We lack the political will to govern, Republicans say

[Right_in_Virginia]

We lack the political will to govern, Republicans say
Washington Examiner, May 3, 2017,  David M. Drucker

House Republicans, bedeviled by mistrust, infighting and influential outside forces, are struggling to advance an Obamacare repeal package and prove that their majority can deliver results.

The American Health Care Act, on the surface, is bogged down over a debate about whether the bill provides adequate coverage guarantees for Americans with pre-existing medical conditions.

But veteran House Republicans said in interviews Tuesday that their problems run deeper. They lack the unity, mindset and political will to make the hard choices required to govern.

The healthcare breakdown is just another symptom of this broader political virus that seems immune to all antibodies, including President Trump, the Republican who took up residence in the White House in January.

"The failure here has not been in our leadership, it's certainly not been in the president, it's been in our inability to overcome our own differences and our lack of trust in one another," Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. said.

House Republicans won 247 seats in 2017, providing a 29-seat cushion above the 218 votes they need to pass legislation. It's a historic House majority for the GOP, yet not enough (apparently) to get big things like healthcare done.

Even the omnibus spending bill, negotiated by President Trump to fund the remainder of fiscal 2017, was on track to pass the House without 218 Republican votes thanks to bipartisan support from the Democrats.

Republicans just didn't expect the dysfunction to continue after Trump took office, and with House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., calming the restlessness that had built up after nearly a decade of John Boehner at the top as minority leader and speaker.

"There may come a reckoning between the president and some members of the Republican House to where there needs to be a showdown and he needs to take a stand," Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., said.

Indeed, governing was supposed to get easier with the prospect of seeing priorities such as the repeal and replacement of Obamacare signed into law by Trump, and with outside pressure to oppose Obama becoming irrelevant.

Some Republican insiders fault missteps by Ryan and the president. But in interviews with about a dozen current and former House Republicans, and current and former House GOP aides, most of the blame was heaped on members.

Too many arrived in Washington during the Obama era, and remain trapped in an opposition mindset bent on obstruction. Old school Republicans say it's a marked difference from the get-things-done approach that predominated under GOP majorities that governed from 1995-2007.


More: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/we-lack-the-political-will-to-govern-republicans-say/article/2621946

[r9etb]

The headline is misleading.  Here's the money part:

But veteran House Republicans said in interviews Tuesday that their problems run deeper. They lack the unity, mindset and political will to make the hard choices required to govern.

Lack of unity and common mindset are the real issues.  "Political will" is a meaningless term unless and until you've got the unity and like-mindedness to agree on a course of action.

Political Will comes into play after you have enough people agreeing on your course of action -- it's a matter of doing what you think needs to be done.

[kevindavis007]

The headline is misleading.  Here's the money part:

Lack of unity and common mindset are the real issues.  "Political will" is a meaningless term unless and until you've got the unity and like-mindedness to agree on a course of action.

Political Will comes into play after you have enough people agreeing on your course of action -- it's a matter of doing what you think needs to be done.

Maybe the following should happen:


1. Maybe every GOP in the House should sit down and find 'common' ground
2. Stop the circular firing squad bs.
3. Maybe we should realize that not every in GOP in Congress comes from a Deep Red district
4. Learn to be more pragmatic.. Fight for the small victories..


But that is just me.

[Wingnut]

Maybe the following should happen:


1. Maybe every GOP in the House should sit down and find 'common' ground
2. Stop the circular firing squad bs.
3. Maybe we should realize that not every in GOP in Congress comes from a Deep Red district
4. Learn to be more pragmatic.. Fight for the small victories..


But that is just me.

That is just crazy talk.

[kevindavis007]

That is just crazy talk.

Call me crazy, but I like to live in the real world.. I know it is crazy talk..

[Free Vulcan]

The problem is, despite the voters overwhelming putting the GOP in power, our elected GOP officials are petrified of a rag tag bunch of Soros paid astroturf going psychotic in their townhalls and the resulting media coverage.

Yet again the minority holds the nation hostage because our elected GOP officials are too scared of them.

[kevindavis007]

The problem is, despite the voters overwhelming putting the GOP in power, our elected GOP officials are petrified of a rag tag bunch of Soros paid astroturf going psychotic in their townhalls and the resulting media coverage.

