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Oct. 4, 2023 - Sean Hannity Show
39:13
Former Congressman Jason Chaffetz - October 3rd, Hour 3
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All right.
Thank you, Scott Shannon.
800-941-SHAWN.
Our number, you want to be a part of the program.
We'll get to your calls here in just a minute.
If you're just joining us for the first time in the history of our country, the House has removed a Speaker of the House.
One thing that had been adopted after 9-11, I've been telling everybody, that Speaker McCarthy had turned over a list of potential replacements.
Patrick uh T. McHenry uh McHenry of North Carolina is such a person.
Here's though where we are.
Uh Republicans as we speak, because I just talked to a couple of them during the break, are now going into a meeting to find out, okay, what is the best way to move forward.
Uh but as it stands right now, uh we have a speaker pro tem, and that's about it.
Because the bottom line is there is absolutely nothing that can happen on the House floor.
No bills, nothing.
The body's paralyzed until the floor elects a speaker.
Uh yeah, I kind of agree with Donald Trump.
Why they're always fighting themselves.
Uh well, and then should be fighting the radical left Democrats, destroying the country.
There were legitimate concerns and trust issues.
Kevin McCarthy has nobody to blame but himself for not putting the pro appropriations together uh bills together as he had promised.
And there had been lingering uh resentment from the last budget deal that had been done.
With that said, um, you know, there were there were two very viable options put forward that I think would have been that work would have worked perfectly that would have allowed the appropriations bills to be complete, that would have given an eight percent cut cut across the board, uh, meaning in spending in Washington that would have allowed for an increase in border security that would have taken care of our veterans and and uh and our defense department.
There were two separate bills.
Chip uh Roy, Byron Donald's, Scott Perry, they were rock stars in this.
Anyway, they're all meeting together, and you know, but this is where we now find ourselves.
Anyway, former congressman, uh Jason Chabitz, I bet you're dying to be there.
I bet you wish you were right in the middle of this, don't you?
Oh my goodness, the chaos that's going on right now.
That part I don't miss.
I like fighting.
I like the oversight, don't like this stuff.
Yeah, I like when we're fighting the left, but that's my own personal view.
All right, so what do you make of it?
I mean, look, in the end, sometimes, you know, you gotta break some eggs to get a nice scrambled egg uh omelet.
Maybe, maybe in the end this works.
However, uh, I think there was definitely options that were available way short of this uh that they could have united around that would have put the pressure where it belongs, which I think should be on the U.S. Senate and Mitch McConnell, but they would have had to, you know, go with the either Chip Roy and Scott Perry and Byron Donald's plans.
There were two very viable options for a CR that actually had some teeth in it.
Um, but you know, here we are.
This is this is what one member's motion to vacate can bring us.
There were some legitimate criticisms of Gates.
I'm not criticizing him.
However, I do think that the plans put forward by uh Byron Donald's and Chip Roy should have been that would have been my choice.
What say you?
Totally agree with you.
I would have voted for that to have a eight percent reduction in the discretionary spending, support for veterans, support with a strong border.
Uh The Senate may not have taken that up, but at least it would have tried.
I'm very sympathetic to the arguments that were made by Matt Gates and and uh uh Congressman Biggs, uh the idea that hey, they were gonna bring up a balanced budget amendment, they didn't do so.
They're gonna bring up term limits out, didn't do so.
Gonna do a twelve appropriations bills, didn't do so.
But, you know, and some of the other arguments that were there on the floor that, hey, uh we're trying to restore regular order.
Well, you just got off a four-week recess.
So don't tell me that you didn't have time to do your appropriations bills.
With that said, I don't think this was the right solution because there's no end game in mind, other than, you know, um, you know, uh that's that's my criticism of it.
I don't like where it ended up and where we are today because James Comer and Jim Jordan and others were making great strides and their oversight.
We gotta be out there pressing on the the Biden investigations, uh the the arguments against the Senate are valid.
All of that comes to a screeching halt right now.
So that's my frustration with it because I don't I don't know where this goes.
