[joesbucks]

Before Santos, all previous expulsions were Dems. And McCarthy would have been safe had certain hard right Republican members not have been jerks and called for his removal.

Maybe on a proportional basis Dems seem to get favorable treatment. But it appears they don’t get off Scot free.

[Political Junkie Too]

I would generally agree with this.

I'd add that Democrats are masters at the sports concept of "fouls to give." They know how many times they can concede an issue or seat and still have the advantage.

Look at when they ousted Al Frankin over the mock groping photo of Leeanne Tweeden on a USO plane during an entertainment tour in 2006. I don't believe he actually touched Tweeden when she was sleeping (still photo perspective artifact), but the Democrats were embroiled in faking charges against Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore during his Senate run in 2018 (attorney Gloria Allred was forced to admit that her accuser client forged Moore's signature on her yearbook). Democrats knew another Democrat would take Franken's seat, so it was safe to jettison Franken to avoid the hypocrisy charge vis-à-vis Moore.

The net result was they kept the Minnesota seat and picked up the Alabama seat (Doug Jones).

That's just how the Democrats roll...

-PJ