Shock of irrelevance awaits House Republicans in minority

[mystery-ak]

Shock of irrelevance awaits House Republicans in minority
by David M. Drucker
 | November 17, 2018 12:00 AM



Early next year, after the Democratic Party has assumed control of the House of Representatives, newly powerless, irrelevant Republicans are going to chase down reporters and beg for questions about President Trump’s tweets.

Veterans of past Capitol Hill power shifts say House Republicans are in for a major jolt, as a depleted conference dominated by members elected since 2010 experience for the first time the obscurity and impotence of life in the minority. In contrast to the Senate, power in the House derives from numbers, and after a midterm election drubbing, Republicans don’t have them.

“There’s going to be a real awakening,” said Tom Reynolds, a Republican from Buffalo who retired from Congress in 2009 after five terms. Reynolds, now a senior adviser at a D.C. lobbying shop, was chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2006, when Democrats had last flipped the House prior to this year.

The desertion of the Washington press corps is perhaps the biggest culture shock that awaits House Republicans when the 116th Congress convenes in January.

With possession of the speaker’s gavel and committee chairmanships, the Republican Party has dictated the terms of legislation in the House. That majority has afforded competing factions of rank-and-file Republicans — such as the conservative House Freedom Caucus — the ability to shape or block legislation favored by GOP leadership.

All of that attracts an inordinate amount of media coverage — coverage that after the midterm elections quickly moved across the aisle to focus on House Democrats as sorted out leadership responsibilities and divvied up the spoils of their Nov. 6 victory. Even President Trump’s usual Twitter antics, usually a staple of the topics House Republicans are asked to comment on, weren’t enough to halt the exodus.

Michael Steel, who advised Ohio Republican John Boehner, first as House minority leader and then as speaker, compared transitioning to the minority to a superhero losing his powers.

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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/shock-of-irrelevance-awaits-house-republicans-in-minority

[240B]

I don't know what this author is talking about. Republicans LOVE being in the minority. It seems like that's what they wanted. Trust me, Republicans will do just fine. The minority is their 'comfort zone'. Slinking off back into the shadows is their specialty.

Nobody is happier about losing the House than Paul Ryan. Now, with a big sigh of relief, he doesn't have to make any decisions at all. And that is just the way he likes it.

[Snarknado]

How much of a shock can it be when they spend 95% of their time practicing being irrelevant?

[Absalom]

Er..………..so they were relevant when they were in the majority???
Who knew?

[Frank Cannon]

Can anyone cite when any of these pathetic clowns were ever relevant since the early 2000's? All they ever did was find ways to abdicate their responsibilities. That is why the courts and Executive branch have been running everything the last 15 or so years.

[Hoodat]

House Republicans are more comfortable being in the Minority.

[dfwgator]

The Republicans enjoy being the "Washington Generals"

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

Can anyone cite when any of these pathetic clowns were ever relevant since the early 2000's? All they ever did was find ways to abdicate their responsibilities. That is why the courts and Executive branch have been running everything the last 15 or so years.

What?  You've already forgotten Paul "the Pitbull" Ryan?

Brave Sir Ryan ran away.
Bravely ran away, away!
When danger reared its ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes, brave Sir Ryan turned about
And gallantly he chickened out.
Bravely taking to his feet
He beat a very brave retreat,
Bravest of the brave, Sir Trump!

[Formerly Once-Ler]

What?  You've already forgotten Paul "the Pitbull" Ryan?

Brave Sir Ryan ran away.
Bravely ran away, away!
When danger reared its ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes, brave Sir Ryan turned about
And gallantly he chickened out.
Bravely taking to his feet
He beat a very brave retreat,
Bravest of the brave, Sir Trump!

IKR.  That bastard created a tax cut.  The GOP don't need that crap...and now that the GOP has lost the House nobody is credibly pushing for taxcuts for working Americans.  Real Republican's are focusing on the important issue of sending American military might at shoe-less refugees.  MAGA!!!

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

IKR.  That bastard created a tax cut.  The GOP don't need that crap...and now that the GOP has lost the House nobody is credibly pushing for taxcuts for working Americans.  Real Republican's are focusing on the important issue of sending American military might at shoe-less refugees.  MAGA!!!

Don't get me wrong, that $11/year tax cut was, like, awesome and stuff.  I'm not sure what I'll do if we don't get one or two more of those.

Though, to be honest, I'd be willing to give up (at least for now) at tax cut if our government would actually use our tax dollars for stuff like defending our borders.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

Don't get me wrong, that $11/year tax cut was, like, awesome and stuff.  I'm not sure what I'll do if we don't get one or two more of those.

Though, to be honest, I'd be willing to give up (at least for now) at tax cut if our government would actually use our tax dollars for stuff like defending our borders.

I love the cut of your jib.

[edpc]

Nobody is happier about losing the House than Paul Ryan. Now, with a big sigh of relief, he doesn't have to make any decisions at all. And that is just the way he likes it.

He hasn’t cared for a long time, because he knew he was retiring, long before the midterms.