McCarthy's dis of Pelosi shows why the GOP is the party of losers
When Nancy Pelosi lowered the curtain on her substantive career as Democratic leader, including two terms as House Speaker, working with four Presidents, the new House GOP majority had an opportunity to burnish their brand by showing some grace. Instead, they chose to remain small. Kevin McCarthy, presumptive heir as Speaker blew off attending Pelosi’s announcement in the House. Along with most GOP Representatives.
McCarthy said he was too busy. Too busy even to post a message of congratulations on Pelosi’s extraordinary career? His pinned tweet remains, “As Speaker—I will take action to fix what Nancy Pelosi so badly broke.” Why not, “As Speaker—I will take action to do what the American voter gave the GOP the majority to do.” Is not that bigger, bolder, and brighter with recognition of the electorate?
McCarthy is too scared to think big. He heads a horde of rabid squirrels who do not see their new majority as a mandate to tackle inflation, immigration, gas prices, rising interest rates, rent explosions, et al. — but rather as an opportunity to investigate Hunter Biden. That is their ambition?
No wonder they failed to achieve McCarthy’s early-stated belief that the GOP would end up with a lead of 50 to 60 seats. They did not campaign as a party of ideas and ambition. They fought the contest with a small-minded focus on vituperative revenge, focused on endless investigations bringing no benefit to the people.
We should not be surprised. Once again, Republicans have no policies to help the average American. McCarthy’s stated House mission is to:
Deliver on our Commitment to America
Hold this Administration accountable
Stop the Biden agenda
What is this ‘Commitment to America’? It is a website devoted to space over substance. In the few places it says something, it states a goal with no plan. It is boilerplate aspiration with the soaring language of an eighth-grade book report.
Its four stated aims are:
An Economy That’s Strong
A Nation That’s Safe
A Future That’s Built on Freedom
A Government That’s Accountable
You cannot get more pusillanimous. The language is hesitant and weak. Why the ‘that’s? Why not “A Strong Economy. A Safe Nation. A Free Future. An Accountable Government.” They think they talk tough, but they write like middle managers.
Politics is brutal. “All is fair in love and war?” Then consider that politics is war fought without violence. It is an elbow-throwing business, not for the weak. And no one was stronger than Pelosi. She once went to the White House and kicked Trump’s ass on his home ground, all the while dressed like a boss — and looking good.
But at the end of the day, when the dust settles and a giant retires from the field (I know she will still be in the House), the time comes when simple decency demands you acknowledge the fight and salute your rival, You lose nothing by it. You give up no edge, and it does not make you look weak. It does the opposite. It makes you look confident.
When the 2004 Tsunami hit in South East Asia, George Bush Jr asked his father and Bill Clinton to go to the area for a fact-finding and relief-coordination tour. It was a request easily made. George Bush Sr. although vanquished after a brutal 1992 campaign, had spoken at the opening of the Clinton library, and offered some gracious remarks, “It has to be said that Bill Clinton was one of the most gifted American political figures in modern times. Believe me, I learned that the hard way.”
John Mccain as he lay dying from brain cancer, organized his funeral and requested that Bush Jr., his 2000 primary rival, and Barak Obama, his 2008 general election opponent, say something. A request both men willingly acceded to. Because when the contest is over, there is no reason to cling to hostility.
Pre-2016 Republicans got it. John Boehner tweeted: “Congratulations @SpeakerPelosi on a remarkable, historic run of service in the People's House. We were able to disagree without being disagreeable. You've been unfailingly gracious to me and my family.” And Paul Ryan tweeted: “I tip my cap as I welcome @speakerpelosi to the former speaker’s club and congratulate her on a historic career in the House.”
Even Mitch McConnell got it right. He congratulated Pelosi, saying “The Speaker and I have disagreed frequently and forcefully over the years, but I have seen first hand the depth and intensity of her commitment to public service. There is no question that the impact of Speaker Pelosi’s consequential and path-breaking career will long endure.”
There is no question that McConnell will go to his grave as an unmitigated shit who did more than most to hurt American pocketbooks and liberties. But when called upon to show grace, he did. It is not something little man McCarthy understands. One of the greatest Speakers in American history will be followed by one of the weakest. Because every Lincoln has an Andrew Johnson.