I don't know where there's an end in mind.
I don't think it's going to be Patrick McHenry as the next speaker.
I can't imagine that that freedom caucus uh type folks are gonna vote for somebody like like Patrick McHenry.
I don't think it's gonna be Emers and Minnesota Minnesota either, whose name's been floated a lot.
I don't I don't think it's gonna be him.
Well, anybody who kind of dares sticks up their head and said, Yeah, I'll do it, which he did not, uh, I don't think is is gonna do it.
And if look, if they're going after Kevin McCarthy, they're going after the whole leadership team.
So that's well, Gates just spoke, you know, complimentary of Steve Scalise, but Steve Scalise has some serious health issues.
I don't and by the way, would you want this job?
I would never take that job, especially under the the stri the the very we have such this is the problem that I think a lot of people don't quite understand.
There is a reality that a speaker has to face that those that want to be you know the most pure conservative, which by the way, I want the most conservative Congress ever.
But when you when you have a three or four seat majority, depending on who shows up and who's in and who's out, a lot of people, you know, happen to be out of the office right now, uh potentially out for some time.
Then, you know, if you got a three-vote margin, you're in a tough spot because you have all these disparate groups within the Republican caucus, including moderates, including the Tuesday group, the study group, the Freedom Caucus, which I pretty much find myself in alignment with regularly.
And so it's it's far more difficult when you gotta deal with all those variant factions to actually gr gain consensus.
And with a four, you know, three or four vote margin, that's not an easy job.
I don't care what anybody says.
Well, I think we asked too much of a speaker.
It's I don't think it's the speaker's job to get a predetermined outcome.
That that seems not compatible with the idea of an open rule.
And I thought Congressman Gates actually made a valid point here.
We may win, maybe we may lose, but let's at least vote.
And that's the fundamental problem.
And I think the frustration is members are not allowed to offer their amendments.
They don't have open rules.
Um, you know, and look, it was even worse, far worse under Nancy Pelosi.
I mean, she's had those things so baked before they got there.
But I think we asked too much of a speaker.
Their job should be to bring the bills to the floor, put more emphasis on those committee chairmen and let them do it.
And to get rid of the appropriations committee, for goodness sake, why they do that separate, and I'm getting into the weeds here, Sean, but why they do the appropriations separate from the authorizing committees is beyond me because you know what?
We never use the power of the purse.
They should be using that power of the purse on the Department of Justice right now.
Are we doing that?
No.
Should they be doing that on Homeland Security?
Yes, but they're not doing it.
So you can't.
Okay, that you I agree on all points on principle.
You and I are, you know, in full agreement.
I don't disagree with the arguments Matt Gates is making.
Now you tell me how you deal with these moderate Republicans from California, New York, and elsewhere that are in uh districts that Joe Biden won.
You know, how do you get them on board?
That's that you know, that's where this gets very, very difficult.
That's where the job of speaker almost becomes impossible.
Uh agreed.
Internally they call them the majority makers.
They They they call themselves, look, we wouldn't be in the majority without us.
And the other members of the more conservative ones say, Well, you wouldn't be here without us two.
And so again, I thought that Scott Perry and Byron Donald and Chip Roy were doing the exact right thing.
They are as conservative as any member in there, and they crafted a bill that they should have voted on and they should have supported.
I I very disappointed that that didn't pass.
Let the it was it was just for a 30 day CR.
A short-term CR.
No, again, CRs are not the way to do business.
But based on where we are here today, I thought that was the most responsible outcome.
Unfortunately, Gates and some of the others decided not to go down that path, and I think that was the wrong decision.
All right, Jason Chavitz, thank you, my friend.
Appreciate your reaction.
800 941 Sean, if you want to be a part of the program.
Uh all right, let's say hi to John in South Carolina and Joe in Connecticut.
John uh say hi to Joe.
Joe, say hi to John.
Oh yeah.
John.
That's interesting.
Right now I like it.
Hello, John and Joey there.
You're on the air.
Hello.
Hello.
