Pelosi Rejects Jordan and Banks Appointment to House Select Committee on Capitol Insurrection; McCarthy Retaliates By Withdrawing Remainder of GOP Appointees

Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN)

Earlier today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she would not appoint Congressmen Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Jim Banks (R-IN) to the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.  Jordan and Banks are two of the five GOP House members that Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy proposed to be added to the committee.  

Speaker Pelosi was absolutely correct in rejecting the appointment of Jordan and Banks.   They both voted to not accept the Electoral College results despite no evidence that there was voter fraud or irregularities that affected the count.   Post January 6th, Jordan and Banks have both demonstrated they have no interest in finding out the truth as to what happened at the Capitol on that day.  Their only interest is in protecting former President Trump from what could well be an investigation that further damage his reputation.

Not surprisingly, Minority Leader McCarthy responded a couple hours by removing all five of his proposed appointments to the select committee.  McCarthy, like Jordan and Banks, has no interest in an actual investigation of the events surrounding January 6th.  As a Trump supplicant, McCarthy is not about to do anything that might anger Dear Leader.  Additionally, McCarthy would be a major witness in any January 6th investigation as he was in contact with President Trump while the attempted insurrection was taking place.

Where are the Republicans with integrity and courage?  

OOP's short takes:

• My guess is Rep. Banks is angling to run for Governor in Indiana in 2024 and wants to solidify his Trump credentials in a likely GOP primary contest against Secretary of State Todd Rokita.  Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb sailed to re-election in 2020 because he avoided closely associating himself to Trump and Hoosier voters appreciated his independence.  Of course, having a very weak Democratic opponent didn't hurt either.
• One of the things that gets overlooked is that Indiana has lost several points off its built-in Republican advantage during the Trump era.  While rural Indiana has become more Republican, that's been more than offset by the Indianapolis' suburbs becoming more Democratic.  If Trump's rural base doesn't show up in 2024, a Democrat could be elected Governor, assuming (a big assumption) the Hoosier Democrats can get their act together and nominate a strong, moderate candidate.  Indiana is traditionally less Republican during presidential election years.
•  I actually have the most contempt for people like Banks, Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, as well Ohio Senate candidate J.D. Vance.  All are smart, well-educated and know what they're doing and saying in defense of Trumpian politics is wrong.  They all have made the informed choice to sell out their honor and integrity (not to mention the conservative movement) because they believe doing so will bring them political success.   I make a distinction between that group of sell-outs and True Believers like Representatives Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Louie Gohmert and Paul Gosar, politicians whose stupidity can, somewhat, excuse their behavior.
• I keep getting emailed stories about how Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) confronted Dr. Anthony Fauci at a hearing and Senator Paul got the better Dr. Fauci during their exchange.  But when I actually watch a clip of the confrontation, it is always the Dr. Fauci making Sen. Paul look bad.  Their most recent confrontation again holds true to form. Fauci showed up Paul so badly that the Senator is now asking that Dr. Fauci be criminally investigated.  Yeah, good luck with that.  Is there a bigger asshole in the U.S. Senate than Rand Paul?  Okay, possibly Ted Cruz, but I'm not so sure about that.