Meet The Press had the distinct honor of having a Republican cat fight on live television between one Republican who almost seems reasonable, Charlie Dent, and one of the Tea Party idiots who want to burn our nation to the ground, Dave Brat (R-VA).
Dave Brat (what an ironically appropriate name) belongs to the Republican “Freedom Caucus” which is sort of like a pre-school for future violent offenders. These are the worst of the Tea Party that want zero government unless it’s about taking away Civil Rights, taking money from the poor and giving it to billionaires, or making war. No amount of “big gubmint” or spending is enough for these purposes.
Brat is being a brat, and whining terribly that people like Dent want to “marginalize” him and his juvenile friends who think it is funny to be corporate trolls in American government.
Charlie Dent is, I can’t believe I am saying this, MAY BE a reasonable Republican. He still is what he is, and I do not really appreciate that, but the guy seems like he would be willing to do something like vote for a compromise deal that would do things like keep our federal government-funded.
What a novel freakin’ concept right?
Brat has what he likes to call ten commitments, he wants any candidate for Speaker of the House to agree to. He is essentially using his “caucus” to hold hostage any potential Speaker to the worst of the Tea Party demands — even though he denies it — and got very upset when Dent suggested this was the case.
Watch the hissyfit that Brat has in this clip from Meet The Press:
Featured Image via NBC screencap
Nothing that came out of Brat’s mouth was factually accurate statements.
Dent is calling for a possible bi-partisan house speaker. We SHOULD marginalize Brat and those like him.
No we need to get rid of Brat he and all like him are crazy Their Hate means moor to them then the Good of the Country
I would argue to Yvette White (see reply to Metro Issues below), that however much we want to get
rid of elected officials like Brat, we lack the means and legitimate
opportunity to do so. The alternative is to effectively marginalize him
and those like him, rendering them incapable of any effective
obstruction or influence. So let’s neuter them, let’s render them moot
and insignificant.
We are not going to get rid of anyone who is already elected. So instead let us do what is possible, and not dwell on what is not possible, however pleasant it is to contemplate.
I appreciate your position, but should Democrats even consider throwing the GOP a life preserver?
I would argue to you Metro Issues, that yes, we should consider throwing the GOP a life preserver. For the following two reasons: 1. the alternative is a shut down of government (no House session can convene absent a speaker) just a different kind from previous shut-downs, at a time when that would be disastrous for the country; and 2. Democrats stand to gain more by cooperating with those few in the GOP willing to do so, particularly if the Democrats gain by doing so and by sharing power. In particular we should expect to see the terrible Hastert rule which has been so obstructionist to bi-partisan passable legislation on a wide range of issues from immigration reform to gun control get tossed into the dust bin, (with luck, permanently). And it would put an end to the waste of time and tax payer money trying to repeal Obamacare as well. You could also kiss goodbye abuse of power political witch-hunts, because of the likely changes to committee chairs under shared power.
I would argue to Yvette White (above), that however much we want to get rid of elected officials like Brat, we lack the means and legitimate opportunity to do so. The alternative is to effectively marginalize him and those like him, rendering them incapable of any effective obstruction or influence. So let’s neuter them, let’s render them moot and insignificant.
I would argue also that while all Democrats may not join such a bi-partisan effort, I would bet that Pelosi can get more Dems than anyone on the right can rally Republicans for such an effort. That might translate into Pelosi as the next speaker, or at the very least, carrying more weight in a shared speakership — which is not specifically prohibited and therefore could occur. I would expect legal challenges, but not effective ones resolved before the end of 2016.
Rather this goes to politics as the art of the possible. And I’m hearing it rumored more and more broadly as the alternative, ESPECIALLY if Ryan turns down the speaker position (and there is no guarantee he can be elected even if he agrees to try).
I’ve been enjoying speculating on the possible impacts, both pro and con that this might have looking forward longer term, on the 2016 elections and beyond. Would it, for example, break once and for all the strangle hold of the tea party, perhaps making them unelectable even to their own base? Or would it instead turn out a greater backlash in the 2018 election cycle when the right is likely to have a better turnout? And how would that set up for 2020 when potentially there is an opportunity to undo the appalling gerrymandering of 2010 that has given the right a greater opportunity to cheat their way into power?
