Yesterday I was up very early and I was nervous. My wife had to undergo outpatient surgery and even though I trust her doctor and knew things would be fine it still worried me. So I didn't check the news before leaving home and was sitting in the waiting room at the hospital when a friend called.
Right out of the blue he asked if I had heard the news and then he blurted out that John Boehner had announced he was resigning as Speaker of the House and from Congress on October 31. I must confess that I forgot momentarily where I was and let out a little cheer. I mean, really, we are finally getting rid of the most hapless Speaker of the House, a man who really has no core, and it didn't even take a protracted fight. I guess he was reading the tea leaves and finally realized that his "jig was up".
It's a great start to changing the culture of the Republican Establishment but it is just a first step. And it's very important for those of us who are happy with this change of events to realize that who is selected to replace Boehner by the Republican caucus is critical to the future. Sadly, one of the names at the top of the list, Kevin McCarthy of California, Boehner's hand picked House Majority Leader, would be no improvement. Sadly, he could be even less receptive to the conservative conservative cause judging from his voting record.
It is important for the Republican caucus to pick a new Speaker who is either a true conservative or one who is open to fairness in dealing with the conservative wing of the party. One of my favorites is Jim Jordan of Ohio, a man who is outspoken in support of conservative cause but I would even accept Daniel Webster of Florida, a more moderate man who is, however, open to conservative views and solutions in an open discourse.
Whoever is selected, we must have a Speaker with courage and conviction and one who is not a patsy for the Chamber of Commerce. If the Chamber of Commerce wants to run the Congress, let it run candidates who win office, not try to buy off cash hungry moderates who will support nearly any cause if the price is right.
So Republicans of the heartland, get on the phone and call Congress and let them know what you expect. If you don't, complaints after the fact just won't do. Get involved, speak out and do it quickly. Tomorrow might be too late.
Right out of the blue he asked if I had heard the news and then he blurted out that John Boehner had announced he was resigning as Speaker of the House and from Congress on October 31. I must confess that I forgot momentarily where I was and let out a little cheer. I mean, really, we are finally getting rid of the most hapless Speaker of the House, a man who really has no core, and it didn't even take a protracted fight. I guess he was reading the tea leaves and finally realized that his "jig was up".
It's a great start to changing the culture of the Republican Establishment but it is just a first step. And it's very important for those of us who are happy with this change of events to realize that who is selected to replace Boehner by the Republican caucus is critical to the future. Sadly, one of the names at the top of the list, Kevin McCarthy of California, Boehner's hand picked House Majority Leader, would be no improvement. Sadly, he could be even less receptive to the conservative conservative cause judging from his voting record.
It is important for the Republican caucus to pick a new Speaker who is either a true conservative or one who is open to fairness in dealing with the conservative wing of the party. One of my favorites is Jim Jordan of Ohio, a man who is outspoken in support of conservative cause but I would even accept Daniel Webster of Florida, a more moderate man who is, however, open to conservative views and solutions in an open discourse.
Whoever is selected, we must have a Speaker with courage and conviction and one who is not a patsy for the Chamber of Commerce. If the Chamber of Commerce wants to run the Congress, let it run candidates who win office, not try to buy off cash hungry moderates who will support nearly any cause if the price is right.
So Republicans of the heartland, get on the phone and call Congress and let them know what you expect. If you don't, complaints after the fact just won't do. Get involved, speak out and do it quickly. Tomorrow might be too late.
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