What Part of ‘Loyal’ Opposition Do You Not Understand?

 

The leaders of each of the two parties from both the Senate and House of Representatives, and the chairs and ranking minority members of both the Senate Committee and House Committee for intelligence, form the “Gang of Eight.” They often are informed by the Executive of developing matters that may result in US actions abroad. Speaker Pelosi has complained that Trump did not consult her in advance of the assassination of Soleimani. But what of her actions in the past few years suggest that she would not use advance information to frustrate Executive action?

You might believe that disrupting an Executive action is the right thing to do for the country. But the most important “right thing to do for the country” is to respect the constitutional authority granted by the people to the President. This Pelosi does not, and will not do. Thus, the justified suspicion that providing the Speaker with any advanced information could result in an action of partisan advantage even to the detriment of national interests.

No doubt Nancy, in her private moment on her knees in prayer to G-d, observes a hierarchy of interests that place nation above the Democrat Party. Right.

The notion of a loyal opposition is that we may disagree regarding the best way to make our nation strong and hale, but we put that objective ahead of partisan advantage. When Democrats and their allies are calling for an economic recession (and the resultant harm to millions of Americans should that happen) as a means to levering Trump out of the White House, in what way can that be seen as a loyal opposition?

#TheResistance is fundamentally anti-American at this point: (1) Trump has done nothing demonstrably criminal or unusual in the conduct of his office, and (2) Trump’s policies have led to demonstrable improvements in the lives of average Americans. There is nothing loyal about #TheResistance. It would be foolish of Trump, and arguably malfeasance, to consult the Speaker on anything in which he has constitutional authority to act. That is Nancy’s fault, not Trump’s.

Published in General
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 31 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. JoelB Member
    JoelB
    @JoelB

    The “Gang of Eight” protocol seems to be a courtesy extended to congress, but not a constitutional imperative. I agree that the President should not telegraph sensitive matters to a disloyal official, even an elected one. Nancy was elected by her district. The President is elected by the nation. Co-operation is a two-way street.

    • #1
  2. MichaelKennedy Inactive
    MichaelKennedy
    @MichaelKennedy

    Democrats abandoned patriotism in Vietnam as soon as Nixon was elected.  They lasted 5 minutes after 9/11.  Obama was their model, abandoning Iraq as quickly as he could after Biden praised it as a “success” of their administration.  I’m not saying Vietnam or Iraq was a success, but it would be nice to see some loyal opposition.

    Remember that World War one and two were during Democrat administrations. I have reservations about the wisdom of entering WWI but there was no objection that I know of by Republicans.  In WWII, there was opposition by the “America First ” wing  but Japan solved that problem for FDR. Pat Buchanan has a good discussion of the wisdom of both wars but I disagree with some of his arguments.

    I think Trump knows that no war in the Middle East has a chance of support now and will be content with a few blows that Iran is unlikely to be able to prevent or get revenge for. Their only hope, and I think it is forlorn, is to see Democrats, now their allies, defeat or impeach Trump.  Kerry has probably been encouraging them but that will be seen for the fool’s errand it is.

    • #2
  3. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    I’ve had this same thought, that the Dems have gone over the line from Loyal Opposition into disloyal territory.  The word “resistance” is not one we use unless we’re talking about an actual enemy, and they’ve let us know loud and clear that that’s how they view the president and everyone who supports him. There’s even word now that Biden’s people have been telling Iran backchannel that they should just “sit out” the Trump presidency. Until what? Until Biden can get in and resume Obama’s appeasement?? In view of this, how can they be surprised that Trump is keeping crucial national information from them?  Why would he confide in an enemy of the state, which is what the Democrats have become? They did it to themselves.

    • #3
  4. MichaelKennedy Inactive
    MichaelKennedy
    @MichaelKennedy

    I have a little fantasy theory that Trump sent Suleimani a message that another pallet of cash had been shipped.  All he had to do was stop by the airport cargo area and picked it up.

    Not serious. Just a fun imagination thing.