Yet again the minority holds the nation hostage because our elected GOP officials are too scared of them.

Welcome to the real world. A much different world than what they say on Talk Radio..

[roamer_1]

Of course it's about leadership, and adherence to principle.
Republicans so-called, are united under one banner.
That banner is defined by the platform.
The platform is the guidance.
If leadership won't uphold the platform,
If the members are allowed to disregard the platform,
Then definitively, what one has,
is Republicans In Name Only.
Little wonder.

[kevindavis007]

Of course it's about leadership, and adherence to principle.
Republicans so-called, are united under one banner.
That banner is defined by the platform.
The platform is the guidance.
If leadership won't uphold the platform,
If the members are allowed to disregard the platform,
Then definitively, what one has,
is Republicans In Name Only.
Little wonder.

 

[r9etb]

Welcome to the real world. A much different world than what they say on Talk Radio..

I think the situation as described in the OP is probably a sign of a party that's going to split at some point, and the Democrats are probably looking at the same thing.

For good or ill, I think most people live in the political middle, leaning right in a lot of ways, but also leaning left on certain issues.  They figure precisely what you suggested -- there should be a way to find common ground, not only with people in their own party, but also across the aisle, as it were.

The hard-liners on both sides prevent this (it's not necessarily a bad thing); and the Democrats are a lot better at selling their side of the story to those middle-ground people.  Republican ideas are generally not well-introduced much less sold on their merits. 

What the Republicans lack, is both idea people and foot soldiers, both of which the left has in large numbers. 

What idea people the GOP has, seem to be clustered in Talk Radio, and they tend toward shouting and inflexibility.  They're really a sort of distillation of how people in general see the Republican Party and, to be honest, how a lot of Republicans seem to approach politics.

[Jazzhead]

Welcome to the real world. A much different world than what they say on Talk Radio..

Good point.   Talk radio may have built up the base,  but now that the GOP has achieved power the base's expectations, fueled by rants on talk radio, are impossible to deliver.    I roll my eyes when posters here insist on "standing on principle" - politics is the art of the possible.    We may well have just elected the Dems again - we're happier to be backbenchers, freed of the responsibility of governance.   

[Wingnut]

Welcome to the real world.

"..She said to me condescendingly".

[Free Vulcan]

Welcome to the real world. A much different world than what they say on Talk Radio..

Good point.   Talk radio may have built up the base,  but now that the GOP has achieved power the base's expectations, fueled by rants on talk radio, are impossible to deliver.    I roll my eyes when posters here insist on "standing on principle" - politics is the art of the possible.    We may well have just elected the Dems again - we're happier to be backbenchers, freed of the responsibility of governance.

What real world? There's no real world here. We have the majority, we can dispense with the Cloture Rule and make things happen. But Mitch wants his tradition and bipahtisanship for it's own sake.

We have moderates and even conservatives agreeing to basically slush funds and other liberal garbage out of fear of the kook fringe, while the wide majority voted them in office to get rid of Obamacare.

The real world is that this bill isn't economically, mathematically, or actuarially viable. It's hand waving, flips and spins, and fan dancing for a political solution, not a policy solution.

All this is, is fantasy kabuki theater.

[Sanguine]

We need a leader. 

[roamer_1]

Good point.   Talk radio may have built up the base,  but now that the GOP has achieved power the base's expectations, fueled by rants on talk radio, are impossible to deliver.    I roll my eyes when posters here insist on "standing on principle" - politics is the art of the possible.    We may well have just elected the Dems again - we're happier to be backbenchers, freed of the responsibility of governance.

@Jazzhead , the absurdity of your statement is self evident in the performance of Republicans.

While Democrats adhere to their platform in lockstep, and fight like dogs for it, whether in power or not, and make gains from it whether in power or not...

Republicans cower and compromise, acquiesce and appease, never fighting for their platform, never realizing success. We've been doing it your way for nigh onto twenty years and have lost ground the entire time, even though the houses of government have been in their control, for a good portion of that time.

