I wish newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson great success in what has turned out to be a difficult journey for the Republicans. For now, the speaker's chair is no longer "vacant."
Did everyone get what they wanted? Or did everyone lose?
Let's review. The MAGA Republicans bullied their way to this position. After Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan - who they were set on - failed three times on three separate days, a record, they picked the one guy who had not been in Congress long enough to develop enemies within his own ranks. Plus, Johnson had been certified by the Trumpsters, and had not alienated himself from other Republicans.
The jury is out on how he will manage his new responsibilities, but I am encouraged by any man who leads first by invoking God in his success and vision. As a member of Congress in the '90s I too went to church daily. My adversaries called me "lucky." Yeah, right. I applaud Speaker Johnson on this point. It will help.
The first area of concern is keeping the government open. Johnson may need an extension on this one and will get one, as part of his unofficial honeymoon period. Passing each Appropriation Bill separately is a must.
This is something that every speaker in the 21st Century has failed to do miserably. We have been forced not to watch the making of sausage (legislation), but instead the warming up of old sausage in the microwave for a generation via repeated Continuing Resolutions.
Funding for Israel, Ukraine, and for our crisis at the U.S. border with Mexico are the other immediate and major challenges.
Border funding and assisting Israel are no brainers. After the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas, the world witnessed the fundamental importance of protecting one's border. (Prayers go out to the families affected by such atrocities, and for the safe release of the innocent hostages.)
The Ukraine funding, which should be separate from funds for Israel, is the most puzzling. It seemed like it was just days ago that the Biden Administration was seeking $24 billion in aid. Wait, it "was" just days ago. On October 4 Biden asked Congress for $24 billion. Now, just days later, the ask is a whopping $60 billion. Interesting.
Kudos does go out to Speaker Johnson for seeking to establish a bipartisan group to deal with the ever-growing problem of entitlements in government spending.
And then it's that pesky matter known as the impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden.
So, Democrats, did it play out like you wanted? Did you get anything you wanted, other than allowing Republicans to embarrass themselves in public?
You had two chances. One you handled well. You joined with the majority of Republicans to keep the government open. But the other pitch was a curveball, and like Mickey Mantle in his later days with the Yankees, you whiffed it. Instead of voting "present," you joined with the leaders of the group you most despise in Congress and with your unanimous support removed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Now you have a MAGA Republican, possibly your worst nightmare, occupying the speaker's chair.
But I trust that Speaker Johnson will opt to be a productive speaker, not one who merely makes "principled points." When you do not have the numbers in the House or Senate being overly "principled" is a waste of precious time.
Yet, without the elimination of the "one person" procedure - that is one House member being able to call a vote on removing the speaker - odds are that we will face reruns of the dysfunction in the House. It is the main element allowing the "tail to wag the dog."
These are a few questions that will need to play out over time:
Can the majority of the majority within the GOP work together to pass legislation that would give them a strong position to negotiate in conference with the Senate?
Will the Democrats in the Senate and Republicans in the House eventually support the negotiated compromise legislation?
Or will the "extreme Right" continue to be the "tail that wags the dog," resulting in more dysfunction?
Will the GOP conference allow the extreme Right to do so?
Will the speaker look to Democrats to find bipartisan solutions?
If so, would Johnson lose his Speakership?
Democrats must remember that compromise is a two-way proposition. They must also remember that if given a mulligan on whether to vote with extreme Right Republicans, they must join with mainstream Republicans for the good of the nation. The lesson learned over the last few weeks is that "the tail wagging the dog" can only be ended with Democrat support. Republicans cannot stop them alone. The margins are too thin.
One thing is certain, God does not allow anyone to regain time lost. It is the devil's best tool. We have lost over three weeks coming up with a new speaker. Time. Usually a speaker would have almost two months to prepare from selection in November to being sworn-in in January. Johnson does not have this benefit.
Wasting time, being distracted, and being unproductive seems like what the crew leaders on the Titanic were doing before they hit the iceberg. You cannot change the direction of the country (or boat) if you can not move the vessel in any direction at all. We would simply continue to glide in the same (wrong) direction until it is too late.
May God Bless America and her allies. I am sure Speaker Johnson will be repeating this prayer often, as should we all.
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