    • #4
  5. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    MichaelKennedy (View Comment):

    I have a little fantasy theory that Trump sent Suleimani a message that another pallet of cash had been shipped. All he had to do was stop by the airport cargo area and picked it up.

    Not serious. Just a fun imagination thing.

    Did you create this?

    • #5
  6. DonG (skeptic) Coolidge
    DonG (skeptic)
    @DonG

    The Democratic leadership has been in the pocket of China and Russia for a long time.  Clintons, Biden, Feinstein, …  They are grifters that will gladly sell out the country for a few bucks.

    • #6
  7. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    DonG (skeptic) (View Comment):

    The Democratic leadership has been in the pocket of China and Russia for a long time. Clintons, Biden, Feinstein, … They are grifters that will gladly sell out the country for a few bucks.

    Sadly this includes at least some Republicans as well. Sucks to be partisan.

    • #7
  8. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    DonG (skeptic) (View Comment):

    The Democratic leadership has been in the pocket of China and Russia for a long time. Clintons, Biden, Feinstein, … They are grifters that will gladly sell out the country for a few bucks.

    I don’t know, but I don’t think $230 million to the Clinton Foundation is “a few bucks.”  Though I admit we’re just haggling about the price.

    • #8
  9. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    Rodin: No doubt Nancy, in her private moment on her knees in prayer to G-d, observes a hierarchy of interests that place nation above the Democrat party. Right. 

    I’m pretty sure this comes right after she prays for Trump.

    • #9
  10. Skyler Coolidge
    Skyler
    @Skyler

    Rodin: It would be foolish of Trump, and arguably malfeasance, to consult the Speaker on anything in which he has constitutional authority to act. That is Nancy’s fault, not Trump’s.

    Well said. 

    • #10
  11. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    The best way to look weak is to make a big deal out of a missed small courtesy. 

    • #11
  12. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    If I’m not mistaken, Obama kept a tight lid on the Bin Laden raid before the attack.

    There’s no question in my mind Pelosi and the Dems would tip off the Iranians something was up, hopefully resulting in a failed attack by Trump.

    • #12
  13. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    You cam argue that taking the guy out was a mistake but not that we should have informed Congress  prior to doing it even if they were honorable.  That would have been dumb. These people aren’t serious and the only reason anyone is paying attention is that the media works for them, or they for the media.  I’m never sure.  Did either party complain when Obama did it quite a few times?   

    • #13
  14. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    The late actor Ron Silver, whose political views flipped after 9/11, told the story on himself about being angered at the 1993 Clinton inauguration at seeing a military flyover, until he realized “Those are our jets”. Which pretty much sums up the mindset of progressives in general towards any Republican president going back to Nixon, while the polarizing nature of Donald Trump’s also added the hard-core #NeverTrumpers to the mix.

    When you develop a Pavolvian negative response to Trump and decide everything he does is wrong, and that he can be given no credit for anything, because that might help his re-election bid, this is where you end up when one of the worst terrorists in the world is killed. The progressive mindset that American presidents and the American military are the root cause of all the world’s problems is more than a half-century old tradition — Barack Obama’s entire foreign policy was based on the idea that it he showed the bad guys he wasn’t like those other evil U.S. leaders, he’d turn their frowns upside down — while the white-hot personal hatred of Trump has turned people like Max Boot or Jen Rubin into the same type of reactionary automatons, where Trump owns their political beliefs in that whatever he says or does, they’ll support the opposite position.

    The only thing in the past 50 years that’s muted, if not eliminated, this type of thinking on the left, has been painful election losses. The progressives only shut up about Bill Clinton running as a moderate in 1992 because they had lost three straight elections, while they were OK with Obama not running as an out-and-proud progressive in 2008 following Bush 43’s two straight wins (though they thought Obama would be more aggressively out-and-proud about crushing the right than he was, post-election). So you might see less of the angry opposition in 2021, but only if Trump wins reelection, and by a wider margin than he beat Hillary by in 2016.

