MSNBC's Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski shook their heads in astonishment at the chaos within the House Republican caucus as global security careens out of control.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) emerged as the GOP nominee for House speaker, but many Republicans openly doubted whether he could win enough floor votes to be elected, and the "Morning Joe" co-hosts lamented their inability to lead in a critical moment for the nation and its allies.
"Republicans have a nominee, but it is not clear if he's got the votes to get the gavel," Brzezinski said.
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?
"I mean, it looks like more chaos, more chaos from Republicans," Scarborough added. "We have, of course, just an existential challenge for the people of Israel who are going to need support from Congress. We have an existential challenge from Ukraine, and with all that's going on, I mean, you look and see what may be happening in Taiwan if, you know, one domino falls after another. We need Congress and Congress with a speaker."
The House will return Thursday afternoon but Scalise faces a highly uncertain path to becoming speaker, and Scarborough agreed the stakes couldn't be higher with the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas.
"They're proving what complete, reckless, irresponsible people they are by allowing this to go on while we have all these crises across the globe," said Scarborough.
"It's a chaos conference," agreed contributor Jonathan Lemire. "Some of the stunts to get attention by some of their members in recent days. [Rep.] Nancy Mace (R-SC) wearing a scarlet letter 'A' on her shirt."
"Oh my god," Brzezinski interrupted, as Scarborough shook his head in apparent embarrassment.
"[Rep.] George Santos (R-NY) running through the hallways trying to avoid reporters – both of them coming out against Scalise," Lemire continued. "Scalise narrowly topped [Rep. Jim] Jordan (R-OH) yesterday behind closed doors. He's not even close. It's not the eight we know of, there's growing sense the numbers could be a dozen, 20 or more votes against Scalise. It's unclear if he'll ever get to the vote for the floor, despite a whipping operation now. If this stretches on and other candidates come forward, what that does, Joe and Mika, of course, that slows down any ability for the U.S. to really aid Israel at this time of crisis."
"Again, the Republicans have been trusted, just barely, but trusted with one wing of government," Scarborough added. "They're completely making fools of themselves, and they're undermining America's national security, and undermining our ability to help the Israelis, Ukrainians and our allies across the globe. It is serious, it is dire – they need to get serious very soon."
Watch the video below or at this link.
10 12 2023 06 00 58youtu.be
