Lori shows some spine

While the Republicans in the federal House of Representatives put on a spectacular daily show of how badly their party has been damaged by Trumpism, Oregon's two Republican members of the House are playing out a little drama of their own.

Cliff Bentz, the eastern Oregon rep since 2018, is going all-in for the red meat, including strong support for bozos like Jim "Gym" Jordan. Meanwhile, Bentz's rookie colleague, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who scooped up the new district formerly known as Schraderland, is taking a more moderate tack. Which is s smart move on her part if she wants to get re-elected next year.

“My constituents don’t want to see nonstop chaos coming out of D.C.,” Chavez-DeRemer said in a Tuesday social media statement. “Until we can find clear consensus among the Republican Conference, it’s time to give expanded authority to Speaker Pro Tempore [Patrick] McHenry so the House can resume governing.”

Chavez-DeRemer, who represents parts of Clackamas, Deschutes, Linn and Marion counties, argued ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy is the only member who has received anywhere near the needed 217 votes.

Bentz, on the other hand, said Jordan is the only member who has “stepped up,” and he has spent years upholding Republican conservative values.

“I voted for him as next Speaker of the House last Wednesday and I voted for him again last Friday,” Bentz said in a social media statement Monday. “When his nomination is made on the floor later this week, I will vote for him a third time.”

And so it is that the deep fracture in the GOP runs right through Oregon. 

Meanwhile, LCD's last opponent, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, is on the hot seat for the way she treats the people who work for her. If JMS is the Democratic nominee again, Lori's got nothing to worry about, no matter how the Speakership debacle winds up. Not to mention, LCD will have money to burn.