this post was submitted on 02 Jan 2026
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The wave of exits could be particularly ominous for Republicans in charge of the House and Senate. The number exiting is nearly on par with 2018, a dismal midterm year for the GOP.

It's almost as if Republicans, specifically the giant pedophile with tiny hands, have no idea how to run a country.

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[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 64 points 4 days ago (5 children)

“frustrated with dysfunctional Congress”

Is that really the reason though? Maybe the outlet repeating this talking point should dig a little deeper.

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 49 points 4 days ago (3 children)

It also mentioned the demanding schedule where they need to work for like three months every year.

[–] Soulphite@reddthat.com 22 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Poor things had a 43 day vacation right after Summer vacation, grueling.

[–] GuyFawkesV@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago

Bastards take vacations like hobbits take meals.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 19 points 4 days ago

That's a bit unfair to House Reps, who do actually spend an enormous amount of their "off-time" running from plutocrat to plutocrat begging for more money to finance the next election cycle. Fundraising is the primary job of the average House Rep, with legislating coming well behind.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

If they find a sweet gig on the Wingnut Welfare gravy train, they might have to work even less.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

I wonder how many are leaving for the death threats they are facing or will possibly face if they go against Taco and how many are leaving so they can set up a nice comfortable grift on the Wingnut Welfare gravy train because they don't think they will get re-elected?

Or some combination of the two motivations?

I doubt very many, if any at all, are doing it for principle or frustration at not being able to govern in a sane way.

[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 7 points 4 days ago (2 children)

When two teams show up to play a game of football and one team insists on picking up the ball and running with it, knocking over any opponent who gets in their way — yeah, it’s going to be dysfunctional. Not the game’s fault though, just that the two sides aren’t using the same rule book.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

When two teams show up to play a game of football and one team insists on picking up the ball and running with it, knocking over any opponent who gets in their way

Republicans out here playing full contact football. Democrats still insisting we're playing bad mitton.

But don't worry, I'm sure 2026 will break for the liberal party and we can go back to our Pelosi-Era Rules Based National Order. Funding the fascist policies of Red States and dismantling the public institutions in Blue States through the legal and respectable mechanisms of budget showdowns and J6 riots.

Not the game’s fault though

The system is what it does. If your opponent starts hitting you in the face with the controller until you give them your console and all the money in your wallet, screaming "that's not how you play!" doesn't win you any extra points.

[–] Triumph@fedia.io 4 points 4 days ago

Time for the other team to bring firearms.

[–] Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 days ago

LOL they have a majority.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

TheHill is a digital magazine of, by, and for Congresscritters.

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 days ago

Talk about a massive target audience.

[–] Bustedknuckles@lemmy.world 41 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

More that they're too chickenshit to get rid of Mike Johnson. Like 2 Republicans could join with Dems and replace Johnson with a speaker that cared about protecting the constitutional role of the Legislature

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 11 points 4 days ago

They see the internal polling and couldn't be bothered campaigning to lose. So they'll take their money and run.

[–] GuyFawkesV@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

replace Johnson with a speaker that cares about protecting the constitutional role of the Legislature

I don’t suppose you have a name in the Republican Party that would do that?

[–] GuyFawkesV@lemmy.world 31 points 4 days ago (2 children)

It’s like they’re SO CLOSE to realizing that THEY are the problem.

[–] Soulphite@reddthat.com 13 points 4 days ago

Don't get too excited, they'll still blame democrats every chance they get.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

I doubt too many Republicans have really grokked that the Republican Party is full of Republicans yet.

[–] BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world 29 points 4 days ago (3 children)

But... you are Congress. 😖

[–] lolola@lemmy.blahaj.zone 18 points 4 days ago

They are the dysfunction

[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago

The snowflake does not blame itself for the avalanche.

Also works for traffic: you are traffic.

Reminds me of a game of DotAge where I only had 10 villagers (going for an achievement) and five of them went on strike. Like, dudes. Whatever you want, you're the ones who aren't giving it to yourselves.

[–] gustofwind@lemmy.world 23 points 4 days ago (1 children)

They got their government healthcare and pension

They finished their market pump n dumps

They secured a flotation device and are now sprinting for the life boats after crashing the titanic

Exactly. This is not a crisis of conscience or anything like it. They got what they wanted and now they're fucking off to their feathered nests.

[–] thefluffiest@feddit.nl 16 points 4 days ago

Dysfunctional? They waved through, covered for or actively cheerled one piece of crap after the other, selling out their own power while they were at it. Call that dysfunctional!

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 5 points 3 days ago

They're probably more frustrated that Trump didn't deliver on the promises of wealth and power he made them.

[–] EndOfLine@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

See folks? The GOP isn't the cause of this cluster fuck of a situation. They are just as frustrated as you. The GOP is sympathetic. You like the GOP. They are on your side.

/s

[–] takeda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 4 days ago

This is intentional though. That's how trump purges anyone who might thinking of resisting.

[–] HuntressHimbo@lemmy.zip 11 points 4 days ago

Its kinda wild that congress has gotten so toxic that Republicans are sort of term limiting themselves to deal. Like who would have guessed that there was a limit to the stupid where they would eventually do the right thing for the wrong reasons?

[–] Soulphite@reddthat.com 9 points 4 days ago

Sorry, GOP know how to run a country.... into the ground. My bad.

[–] Almacca@aussie.zone 4 points 4 days ago

Self-awareness isn't their strongest quality, is it?

[–] tomatolung@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

The number of lawmakers not seeking reelection for their seat this cycle — 30 Republicans and 23 Democrats, according to a Ballotpedia tracker updated Dec. 23 — has drawn comparisons to the 2018 midterms, when 37 Republican lawmakers departed, compared to just 18 Democrats, and Democrats saw a blue wave of wins. 

[–] minorkeys@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

People always leave a winning team, right?