It's an old saying, and in the world of politics it is almost a rule to live by, "Do not let perfect be the enemy of good."
Based on my conversation Tuesday with U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL 3) the handful of House conservatives who present themselves as heroes of the movement may, in fact, have submarined a really good bill by demanding it be perfect.
To be clear, I am not a fan of House Speaker of Kevin McCarthy and, while not a fan because of some reservations, I am generally supportive of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL 1). I love his intellect and rhetoric. Still, the bill, which could have been hung around the Democrats and Joe Biden's neck (a strategy I have long articulated to the point I think they stole the idea from me), was really, really worth passing.
My idea relies on the Grand Old Party to do something it is inept at doing well ... messaging.
It works like this: You load the bill with everything which must be done to change the direction of our nation fiscally. 1) Cut spending in every single agency except Defense (you make its spending conditional on doing away with woke policies and indoctrination) and Border Patrol which means cuts to the IRS, Dept. of Education, ATF, Energy, etc. (placing a chokehold on all of the agencies which are regulating this nation to death); 2) pledge to cut taxes (point out the government needs to run like our households where we cannot just borrow more when we are overextended); 3) begin to pay down the debt; 4) end the money going to Ukraine (which has been hush money because it has all the goods on Joe getting paid while Vice-President).
Remember, this was a spending bill. Policy follows. When the Democrats (and Joe Biden/Barack Obama) balk and reject it (which they would) you simply let the government shut down. Yeah, it stinks, but here's the deal ... Americans will find out how life goes on and the issues are used to share the vision of how America needs a new economic direction which revolves around a smaller government living within its incredibly ginormous means and us having more of our money. You hang the shutdown on the illiberals, Joe Biden, the Democrats and make the simple argument of Americans having to live within their means the government needs to do the same thing ... NOT raise taxes and keep spending borrowed money.
Sound good? Of course it does because it's the only sustainable path ahead. The only one.
You need to listen to this interview. In the first portion we talked about the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia and its impact on Cammack's district (also my splendid idea to help people more effectively and efficiently). When we get to the spending bill Kat goes off (even a mild profanity or two, she was not happy).
You can decide for yourself if her concern over Gaetz, it is plausible.
Gaetz, with the help of Democrats got rid of McCarthy. I do not disagree with one assertion Gaetz and his colleagues made. He accused McCarthy of breaking promises. He did and everyone on the Hill knows it. I think it's bad timing with an election coming and it makes the GOP look even worse. It made more sense to me for Gaetz and friends to wait, get a larger majorty in the House in 2024 and then get a better, more aligned House Speaker.
But, the deed is done and there is no plan moving ahead. In fact, we have to wait a full week before the House takes up the measure to find a new Speaker. My bet is House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise. He might be the only person both sides will agree on.
This interview gives insight into the spending bill from one perspective.