This Sunday’s version of This Week with George Stephanopoulus had this absolutely clarifying snippet of why the Establishment Republican “aren’t getting it”. US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is the highest elected Republican in the US – one would think that he would as least acknowledge that the base is ticked and that perhaps, perhaps, the Party ought to be listening to it. So I was rather startled (ok, maybe not so much – almost expected it) his answer.
Steph: You see Donald Trump at the top of the primary field. Senator Cruz has called you a liar. Trump has accused you and Speaker Ryan of gross incompetance. They seem to be tapping into a real anger at the Republican leadership out there in the country. What does it say to you that they are the front runners of the race right now
McConnell: It says that we ought to do our work that the American people were elected us to do and let the Presidential race play out.
Umm, no. Again, it reinforces what I (and many others) have been saying – I think you have that exactly backwards: you have brought Trump (& Cruz) upon you yourselves. Here it is, starkly – the insurgents (e.g., Trump, Cruz, and to a lesser degree, Fiorina) are succeeding BECAUSE the truth is the OPPOSITE of what McConnell said.
The base is trying to scream at the present deaf eared Establishment it is BECAUSE you AREN’T!
I put up a lot of polls here on the ‘Grok – not because they represent absolute truth but they can, over time, give a reasonable degree of “what’s the pulse” on a number of issues. Not gospel, because issues and emotions can change on a dime.
Sidenote: and our Founding Fathers recognized that when they created House and Senate (re: the hot roiling cup and the cooling saucer analogy).
The ones I really watch are the ones that talk about the issues and show what is important to ordinary folks. And then contrast that to what the politicians are actually doing (and not just what they are lip speaking or politicial Kabuki theater no-nothing bill passing). And almost each and every time, general Americans are saying EXACTLY the opposite of what the politicians think is important.
Disconnect.
And it has risen to such a boil that people are saying “Enough of these pestilences upon our houses – we’ll go with someone that actually talks like us. And they are, to the utter dismay and confusion of the Professional Political Class (mostly confusion, as Trump keeps rolling along with Cruz). And McConnell’s words feed right into that – a complete repudiation of what is on the ground. And he shows utter contempt for what is going on.
Or, believes that he can control what happens no matter which Republican gets to the Oval Office – and then he shows either more dufusity or absolute stupidity:
Steph: no word that Donald Trump would put your majority at risk?
McConnell: We’re going to do the job the American people elected us to do; the Presidential candidates will slug it out and at some point, this year, we’ll have a good nominee.
Steph: you are disciplined, Senator McConnell.
Either McConnell thinks that the general Republican public will, to his notions, come to their senses and it is a nonsense question, or he is scared stiff that there really may be blow-over from this. You see, if the Republicans can’t get the job done we sent them to do, why bother with them? If they can’t keep their promises to us, why should we give them our votes? If they failed to stop Obama (and nothing says #FAIL like passing a $1.2 Trillion omnibus bill (#FAIL at doing proper budgeting EVEN WITH MAJORITIES!!) and funding EACH AND EVERY POLICY ISSUE OBAMA and the Democrats WANTED FUNDED), why are they in the Senate, again?
why would we allow them to keep their majorities?
Seriously, just on the stupid phrase “we’re better than the Democrats”? They think us stupid. Kelly Ayotte certainly does, in touting her “across the aisle” actions – and allowing unConstitutional actions to happen (EPA’s CPP, for instance).
Think carefully, my friends – treat your votes wisely and as the most expensive thing you own. If you won’t spend your money on substandard products in the public marketplace, why do the same in the political marketplace? They depend on you to convince yourself “where else can I go?”.
Well, say the same thing you tell that purveyor of shoddy stuff at the store: umm, no thanks. REmember, you don’t HAVE to spend that vote.
