If there's one thing Republicans are really starting to excel at, it's throwing their finger decisively in the direction of the entity on the other end of Pennsylvania Ave. to explain why they're so preposterously incompetent.
In anticipation of yet another potential failure on repealing Obamacare this week, the occupants of the White House know exactly who to blame, writes Politico:
White House aides are already considering how to distance President Donald Trump from Congress and how to go after the Republicans who vote no — an idea the president seems fond of, according to people who have spoken to him. Several people said he plans to keep up the fight, no matter how this week's vote goes.
He threatened Republicans on Twitter Sunday, saying they would face electoral consequences, and complained about his party not defending him — even though congressional Republicans are tired of defending him all the time.
“It's very sad that Republicans, even some that were carried over the line on my back, do very little to protect their President," he wrote.
Shocking they're not super excited about putting their butts on the line for a bill, only to find out it's "mean" several weeks later. Of course, it is mean. But their president isn't supposed to be leading the charge on anti-GOP messaging heading into the midterms.
And then there's Congressional Republicans, staring down the White House:
Meanwhile, those close to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell say they are frustrated that the president has shown little focus on his political agenda, particularly health care. Trump's interview with the New York Times this week, for example, where he raged about Attorney General Jeff Sessions instead of promoting health care, was "political malpractice," one senior GOP aide said.
Who are they kidding? That interview was gold. When it comes to "the art of the deal," Trump just puts a lot of emphasis on "the art" part, in a Jackson Pollock kind of way—only there's no canvas so it's kind of like watching paint fly all over the place as Trump's arms sputter around, like someone who's drowning.
Congressional Republicans are also dismayed by the elevation to communications director of a New Yorker nicknamed "The Mooch," aka Anthony Scaramucci, who has zero governing or messaging experience but loves, loves, loves Trump mucho.
Let “the president be the president” is how Scaramucci described his new job in a Fox News interview on Sunday.
Absolutely, you tell 'em, Mooch! If we ever wondered what it might be like to have something akin to the Gambino crime ring running the White House, this might be the closest we'll ever get, god willing. Family loyalty reigns supreme. Protecting the patriarch's power is paramount. All that other stuff—governing, serving the people, etc.—pfft.
Trump, McConnell, Paul Ryan—they all deserve each other. Trump's useless, it's true, but McConnell and Ryan haven't proven any better at working their end of Pennsylvania Ave. Vote counting, in particular, has strained their governing capabilities. And forget about having any fresh ideas.
The Senate is expected to vote on Tuesday on a motion to proceed to a vote on the bill, though it’s not clear McConnell has the votes he needs to advance the measure.
He also hasn't spoken to Utah Sen. Mike Lee, since Lee and Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas teamed up last week to torpedo his health care effort. Now that's really thinking outside of the box, McConnell.
“If this fails, it is a disaster for them. They will lose their moral authority to get anything done and lead. There will be a real breakdown of the Republican Senate,” said David McIntosh, the president of the Club for Growth.
Uh oh, the Club for Growth guy is worried about Republicans losing their "moral authority"—these are truly desperate times. Even Congressional Republicans know it.
“It’s been some of the most chaotic six, seven months I’ve ever spent here," GOP Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, a veteran lawmaker of some 20 years, told TPM.
“We have to get it together," added Texas Rep. Pete Sessions.
Relax, fellas, that's totally glass half-empty thinking. Exposing the GOP's true incapacity to govern—now that's priceless.
