If you want to get a sense for how seriously House Republicans take their oversight responsibilities, you need look no further than the comments of Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida who serves on the Judiciary Committee. He’s supporting Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio’s bid to take over the GOP’s top “ranking member” position on Judiciary despite the fact that Jordan only ranks eighth in seniority.
In truth, the Republicans serving on the committee were decimated in the midterms. The chairman, Bob Goodlatte of Virginia decided to retire. Other members who retired or sought other offices include: Darrell Issa of California, Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, and Raúl Labrador of Idaho. Meanwhile, both Karen C. Handel of Georgia and Keith Rothfus of Pennsylvania were defeated.
Technically, Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin is next in line, but he’s already served as the head of Judiciary
and appears to be ineligible. Running instead, in addition to Rep. Jordan, are Rep. Steve Chabot of Ohio and Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia. Based on seniority, the job should go to Chabot, but Rep. Gaetz thinks that Chabot and Collins are the wrong men for the job.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a Republican member of the Judiciary Committee, said Jordan is the best choice to be the Republican face of the committee while the GOP is in the minority.
“Collins and Chabot are fine legislators. They have great skill in developing legislation and a vision for leadership. They’d make the best chairmen of the committee,” he said in a statement to POLITICO. “Neither is qualified to be ranking member now. Neither has attended the depositions of key witnesses in the committee’s most important investigations. Jim knows how to fight the battle we are facing. He has internalized the facts and timeline. If he isn’t the ranking member, President Trump will be without the most capable defense we could otherwise offer.”
“Kevin McCarthy,” Gaetz continued, “has the power to make Jim Jordan the lead Republican on Judiciary. If he doesn’t, he is actively screwing President Trump. And they both know it.”
Rep. Gaetz knows that the Judiciary Committee will handle any impeachment hearings, should they occur, as well as many other oversight hearings. He told Bloomberg News that “this committee is going to be covered like the O.J. trial.” He couldn’t be less interested in getting to the truth of how the Russians interfered in our elections or how they might do so again in the future. He doesn’t care in the slightest whether the Trump administration has acted lawfully. He is ready to do battle and offer “the most capable defense.”
The White House sees things much the same way and is hoping to convince soon-to-be House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California to place Rep. Jordan as ranking member on Judiciary, as well as Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina in the top spot of the Committee of Oversight and Government Reform. There are six members of the Oversight Committee with more seniority than Rep, Meadows, so neither of these moves can be approved without causing some resentment and consternation within the caucus.
GOP leaders are set to informally discuss the matter Tuesday night as they begin to organize for the next Congress. The Republican Steering Committee, a group of several dozen lawmakers close to GOP leaders, is ultimately responsible for recommending ranking members. Both men would have to be elected to the positions, though lawmakers give leaders’ preferences ample consideration before voting. The Steering Committee meets Wednesday and Thursday.
Reportedly, it is David Bossie and Corey Lewandowski who are pushing this process on the behalf of Donald Trump, showing again that chief of staff John Kelly has little control over the West Wing.
Isn’t that buffoon Gaetz quite possibly one of the Republiclown congressmen directly implicated in Russian meddling of 2016? One of the indictments or related documents from Mueller, if I recall, actually mentioned a congressman, and again if I recall, there were two or three in Florida who seemed to have had information during the election season they shouldn’t.
I believe it’s actually the Klansman who is the Governor-elect of Florida.
It’s treason, all the way down.
“Reportedly, it is David Bossie and Corey Lewandowski who are pushing this process on the behalf of Donald Trump, showing again that chief of staff John Kelly has little control over the West Wing.”
For the life of me, I cannot fathom why Kelly continues on in his role. He’s been disrespected, made a fool of, and by people like Trump and his family members who have not only proven themselves intellectually shallow but have never served their country in any capacity, ever. He has to put up with continuing reports of being on the outs with Trump and on the verge of being fired, and being the victim of end runs by the likes of Lewandowski and Bossie. I don’t believe the claptrap about him staying on selflessly to protect the nation from the worst abuses of Trump and his family. And from a purely results perspective, the administration as an organization isn’t being managed that much better than it was under Priebus.
Kelly has already reached a point where history will remember him not so much as an accomplished four star marine general but first and foremost as the chief of staff and accomplice of a failed circus of an administration of a likely criminal and traitorous president.
Is he that much of a “movement conservative” and true believer to risk all that for this?
Kelly was promoted to his position for his accomplishments at DHS putting the boot in on migrants and refugees.
“God Punished me, I guess.” – on being named Chief of Staff.
Indeed.
He sold his soul already, now he’s paying the price.
His hatred of immigrants burns that much hotter.
. . . completely lacking any of the honor many people somewhat irrationally assume goes with high military rank. This was proven beyond reasonable dispute when everything after “and a Congresswoman stood up” in his disgusting attack on Congresswoman Wilson was shown conclusively by video evidence to be a pack of lies start-to-finish, and even in the face of that definitive documentary evidence, . . .
. . . he not only refused to apologize, but indeed doubled-down on the attack.
2) While I think you’re completely correct to not
. . . I nevertheless see no reason to doubt that Kelly’s ego lets him believe that claptrap lock, stock, and barrel.
The media likes to portray the inmates of this administration as “good guys versus bad guys.” But, they all serve Donald Trump. There are no good guys. Perhaps Kelly thought he could stop Trump from blowing up the world. Maybe he was right, but I doubt it.
I just hope Trump keeps insulting the active military. Maybe some key generals will refuse to obey orders to start an insane war. I’d have a hard time believing that, but I suppose it might be possible if they begin to really hate him for his constant disrespect and baseless attacks.