The last speaker who prevented a shutdown, Kevin McCarthy, was booted from his position by Republican extremists for working with Democrats to pass a stopgap bill.
Mr. Johnson might have tried to appease the howling kennel on the far right by throwing it a treat in exchange for support, as he did with the I.R.S.
There were no policy riders or crazy demands for cuts, and as a result, all but two House Democrats voted for it.
The far right never trusted Mr. McCarthy, but feels a kinship with Mr. Johnson’s fringe cultural positions.
The stopgap bill is weird because it punts that fight to two dates.
Persons:
Kevin McCarthy, Johnson, Johnson’s, that’s, McCarthy
Organizations:
Republican, Pentagon