It’s as pre-ordained as the destruction of the Death Star in Star Wars: A New Hope, but an effort led by Congresscentauress Marjorie Taylor Greene will put the Speakership of the passively malignant Mike Johnson up for a vote.  This will lead to a handful of her fellow grumpy Republicans joining her and, banking on a predictable oppositional “support” of Democrats, they’ll rush to push Johnson out.  Marge will crow about her superpower, and she’ll get the camera time on the steps of the Capitol she so craves.

“We should hold on and do what is right, to do what ‘ar voters sent us to do,” Marge says so loudly she makes the microphone she’s holding in the vacant retirement home community hall unnecessary.  “But that has not happened this Congress.  As a matter of fact, our Republican House majority has failed completely.”

She’s right.  For once you can’t argue with her; you’d be flogging a dead horse.  The Republican House majority has failed.  Not just the leadership; the Majority.  The Republicans are, in short, a failure.  Marge is right, and Marge got them there.

This is where Democrats can do Americans a favor and lower antacid sales.  Marge is going to move–likely within days–to unseat Preacher Mike because she’s mad about something.  And yes, she’ll get her hangers-on.  But Democrats shouldn’t follow expectations like Marge wants.  Unless there’s a coalition that would put Hakeem Jeffries in charge–and there won’t be–Democrats should side, on the first ballot, with Mike Johnson.

Look, Mike Johnson is a horrible member of Congress.  He supports every anti-liberal policy there could be.  He share his porn history with his grown Black son, fer cryin’ out loud.  He’s not a good person.  I get that.  But Mike Johnson is feckless.  He can’t do anything the far right wants, and he’s willing to work with Democrats when needed.

If Democrats don’t, the House goes into an endless spiral of votes, backroom discussion, Byron Donalds rumors, and then probably Steve Scalice, the guy who once “accidentally” went to a Klan meeting, could be the next Speaker.  That would horrible–and not just for lisp-affected Americans.

So for the first vote, tamp down Romper Room and support the Republican Speaker you can manage and who has proven capable of getting enough support to get bipartisan bills passed.  It’s not a perfect solution for the next eight months, but it will get us to January 6, 2025, which should be–FSM willing–such a landslide Johnson won’t have anything to say except to congratulate the Vice President on her reelection.