How many times over the last 12 months have you thought to yourself, “wow, Congress is really doing a great job”? Chances are, if you’re like 81% of Americans, according to the most recent Real Clear Politics poll, you have never thought that. In fact, you have probably thought the opposite. Prior to the election, the mainstream media berated Congress as “do-nothing” and obstructionist, now every other headline is about how Donald Trump “upset” or insulted some Congressmen; Representative John Lewis is just the latest. While historically he is a civil rights hero, presently he is a member of the same “do-nothing Congress” that Donald Trump was elected to shake up.
All the headlines that cast Trump in an adversarial role against establishment members of Congress, no matter how bad the press, vindicate Trump to his constituents. The people elected Trump because he campaigned on his ability to get things done ahead of schedule and under budget; a stark contrast to the reputation of the United States Congress. His ability to market himself as a world-class deal maker also had broad appeal to a citizenry that witnessed eight years of partisan politics. So while John Lewis, much like John McCain, may be marked as a hero of the past, past successes does not preclude him from the “what have you done for me lately?” mentality of a President Trump and an American people.
The GOP, particularly Paul Ryan, has the most to lose. Ryan has already showed his hand, playing the most politically expedient cards possible, when it comes to Trump. He has announced his support and denounced him in almost the same breath. Now that Ryan has seen the commitment of Trump’s supporters, he should tread a fine line not to draw the ire of the President or be labeled as obstructionist. Lest he forget President-Elect Trump is the king of label making, just ask “Little Marco” or “Crooked Hillary”. Furthermore, it was just October 8th of this campaign season, when Paul Ryan was booed at a rally in his own state of Wisconsin, one of the keystones of the Trump Electoral victory. Trump will make Ryan pay if he does not support his agenda. Trump has a few aces in his house of cards, and it would not be surprising to see Paul Ryan’s protégé, Reince Priebus, burned in effigy by a President Trump, if Congress doesn’t toe the line.
Paul Ryan should support Trump’s agenda to the best of his ability, because the people have shown they do not care what he or the rest of Congress thinks. Congressional approval ratings are in the teens, and a Trump presidential victory against representatives of the establishment incarnate demonstrate the people have spoken. Ryan becoming adversarial and an obstructionist to a Trump administration, would further validate Trump and his “drain the swamp movement”. It would also be a gross underestimation of the power of the populist movement. Preventing Trump from putting his policy into effect would largely end in a Pyrrhic victory for Ryan, which presumably would include the loss of his speakership and the Republicans paying a heavy price in the midterm elections.