Many conservatives, myself included, find President Trump’s personality off-putting, but that does not mean that we don’t support much of what he is trying to accomplish. Congress would do well to remember, as they go into their undeserved August recess, that they are still less-popular than the President. Americans are annoyed by President Trump’s amateurish behavior and White House “palace intrigue,” but we are angry, nay furious, at our do-nothing Congress. Like the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz, the GOP caucus in Congress has no courage. We, the people, began electing Republican majorities in droves all the way back in 2010 on the promise that they would stop Obamacare, and they have lied to us for seven years.
After seven months of total Republican control of Washington, it is an understatement to say that Congress has failed. President Trump certainly has not helped matters much with the constant circus at the White House, but Congress bears the ultimate brunt of responsibility when it comes to the failure of Obamacare repeal, inaction on tax reform, and no movement on balancing the federal budget. Unlike the immensely successful Republican majority led by Newt Gingrich in the 1990s, which forced a Democrat President to sign some very conservative legislation, our current bunch of cowards cannot even pass a bill with a President of their own party on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.
If Congressional Republicans do not step-up and lead in spite of the White House drama, Democrats will take Congress next year and it will be the end of this amazing opportunity for good governance. Instead of leading the conservative cause at this critical hour, Congress is using the President’s problems as cover for its on uselessness. While President Trump is not a Reagan-style consensus builder, he is still willing to sign an Obamacare repeal, a balanced budget, and tax relief. What Congress is doing, or more appropriately not doing, amazes me; it looks like they were more willing to give President Obama what he wanted than they are to work with President Trump to give the American people what we want.
Yesterday Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) suggested that Congress should take the lead on policy. The senior senator from Texas told reporters “Historically, it hasn’t always been the case that the president is the one who sets the policy and Congress responds. It was that Congress led. And I think this is the opportunity we have now and I welcome that.” Frankly, Senator, all that American voters care about at this moment is that real work be completed that improves their lives, regardless of whether it is the White House or Congress that calls the plays. All that most Americans see is that it is almost football season and Republicans in Washington have yet to enter the end zone on any signature policy promises.
If Congressional Republicans continue to fumble this opportunity to repeal Obamacare, cut taxes, reduce spending, and clean-up the culture of corruption in Washington, they will lose their majority. Beyond losing their majority, they will lose the confidence of the American people, which is even harder to ever recover. I hope that Senator Cornyn’s prediction comes true, and that the Republican Congress will ignore the chaos coming out of the White House and pass conservative reforms. For all of President Trump’s faults, he will certainly signs their bills, something that could not be said of his predecessor.
