- Last night’s Democratic Presidential debate put a fine point on a contrast that has been on display in the Republican-controlled Congress for nearly 10 months: Democrats are ready to govern and lead, while Republicans demonstrate zero desire or ability to function and solve problems for the American people.
- The debate was focused on the issues, and Hillary Clinton outlined specific policy priorities that she will use to fight for on behalf of children, women and working families. Bernie Sanders outlined the need to address income inequality and provide paid family leave.
- Hillary Clinton made clear that she “likes to get things done.”
- That statement comes in stark contrast to House Republicans who continue to put their own internal politics and pandering to the extreme right, over progress and effective governing.
- John Boehner and Kevin McCarthy were just the latest victims of the rabid Republican base. The next Speaker will not be the party’s savior – even if it is Paul Ryan.
- This is a systemic problem within the Republican party, and more specifically, within the House Republican conference. New leadership won’t change the makeup of House Republicans. **See House Republican quotes below**
- If Paul Ryan does begrudgingly choose to run for Speaker, he is not a white knight that will save the House Republicans.
- He will still face the same choice that Boehner and McCarthy did: go along with the extreme base and the House Freedom Caucus, or get run over by them.
- It is a sad state of affairs for voters when the Republicans, from Ted Cruz and the other Presidential Candidates to the House Republicans, continue to put politics over progress and policy, and drag the American people down with them.
Things Wont Change, From the Horse’s Mouth:
Republican Rep. Charlie Dent: “Fundamental Dynamics Don’t Change” With Boehner’s Resignation – “This Will Not Be Easier For The Next Guy.” “Representative Charlie Dent, Republican of Pennsylvania, said: ‘The next speaker is going to have a very tough job. The fundamental dynamics don’t change.’ Mr. Dent said there was ‘a lot of sadness in the room’ when Mr. Boehner made his announcement to colleagues. He blamed the hard-right members, who he said were unwilling to govern. ‘It’s clear to me that the rejectionist members of our conference clearly had an influence on his decision,’ Mr. Dent said. ‘That’s why I’m not happy about what happened today. We still have important issues to deal with, and this will not be easier for the next guy.’” [New York Times, 9/26/15]
Republican Rep. Charlie Dent: “There Are Anywhere From Two To Four Dozen Members . . . [Who] Undermine The Entire Republican Conference And Also Help To Weaken The Institution Of Congress.” “‘The fundamental dynamics don’t change,’ Mr. Dent said. ‘The dynamics are this: There are anywhere from two to four dozen members who don’t have an affirmative sense of governance. They can’t get to yes. They just can’t get to yes, and so they undermine the ability of the speaker to lead. And not only do they undermine the ability of the speaker to lead, but they undermine the entire Republican conference and also help to weaken the institution of Congress itself. That’s the reality. Now, if we have a new speaker, is there going to be an epiphany? They won’t be happy if it’s Paul Ryan or Kevin McCarthy, who will have to make accommodations with a Democratic president and the Senate constituted the way it is.’” [New York Times, 9/26/15]
Republican Rep. Trent Franks: “Whoever Is In The Speaker’s Chair Has The Same Mathematics.” “The person who replaces him will face the same situation – a fact that was not lost Friday on House Republicans who seemed to have a bit of the ‘now what do we do attitude?’ attitude as they absorbed the loss of Mr. Boehner. ‘Whoever is in the speaker’s chair has the same mathematics,’ said Representative Trent Franks, Republican of Arizona.” [New York Times, 9/25/15]
Republican Rep. Peter Roskam: House Republican Caucus “Can’t Be Led” – “The Idea That There’s A Leadership Post To Run For Somehow Is An Illusion.” “During an interview in his Capitol Hill office, Roskam — a former member of leadership — said he’s ‘not made any calls’ for a leadership post. He believes the House Republican Conference ‘can’t be led.’ ‘If we don’t deal with this somehow, in some fashion, I don’t know if it’s the things I’m suggesting, or it’s something other people are going to come up with, if we don’t deal with this in some fashion, we’re going to be right back into this into this in a matter of months,’ Roskam told POLITICO. ‘You’ll see motions to vacate, you’ll see inability to pass rules. The idea that there’s a leadership post to run for somehow is an illusion.’” [Politico, 9/28/15]
Republican Rep. Womack: “Next Person In Line . . . Is Going To Face The Same Difficult Task Of Keeping A Very Broad Conference Together.” “Still, he would inherit a series of messy legislative problems that could require him to risk alienating colleagues before he even acclimates to the new job, including deadlines to fund the government, increase the nation’s borrowing authority and finance billions in transportation projects. ‘The next person in line, whoever that is, is going to face the same difficult task of keeping a very broad conference together,’ said Rep. Steve Womack (R., Ark.).” [Wall Street Journal, 9/26/15]
NRCC Chair Greg Walden Admitted Challenge Of Legislating In GOP Conference: “It’s Still The Same Conference With The Same Votes . . . I Don’t Know How That Goes.” “It’s also unclear how a lame-duck speaker could win legislative battles inside the rowdy and unpredictable Republican Conference. While Boehner could turn to Democrats for votes, he can’t get to 218 that way. And any Republican who crosses the conservative wing of the party would get pummeled in the right-wing media and could face a primary challenge. ‘I don’t know how the underlying votes change on all those issues just because Boehner says he’s going to do them,’ Walden said. ‘It’s still the same conference with the same votes. I’ve seen all this, and I’m saying to myself, ‘How’s that going to work?’ You’ve still got to go line up the votes, and I don’t know how that goes.’” [Politico, 9/28/15]
