This past year has been a wild one. “May you live in interesting times” was definitely a curse in 2023.

There was a lot that happened that could have been considered for a “top 5” list, but this particular list will focus on political events that we did not see coming. I’m going to leave the Hamas invasion and massacre on October 7th off this list, since that feels more like a top 5 event, but not necessarily a political one. In my mind, a “political surprise” involves an elected official doing something that no one expected. This top 5 list is presented in no particular order, except for number one. Ready?

5) The Saga of the Speaker of the House
No sooner do Republicans get the majority in the House of Representatives, than they make completely asses out of themselves. Last January, the party became an absolute joke as Kevin McCarthy ran short of the number of votes needed until the fifteenth round of votes, and after a whole lot of drama from the Freedom Caucus and certain concessions being wrung out by members like Matt Gaetz. For a time, the House seemed to function normally, with McCarthy presenting a perfectly acceptable alternative to Joe Biden (remember, the Speaker of the House is second in line for the presidency) and competently running his office. And then came the budget negotiations, Matt Gaetz using the nuclear option on McCarthy, and the clown show returned in spades. With McCarthy removed by a sketchy alliance of eight Republicans joining all the Democrats, the insanity began once again. The vote for Speaker of the House turned into a demented version of “The Price is Right,” with contestants coming on down, and then promptly taking themselves back out. Yes, we all like Mike Johnson – but was that drama really necessary, especially since no one can find a difference between the way McCarthy was running things and the way Johnson has run things? Matt Gaetz wanted Kevin McCarthy to either bend to his personal wishes or go, and he got his way. McCarthy, now leaving the House, will have his seat filled by special election, and whether a Republican will win is a whole different question. Kevin McCarthy was also a prolific fundraiser for Republicans, and Mike Johnson has never been tested as a fundraiser. The ripple effect for ousting McCarthy may continue on for a long time. But hey, Matt Gaetz got exposure, so he’s happy.