    • #14
  15. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    In order to be a “Loyal” opposition, there has be some agreement to the rules. Democrats see the constitution as a living document that says whatever they need it too at the time they’re reading it. They see the rules of parliament as a hindrance to their will, and thus can be changed on a whim of expediency. Without a common frame of reference, of what is fair or foul they can’t play on the same field as republicans.

     

    • #15
  16. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    I thought this kind of action by President Trump was precisely why the impeachment vote had to be rushed. Maybe Pelosi needs to come back and explain that again since she is holding the Articles of Impeachment.

    • #16
  17. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    I thought this kind of action by President Trump was precisely why the impeachment vote had to be rushed. Maybe Pelosi needs to come back and explain that again since she is holding the Articles of Impeachment.

    Omar and AOC were venting on Twitter about Trump’s tweeted warnings to Iran, saying they were akin to war crimes. I suppose Nancy can add that to the current articles of impeachment and let the eventual Democratic nominee run on that in November, but odds are she’s going to be able to restrain herself on that one.

    • #17
  18. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    Stad (View Comment):

    If I’m not mistaken, Obama kept a tight lid on the Bin Laden raid before the attack.

    There’s no question in my mind Pelosi and the Dems would tip off the Iranians something was up, hopefully resulting in a failed attack by Trump.

    The Dem pols might hold their tongues, but all it takes is one radical staffer.

    When we invaded Grenada, we found a draft Congressional report on Grenada that had been passed to the Marxist government (for approval) by a staffer for Ron Dellums.

    • #18
  19. jeffversion1.0 Coolidge
    jeffversion1.0
    @jvanhorn

    <sarc>Hey!  Dissent is the highest form of patriotism!</sarc>

    • #19
  20. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Jon1979 (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    I thought this kind of action by President Trump was precisely why the impeachment vote had to be rushed. Maybe Pelosi needs to come back and explain that again since she is holding the Articles of Impeachment.

    Omar and AOC were venting on Twitter about Trump’s tweeted warnings to Iran, saying they were akin to war crimes. I suppose Nancy can add that to the current articles of impeachment and let the eventual Democratic nominee run on that in November, but odds are she’s going to be able to restrain herself on that one.

    So that’s the source of the rush to impeach? No worries.

    • #20
  21. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    Taras (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    If I’m not mistaken, Obama kept a tight lid on the Bin Laden raid before the attack.

    There’s no question in my mind Pelosi and the Dems would tip off the Iranians something was up, hopefully resulting in a failed attack by Trump.

    The Dem pols might hold their tongues, but all it takes is one radical staffer.

    When we invaded Grenada, we found a draft Congressional report on Grenada that had been passed to the Marxist government (for approval) by a staffer for Ron Dellums.

    Don’t forget (as Peter Robinson noted a decade ago) Ted Kennedy’s communications with the Soviets in the run-up to the 1984 election. That was a quid pro quo proposal with a foreign government the progressive Democrats had no problem with attempting.

    • #21
  22. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    Jon1979 (View Comment):
    Don’t forget (as Peter Robinson noted a decade ago) Ted Kennedy’s communications with the Soviets in the run-up to the 1984 election. That was a quid pro quo proposal with a foreign government the progressive Democrats had no problem with attempting.

    As Tucker Carlson says with some frequency: “You will never go far wrong by assuming that whatever Progressives are accusing Conservatives of, is something of which they, themselves, are guilty.”

    • #22
  23. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    Jon1979 (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    If I’m not mistaken, Obama kept a tight lid on the Bin Laden raid before the attack.

    There’s no question in my mind Pelosi and the Dems would tip off the Iranians something was up, hopefully resulting in a failed attack by Trump.

    The Dem pols might hold their tongues, but all it takes is one radical staffer.

    When we invaded Grenada, we found a draft Congressional report on Grenada that had been passed to the Marxist government (for approval) by a staffer for Ron Dellums.

    Don’t forget (as Peter Robinson noted a decade ago) Ted Kennedy’s communications with the Soviets in the run-up to the 1984 election. That was a quid pro quo proposal with a foreign government the progressive Democrats had no problem with attempting.

    Yeah, but Teddy Kennedy could get away with murder.