Lots of possible implications to assess, in multiple time frames, to make a good decision on this, but the possibility is highly intriguing.
i don’t have to watch the video to know that they’re in trouble. They can hardly pass legislation out of the House until they’re backs are against the wall and can hardly drum up support WITHIN THEIR OWN PARTY!
What a joke these people could not lead Horse to water.
stupidiTEA,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Typical of the Tea Party, they will not support Paul Ryan unless he first capitulates to their demands..
Ummm Paul Ryan is of the same mental stance, he’s an ‘expert’ on the backing of baggerites. He is even dumber than most of the baggerite political party.
lol That’s why Dent described him as a “very smart man”…. Paul Ryan is the GOP’s idea of a very smart man. *rolls eyes*
I think Bill Maher said it best about Ayn Rand Paul Ryan’s genius — “he writes ‘cut taxes’ in crayon on a napkin - and the conservatives screech he’s a genius!”
Which of course he can’t do because he knows they are the slimmest minority nationally: the crazy wingnut contingent. Capitulating to them will more or less seal the GOP’s doom next November. What to do…. what to do? 😀
Well… at least they are consistent.
The monster they created has turned on them. 🙂
How can 40 TP’ers be running the entire house?
Easy you sell your soul to the Devil
Brat was definitely not an improvement over Cantor…!
I know! Isn’t that scary? So thrilled when Cantor was out… Sometimes the devil you know really is better…
The Republicans open the door to the Crazy Now deal with it
Wagging the dog.
OMG hello? This guy is such an idiot. How does he figure more than half of the republican party opposes his agenda PLUS as he repeatedly said, the democrats oppose his agenda, and somehow, using TEA BAGGER math, you get a majority of Americans. The ignorance is beyond comprehension.
And he supposedly has a doctorate in economics. From where??? Banana republic U.?
What an idiot. No, not Brat — Dent. The Republican Party is for the delusional; what’s Dent trying to accomplish in it?
I have to agree. . Dent appeared to be entirely too sane to be an effective voice for Republicans. Brat came off as the poster child for WINGNUTZZ.
All of these Republican gangsters have to go!
Brat says he’s speaking for the majority of Americans?? Is he high??
Yes, he kept claiming his faction is doing all of their stuff because “the American People” approve and want it..bs!
The majority of the congress greedy bunch.
Nothing like laying out your dirty laundry in public. The GOP is on life support. Just hope they don’t take the USA down with them.
Brat has no idea of what the majority of the “American People” want. What they don’t want and are thoroughly fed up with is Brat and his so called Freedom Caucus refusing to govern and do what’s best for all of the country and not just their corporate masters.
I am not sure that even their “corporate masters” can control them anymore.
Awesome job Crystal you hit it right on the nail.
Oh, I got an understanding all right. Brat is determined that the Republican party continue to hold the government hostage to their demands. For him, it appears,anyone would be fine as house speaker so long as this person gives in to conservative demands. Charlie Dent, while he is still a Republican, seems to get that Congress needs to stop squabbling over who holds the ball and get down to finishing the game. Just listening to Brat spewing his version of reality as fast as he could before he could be interrupted by any semblance of the truth was making me start to itch. Brat’s protest that Charlie and those who think like him are somehow going around the process only points out more clearly that the process has been brought to its knees to create an impasse over which conservatives can shut down the government (again). Going around these roadblocks seems like a very sensible thing to do.
I think these Tea Party Jokers should just split off from the Republicans and form their own party. The two factions are clearly incompatible, and watching them trying to compromise is just painful. Besides that, it’ll free up the establishment Republicans to be able to govern again.
Rep. Dent lost me when he said ‘Paul Ryan is a smart man’… No he’s not - he just speaks like he is a smart man.
I missed the ‘hissyfit.’ That is the spin placed on this video segment by the writer of this post. This was normal, vigorous and respectful political discussion and debate. We need more of it. When the U.S. economy goes down the tubes – and we are very close – tens of millions of people will be in a real panic followed by real pain and poverty.