Posted on 07/28/2015 3:01:13 AM PDT by markomalley
Remember that picture of Chris Matthews looking upset at the announcement of a Republican sweep in the midterm elections?
There he was — arms crossed, frowning intensly — looking at the results like a man who just lost a lot of money at a game of cards.
It was gleefully shared around by Republicans and conservatives rejoicing in the fact that Congress was now back in the hands of the GOP, with the hope that President Obama’s agenda would finally be put in reverse.
If only Matthews and those same Republicans could see what would happen in the GOP-controlled Senate on July 26.
The MSNBC host’s frown would’ve turned into an ear-to-ear grin. All those optimistic conservatives would’ve shed a few tears at the thought of the brutal disappointment that awaited them this congressional term.
On Sunday, Sen. Mitch McConnell and other Republican leaders kneecapped conservative amendments to a highway bill proposed by conservatives including Ted Cruz and Mike Lee. This action protected funding for Planned Parenthood, killed legislation targeting sanctuary cities and resuscitated the Export-Import bank.
Planned Parenthood, sanctuary cities and the Export-Import bank are anathema to grassroots conservatives. Two of the measures — on Planned Parenthood and sanctuary stories — had outrageous national stories that provided the needed impetus for action.
Instead, the future of Planned Parenthood’s half-billion-a-year funding, sanctuary cities and the Ex-Im bank were all saved from the jaws of defeat by Republican leaders.
It would be easy to say this result was shocking. But it’s not. This latest incident is par the course from the Republican masters of Congress. But it was.
Up until to Election Day, these GOP chieftains promised to bring sweeping change to D.C. and duke it out with Obama.
They have done everything but what they promised to do.
On executive amnesty, they rolled over and played dead.
On Obamacare, they put half-a-fight before giving it more funding.
On abortion, they previously allowed a few moderate members to derail popular legislation on the eve of January’s March for Life.
The only thing Republican leaders have shown any muscle in trying to get through is Trade Promotion Authority — a measure requested by Obama to give him more power and less congressional oversight.
Naturally, Trade Promotion Authority is despised by the base and could hurt the GOP in the upcoming election season.
To call Republican leaders useless would imply that they are, in fact, doing nothing on behalf of their core constituency. It’s worse than that. Republican leaders seem to doing their most to fight against their own base.
And it’s not like powerful GOP figures don’t publicly air their contempt for the people who keep them in office. John McCain called all the people who showed up to hear Donald Trump speak in Arizona “crazies” — even though those same people narrowly saved him from an electoral upset in 2010 after the senator acted like a border warrior in the primary race.
It’s not much of a surprise, then, that rank-and-file Republican lawmakers now have a historically-low favorability rating among voters in their own party.
Anyone wondering why Donald Trump keeps surging in polls in spite of all the establishment hand-wringing can stop wondering.
Congressional Republican leaders have no one to blame but themselves for the unhappiness of conservative voters. What’s the point in voting Republican if the party is going to do nothing it promised when it attains power?
This question is rarely posed to Democrats, who always seem intent on pushing their agenda and working for their interest groups. It would be one thing if Republicans were alienating conservative voters to uphold principles, but thaT’s certainly not the case.
There’s a argument to make that the Republican Party simply exists to perpetuate the personal prestige and power of its leader rather than to promote the principles and interests of its followers.
That’s why nearly a third of Republican voters are choosing a reality-TV star with a treasure trove of insults over veteran politicians this election cycle.
A positive result of this tumult could be the party getting a clue and adopting a firmer posture and an agenda more in tune with its “Silent Majority.”
However, the GOP could very well double-down on its current path and pave the way for even more disappointments and failures in the future.
The rising level of alienation in the party is due to a majority of the base feeling that it is being taken for granted. The GOP expects conservatives to show up Election Day, no matter which policies or candidates are on the ballot — as long as they come with the elephant brand.
Republican lawmakers seem more interested in taking stances on issues like immigration, trade and corporate welfare which are very much out of line with their most reliable voters. At the same time, they expect the core constituency will still vote Red when it comes down to a choice between a Republican and a Democrat.
But the growing discontent and the embrace of Trump should send a clear signal to Republican upper echelons that this demographic is tired of its low priority and lack of respect.
