Five irrational jackasses? Perhaps. But let me suggest that there may be a less obvious angle. Namely, that these five, and possibly more, were groomed before Nov. 6 to switch parties if and when that became necessary for the Republican Party to maintain control of the House. If so, their opposition to Pelosi will be their pretext should they end up making the jump anyway. In the meantime they just appear to be pointlessly flopping around like a handful of mackerels mysteriously stranded in the middle of a parking lot.
I don’t have inside info so this is strictly my own surmise. But it is ringing some bells so let me share a little ancient history. After the 2000 Census the Republican Party was absolutely fixated with capturing control of the Georgia legislature. Long story short, on election night 2002 their efforts (and they really did work at it) failed. But wait! Mirabile dictu, three white senators elected as Democrats quickly announced that they were switching parties and handing control to the Republicans. The Republicans never looked back and two years later they got the house (with a little help from a friendly federal court).
I get that the situations are not identical — the Times couldn’t get enough Republican Ascendancy in 2002 — and there was in fact an historic party realignment of southern white voters (and elected officials) going on that encouraged the Georgia flippers. But given what is going on here, I suspect that inducements have been offered, and perhaps improper suggestions have even been made, in order to encourage defection. So what if as occasionally happens I am right? What would you do about it?
On the one hand, losing these five seats for two years might be a net benefit if they are replaced in 2020 with better Democrats. Bad rubbish and all that. So maybe you just say so long suckers if it comes to that.
On the other hand, while I and at least some other readers of this site have a vision of today’s timeline as one that ends with the Republican Party as a regional redoubt of reactionary religious redneckery, those remaining Republican strategists who haven’t gotten gigs on MSNBC have a different timeline in mind I assure you. They will take every flipper they can get and even if they get can’t get control of the House they will use them to build the narrative of the already-failed we’re-doomed-I-tell-you Pelosi speakership. Are the “news media” gullible/spineless enough to give that credence? We know the answer to that one. I think it would be wise for Democrats to counter that narrative as much as possible. Plus, Pelosi needs every vote she can get in the fights to come. So I lean toward keeping everyone in the fold as much as possible.
I think Pelosi learned at her daddy’s knee just what to do about double-crossers, and if indeed treachery is afoot, I hope it isn’t pretty. In any case, I think the five guys need to hear right now from the people who elected them that they need to show some party loyalty if they want to keep their jobs. Right now they’re carrying the Republicans’ water.
PS — I believe that Pelosi is the best pick for Speaker and that she deserves it. As for the other leadership, I can’t think of one reason why Steny Hoyer should not step aside, nor can I think of one reason why he should stay. It’s way past time to put him out to pasture and groom a successor for Pelosi.