IF THIS WAS BOXING... — The Weekly Opine

It’s up to sane, patriotic Americans to thwart demonic MAGA Republican efforts to turn our democracy into fascism. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

A technical knockout

When I was a kid, championship boxing matches were scheduled for 15 rounds. For example, the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier trilogy of fights, starting with their 1971 “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden, followed by “Super Fight II” in 1974 at MSG, and their 1975 bout in the Philippines, all were scheduled for 15 rounds. The first two fights between Ali and Frazier went the full 15-round distance. Frazier won the first match and Ali won the second fight. Ali also won their third fight, the epic “Thrilla in Manila,” by technical knockout in the 14th round.

(Due to the viciousness of the three Ali-Frazier fights, along with other brutal boxing matches from that era, which contributed to many boxers’ suffering noticeable loss of brain functionality, boxing matches are now capped at 12 rounds).

I was reminded of boxing’s heyday last week, as we witnessed the vote for Speaker of the House of Representatives. We watched, aghast, as Republican ineptitude carried on for 15 rounds, like a 1970s boxing match. GOP members, like battered boxers from back in the day, appeared to have lost brain function even as the opening round of voting began. By later rounds of voting, Republicans behaved similarly to fully loaded, punch drunk boxers.

At the conclusion of last week’s voting marathon, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) won 11 of 15 rounds. Scoring the rounds on total points (votes) they received, after 15 rounds Jeffries tallied 3,179 votes while Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) received 3,072.

Although McCarthy finally, officially won the gavel – after six members of his caucus, who stridently opposed him, chose to vote “present” – the real winner was Jeffries. As the undisputed minority leader, receiving 100% of the vote from House Democratics, Jeffries demonstrated true leadership and the ability to hold his caucus together. Jeffries comprehended the enormous gravity of the moment with a poignant and poetic speech, prior to the traditional handing of the gavel to McCarthy.

Can you spot the differences? (Photo credit CNBC and NBC News)

The contrast between Jeffries and McCarthy could not be starker. East Coast vs. West Coast. New York vs. California. Constitutionalist vs. election denier. Truth seeker vs. born liar. Democracy vs. fascism. Man vs. mouse.

It was laughably tone-deaf when McCarthy, after becoming Speaker, said the ordeal was proof he never gives up. Really? McCarthy long ago gave up his mind and soul to Trump and did so again with MAGA fanatics in his caucus. McCarthy literally begged the miscreant and credibly alleged molester of teen girls, Matt Gaetz, to vote “present” so McCarthy could eek out a win. Kevin McCarthy is a pathetic coward who embodies what’s become of so many Republicans these days.

For those who missed the eloquent speech Jeffries delivered around midnight last Thursday, here is a sample. He literally went through the alphabet, from A to Z, acutely spelling out the differences between how Democrats and Republicans approach governing in America. In doing so, Jeffries delivered a technical knockout.

Truer words were never spoken as Jeffries said, “We will never compromise our principles. House Democrats will always put American values over autocracy. Benevolence over bigotry. The Constitution over the cult. Democracy over demagogues. Economic opportunity over extremism. Freedom over fascism. Governing over gaslighting. Hopefulness over hatred. Inclusion over isolation. Justice over judicial overreach. Knowledge over kangaroo courts. Liberty over limitation. Maturity over Mar-a-Lago. Normalcy over negativity. Opportunity over obstruction. People over politics. Quality-of-life issues over QAnon. Reason over racism. Substance over slander. Triumph over tyranny. Understanding over ugliness. Voting rights over voter suppression. Working families over the well connected. Xenial [hospitality] over xenophobia. ‘Yes, we can’ over ‘you can’t do it.’ Zealous representation over zero-sum confrontation.”

In other words, boys and girls, we have now arrived at the moment of truth in the 21st Century struggle for the survival of American democracy.