A series of events in the past few weeks has undercut what little power Johnson ever had among his fellow Republicans in the House. GOP representatives – the group that he theoretically leads – are so angry that they publicly call him names. Republicans are using parliamentary procedures to get votes on bills that Johnson doesn’t want to bring to the floor.

Incumbents panicking over the potential to lose their seats, in a Democratic landslide, are blaming Johnson for their problems. He has to make promises he must know he can’t keep to get bills passed. And Donald Trump is doing nothing to help Johnson in his time of need.

  • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    edit-2
    24 hours ago

    I don’t think the problem with Johnson is untouchable. I just think he’s in the role because there’s nobody better to replace him with.

    Also, I just don’t think “Trump dying in office” is a serious part of anyone’s math.

    • chaogomu@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      8 hours ago

      Trump is 79 and lives on fast food cheeseburgers. He also appears to be on dementia slowing drugs.

      Everyone has plans for if Trump croaks in office. Not having those plans is irresponsible.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        7 hours ago

        Trump is 79 and lives on fast food cheeseburgers. He also appears to be on dementia slowing drugs.

        He’s got the best health care money can buy and a team of doctors ready to do a triple bypass at the drop of a dime.

        He’ll live to be 100.

        Not having those plans is irresponsible.

        Of course. Republicans are famous thinking long term

        • chaogomu@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          5 hours ago

          First, the best doctors in the world can’t help an unwilling patient.

          And again, the dementia drugs. Those are not even 50% effective. They actually sit at about 30% and that’s the best we’ve got.

          But thinking that people aren’t quietly talking about what to do when Trump croaks, or can’t be paraded around anymore… That’s just a fantasy.

          Everyone is talking about Trump’s health. Well, everyone except his most delusional supporters, but they’re busy photoshopping his head on a fit body.

          • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            4 hours ago

            First, the best doctors in the world can’t help an unwilling patient.

            Trump’s a hypochondriac and has never been shy about taking preventative steps for his health. He was first in line for the COVID shot and first in line to get paxlovid when he became infected.

            And again, the dementia drugs.

            This has been the subject of endless, unverified speculation. Trump’s old, not particularly smart, and regularly in meetings that leave him bored out of his mind. Its trivial to get a picture of him half-awake and drooling, then claim you can diagnose medical conditions with a cell phone camera that doctors struggle to categorize with a CAT scan.

            But thinking that people aren’t quietly talking about what to do when Trump croaks

            I’m not suggesting nobody is talking. I’m stating that Mike Johnson’s position as House Speaker has nothing to do with his perceived capability as successor to the successor to the President. Nevermind the fact that Speaker of the House is also a powerful bureaucratic position. Why would you give a shit about Trump dropping into a coma, JD Vance getting - what? - hit by a lightning bolt, I guess? And then this thing that has never happened in 250 years of US History happening in the next three years.

            Everyone is talking about Trump’s health.

            Every Lib has been talking about how Trump could croak any second, because they’re coked up on Copium and have zero faith in the next round of elections.

            Conservatives think you could drop a bomb on Trump’s head and God would step in to stop it.