There hasn't been a decent move forward since the 94 congress, and that was attack dog Conservatism, with adherence to the platform, and a specific fulfillment of the Contract with America. There hasn't been leadership in DC with a backbone since Tom Delay left the city limits. It's time to put up or shut up. The Republican party is shiftless and aimless, sabotaging it's own ends.

Without adherence to the principles that make them an entity, there is no purpose for the union. And useless things quickly find their end.

[Bigun]

We need a leader.

I nominate Ted Cruz!

[Sanguine]

I nominate Ted Cruz!

I could live with that.   

[skeeter]

@Jazzhead , the absurdity of your statement is self evident in the performance of Republicans.

While Democrats adhere to their platform in lockstep, and fight like dogs for it, whether in power or not, and make gains from it whether in power or not...

Republicans cower and compromise, acquiesce and appease, never fighting for their platform, never realizing success. We've been doing it your way for nigh onto twenty years and have lost ground the entire time, even though the houses of government have been in their control, for a good portion of that time.

There hasn't been a decent move forward since the 94 congress, and that was attack dog Conservatism, with adherence to the platform, and a specific fulfillment of the Contract with America. There hasn't been leadership in DC with a backbone since Tom Delay left the city limits. It's time to put up or shut up. The Republican party is shiftless and aimless, sabotaging it's own ends.

Without adherence to the principles that make them an entity, there is no purpose for the union. And useless things quickly find their end.

Muscular republicanism died with Lee Atwater.

[Silver Pines]

What real world? There's no real world here. We have the majority, we can dispense with the Cloture Rule and make things happen. But Mitch wants his tradition and bipahtisanship for it's own sake.

We have moderates and even conservatives agreeing to basically slush funds and other liberal garbage out of fear of the kook fringe, while the wide majority voted them in office to get rid of Obamacare.

The real world is that this bill isn't economically, mathematically, or actuarially viable. It's hand waving, flips and spins, and fan dancing for a political solution, not a policy solution.

All this is, is fantasy kabuki theater.

Between the health care bill and the budget, where's the difference in what we have now and a Democrat administration?  We got Gorsuch.  Great.  But he isn't enough to justify this crap.

Don't try and tell me we have to accept small victories when we HAVE all of the branches right now. 

[roamer_1]

Muscular republicanism died with Lee Atwater.

I don't disagree. But the last dying gasps of liberty seem to have come from the 94 Congress. Since then it has been nothing but socialism and globalism hand in hand.

Liberalism (Globalist socialism/communism/3rd-way) isn't winning on merit. It has no merit. It is winning because it has no opposition.

[Silver Pines]

We need a leader.

@Sanguine

Yes.  Painfully so.

Trump is now focused on making peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and I suspect he'll remain that way.  The prospect of being the one who finally manages that is something his ego can't resist. 

[skeeter]

I don't disagree. But the last dying gasps of liberty seem to have come from the 94 Congress. Since then it has been nothing but socialism and globalism hand in hand.

Liberalism (Globalist socialism/communism/3rd-way) isn't winning on merit. It has no merit. It is winning because it has no opposition.

I'd only add that liberalism/progressivism wins because it deceives, also.

BTW if you want a good chuckle read Atwater's Wiki bio. He used PUSH polling, the rascal.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

@Sanguine

Yes.  Painfully so.

Trump is now focused on making peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and I suspect he'll remain that way.  The prospect of being the one who finally manages that is something his ego can't resist.

No, not peace.  A DEAL.  The actual outcome is irrelevant, it's the Winning![TM] that matters.

[r9etb]

Don't try and tell me we have to accept small victories when we HAVE all of the branches right now.

Who's this "we," Kemo Sabe?  That the issue -- when it comes to a lot of issues, there isn't really a "we," in the sense of a governing majority.

Yes, there's currently an (R) beside each branch of government, but as we've seen all too clearly, that doesn't mean the people within the GOP agree with each other -- not to the point where a clear majority of Republicans can confidently vote on the big stuff.

That's sort of the point of what the guy was saying in the original post. 

[Silver Pines]

No, not peace.  A DEAL.  The actual outcome is irrelevant, it's the Winning![TM] that matters.

@InHeavenThereIsNoBeer

Right.  We know there will never be peace there.