In the race to be Speaker, Jim Jordan learns Trump tactics only work for Trump
BY KEITH NAUGHTON, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR - 10/20/23 4:00 PM ETIntimidation, backstabbing and flaunting the will of the majority are all tactics that Donald Trump has used expertly to dominate the Republican Party. Wannabe House Speaker Jim Jordan has tried the same gameplan, only to find out that he’s no Trump. It took three failed ballots for that reality to sink in for Jordan and his fuming, fumbling allies.
It was not so long ago the GOP House caucus voted to elect Steve Scalise to be Speaker, defeating Jordan by a clear, but not overwhelming, margin of 113 to 99. At that point, regardless of the outcome on the House floor, Jordan should have been disqualified for the job. He lost, end of story. If Scalise could not get a majority before the full chamber, then Republicans should have ruled out Scalise and Jordan.
But Jordan and his henchmen (and women) had another plan. A sliver of caucus members announced they would not vote for Scalise, tanking his candidacy. While Jordan did publicly support Scalise, it did not sway the gaggle of holdouts.
After over 30 years working in, observing and analyzing politics, you learn a thing or two about the public pronouncements of ambitious politicians — namely, don’t trust them, ever. I have no doubt that Jim Jordan’s public endorsement was a complete sham. In my opinion, he plotted with his allies to block a Scalise win, planning to then bulldoze any opposition on his way to the Speaker’s chair.
It’s the Trump playbook: do whatever it takes to undermine your opponent and then play a game of chicken, forcing the other guy to duck. But Jordan is not Trump. Jordan does not have the charisma and feel for the room Trump has. Worse, Jordan does not have Trump’s power — which means his game of chicken simply won’t work.
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https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/4267204-in-the-race-to-be-speaker-jim-jordan-learns-trump-tactics-only-work-for-trump/