Democrats had the choice between sucking it up and allowing a few moderate members to vote to spare McCarthy, which would have made a government shutdown less likely, or allying with fringe members of the Republican caucus to get rid of McCarthy so they can enjoy the chaos. This even though the end result is that the House is without a speaker less than six weeks out from the next government funding deadline, and even though McCarthy’s replacement could be less willing and able to work to keep the government open. …

Republican problems are of their own making. But given the choice between taking actions to tamp down the influence of Republican arsonists and encouraging more moderating influences, at every turn Democrats have chosen to assist the arsonists out of a belief that it ultimately helps them politically.

[It probably does in the short run, but maybe only in the shortest of short runs. — Ed]