For the debt-ceiling agreement to make it to the House floor in legislative form, it must first make it through the Rules Committee, which Kevin McCarthy monstrously contaminated with three hardcore "conservatives" in exchange for his speakership.
They are Reps. Ralph Norman and Chip Roy of the Freedom Caucus, and Thomas Massie (pictured), who, as The Washington Post describes him, "is an eclectic libertarian who is socially and ideologically close to the Freedom Caucus."
The Rules Committee is composed of nine Republicans and four Democrats, the latter of whom will, presumably, vote against the debt-ceiling bill. That means the legislation will require the votes of at least seven Republicans.
Roy, who indecorously calls the bill a "turd-sandwich," takes that number to eight. Norman cuts the number to seven, since he calls the bill "insanity" and "totally unacceptable."
That leaves the committee vote up to Massie — again, assuming no Democrat votes in favor. The Post reports he is "officially undecided on the legislation." He says he "need[s] to see text."
Massie represents northeast Kentucky's 4th congressional district, which is about to become lathered in federal largess. That, or Roy, Norman and the other Freedom Caucus crackpots, cranks, freaks, wackos, demagogues, creationists, cultists, conspiracy theorists, theocrats, monomaniacs, extremists, harebrains, psychotics and nihilists will convince him to set the world on fire.
We await The Honorable Eclectic Libertarian Mr. Massie's decision.