Sunday, October 22, 2023
You can always tell my house is in something of a stalemate, when I start serving up the same meals we had last week. The same could be said for the world of politics, as we are fighting the same two battles we were fighting this time a week ago. The violence in the Middle East and the fight for a Speaker of the House in Congress remain like “political leftovers.” But important leftovers they are, so let’s “brunch” on that this week.
“Biden Israel” – I don’t like how it was planned. The White House announced three days before the trip, that President Biden was going to Israel, and then on to Jordan to discuss the unrest in the region. I compare that to the unannounced visits that President George W. Bush and others made to hostile countries. Bush went to Iraq a few times but never announced it until he had safely landed. I just don’t like any president, of either party, announcing a visit days in advance. It just emboldens the enemy the opportunity to attack. Yes, U.S. fighter jets flank Air Force One, but all you need is a terrorist on the ground with a shoulder-launched stinger missile, and you have a prescription for trouble and tragedy. Go, yes, but go quietly without advance notice.
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“Congressional Reax” – While there are partisan divides on how President Biden is dealing with the Mideast crisis, there is bipartisan support for the major parties to lock arms and line up to support Israel. “We must stand with Israel,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R) West Virginia, who is part of her party’s leadership team. And she went on to give her reaction to the horrific descriptions of Hamas terrorists beheading child hostages. “I’ve questioned myself a lot thinking. ‘How does your heart get so cold, and so filled with hate, that you can do such crimes against humanity, against innocent babies and children?'” Sen. Capito said. She also says the U.S. must help stop the Palestinian-based Hamas, and the Iranian-based Hezbollah, before they reach our shores. Capito said, “In the end, it’s going to be our own national security.”
“Biden TV Speech Thursday” – I found the 15-minute speech sober and muted. I thought he would show more emotion, like the loud, dramatic outrage he used to put forth on the floor of the U.S. Senate. But maybe the Oval Office calls for a different kind of decorum. President Biden said, “We can’t let petty partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen,” he added. Mr. Biden then announced a major ask, in calling on Congress to support $105 billion dollars in additional foreign aid. $61 billion was proposed for Ukraine, $14 million for Israel, and $13 billion to help secure the U.S. Southern Border.
“House Speaker Race” – One of the wildest jobs I ever had trying to make extra bucks in college was being a “used-car runner” for a guy named, “Crazy Jim” Groh. I moved hard-to-sell cars to new lots all across Southeastern Wisconsin, in hopes of finding a buyer. The cars that didn’t sell wound up at an annual event known as, “Crazy Jim’s Demolition Derby.” Used car drivers pummeled each other’s vehicles until only one was left running. Well, Republicans have already “crashed” Rep. Steve Scalise and appear on track to “demolition” Rep. Jim Jordan, too! Who else has a used car to bash in this race? And can a weakened winner succeed, “dents and all?”
“Congress in Gridlock” – The timing of this logjam could not be worse. Congress has fewer than 30 days to pass a long-term spending bill to keep the government open, but it also needs to vote on aid to Israel in its war with Hamas, not to mention more Ukraine aid in its war against Russia. Senator Capito, whom I mentioned earlier, told me in a press briefing, “This is a pivotal, tipping-point time.” But with no Speaker of the House, no business can be conducted. Sen. Capito added, “You know it’s a circus, quite frankly, and I’m very, very frustrated and embarrassed by what I see. The inability of the House to get their House in order.” And this is coming from a fellow Republican who served in the House for 14 years.
“Can Any Republican Win” – Yes, but Republicans must circle the wagons and find some alternative candidate that gets them to the necessary 217 votes to become speaker. Democrats control the White House and Senate, but Republicans are now the “wobbly third leg on the barstool,” and you can only negotiate from a point of weakness there, not strength. Rep. Jim Jordan (R) Ohio, failed in his third vote on Friday, to be elected Speaker. There was talk of giving Interim-Speaker Patrick McHenry (R) North Carolina, temporary powers to help pass aid to Israel. So far, that’s failed. The party caucus then officially dropped Jordan as its nominee.
“Trump Civil Trial” – Former President Donald Trump continues to walk a thin yellow line about what he can and cannot say about his current civil trial concerning whether he and his companies overvalued their properties to get more favorable loan deals. Trump also appealed the limited gag order from Monday by another federal judge barring him from attacking prosecutors and their staffs, court staff, and any potential witnesses in the federal election case against him. Despite the judge’s order, Trump vented anyway saying, “My speech has been taken away from me. I’m a candidate that’s running for office, and I’m not allowed to speak. This is a railroading.” No contempt citation yet, but I suspect Trump is baiting the lower court judges, so he can run the cases to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he appointed three of the nine justices. Sure enough, late Friday one judge fined Trump $5,000 and threatened to jail him for violating the gag order.
“Trump Troubles, Times Two” – Two of Trump’s former lawyers entered guilty pleas in the State of Georgia election case, which also includes Trump as a defendant. On Friday, Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to a felony just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial on charges accusing him of participating in efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s loss in Georgia’s 2020 election. Earlier in the week, lawyer Sidney Powell pleaded guilty, and both have agreed to testify against others in the case, potentially including Mr. Trump and his other attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is Chief Political Reporter for the seven Nexstar Media TV stations serving West Virginia, its five neighboring states and the entire Washington, DC media market. He is also a MINDSETTER™ contributing political writer and analyst for www.GoLocalProv.com and its affiliates.
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