it comes to voting?

We are doomed.

[u/Senior-Albatross → u/Cactusfan86]

We're grossly overdue for a new Constitution. But I don't see the necessary appetite to make the necessary changes. So we'll just keep declining 

[u/Real-Document-6577 → u/Cactusfan86]

You hold true to the Constitution and you treat traitors as instructed

And the Republican Party, in its current form must be dismantled

[u/windowpanez → u/Cactusfan86]

I would say it definitely starts at the bottom of pyramid. Gotta work towards building an educated, intelligent and healthy population who can make better collective decisions. 

[u/DrEzechiel → u/Cactusfan86]

This right here. Your nation's veneration of an 18th-century document is borderline pathological.

[u/velvet-kangaroo]

$2.5 million a day in House salaries and operational costs on the taxpayers' dime for a bunch of spineless lap dogs to do jack shit for We The People.

[u/GreatGojira]

It must be nice getting paid to not work

[u/pwnznewbz → u/GreatGojira]

How many days have they actually worked this year? Like 10?

[u/smokeNtoke1 → u/pwnznewbz]

Less than half the average up to this point

[u/Responsible-Shoe8831 → u/pwnznewbz]

If we had as much recess as congress we’d all be dumb enough to vote for MAGA

[u/humanoideric → u/pwnznewbz]

They only returned from the summer recess on August 31. So the House has gotten roughly 2 weeks back in Washington, and now they're leaving again.

[u/TheLabRay]

I don't want to have an uncomfortable conversation at my work that I need to have. I guess I'll just go home and it will go away.

[u/Responsible-Shoe8831]

The fact these people get to take 6 week plus “recesses” whilst receiving health benefits and a paycheck should be front and center as an example of lazy people getting paid to do nothing. 

Absolute fools. 

[u/majora9109 → u/Responsible-Shoe8831]

Welfare Queens, all of them.

[u/AJediWookie123]

Good god, if the republicans had to have real jobs they would be fired on day #2. They're such massive pussies.

[u/TaterForming → u/AJediWookie123]

90% of these fuckers wouldn't last 6 hours in fast food.

That's why I praise AOC being a bartender. That is a job where you have to deal with everyone else's bullshit while they get drunk and not fuck up their drinks even if they order something stupid. And you have to do it till all hours in the morning.

[u/AJediWookie123 → u/TaterForming]

What's unsurprising is that fox has talked shit about her being a bar tender because she put herself through school. You know, that entire bullshit line the GOP constantly vomits out about bootstraps? So which is it? O wait, its nothing because if you aren't white, fake Christian and born rich you're doing it wrong according to conservatives.

[u/Piccolo60000 → u/AJediWookie123]

I love how Sean Hannity talk shit about her being a bar tender when his previous occupation was a paint salesman.

[u/M23707]

Complete Failure of Leadership

[u/Exciting-Record8101 → u/M23707]

Johnson has actually been very successful at frustrating the business of the House, such as it is, which is exactly what his masters want him to do.

[u/lodemeup]

How is it possible that when called to do their job, they just get to go home because it’s tough and inconvenient. What a great life that must be.

[u/[deleted] → u/lodemeup]

That's how privilege works.

Vote their privilege ass out.

[u/michael46and2]

What a bunch of fucking cowards. Republicans are the biggest bunch of pussies ever.

[u/Kinda_Zeplike]

What the actual fuck are these supposed representatives doing. Why are they even being paid? We have Americans working their ass off without any vacations year after year and these ass clowns just do whatever the hell they want.

[u/Responsible-Shoe8831 → u/Kinda_Zeplike]

But socialism. 

People shouldn’t get paid to do nothing!

People who don’t work shouldn’t get health care!!!

[u/Sudden-Grab2800]

Bro they came back in session TWO FUCKING DAYS AGO

[u/bwaredapenguin → u/Sudden-Grab2800]

That was the Senate.

[u/Hades_Mercedes]

Yeah that's how a democracy works!

Fucking clown country.

[u/Ok_Door_9720]

Congressional Republicans are as weak and cowardly as the people that voted for them.

[u/ToeSniffer245]

The most cowardly pieces of shit currently living

[u/ManateeGag]

I should run for congress. I'd love to get paid $174k a year to do nothing.

[u/kaveman6143 → u/ManateeGag]

Don't forget all the insider trading you can do!

[u/remarkable_in_argyle]

Has there ever been a point in time where politicians had to work so little? This headline of being sent home is like groundhogs day.

[u/Accurate-Click-6367]

For what reason do these people get a fucking TWO MONTH BREAK?

[u/rekniht01]

We fucking need new, independent rules on how Congress works. No more leaving when it gets embarrassing, end months long no-shows, etc.

It's fucking embarrassing.

[u/packetmon]

Roll McConnell back in!

[u/Altruistic_Cow4769]

Impeach Johnson for not carrying out business

-Edit

Impeachment doesn't apply here, removal with 2/3 approval is the route. Thanks

[u/kuldan5853 → u/Altruistic_Cow4769]

He will just declare the house to be in recess until 2080 in that case.

