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Republicans Are Beginning to Drive the Narrative
We’ve been waiting a very long time. We have watched Republicans wringing their hands, trying to be polite, and deferring to their “honorable colleagues.” Finally, I think we’re seeing a couple of Republicans who are indicating they’ve had enough. I don’t know how long it will last, but I’m cautiously encouraged.
The first Republican I want to give a shout out to is Devin Nunes. Since the first major controversy arose in the House Intelligence Committee over the Russian dossier, which Nunes chairs, he has had to fight for his voice to be heard and for his reputation. We are now seeing the results of his efforts.
In spite of Adam Schiff’s pitiful behavior in trying to stop, discount and rage about the Republican memo, Nunes has been a stalwart representative for truth and justice. He has refused to bow to defend himself against the onslaught of insults from Adam Schiff. He has waited to see the Democrat rebuttal—and he, in his responsible and undramatic way has torn it apart, point by point. He now is collecting information about the missteps and possible corruption of the Department of State. I’d say he’s on a roll.
The other person who has actually surprised me is Paul Ryan in his determination to drive the conversation about gun control legislatively:
Speaker Paul Ryan said Tuesday that House Republicans would focus on law enforcement failures, not tighter gun control, in the wake of the latest mass shooting, which left 17 children and educators dead at a Florida school on Feb. 14.
“There was a colossal breakdown in the system,” Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday. Ryan cited inaction by a deputy stationed outside the school and tips called in to federal and local law enforcement officials about the alleged shooter, Nikolas Cruz, which raised concerns that the 19-year-old was planning such a rampage.
He was also prepared to clarify the conversation that should be had:
Ryan dismissed calls from Democrats and some survivors of the school shooting for stronger gun laws, including a ban on assault rifles and legislation to close loopholes in the background check system.
“We shouldn’t be banning guns for law-abiding citizens,” the GOP leader said. “We should be focusing on making sure that citizens who should not get guns in the first place don’t get those guns.”
I appreciated that he wasn’t ruling out anything, but he was stating clear Republican principles. It was so refreshing.
So I hope that Nunes and Ryan are both stepping up determinedly in ways that the Republican party needs to see and follow. I wonder about a few things:
Do you think that Donald Trump has set an example of fearlessness (in spite of any attributes of his you might not like)?
Do you see any other lawmakers who could join with Nunes and Ryan to move the Republican conversation forward?
What about those Senators?
Published in Politics
Thank you for the heads up.
Podhoretz took a shot at Tom Finton of Judicial Watch the other day. I had no idea anyone had problem with Finton.
DC McCallister as well.
I know nothing about this.
What I mean is that Podhoretz went out of his way to insult DC McCallister the other day, its in that recent thread concerning her invitation to a podcast.
Wow. Thanks for the clarification.
I really wonder how the parts of some of these guys’ worldview all fit together.
Imagine … if you will ……….. Attorney General Devin Nunes!!!
Ooh Rah!
Which one? Father or son?
I’ve met DC, and she’s one of the nicest, most thoughtful, and most intelligent conservatives on the planet. If Podhoretz has a problem with DC, then I have a problem with Podhoretz.
Not a mean, quit-listening-to-him type of problem, just a problem of credibility concerning people that also have crediblility with me. I just raised DC one notch, and lowered Mr. Podhoretz an equal number . . .
Well dine, I think that is an excellent comparison. I just hope Trump does not end like Connery.
Even if Trump serves two terms, eventually he’ll have to say, “Here endth the lesson.” And then, we’ll find out if the lesson was learned.
I think only Newt and Ted Cruz have shown any ability to be able to understand what Trump is doing. Anybody else? Devin Nunes, maybe? Tom Cotton, maybe?
@larrykoler, this post focused on Nunes and Ryan, although I don’t think anyone has commented on Ryan. I think this might be a turning point for him. And I did ask about Tom Cotton late in this post, and @aardovozz suggested Nikki Haley whom many of us like, even though she’s not in Congress. I sure wish people could have pointed to more possibilities!
I hope you’re right about Ryan. I have my doubts. It would really help if he learned the necessary lesson of how to deal with the press and the Dems.
I’ve been giving some thought to what it was that Trump had to teach Republicans. It was years ago when Republicans were asked why they weren’t getting their message out that they started whining the same thing over and over: 1) If we hold a press conference “they” won’t cover it, 2) the media won’t let us get our message out, 3) we’re always misquoted and look bad, etc. And always, give us more money and your vote.
Trump’s message was to bypass the media, and don’t worry about media spin. Go straight to the voters and don’t back down just because some twit at MSABCBSNBCBS doesn’t like it. Use ridicule as a weapon, and enjoy the battle. Not insignificant lessons. What I wonder, in addition to whether the Republicans can absorb that message, is whether he had anything else to teach.
I feel especially sensitive about his actions today. The shot he took at Jeff Sessions was despicable and unacceptable, as far as I’m concerned. I just am not willing to say he can take shots at everyone indiscriminately.
