The Republican god Ronald Reagan first announced the 11th Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

And politically, that’s good advice for any party. If there’s one thing the opposing party doesn’t need to see, it’s infighting among your own party.

Which is why today is so much fun for we Democrats.

Kevin McCarthy wants to be Speaker of the House. Wants is so desperately that he will say whatever he has to in order to get it. He spoke against Trump after January 6th, only to change his words once he realized it would hurt him politically, so at least he is consistent with his fellow Republicans for not standing for anything except their own power.

But he’s not getting any power today.

As I write this, he lost the first vote for Speaker. They’re currently arguing and making backroom deals. Even if eventually he will get it, he will be a weak leader without the clear support of his party.

The more moderate Republicans are unhappy with McCarthy and blame him for their lack of a “red wave” in the last election, and the right-wing crazy Republicans are just crazy. Trying to figure logic out with these people is an impossible task.

The Speaker of the House is elected by the House every two years, and it basically goes to the leader of whichever party is in the majority. However, that only works if all the members of the party vote in unison.

Republicans have a very slim 10 vote margin (out of 435 House members). All the Democrats voted for their leader, Hakim Jeffries, of course, but the GOP is split. Some even abstained.

What makes this especially interesting is that if enough of them abstain, Jeffries could get elected Speaker even though the Democrats are the minority party! That’s not likely but it also isn’t impossible.

In any event, I’m enjoying watching the party fall apart.