    • #23
  24. Franco Member
    Franco
    @Franco

    Let’s not forget the Awan brothers infiltration of Congressional e-mail accounts.
    Maybe the House doesn’t have its house in order? 

     

    • #24
  25. Barfly Member
    Barfly
    @Barfly

    Rodin (View Comment):

    DonG (skeptic) (View Comment):

    The Democratic leadership has been in the pocket of China and Russia for a long time. Clintons, Biden, Feinstein, … They are grifters that will gladly sell out the country for a few bucks.

    Sadly this includes at least some Republicans as well. Sucks to be partisan.

    Lisa Murkowski can see Russia from her bank account. 

    • #25
  26. Skyler Coolidge
    Skyler
    @Skyler

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    Yeah, but Teddy Kennedy could get away with murder.

    Mary Jo Kopechne isn’t available for comment.

    • #26
  27. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    Jon1979 (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    If I’m not mistaken, Obama kept a tight lid on the Bin Laden raid before the attack.

    There’s no question in my mind Pelosi and the Dems would tip off the Iranians something was up, hopefully resulting in a failed attack by Trump.

    The Dem pols might hold their tongues, but all it takes is one radical staffer.

    When we invaded Grenada, we found a draft Congressional report on Grenada that had been passed to the Marxist government (for approval) by a staffer for Ron Dellums.

    Don’t forget (as Peter Robinson noted a decade ago) Ted Kennedy’s communications with the Soviets in the run-up to the 1984 election. That was a quid pro quo proposal with a foreign government the progressive Democrats had no problem with attempting.

    Yeah, but Teddy Kennedy could get away with murder.

    In the inverted world of progressivism, the Soviets were the good guys in the Cold War; just as the communists were the good guys in Vietnam.

    • #27
  28. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    Taras (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    Jon1979 (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    If I’m not mistaken, Obama kept a tight lid on the Bin Laden raid before the attack.

    There’s no question in my mind Pelosi and the Dems would tip off the Iranians something was up, hopefully resulting in a failed attack by Trump.

    The Dem pols might hold their tongues, but all it takes is one radical staffer.

    When we invaded Grenada, we found a draft Congressional report on Grenada that had been passed to the Marxist government (for approval) by a staffer for Ron Dellums.

    Don’t forget (as Peter Robinson noted a decade ago) Ted Kennedy’s communications with the Soviets in the run-up to the 1984 election. That was a quid pro quo proposal with a foreign government the progressive Democrats had no problem with attempting.

    Yeah, but Teddy Kennedy could get away with murder.

    In the inverted world of progressivism, the Soviets were the good guys in the Cold War; just as the communists were the good guys in Vietnam.

    Though they’ve temporarily morphed into the bad guys, because if the Soviets weren’t the bad guys historically, it makes the progressives freaking out over Trump’s alleged collusion with Putin difficult to understand if you’re trying to wage a PR game with the voters

    • #28
  29. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Taras (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    If I’m not mistaken, Obama kept a tight lid on the Bin Laden raid before the attack.

    There’s no question in my mind Pelosi and the Dems would tip off the Iranians something was up, hopefully resulting in a failed attack by Trump.

    The Dem pols might hold their tongues, but all it takes is one radical staffer.

    When we invaded Grenada, we found a draft Congressional report on Grenada that had been passed to the Marxist government (for approval) by a staffer for Ron Dellums.

    That’s the kind of thing a person is rightly executed over. 

    • #29
  30. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    TBA (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    If I’m not mistaken, Obama kept a tight lid on the Bin Laden raid before the attack.

    There’s no question in my mind Pelosi and the Dems would tip off the Iranians something was up, hopefully resulting in a failed attack by Trump.

    The Dem pols might hold their tongues, but all it takes is one radical staffer.

    When we invaded Grenada, we found a draft Congressional report on Grenada that had been passed to the Marxist government (for approval) by a staffer for Ron Dellums.

    That’s the kind of thing a person is rightly executed over.

    Off the top of my head, I’m guessing he got instead a tenured appointment at a major university.

    • #30
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.