House Speaker Mike Johnson had no idea Representative Ken Buck is quitting, as the GOP is in complete shambles.

Representative Ken Buck took to social media to announce his near-immediate leave from Congress, resigning so fast that even his party leaders were caught off guard by the decision.

“Today, I am announcing that I will depart Congress at the end of next week,” Buck said in a statement on Tuesday. “I look forward to staying involved in our political process, as well as spending more time in Colorado with my family.”

The less-than-two-weeks notice took practically everybody by surprise, including (or maybe especially) House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“I was surprised by Ken’s announcement,” Johnson told a crush of reporters inside the Capitol building. “I look forward to talking to him about that.”

“I didn’t know,” he added.

  • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Buck’s reason for leaving seems stupid to me (paraphrasing) “I believe our election system is broken so I want to join a group to fix it”.

    Dude, you’re in the legislature!! Introduce legislation changing it!

    • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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      7 months ago

      I mean, this is darkly foreshadowing to me. I don’t understand how he could have more subversive influence outside of Congress than in, but I’m sure something is fucky.

      • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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        7 months ago

        My guess is that he sees a massive loss for the GOP coming up and figured it was smarted to leave now then get crushed in the landslide.

        Of course, it could be something completely outside politics, but I know how I’d bet.

        • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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          7 months ago

          In general totally agree. That particular quote is odd however. Probably there to pique interest with folks just as it did me.

          Edit I’m a fucking idiot guy.i replied to wrote “(paraphrasing)”

      • magiccupcake@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        While I agree, the nutters out there would have started death threats daily. I don’t blame him for not wanting that treatment.

        But maybe congress could be in a position to change that.

        • BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Except he’s part of the reason people feel safe to make death threats.

          He is running from the consequences of his actions.