Multiple House Republicans Confirmed Serious Concerns That New Speaker Could Become Victim Of GOP “Fratricide.” “House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has the inside track to succeed John Boehner as Speaker, but could his days be numbered as well? More than half a dozen House Republicans this week told The Hill there are serious concerns that, unless the intraparty warfare subsides, the new Speaker could become the next victim of GOP ‘fratricide.’ ‘The group can’t be led right now and we’ve got to change that,’ said Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), a former member of leadership who’s been urging colleagues to take stock of the GOP conference after Boehner’s stunning decision to call it quits at the end of October.” [The Hill, 10/1/15]
Republican Rep. Bill Flores: If GOP Conference Can’t Come Together On Strategy, “I Expect That There Will Be Continuing Fratricide.” “‘If the conference cannot find a way to find unity and work together and to agree to execute a grand strategy, even though we may have a difference of opinions and tactics, I expect that there will be continuing fratricide,’ lamented Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas), chairman of the 170-member conservative Republican Study Committee. ‘It’s reprehensible that Republicans are fighting Republicans. We need to fight for the good of the American people,’ he said.” [The Hill, 10/1/15]
Republican Rep. Dent: “I’ve Always Said, The Same Folks That Tried To Fry John Boehner Will Try To Fry The Next Guy.” “‘The fundamental dynamics of governing around here hasn’t changed, so the next Speaker will likely have to confront the very same challenges that Speaker Boehner faced,’ added Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), co-chairman of the Tuesday Group, a bloc of centrist House Republicans. ‘I’ve always said, the same folks that tried to fry John Boehner will try to fry the next guy,’ he added. ‘I think Kevin McCarthy understands that, and other people running for leadership understand that, too.’” [The Hill, 10/1/15]
Former Republican Rep. Tom Davis: “You’ve Really Emboldened The Right . . . They Have A Head On The Mantel.” “Other Republicans were not so sanguine. ‘If Boehner had stayed through December, you’d feel better about this,’ said Tom Davis, a retired House member from Virginia. ‘Now you’ve really emboldened the right. They feel at least they have a head on the mantel.’” [New York Times, 9/27/15]
Former NRCC Chair Tom Davis: Republican House Is “Dysfunctional Institution,” “Unable To Produce A Legislative Product.” “Two past chairmen of the National Republican Congressional Committee offered disparate views on the exodus of junior Republican House members from the Republican-controlled House. ‘There is no fun or prestige being part of a dysfunctional institution the public feels is in decline,” former Rep. Tom Davis, who chaired the NRCC from 1998-2004, told me. “With the House unable to produce a legislative product and surrendering power of the purse and ability to designate projects, the Executive branch has filled the vacuum.’” [Newsmax, 10/5/15]
Republican Rep. Dent: “On Any Issue Of Great Consequence Around Here, We On The Republican Side Don’t Have 218 Votes For A Bathroom Break.” “‘There are a lot of folks in our conference who have a very difficult time getting to ‘yes’ on anything,’ says Rep. Charlie Dent, a crisply tailored moderate representing Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dent leads a gang of center-right Republicans known as the Tuesday Group that supported Boehner’s leadership. As Dent sees it, today’s GOP is split between a ‘governance wing’ and a ‘rejectionist wing.’ And the governance wing has no choice but to work with Democrats. ‘On any issue of great consequence around here, we on the Republican side don’t have 218 votes for a bathroom break! So we always need a bipartisan coalition.’” [Rolling Stone, 10/6/15]
Republican Rep. Reichert: “I Don’t Care Who The Speaker Is, He’s Going To Have The Same Problems.” “‘I know Paul’s getting a lot of pressure today,’ said Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.). ‘I don’t care who the speaker is, he’s going to have the same problems.’” [Los Angeles Times, 10/9/15]
Majority Leader McCarthy, On Whether The House Is Governable: “I Don’t Know. Sometimes You Have To Hit Rock Bottom.” “Asked if the House is governable, [McCarthy] says, ‘I don’t know. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom.’” [National Review, 10/8/15]
Republican Rep. Luke Messer: “There Is No Silver Bullet Candidate That Is Going To Bring Us Together.” “Some conservatives rejected the idea that Mr. Ryan — or anyone — could instantly unify House Republicans. ‘I frankly think there is no silver bullet candidate that is going to bring us together, either,’ said Representative Luke Messer of Indiana. ‘It’s going to take a combination of things.’” [New York Times, 10/10/15]
Republican Rep. Mike Simpson: Low Approval Rating For Congress Due To Ongoing Dysfunction, Not Because We’re Not Enacting “Kind Of Crazy” Rightwing Agenda. “‘This was Boehner’s plan all along on how he stays speaker,’ deadpanned Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), one of the speaker’s closest friends. Simpson added: ‘This is why Congress has a 6 percent or 8 percent [approval rating]. It’s not because we’re not enacting the agenda that the right wing wants, which is kind of crazy anyway. That’s not it. The public sees a dysfunctional Congress.’” [Politico, 10/9/15]
Republican Rep. Huelskamp, On House GOP Conference: “Run With Chaos, It’s Seat Of The Pants, There’s No Long-Term Plans And There’s No Principle.” “‘We’re stunned. His strongest supporters were stunned,’ said Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus that opposed McCarthy. ‘His strongest supporters were crying,’ he added, saying the sudden announcement was emblematic of the House Republican Conference. ‘It’s run with chaos, it’s seat of the pants, there’s no long-term plans and there’s no principles,’ he said. ‘What was the principle here? The only principle here was I can’t get 218.’” [Huffington Post, 10/8/15]