The gridlock in this current Congress and with Mitch McConnell as Majority Leader is a direct consequence of Republicans in congress, specifically, those extremists in Congress who’ve turned the US House into a dysfunctional institution.
John Boehner has attempted to herd the Tea Party cats, i.e., Gohmert, Bachmann, King, Massie, Amash, et al as they’ve slithered into office since 2008 — and out — and he’s failed miserably. No better example than the 60 or so attempts to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act that met with a swift end in the Senate.
Now, McConnell continues to pander to and nurture the right wing cancer in his party, pledging to repeal ACA ‘root and branch’ with no real hope of success.
Under McConnell’s watch, the Republicans in the Senate have begun to emulate those extremists in the House, i.e., Cruz and Paul. McConnell’s only chance to prove any ability to lead, to govern, is to pass bipartisan legislation that either is approved by the president or is veto proof. There’s no indication he can or has the will to do so.
In 2016 twenty-four Republican seats are up for election — McConnell’s status as majority leader is likely short lived as a result. Events like the disastrous letter to Iran’s leaders signed by McConnell and Rand Paul, threats to shutdown the government and, today, holding Loretta Lynch’s nomination for Attorney General hostage to unrelated legislation all diminish the institution that is the once respected US Congress.
Bill Adkins
Williamstown
adkinslaw56@gmail.com
adkins must be one of the last liberal fossils left in northern ky, keep dreaming your story is tired.