They want their voices heard and their issues addressed.
Enough. Either the GOP needs to die or the cronies running it need to retire.
And if there are short-term costs as a result of this reorganization, so be it. I see no difference whatsoever between McConnell and Reid and very, very, very minimal differences between Boner and Strech. There is very, very little to lose.
To my mind, GOP leadership in the House and Senate are bigger enemies to me than Democrats.
There’s a big difference between an enemy outside the wire and one inside that will stab you in your bunk.
Bttt
Excellent article; thanks for posting.
You mean into his GROIN... He’s getting off on this..
BINGO! We have a winner.....I have begun to LOATHE McConnell and Boener
I despise these vermin. If the Conservatie base can’t take over the party as we did under Reagan, it’s time to DESTROY it and form a third party, banning all these establishment hacks from participation.
Indeed, they are enemies who need to be removed now. The fact that there are no serious efforts to remove the leadership by most Republicans shows just how compromised the GOP has become.
You may be right but a new party would throw away all the gains made at the state level.
There ain’t no E in GOP—it’s exactly what you see.
I’ve been saying it for years and taking the flack: McConnell and Boener are the Republican party. Conservatives are not welcome.
GOP delenda est.
The GOPe wants Hillary to win. Those in power want a return to the good old days where the Republicans were in the minority in both houses and could feed off the trough without any responsibility.
While we are all frustrated and it sounds so noble to form a 3rd party, it’s not the answer. It takes many, many years to get a 3rd party viable, and we don’t have that kind of time. Most of us loathe the majority of the weenies who lied to us just to get elected. The House will come up for re-election in 2016 - unfortunately, we are stuck with the traitors in the Senate for 4 more years - at least those who got elected in 2014, and that includes the nasty McConnell. I don’t know what the answer is, but, I know a 3rd party will ensure Democrats once again having control of all 3 branches of government. I guess the way things are going - they already do????
What are these states?
Those red-lipped piglets suckling from the Great Teat bloated on the blood of tyranny? Those venerable entities who daily trade our children’s heritage for a mess of federal pottage? Oh, they’re Republican?
Nevermind, that makes it all better...
LOL...that is called “concern trolling”
Maybe we can get rid of Mitch. There is no doubt that he is guilty of many things that could force him to resign if not serve his rightful place in prison. We just need to get the right information into the right ears.
There's one omission. Not only do the 'pubs expect to control our vote, when they don't they'll steal elections with pride of accomplishment. Murkowksi and Cocheran are still in the US Senate. The "grass-roots" can't even elect candidates we support when we elect candidates we support!
Haven't countries fought revolutions for less, much less? Trump is our chance at a revolution on election day. If that fails, who knows where it all leads to?
More precisely, the GOP are driving enough voters to Trump so that Hillary will win the election with a really low turnout. Just like they drove people to Perot and Willie could slide into office..
Pelosi doesn't weep as much and can hold her liquor better.
In less than 6 years the Republican Party went from nothing to electing Lincoln President in 1860. The party was founded in 1854.
For 20 years I’ve been hearing it is better for conservatives to work inside the GOP versus founding a conservative party. In 2016 conservatives are weaker politically than they were in 1995. The progressive country club wing of the GOP is in charge, it is ruthless in punishing conservatives, and it controls the money the party requires to survive. There is no indication it will cede power no many how many conservatives are elected to the House. Through its control of access to big campaign donors it easily coopts new members of Congress facing the need to raise big money for reelection every two years.
Consider the 2016 elections. If the race for president is between Hillary and Jeb, the same policies will be executed no matter who wins. If McConnell and Boehner control the Senate, they will do the bidding of the oligarchs on Wall Street. Again, no change. If the GOP loses the House and/or the Senate, legislation will follow essentially the same path it is on today under Democrat leadership. Congress is becoming more and more a rubber stamp for the imperial President who simply executes the global progressive agenda.
If the GOP factors, splitting into two parties the entire dynamic of American politics changes. Instead of ensuring permanent Democrat victories, it might usher in an era of coalition politics. It might also result in the fracturing of the Democrat Party with its hard left Sanders/Warren wing spinning out. A four party system might be preferable to the uniparty system we have today.
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