“Etc we are not a country just a president. We have a Congress. We have the Supreme Court. But, most importantly, we have people in the United States, people who vote, people who vote for him and people who vote for him. “
Make no mistake what Powell is doing here: He is calling for – and leaving – Republican lawmakers to give up on Trump’s every move. He tried to remind them that the country’s founders imagined three equal parts of government – not the legislative branch that lived in fear of the executive and did whatever he said.
That’s what Republicans have done in Washington for the past three years. While Trump was an almost absent choice from the main Republican leaders in Washington during the 2016 campaign, it became clear after the march to the GOP nomination and the amazing victory over Hillary Clinton that he would force them into a very clear choice: Are you with me or against me ?
Trump’s political worldview does not allow for nuances or differences. Either you agree with him – in public, at least – 100% of the time or you are his enemy – and, therefore, someone he is trying to destroy. (And yes, this is a very simple way to see politics and the world.)
So, very early in Trump’s presidency, Republican leaders must make a choice: Do you really ally with Trump (and get some of your top priorities like more conservative judges, tax breaks, etc.) or do you assert your independence as a legislative body and risking tense relations with the chief executive who could jeopardize those priorities?
They chose the previous option. And that has paid the main policy dividends. Massive tax cuts. Two justices were confirmed by the Supreme Court. Almost
200 federal judges confirmed in lower courts.
But the victory of that policy also came at a high political price. The 2018 midterm elections, in which Democrats regain control of the DPR, are largely driven by a rebellion among suburban women against Trump’s party. The political landscape entering the 2020 elections looks increasingly dangerous for Republicans – in the House and Senate – as Trump’s numbers continue to falter; His approval rating in the CNN poll released Monday morning was 38%, the lowest ebb and flow for him since January 2019.
Even amid the alarming signs, very few Republicans might respond to Powell’s call to defend themselves – and against the President.
After former Defense Secretary James Mattis’s criticism of the President last weekend, mother was said among the Republican congresses, with some notable exceptions, such as Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah).
“That is General Mattis’ opinion, he is free to disclose it,” Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson told CNN.
“Politically it’s just fashionable to blame Trump for everything – and I don’t buy it,” said South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.
When Trump gave a speech in response to the growing protest after the death of George Floyd – and then a group of demonstrators cleared up so that he could get out of the White House and do a photo-op at St. Church. John – Republican The leaders, once again, said nothing.
“I will not criticize the appearance of others,” offered Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky).
“I’m not following, I’m sorry,” Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy said.
That silence (or sticking his head to the sand) is what Trump has bought with the policy proposal he is pushing for. The unspoken agreement made by the congressional Republicans is that they will use Trump to get the long-desired conservative priority in return for unwavering political loyalty to a man, who until a few years before he decided to run for president in 2016, not even a Republican and who, on a variety of issues ranging from trade to deficits, had a direct view that was at odds with that adopted by the founding of the GOP just a few years ago.
No one knows how much the price of lonely loyalty will return in early 2017. As of today, it could lead to a Democratic president and a Democratic-controlled Congress coming January 2021. And even more than that, Trump’s full embrace and unwillingness to offer criticism evident policies and statements that go far beyond the traditional definition of “conservative” can properly restore the GOP brand for more than one election.
The question every Republican has to ask themselves, maybe sooner than later, is this: Is it worth it?
