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Happy New Year! We’re three days into it and the drama is already at a fever pitch in D.C., as House Republicans lock horns over whom to choose as their leader.

Kevin McCarthy has long been the presumed successor to Nancy Pelosi, but he hasn’t earned the Speaker’s gavel just yet. After two rounds of votes, McCarthy remained 15 votes shy of the 218 needed to claim the title, with 19 Republican holdouts.*

I’m generally conflict-averse, and I do agree that whoever emerges gavel in hand, the House GOP need to rally around and find a way to present a united front to make the most out of the next two years, in terms of effective legislating, budgeting, and oversight.

But for now, I’m with those who say: “Bring on the fight.” McCarthy hasn’t earned a cakewalk and if he truly wants to be a leader, he needs to find a way to work with the resistant Republicans and persuade them that he’s the right man for the job. If you can’t work deals with people who agree with you 80-plus percent of the time, how do you expect to lead effectively in the face of a White House and Senate controlled by the opposition?

Note: This “Moore to the Point” commentary aired on NewsTalkSTL on Wednesday, January 4th. Audio included below.

*A third vote, held after this commentary was recorded also failed to yield a Speaker.