[u/Easy_Ease3396 → u/Altruistic_Cow4769]

Only judicial and executive branch members can get impeached and then tried in the Senate, legislative members can be simply removed with a 2/3 vote of their respective chamber 

[u/ShittyLanding]

This House Majority will go down in history as one of if not the worst ever. Just completely and utterly subservient.

[u/thingsmybosscantsee]

If Dems are smart, they should start making this a big deal, and force the GOP to own Iran, and spiraling fuel prices

[u/Spurnout]

If this is legal then we need a new government

[u/AuntRhubarb]

Mike Johnson is a cowardly scoundrel unfit to be a town clerk, much less the position he holds.

[u/n00bsauce1987]

I'm not surprised, but what a coward. He knew he would have gotten impeached.

Man, the very existence of this administration will depend on who gets in power in the midterms. Johnson won't be able to save them if they become the minority

[u/arwinda]

Mike Johnson is effectively exploiting the house rules as much as possible.

Any future congress needs to bring the rules in order, otherwise months long disruptions will be the norm.

[u/Last_Material_5754]

Pedophile defending, narcistic, greedy, cowardly fucking losers. Every one of them.

[u/Eastern-Membership67]

Another day, another display of how utterly pathetic our federal government is.

[u/MadScientist3087]

Do your fucking jobs Jesus Christ

[u/ONE-EYE-OPTIC]

Instead of fixing the problem Republicans run away. Remember this and everything else. VOTE.

[u/bramletabercrombe → u/ONE-EYE-OPTIC]

the people who vote for republicans will never find out that this happened.

[u/mrtrololo27]

Everyone needs to call and write their representatives demanding the impeachment of Pete Hegseth and the removal of Mike Johnson from the role of Speaker. This is intolerable.

[u/Communism]

Didn’t they JUST GET BACK?!

These people are ducking parasites

[u/Knightoncloudwine]

Why and how the fuck is this allowed? This needs to stop.

[u/julianriv]

Term limits for Congress. Congress is legally able to stop a bat shit crazy President but this one scares them, because he has been able to get some voted out of offices they have held for decades. Term limits takes away the fear of loosing the job and power that comes with it, because they are going to loose the job anyway. So no more catering to the crazies in the name of holding on to power.

[u/Illustrious_Sea_962]

active congress sessions should be required attendance. outrageous how thats even possible. no attendance means no vote.

[u/RadioName]

How can we have any representation at all when we allow rules that let them just not vote on issues. The way it should work is that any representative can put a bill in the queue, they come up for votes 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, first come first served, and a vote MUST happen as soon as possible. No delays or loopholes, or additions. Our representatives should be able to represent us equally in Congress, individually without parties or majorities.

[u/Academic_Passage3713]

So when do we call it what it is? Republicans are clearly the enemy here. They dont want to play by the rules of the government when it doesnt go in their favor. Why do we continue to allow this? We are many they are few. Stop waiting for one of them to save you cause that aint happening. If every American stopped what they were doing and beelined it to the nearest Billionaire the world would change over night for the far better.

[u/theschoolorg]

How is this allowed to be a thing? Didn't at some point in this hundreds of year history someone say hey we can't just let people leave to avoid voting?

[u/Hyperion1144]

If congress is in recess, they can't do anything good.

But they can't do anything bad, either.

And let's face it, they were never going to do anything good.

[u/botspiderlau]

He's sending them home cause he knows Massie has nothing to lose and will bring Epstein Files to the floor.

[u/Lucas_Steinwalker]

Maybe we should have a system of government that doesn't allow lawmakers to skulk away from their job.

[u/PhantomOfTheChallah]

Is Congress ever even in session anymore?

[u/PrototypeMale]

Who the fuck gave "knows when my son is watching porn" Johnson the authority to close half of congress? Why the fuck do they get to just say "we're closed, go home"? I am asking seriously, why does one individual have this authority?

[u/pell80]

Oh look the aristocracy gets another paid vacation

[u/RioRancher]

I really wish voters would send a message that this isn’t acceptable.

[u/Taint_Liquor]

Such pussies.

[u/eddie_koala]

We need to start bounty posters of everybody that's complicit in violating the constitution.

[u/Moldybreadyumyum]

Mike Johnson has proven himself over and over to be one of the biggest coward in history.

[u/aldoraine000]

Corrupt and criminal. The GOP is simply a criminal organization.

[u/Several_Vanilla8916]

This is their 7th work day since July 24th

[u/AnomalyNexus]

Republicans are allergic to accountability

[u/PaleUmbra]

You work for US, fuckfaces. Back to your desks and get your vote on record.

[u/Sea_Scientist_8367]

Cowards, Criminals, and Pedophiles. Also known as: Republicans!

[u/nola_mike]

Spineless cowards

[u/Rough_Elk4890]

Well, that and the Epstein Trans. Act II

[u/PurpleWhiteOut]

Why tf are they allowed to do this at all. They shouldn't legally be allowed to go on recess early without extenuating circumstances, especially not when there are votes pending

[u/ribald_jester]

At what point are these actions criminal? Subverting the democratic process is just a "shrug your shoulders" event?