Did you have other lessons that you think would be helpful. BTW, I tolerate most of his stuff, and I know some of it works, so don’t misunderstand my earlier comment about Sessions.
That is something I dislike about him. If he wants to criticize his team, he should do it in private. If he is that dissatisfied with Sessions, he should fire him, assuming he has that authority. I have no problem with him ridiculing most of the opposition.
The only insight I have to offer is one that I’m reasonably sure Trump already grasps. I’ve worked all phases of large-scale projects from proposal to in-the-field operational tests. The personal characteristics and skills that are necessities in one phase can be a hindrance in other phases. Trump showed that he knows how to shape the proposal and win the contract. I believe it takes a different set of skills to perform on the contract, and we have not yet determined if Trump has those.
Personally, I don’t see Trump’s developer skills or brand renting skills as comprehensively helpful as the typical Trump supporter. It’s not like he some genius manager or entrepreneur.
I think I can see where these reactions come from. What comes to me immediately though is a recognition of the despicable and unacceptable treatment accorded our duly elected POTUS by long-standing members of both major parties and by market leading print and television media. It also looks as if certain high-ranking parties in the law enforcement and intelligence components of federal government have engaged in very disreputable behavior toward President Trump. AG Sessions could have, and should have, approached this matter in consultation with the President so that there would be complete understanding between them regarding how Sessions was proceeding. Many are probably thinking as I am that the established culprits will do all they can to drag this process out perhaps looking for some relief in the coming election. This is a contest for the survival of our country.
Susan, just throwing this out there.
Is it possible that Trump and Sessions have an agreement. Let’s look at this in reverse. If Trump calls Sessions to the White House and has a let’s get the bastards meeting. Well we have collusion/obstruction again. I think this possible because Sessions ” I beg your pardon’s ” in the most professional way. Also Trump doesn’t fire him. I keep holding out hope Sessions is quietly doing demolition work on the regressive malfeasance in the deep state. Head Fake ?
I put this in the “don’t pay attention to what is said but what is done” category.
I also think it possible Trump being an ass too! Just sayin
Susan Quinn (View Comment):
Doesn’t this show the dearth of effective American Loving leadership ?
Maybe we’ve evolved beyond the days of Bob Michel: “Every day I wake up and look in the mirror and say to myself, ‘Today you’re going to be a loser.’ And after you’re here a while, you’ll start to feel the same way. But don’t let it bother you. You’ll get used to it.”
Sometimes I have my doubts.
Somewhere along the line I learned this business lesson about “praise in public, criticize in private”. Maybe Trump never got the memo, or unlearnt it during his 14 years doing The Apprentice.
Or maybe it’s more trolling the MSM and Dems, as suggested. There’s been so much hopeful speculation by the media re “XXX is out of the Trump White House, this time for sure!” that soon comes to nothing that you’ve got to believe they are being played at some level.
He also did a good job of advancing Civil Rights for the African-Americans. However, he did set up the modern welfare state which has entrenched poverty within a large minority of the African-American community (and then poor folks write large),
I know that Trump rubs a lot of Republican legislature the wrong way but I much prefer the division and the checks and balances than Obama dictating everything the Democrats can do.
I think she’ll eventually end up there. I pray she runs against Lindsey in the next Republican primary . . .
When he said he had a statement concerning the birthed thing, the media showed up in droves, where Trump proceeded to do his own thing and end with “Hillary started it.”
Lesson to learn: if the media demands apology, set up your own thing, get your message out, end with a non-apology. Captive audience, don’t back down.
I think Trump must be very disappointed with Sessions but that he can’t easily replace him because there will be a firestorm during the nomination of the next one. You have to pick your battles. One definite thing he’s doing is telegraphing to Sessions that his position isn’t standing on concrete and that he better do what he had promised to do (only he and Trump know what that is).
Also, don’t forget that after Sessions is removed or steps down we have Rod Rosenstein running things. Trump needs to remove Rosenstein first and the Mueller thing is preventing that right now.
This is why I’m certain that Mueller will drag things out through at least the 2018 election and try for longer, hoping for things to align in such a way that he’s still causing mischief through the 2020 election. I hope I’m wrong but it looks that way.
I don’t understand why Trump is disappointed. It sounds like he’s doing a lot of stuff behind the scenes. I think Trump may be using Sessions as a scapegoat due to stress (see my latest post ). I also think it’s wrong for him to try to humiliate Sessions publicly, even for Trump. Good point about moving Rosenstein, though. And I hope Mueller finishes long before either election!
The reason he is disappointed is simply that business with his recusal on all things Russian for not one good reason. It showed weakness at a minimum: the left finely tunes their criticisms and watches who jumps like a scalded cat and target people as easy to bluff or not. I really think that they had him down as someone who could be gamed.
Also, don’t forget that Sessions didn’t make that decision with Trump and his advisers — that shows a profound lack of team playing and also very bad judgment.
The fact that Rosenstein is working for the Resist! faction is depressing, too. And I still want to know who recommended him.