The debate over who should be the Speaker of the House at the start of the 118th Congress was a contentious battle, with many anticipating a difficult road for Rep. Kevin McCarthy. After a multi-day process that included some heated exchanges between conservative members of the House, it was clear that this election season had brought forth an ideological rift not seen in over 100 years.
The idea of coming to any sort of agreement between two ideologically opposed viewpoints could appear impossible, but one would expect elected officials, especially those representing different sides in a democratic system, to exercise self-control and consideration when debating their positions. The notion that physical confrontations could be employed to settle disagreements is absurd, and yet there were several instances where tempers flared beyond what might be considered acceptable behavior.
This dispute highlighted some difficult truths about our current political climate: partisan divisions can often lead to bitter arguments, and sometimes it's hard to stay on track when emotions are running high. It's important for elected officials to remember that cooler heads must prevail if they are to effectively represent their constituents and resolve any issues or disputes that may arise. They must also remember while they may disagree ideologically, they still need to follow through on their obligations as representatives, even if those obligations require compromise.
What America witnessed during the 14-ballot process for U.S. House Speaker was democracy at work. Unlike the kowtowing left-wing progressive branch of our government, conservatives feel free to speak their minds, and they did.
Despite some heated words and obvious squabbles among Republican lawmakers, the idea of someone becoming so enraged that they punched a wall seemed unconscionable. However, one Texas congressman ended up with bloodied knuckles.
No one is exactly sure how Dan Crenshaw got his “bashed knuckles.” But when the camera picked them up, it was pretty obvious what happened. Unless someone laid Crenshaw’s hand on a table and smacked it with a hammer, he got the injuries punching something.
If @DanCrenshawTX is actually punching walls in the Capitol, I hope he knocks it off. Taxpayers will be forced to pay for the repairs. https://t.co/M5ww0JA7aW
— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) January 7, 2023
From looking at the seriousness of the cuts, he punched something pretty damn hard. It looked like he was trying to win a boxing match with a concrete wall. This isn’t a good look for someone entrusted with making critical decisions for the welfare of a country.
But even more alarming than Crenshaw’s bloodied knuckles were the bloody verbal arrows he shot around the halls of Congress. After one of the early failed attempts by McCarthy to secure the necessary majority, Crenshaw called a fellow Republican a terrorist.
Certainly, someone who expresses a different political opinion isn’t automatically a terrorist. Crenshaw was referring to fellow congressman, Florida’s Matt Gaetz. The combination of bloody knuckles, clearly a loss of self-control, and Crenshaw’s bizarre outburst are alarming.
What’s wrong with Dan Crenshaw? Either of these situations is a red flag for someone who’s struggling. What could have made a diplomat so enraged that he punched something so hard that it bloodied his knuckles?
But, and this is even more alarming, what would cause him to verbally assault a fellow party member? There are a lot of unacceptable names you can call someone, but “terrorist” has to be high on the list. Americans need to know if one of their elected officials is mentally unstable.