[This is because Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has repeatedly failed in his bid for Speaker of the House. This is an internal Republican struggle, but its effects have paralyzed the government and left the House unable to actually do anything, according to the BBC Three days, 11 votes. Still no Speaker of the House. (Opens in new tab)

Understandably, Democrats are fed up with the situation, but Congressman Jared Huffman of California seems to have decided to express his disgust with an echo of the most famous meme in World of Warcraft. In the latest vote to choose the next Speaker, Huffman voted for Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, and did so by shouting "Haaaakkkkeeeemmmm Jeffriiieess!"

The shout is unmistakably similar to Leroy Jenkins shouting his name before running off to have his entire crew slaughtered by the dragon.

"Yeah, I said what I said," Huffman wrote (open in new tab)."

"If the Republicans are going to put up with us repeating this self-flagellation, they had better be remembered.

"I will continue my Leroy Jenkins moniker until House Republicans stop nominating Kevin McCarthy, who has lost six times, for Speaker," Huffman later said (open in new tab). I am not bluffing."

But I bring sad and shocking news. Elected officials sometimes tell little white lies. Huffman had done just that. A day or so later, Huffington Post reporter Arthur Delaney spoke with Huffman.

"Huffman said he was actually trying to sound like an old-time boxing announcer, but now that he knows Leroy Jenkins, he likes it better," Delaney wrote (opens in new tab). 'I'm doing the George Santos thing, as if I knew any better. ...... It is a sad report.

Nevertheless, Leroy's interpretation took hold and began to spread, as memes do. "Jared Huffman gave Hakeem Jeffries a 'Leroy Jenkins' style vote," wrote New Republic congressional reporter Grace Seeger (opens in new tab). "Marianette Miller-Meeks (of all people) votes Leroy Jenkins-style for Kevin McCarthy. We're having fun here, folks."

The Leroy Jenkins meme is 17 years old (open in new tab) but has incredible longevity. It is a genuinely funny clip in which Leroy the Paladin returns to the game before the guild has a technical discussion about how to approach a difficult boss, yells "let's do it," and rushes in, shouting his name. The creator intended it as a joke, but many people took it so seriously that almost every line of the clip was split into separate mini-memes.

Perhaps this is the ultimate manifestation of its power. As the House of Representatives convulses in vain, our elected politicians are sparring with the memes of the WoW. Perhaps we really are in the end times and should accept our fate and follow Leeroy to our doom. At least he has chicken.