All right, who's this?
John or Joe?
This is this is Joe.
Joe, say hi to John.
John, say hi to Joe.
Hey, John.
Hello.
John, say hi to Joe.
Hello, Joe.
Very good.
All right.
We'll let Joe go first.
He is supporting Matt Gates in this.
Go ahead.
Well, I'm supporting the American people, Sean.
I'm I'm doing backflips, and I'm not surprised.
I'm surprised you're not because you we just got rid of the Martin Van Buren of speakers of the House.
This guy was ineffective.
He didn't do anything he said he was going to do.
He's apparently compromised.
And you know, you say that the what do you mean he's compromised?
You're missing my whole point here.
I said I agree in substance with what Gates is saying, but I'm also acknowledging something that is a reality.
They have a three or four vote margin depending on the day.
And in that coalition, you have people that don't agree with us.
And you've got to somehow, you know, it's like hurting cats, and you've got to get these people somehow have agreement.
They're not in agreement on the issues that you and I find and feel so passionately about.
And you can't govern if you don't get to an agreement.
Period.
You can't.
While I agree with you, I still gonna tell you that you're talking about the Republicans fighting each other and not fighting the Democrats, but if you don't have a general who can take you there, like well, hang on.
I was quoting Donald Trump from earlier today.
That's Donald Trump who said that.
I understand, and Mr. Trump has my support, but I you know he's he's playing a different game than we are right now.
I'm speaking freely because I'm not running for anything.
I'm not running for anything either.
I listen, everything that they they were saying about the appropriations process, I'm in full agreement with.
And do I want the vote on uh term limits?
Yeah, balanced budget, yeah.
However, I can tell you right now, neither one of them are going anywhere if they vote for them.
It's a good vote to have, and that would hopefully, you know, set up of the potential that when we have a bigger majority and a majority in the Senate and a Republican in the White House, then it could become a reality.
None of those things would become a reality today.
No, and I agree with you, but let's send a message of accountability to people.
If you've been I agree.
I agree, and they should have, and and these are the mistakes McCarthy made.
I've said I've been very clear about that.
I'm not speaking here as a special pleader for McCarthy.
I am saying that overall that we had a really good, we had really good options put forward by the Freedom Concr uh caucus.
Do you not like the options?
I've mentioned them in detail.
They're fine, but again, I I I have more of an issue with a guy who's a politician at this point.
You know, and there's so much at stake as we mutually agree, and and you know, we don't have time for this nonsense anymore.
It's getting short.
Okay, so you tell me the guy that you're gonna elect that's gonna be able to bring together the varying factions.
Is it Gates?
Who do you want?
I don't know.
I look, I like him, but of course nobody's gonna like him now because he's he's you know, he's the bad boy because he no answer this question.
You said you want guys to get this job done.
You tell me who's gonna get that job done with a four or three vote majority.
Who?
Oh, it's a good question, Sean.
I don't honestly don't have to.
I know.
I but that's the problem.
I'm giving you the reality of it, uh, and I'm taking the emotion out of it.
I agree with every single thing you're saying.
However, I'm also looking at a reality that is just staring us in the face that we don't want to look at.
Let me bring in John, South Carolina.
John, your take.
Hey there, Sean.
Thank you for taking my call.
Hey, um so just like you've pointed out, you know, guys like Joe just, you know, and Matt Gates just don't have any answers, but they just want to be roadblocks.
Um I mean, we've got you know, you got these clowns that want to, you know, shake shake things up, but they'd have no answers.
I liked your suggested strategy from the Freedom Caucus to put together these appropriation bills and do do the stock, you know, do the CR for right now, but then over the 45 days, put together actual legislation,
um, throw it back at the Senate, like you uh had suggested before, have the senators, you know, rally, and then you throw it in the plate in in in front of the Democrats, and they have to then deal with it and deal with the American people on the fact that they can't, you know, uh legislate over what has been put in front of them by the Republicans.
I I just don't I just don't get it.
And you know, as Trump has pointed out, why are we in fighting?
