Ina rather stunning development House Majority Leader "Big Mac" is withdrawing his name for election of the next Speaker of the House. Mac was considered a shoo-in as the heir apparent to the speaking ship just a week ago. Why the shocking withdrawal? Simple, he didn't have the votes. why didn't he have the votes? Because the self- selected, so called "Freedom Caucus" ( made up mostly of tea party, libertarian leaning, economic conservatives), who agreed to vote as a block, refused to support him. The reason, they see him as a continuation of the previous Speaker, who led a consolatory capitalist Congress, on the major issues the Caucus members were specifically elected to oppose, I.e. De- funding Obamacare, reforming immigration policy, reducing the deficit, etc. But most importantly, the Freedom Caucus maligned the Leadership for "refusing to put up a good fight" in opposition to The Obama "statist" agenda. While they wanted to stack a mountain of reform bills on the Presidents desk for his veto pen, turning him into "President Nyet", the saw their own leaders turn the lower chamber into Chamberlin style institution of capitulation.
They want some in the speakership who will charge the bureaucratic barriers, and burn down the the walls of progressive imprisonment that their leader not only stood by and watched, but even handed them bricks. the amazing thing, is in Congress of more than 400 members, these 40 Reps have made themselves the swing votes, at least with respect to selecting the next speaker. they virtually have the power to elect, or block any nominee they choose, and they are clearly holding out for a young blood, who's vain' run as hot as their own. Daniel Webster has been mentioned, but it not clear whether even he posses the grit the Caucus wants to see in the next speaker.
The interesting, (and more encouraging) take-away is the new found power of the "economic radicals" who some would say are "radicals for economic responsibility" if not radicals for capitalism. Even more striking is the notion that this mini- movement in Congress is actually the tip of the iceberg sized dissatisfaction the GOP rank and file have toward a Congress, and indeed an entire Federal Government who the see not as the solvers of problems but the source of them. they are furious that the GOP majority they sent to Congress has virtually no major achievements to show for their tenure, including zero victories over a President who's policies they abhor. The result? A Presidential primary field lead by the three candidates who have Virtually NO experience as politicians. the kicker is, I doubt many think Trump would be a great, or even competent President ( leader of the free world is not an " on the job" entry level position). But his populist " Congress is Stupid" message resonates perfectly the the sentiments of the GOP faithful who feel the members they elected based on promises of conservative reform have used and abused their trust, and sold them out to the enemy. The political ramifications? GOP and Libertarian voters may see this as a golden opportunity to ADD to that Freedom Caucus... That same rag tag shirt tail that is currently wagging the entire GOP dog.