GOP Performative Politics Has Consequences.

February 1, 2024 Glen Turpening

The GOP has allowed some extreme members to run the show and little to nothing is accomplished as a result. (Washington Post)

Republicans, by the admission of conservative Rep. Chip Roy (Tex.), have not a single accomplishment on which to run this year. “For the life of me, I do not understand how you can go to the trouble of campaigning, raising money, going to events, talking to people, coming to this town as a member of a party who allegedly stands for something … and then do nothing about it,” he bellowed on the House floor in November. “One thing: I want my Republican colleagues to give me one thing — one — that I can go campaign on and say we did. One!” He got no answer. Most Republicans voted against the overwhelmingly popular infrastructure bill. Now they routinely claim credit for it. Only occasionally do they get called out for hypocrisy. (Get ready to hear plenty of it as the campaign heats up.) With help from some Republicans in the Senate and very few in the House, Democrats were able to pass the infrastructure bill in 2021. As with infrastructure, Republicans have largely escaped blame for causing economic havoc thanks to Democratic votes for keeping the government open and avoiding a default on the debt.

By Jennifer Rubin, 'Washington Post'

The control 1 man has over a whole political party, even though he was voted out, is amazing and unprecedented in American politics. Donald Trump is sinking legislation from his compound in Florida and making it impossible for members of his party to pass legislation unless he personally approves the bill. This prevents his party from controlling legislative narrative and showing the American people they can govern effectively.