The Good Guys

I’m pretty much worn out from watching the ineptitude and lack of values displayed by our Congress and just about everyone else in the federal government. At the same time, I realize that not everyone in Congress swims in The Swamp; that the work of serious representatives is overshadowed by RINOS and the get-along group. We’re also in the minority party, which limits our effectiveness.

So rather than complaining all the time, I’ve decided to focus on the people who are actually getting some things done. I’m setting up my own personal list of excellence—not perfection—of those who do a good job most of the time, and live by their principles. I’ll also list the criteria by which I’m evaluating them. You are free to add, subtract, or critique these factors. I’m looking ahead to November to see who those folks are that I want to celebrate, and those that I can hope will be thrown out of Congress. You may have your favorite punching bags, but I prefer to focus on the good guys. No one person will probably have all of these qualities, but they must have some of them.

I also hope that once the Republicans are back in power, these folks on my list will influence enough people to beat back The Swamp. That may be wishful thinking, but these people deserve support, encouragement and promotion.

All that said, what are my criteria?

Shake Up the Committees

First, I’m looking for people who aren’t afraid to shake up the committees they are on. This means that they don’t care about angering their enemies and are not afraid to be tough on those they interview. One of my favorite candidates is Senator John Kennedy:

Aside from the incisive and relentless way he interviews, his sardonic sense of humor is always a relief when times get tough.

Senator Ted Cruz is fearless when it comes to interviewing justice nominees, and was especially harsh in confronting Anthony Fauci:

When it comes to relentless interviews, I also think of Elise Stefanik when she interviewed the presidents of Ivy League colleges:

I’m sure that Stefanik and Kennedy rile their colleagues on the other side when it’s their turn to speak.

Senator Tom Cotton stated early on that China was likely the producer in a lab of the coronavirus:

In a February 16, 2020, Fox News interview, Cotton said that the coronavirus may have started at the biosafety level 4 super laboratory in Wuhan, China. ‘Now, we don't have evidence that this disease originated there,’ Cotton said, ‘but because of China's duplicity and dishonesty from the beginning we need to at least ask the question.’ Articles published by The New York Times and The Washington Post the same day reported that scientists had dismissed claims that the Chinese government created the virus.

Of course, China refused to cooperate in an investigation that would have incriminated them.

Another example was Marsha Blackburn’s question to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, asking if she could provide the definition of a woman. The idea was not just to humiliate Brown Jackson, but to point out the absurdity of the entire gender fluidity argument, inherent to the Leftist ideology.

The other five criteria include:

1. Demanding fiscal responsibility: these apply to outrageous expenditures despite the debt and deficit;
2. Following the Constitution: criticizing abuse of the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights;
3. Contest the mainstream narrative: correct the record when lies are put out by opponents.
4. Challenge the media that try to manipulate them: these are people willing to push back when they are asked leading questions.
5. Voting against irresponsible legislation

I have initially “nominated” five people who have set an example to other Republicans about the risks that must be taken to save this country: Tom Cotton, John Kennedy, Elise Stefanik, Ted Cruz and Marsha Blackburn; there are many more legislators who would qualify.

On my Honorable Mention list are Byron Donalds, James Comer, Tim Scott, Mike Johnson and Rand Paul.

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My main goal in writing this post is to affirm the importance of supporting people who have not been swallowed by The Swamp. Too many people join the legislature in both houses with good intentions, only to cave into the pressure of going along with the status quo. In moving forward, and in response to the November election, we must have people who are willing to take the high road rather than wade in the Swamp. We need people who will provide support, especially to new legislators, to stay with a legitimate Conservative agenda and not become overwhelmed by the pressures of those who have already given up their principles and power.

I encourage you to add federal legislators who meet these criteria to the list. Please add criteria that you think are important for the Republicans to do the work they were elected to do.

It’s just a start to taking back our power.