It’s as predictable as the tide – some legislative battle is on the horizon and conservatives swear “This time will be different.” Then it isn’t. All the high and mighty talk, all the promises end up meaning nothing because aside from making promises they can’t keep, most of the GOP only excels at not delivering. The simple fact of the matter is this: if Republicans, conservatives, or anyone not a complete leftist ever plans on winning any legislative fight ever again they’re going to have to learn how to message to people who don’t already agree with them.
It’s really annoying watching the Members of Congress who give great speeches about conservative principles and fiscal responsibility, sit on their asses and complain when they don’t get their way. Where were they when it mattered? Why weren’t they in the room negotiating? Why weren’t they in leadership setting the terms of negotiation?
They weren’t there because, aside from preaching to the choir on cable news, they don’t do anything to advance their causes they claim to care so deeply about.
I’m not trying to be a jerk here, but someone has to say it: I’d love for there to be a 50 Mike Lees in the Senate, but all that would really mean is we have 50 votes for a losing cause. Not because we aren’t right, but because listening to Mike Lee explain why we need to cut federal spending is about as exciting as dry paint just sit there and talk about insurance. Nothing against Mike Lee, you can insert any of the names of people you likely support and have dozens, if not hundreds, of fundraising emails from in your inbox right now. It doesn’t matter how it is because it is all of them.
It’s really easy to hold the line when you aren’t anywhere near where the line is. It’s really easy to be a Monday morning quarterback when you never get in the game. If conservatives want to have influence on the Hill they have two roads: win a majority or stop being press conference leaders and lead on legislative issues.
Every single time there is a battle on the Hill with Democrats there are conservatives all over television promising this time will be different, that they have the upper hand and momentum to “win,” whatever they define that to mean at the time. There is some deadline approaching and they insist all that’s needed is to “hold the line” and victory is assured. Only it never is.
A deal is struck and it’s never good enough for them. Sorry, but negotiations don’t happen on cable TV or at a camera bank in a hallway. Get in the ring or shut the hell up.
I’m with them, but I also understand how reality works. There are maybe 15 Republicans Senators committed to the principles they espouse; the rest simply play the role and go along to get along. Beat them or recognize their voters aren’t interested in the same things we are and set about trying to win them over. Simply waiting for the red light on the camera to flip on to be involved is about fundraising and PR, not leadership. If you can’t convince a majority to be with you, you aren’t in the majority. If you don’t even bother trying, you don’t belong in Congress.
I’m sick of conga lines at press conferences of the usual suspects denouncing whatever horrible deal that was struck completely without them. It’s easy to do, but it’s also lazy.
There is a segment of the Republican Party quite content to go along to get along, as long as they can claim the moral high road when they vote against whatever it is in a losing cause. But all the high road anyone gets in politics is a nice view of your defeat. Aren’t these people sick of losing yet?
Lord knows I am. All the House Freedom Caucus did was release a list of demands and walk away, they didn’t even bother producing a draft piece of legislation themselves. Worthless.
It’s time for these people to accept reality and get involved in the ideological battle in the Republican Party during the primaries when it can matter. Put their names, reputations and money on the line to elect enough like-minded people to get themselves into leadership. There’s a reason so many people profess to despise Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell and yet they still get elected to lead the House and Senate, and it’s not their charming personalities. It’s that they get a majority of their respective GOP caucuses.
Either work to change the minds of caucus membership or change the membership of the caucus, but spare us all the posturing about what should have been done when you don’t do a damn thing but complain about what was happening from an air-conditioned studio rather than the room where it matters.
Derek Hunter is the host of a free daily podcast (subscribe!) and author of the book, Outrage, INC., which exposes how liberals use fear and hatred to manipulate the masses, and host of the weekly “Week in F*cking Review” podcast where the news is spoken about the way it deserves to be. Follow him on Twitter at @DerekAHunter.
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