It just it doesn't make any sense.
You know, and and that's my only point.
Joe, I want to be clear here.
I understand where you're coming from, because the things that you say you want, I want.
I agree with you.
However, achieving them is a whole different ball game when you have a bunch of moderate Republicans in districts that Joe Biden want.
That makes sense.
Yeah, absolutely.
And you know, just one thing that John said, enough with the continuing resolutions.
It's not like this is some kind of surprise that the Congress doesn't know it's coming up.
That's a bunch of BS.
They should have been dealing with this all along.
So just kicking the can down the road has become the modus, and that's what they all do all the time, and they'll continue to do it.
They will never be a solid deal.
All right, guys, appreciate it.
800 nine four one Sean is our number if you want to be a part of the program.
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Hey there.
I'm Mary Catherine Hamm.
And I'm Carol Markowitz.
We've been in political media for a long time.
Long enough to know that it's gotten, well, a little insane.
That's why we started normally a podcast for people who are over the hysteria and just want clarity.
We talk about the issues that actually matter to the country without panic, without yelling, and with a healthy dose of humor.
We don't take ourselves too seriously, but we do take the truth seriously.
So if you're into common sense, sanity, and some occasional sass.
You're our kind of people.
Catch new episodes of Normally every Tuesday and Thursday.
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
I'm Ben Ferguson, and I'm Ted Cruz.
Three times a week we do our podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz.
Nationwide, we have millions of listeners every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
We break down the news and bring you behind the scenes inside the White House, inside the Senate, inside the United States Supreme Court.
And we cover the stories that you're not getting anywhere else.
We arm you with the facts to be able to know and advocate for the truth with your friends and family.
So Down, verdict with Ted Cruz now, wherever you get your podcasts.
All right, let's go straight to the phones, because you know what?
Uh we've talked a lot here.
Let's say hi to Vinny in Massapequa, Long Island.
Hey, Vinny, how are you?
Hey, Sean, I'm fine.
Um, I'm not too sure that I uh that this is all that bad is everybody's coming down on Gates.
Because the only way we're gonna end up getting a Democrat speaker is if Rhino's vote with the Democrats to get the Democrats speaker.
Let me just ask you a question and stop you right there.
The CR that passed, how did that happen?
Did Republicans join with Democrats?
I guess they did.
There you go.
Okay, so that's a very big risk when you have such a tight margin, right?
Yeah, however, though, to know the people who would have made such an overthrow to vote with the Democrats is kind of important.
I mean, the the um negative things are being said about Gates kind of remind me about how everybody attacks Trump, like, oh, he's a demagogue, oh, he's a this, oh, he's uh egotistical, always that.
I'm not I'm not attacking Gates.
I actually think on the merits of a lot of his arguments, he was accurate.
And and on certain votes, they didn't happen.
The appropriations process didn't go through normal procedure, which was part of their agreement.
So the uh I can't criticize him for saying that he wants to hold McCarthy accountable.
Uh the balanced budget amendment, the term limits vote.
You know, though those are less significant to me because they can happen at any time, and then I do believe they would have happened.
However, they wouldn't have become law, it would have just been symbolic.
So I'm trying to be realistic as well.
But to me, the better play, the more strategic tactical play, I would have gone along with the freedom caucus guys, and I would have passed the the the CR that cut spending dramatically, discretionary spending, but kept funding the military veterans and uh the Department of Homeland Security.
I would have insisted on HR2, the bill that would secure the border, and that would have been the bridge, I think, to get to the appropriations bill that would have satisfied the biggest complaint that conservatives had that hey wait a minute, this is we decided not to do it this way, and it would have gotten us to the end game.
Now, you know, now everything's in flux, and and you might be right.
This this has the potential to end up landing fine.
I have no idea at the end of the day.
Uh I'm not sitting here wringing my hands worried about you know what happened here today.
However, it has also the potential of imploding in their faces.
And, you know, it's gonna be up to them, but you're dealing with such varying, you know, political viewpoints within the Republican caucus.
