“Chaotic” is one way to describe the mess lawmakers have made of the U.S. House of Representatives in recent weeks. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is right to be concerned about what this round of political theater will do to our government.

“Kevin McCarthy is a very good friend of mine and was, I think, dealt a difficult hand and really served well as Speaker. Only eight people was enough to combine with all the Democrats to throw him out,” Capito said last week. “And so, it is chaotic over there. And I don’t know how they have no plan B. It’s very disheartening to me because I think it’s difficult when you’re handed the gavel and you’re supposed to lead, and you can’t lead.”

Meanwhile, in the Senate, Capito and others are doing their best to keep working on behalf of all Americans.

“What we’re going to do over here … is what we can do, which is to put our heads down and pass these appropriations bills and consider them on the floor,” Capito said. “We can only influence what we can do. … I am concerned, very concerned, about the signals that are coming out of the entire Capitol.”

She is right to be concerned, as her hope that “saner heads will prevail” may not come to fruition.

This nonsense has gone on long enough. Responsible members of the U.S. House of Representatives — on both sides of the political aisle — are going to have to be the adults in the room and remind those who are behaving like children that their antics will not be tolerated. Surely enough will have the courage to stand against this insanity that a competent Speaker will be selected quickly and the work of the American people can progress.

The alternative is truly frightening.