October 2nd, 2023 is a date that will live in infamy for politicians who embrace big-spending, do-nothing status quo quiescence. Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed a Motion to Vacate the Speakership of the House, and the motion passed the next day. Prior motions to vacate had been filed, and even voted on, but never succeeded until this year. This turn of events is unprecedented, and I submit all for the better.
The Conservative Commentariat has not shared my enthusiasm
for this necessary disruption to Congressional Business-As-Usual dithering,
bickering, and excessive spending. The hyperventilation from political class
Republicans, including strong conservatives not afraid to buck the Beltway
Establishment, is really saddening. Their latest source of angst: the
Speakership fight which has ground Congress to a halt.
From Ann Coulter to George Will, conservative commentators
are convinced that the dragged-out fight over the next Speaker of the House distracts
from bare minimum legislating, will drag down the Republican Party and doom the
United States to a federal Democratic trifecta for the foreseeable future. I
disagree. Even if this fight hurts the Republican Party, or Washington’s
diminished sense of solemnity, it was a much-needed tonic disruption.
For the last thirty years, voters have been sending
representatives to Washington DC to secure the border, end unnecessary wars,
cease the excessive spending (which Congress last achieved on the eve of
Clinton’s presidency, only through considerably pressure from a Republican
Congress), and restore federalism.
Politicians have not been keeping these promises, especially
the Republicans, who barely won a majority in 2022 in part because of ongoing
distrust from the base. Republicans in previous terms did very little to stop progressive
agendas or the deficit spending, aside from a handful of outspoken
conservatives. Republican lawmakers need to show more fighting spirit, the same
that DeSantis is campaigning on now. 2016.
When Republicans don’t do their job, how do we hold them
accountable? Ditch them during a primary or oust them during the general
election. But what about while they are in office? Yes, voters can make phone
calls, emails, press conferences, letters to the editor, and other public
displays of outrage. Citizens can put together PACs and start blasting their
elected officials with commercials on the airwaves.
However, the best way to hold politicians accountable during
a legislative session is to delay their power or remove them from power. Speaker
Emeritus Kevin McCarthy did not have a smooth transition to the speakership in
January, 2023. He hadn’t earned the gavel, having refused to meet with
different caucuses within the conference, especially conservatives who wanted
key guarantees. Ultimately, McCarthy appointed conservatives to the Rules
Committee and offered coveted chairmanships to others. However, he failed to
deliver on other promises like providing twelve appropriations bills, stopping
the excessive spending, and pushing forward term limits.
In May, 2023, McCarthy all but caved on the debt-ceiling negotiations.
He passed increased spending until January 2025 with majority Democratic support.
Once against, just like during his tenure as Majority Leader, he let the
Democrats run the chamber. Worse yet,
McCarthy dawdled until the end of September to get only three appropriations
bills passed. When the fourth failed, McCarthy resorted to another spendthrift
continuing resolution, with the help of Democrats.
McCarthy’s intransigence on following through on his
promises, plus his ready acquiescence to majority Democratic support for key
bills, proved to be the last straw for conservatives. Voters and pundits alike
should remember that this has been business as usual for Republicans when they
controlled the House in years past. Enough is enough! Republicans across the
country supported Gaetz’ decision to vacate McCarthy.
But criticisms linger against the Vacate Eight, and they
deserve consideration.
Some have charged that Gaetz filed this motion for the
celebrity, the grift, and to settle a score. Whatever his reasons may be, the
open reality that McCarthy didn’t keep his promises was reason good enough. In
politics, motive matters less than the votes themselves. Most politicians do
the right thing if it guarantees them re-election, and we want them to cast the
right votes, even if for the wrong reasons.
A more substantive criticism implicates the Vacate Eight for
not thinking through the larger process. “So, you remove McCarthy. What’s your
gameplan going forward?” I explained to one critic that the rest of the
conference needed the assurance (or the pressure) to make decisions against
leadership. If McCarthy was forced out, the rest of the conference would have
been free to (or have to) make decisions for a better speaker.
What if this process drags out even longer?
First of all, Americans should rejoice when Congress is unable
to spend money they do not have, whether by squandering tax revenues or
increasing the deficit spending.
Second, the Uniparty of “spend more, ask questions never” has
been exposed. The Republican electorate sees the members of Congress who are
determined to keep the Big Government largesse funneling to the several states,
all while our national debt explodes, inflation ravages Americans’ buying power,
and foreign countries ditch the US dollar as a reserve currency. All the lip
service for controlled spending and balanced budgets amounts to nothing.
Primary challenges can ensue in earnest, and perhaps Republicans as a national
consensus can force out big spending RINOs on a larger level, and come 2024 get
better House leadership, even if Republicans must suffer in the minority for a
term.
Third, conservative activists and political wonks need to
focus on the factors that create strong Republicans in Congress. Safe
districts, sure, but how about representatives who rely on local support and
funding for their campaigns? Candidates who have learned to harness media and
social media activism to increase their profile while enhancing their
grassroots strength do remarkably well in resisting the Swamp. These factors
help explain why Congressmen Gaetz, Rosendale, Good, and others have stood
strong against the House GOP Establishment.
Rep. Gaetz’ Motion to Vacate was a much-needed
house-cleaning for Washington politics. We should relish this period of disruption
for potential long-term improvements.
