McCarthy Ousted from Speakership

By Isis Mack

From the very day he gained his seat, Kevin McCarthy (R-Cali) has proven to be an incompetent leader. After 15 long, grueling ballots, McCarthy was elected as Speaker of the House on January 7, 2023. Throughout this ordeal, I was on a call with a couple of friends, sitting on the carpet in my auntie's living room, chewing on candy with eye bags forming, and shaking my head in disapproval. Is this the country we live in? One where Republicans cannot unify for a simple vote to choose the Speaker, safeguard our country, and ensure the swearing-in of every member of Congress?

Fast forward to today, October 3, 2023, and I can't help but recall the iconic "Mean Girls" quote: "Today he asked me what day it was." Kevin McCarthy has been removed from the position of Speaker of the House in a 216-210 vote, as reported by ABC News. This leaves the seat temporarily vacant, with Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) stepping in as House Speaker. There's even been a House representative who served for just one day back in 1869, former Rep. Theodore Pomeroy. But knowing this, McCarthy serves as a glaring example of what we don't want in a Speaker.

For the past 30 years, every government shutdown that has happened has occurred with a REPUBLICAN in office. And the reason why McCarthy was ousted? Because the Republicans were mewling over his collaboration with the Democrats, and frankly, I think everyone was tired of him in speakership.

As McCarthy has announced he won't be running again, the question arises: who will step up to rebuild and reform the House? Hopefully, this time the Speaker will have a bit more power. Now while we sit back and contemplate the state of the union as this drama unfolds, it's truly disheartening that major issues like gun violence, civil rights, and the economy have remained unresolved under the current leadership. I pray that Republicans and Democrats alike come together to help form a better union and remember that serving in the House isn't a game of "House" where you bicker and throw insults, but an elected position where you serve the people who pay you and entrust you with their representation!