Episode 13 - Won’t let the bastards grind me down
The Kevin McCarthy "saga"
On this episode Brian O’Leary and Adam Haman ponder why it tends to be the case that the worst humans among us seem to be the ones that rise to political power.
The current kerfuffle in the US House of Representatives as the Republicans bicker over who wields the gavel in the House serves as a perfect launching off point.
Today’s show brought to you by Tom Woods School of Life.
DM: Adam to Matt – Hey, buddy… can I be Speaker of the House?
News articles from before McCarthy became Speaker of the House:
· Matt Gaetz’s demands include a committee to investigate FBI, as he calls McCarthy a “desperate guy”
· Kevin McCarthy will not be House speaker, Matt Gaetz says
· How McCarthy survived the House chaos to win the speaker’s gavel
News articles on the more recent House shenanigans:
· Rep. Jamaal Bowman pulls fire alarm ahead of House vote to fund government
· Biden tells Congress to “get to work” on longer-term government funding deal after averting shutdown
· Kevin McCarthy has been ousted as speaker of the House. Here’s what happens next
· Republicans gear up for long speaker battle after candidates make their cases: Recap
· US House Republicans plot next moves on leader, McCarthy says he would go back
· House Speaker Chaos threatens GOP majority
· Thomas Massie on October “surprises”
Jim Jordan
· Jim Jordan’s Ohio State controversy
· Brian interviews John Ziegler talking about the Jim Jordan Ohio State case (timestamp 2:09:30 for that discussion)
·
Listen now
Multi-Media “Soundtrack” for NOP Episode 13:
Kris Kristofferson: Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down
Van Morrison: Raincheck
“Gonna keep moving on up to the higher ground
Gonna keep on moving on up, I got to stand my ground
Gonna keep on moving on up, I wanna stick around
Won’t let the bastards grind me down
Won’t let the bastards grind me down
Won’t let the bastards grind me down”
The Yada Yada – Seinfeld episode
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Cop Land (1997)
McCarthy is Superboy in this analogy. Gotta act right, or the crew that has your back, suddenly… won’t.
More references from today’s show
· The dog that caught the car
· Hayek Was Right: The Worst Do Get to the Top
· F.A. Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom
Podcast Mentioned:
Pat Buchanan’s prescience from 1975 — a short book review
Brian D. O’Leary
Adam’s “other” gig:
The Nevada Libertarian Party Presents: The Battleborn Podcast
Co-hosted by fellow Nevadan Randy Sadac, the LPNV’s Battleborn podcast features commentary about goings on in Nevada from a liberty perspective. Here you can find some great interviews with people doing great things to advance liberty in the state of Nevada, and beyond.
Don’t miss their great interview with economist (and libertarian superhero) Bob Murphy!
Randy and Adam Interview Robert Murphy
Brian’s empire of content:
Where you’ll find all of the interesting things Brian is up to, including:
· The O’Leary Review – Substack
· and more.
While you’re there, don’t forget to buy Brian a coffee. He’ll greatly appreciate it, especially a darker roast.
Adam also runs on coffee, and he would greatly appreciate any contributions that listeners would like to make to help keep him in front of the microphone and producing content.
O’Leary Digital
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