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Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) seems content and they are about to elect the Speaker in what was supposed to be the dark days for Democrats after they lost control of the House. The Democrat leader also looked down the aisle to see six Republican seats the Democrats could have won.
If a New York Democrat became chairman, he might be glad he didn’t.
The Republican fringe is a nihilist who destroys rather than governs. They ensure devastating disruption not only in this first week of the new Congress, but also in the next two years with Kevin McCarthy (R-California) compromising and ineffectual presidency.
That’s for sure, and it’s more interesting to see how Jeffries navigates the circus.
If the Democrats won those extra six seats, Jeffries would have had the nightmare of running the caucuses with a margin of just one or two seats, albeit with less freedom than the Republicans.
As impressive as Jeffries’ résumé and rapid rise (unanimously elected Democratic leader after just five terms), the Speaker of the House is no training ground. All Democratic Speakers from Sam Rayburn to Nancy Pelosi (California Democrat) initially served as Vice Speakers. Pelosi also spent four years as a minority leader.
Whether it’s George Washington, the first president, or John Wooden, UCLA’s great basketball coach, replacing a legend is always a daunting task. Now the benchmark for evaluating speakers is Pelosi, who Los Angeles Times columnist Jackie Calums called his GOAT.
The qualities of being an effective speaker are far more complex than being a good legislator. That’s a big leap. Speakers should be policy savvy, but not policy experts. That was the problem of Republican Paul Ryan. He lacked the sense and instincts to deal with diverse ranks and files, even before he was kicked out by a controversial deal with President Trump. He was the right person to chair the House Ways and Means Committee.
David Price, a recently retired North Carolina congressman and congressional scholar, points out that the agency will always have conflicting priorities that need to be reconciled.
The Chair must convey a sense of discipline, especially in thin margins and political polarization. It’s not easy. “Compared to the parliamentary system, our disciplinary rules are very weak,” Price said. Pelosi has done quite a bit with her relentless persuasion, strong persona, and knowing that the former Nancy D’Alessandro will never be forgotten. Although he was a strong legislator, legislators were not afraid to challenge him. McCarthy says he can’t even scare people like Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
At the same time, shepherding hundreds of ranks and files requires inclusiveness to involve members. It creates respect and loyalty.
The extent of power given to the House legislative committee has been repeatedly debated. In the late 19th century, another parliamentary scholar, Woodrow Wilson, proclaimed, “Parliament in the committee room is a working parliament.” It seems strange today.
This will be a central issue for the price of the Democratic Party’s next chairman, whether it’s two years from now or beyond. While some of last week’s right-wing Republican demands have merit, they will all lead to legislative anarchy.
Jeffries, a 52-year-old Brooklyn Congressman, is the first black man to lead his party in the House. He is a mainstream liberal with a particular interest in criminal justice reform. He was praised for his legal prowess as one of his House administrators in the first Trump impeachment.
It should be easy to lead the opposition into a Republican gang that can’t shoot straight, and to unite even a handful of left-wing cadres who aren’t fans of Jeffries. As we did, it is to counter endless scrutiny.
The Republican House Oversight Committee has launched a political investigation with a particular interest in the president’s son, Hunter, and the real target is the president himself. Rand) usually revolved around Commission Chairman James Comer (R-Kentucky), but Mr. Ruskin is now battling cancer in the coming months.
The Judiciary Commission is led by the ruthless and unscrupulous right-wing Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who attacks the Justice Department, the FBI, and other agencies that have angered Donald Trump. Veteran Rep. Jerrold Nadler (DN.Y.) belongs to the Democratic Party’s rankings in the Justice Department, and there are concerns over whether he will be able to match Jordan, especially with his top staff departure.
Like Pelosi, Jeffries must make sure his party is prepared for these attacks.
This pathetic House majority is bad for the country, perhaps even dangerous, and essential measures such as extending the debt ceiling are already promised difficult. Z can feel his way as party leader, deepening alliances and assuaging some skeptics while asking himself, “What would Nancy do?”
Al Hunt is the former Editor-in-Chief of Bloomberg News. Previously, he was a reporter, bureau chief and editor in Washington for The Wall Street Journal. For nearly a quarter of a century, he wrote columns on politics for The Wall Street Journal, The International New York Times, and The Bloomberg View. He hosts the Political Warfare Room with James Carville. follow him on twitter @Alhant DC.
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