None of this is easy.
You understand that.
Yeah, I understand.
I got your point.
It was mainly the the extreme, extreme negativism that other uh people are saying about these six guys.
Uh it makes me a little bit unsettled.
You know, it could land all right.
What you were saying was good.
Yeah, it could have been a better way, more strategic.
It's just this, I'm really leery about how horribly he's being characterized right now.
So thanks for uh I'm not really paying attention to that noise.
Mac Gates, I've known him a long time.
He's gonna do what he's gonna do.
I would have done I would have I would have joined with Byron Donald's Scott Perry and Chip Roy.
Now you're talking about three of the most conservative members in the House.
And I thought they had a a bridge that I thought was viable that would also put the onus on the Senate, which is where I would rather the pressure point be, not on the House.
Does that make sense?
Yes, that's a definite fair point, and I won't go against that.
It's just a tactical difference, strategic difference.
How this may play out to be perfectly fine in the end, and no harm, no foul, I don't know.
However, it may turn out to be a disaster.
Um I think a lot of I think that time will tell.
I would have gone along with Chip and Byron and Scott Perry.
That's what I would have done.
Uh anyway, appreciate the call, buddy.
Thank you.
Uh John in North Carolina.
Hey, John, how are you?
Hey, buddy, how are you doing?
Good man.
What's going on?
Hey, look, I think there are a couple of things in play.
Number one, McCarthy took the speakership with very with a lot of restrictions.
He or a lot of stipulations.
He needed to do certain things, certain things he didn't do.
So they did hold him accountable.
And like it or not, Matt Gates and the people who are in fighting, so to speak, they have their constituents that hold them accountable.
I think that this whole thing has it's it's not done the right way, like you said.
I think that they that like uh Jason Safich said that they're they don't have an end game, and if you are going to make a move, you need to have a next move.
It's like chess.
You move your pieces accordingly, and you need to have two or three plays down the down the line.
And if you're not doing that, you're gonna screw up.
Listen, I will uh from my perspective, that's that's a very important point you're making.
If we had an end game, they don't even have a name.
I was watching Matt in in one of the breaks, and he's given a press conference, and they're asking him, okay, who's gonna replace Kevin?
And he said, Well, maybe Steve Scalise, I'd support Scalise.
I don't think Scalise medically is gonna be up to that.
I I like Steve Scalise a lot.
Um, and they don't have a consensus candidate.
And then here's the other problem is is and this is something that is inevitable.
I'm just giving you the reality of what we're facing, is not everybody in this Republican caucus is conservative.
They're just not.
No, and you no you and you've got too many of these people in New York, California in particular, that are in districts that voted for Joe Biden.
And and they're like uh that they're not gonna be as conservative in their voting.
Now, you only have a three or four, four vote margin depending on the day.
Now you've got to, you know, cobble together a coalition that can bring everybody to the table and get every get something done.
Uh by any definition, that becomes a I'll tell you right now, I'm in the House of Representatives today.
They say, Hannity, why don't you do it?
I'm like, drop dead.
Well, m I I get that too, but maybe this is where Chip Roy or Byron Donald steps up and says, This is the greatest.
But you know what?
I don't think uh I think both of them would be great candidates.
I think Scott Perry would be a great candidate.
I I don't know if anybody's gonna want to do it.
Do you?
No, and it's it's a it's a really demanding job.
And and here's where I think the Democrats do a little bit better.
A lot better.
They've well they circle the wagons.
We create circular firing squads.
They they will tow the party line.
Yep.
Not necessarily their constituents' points of view.
This is why you have Tulsi Gabbard, you have uh Kristen Cinema, you have different people.
Um Joe Manchin, who have really kind of left the Democratic Party, or should I say the party has left them, and it's because they are answering to their constituents.
The Democrat Party is more about towing whatever line that they have.
The Republicans seem to be, like it or not, more focused on their constituents.
And like you said, this is a big country.
You have people from California who are more uh left of center, even though they call themselves Republicans, and you have people from Texas and Florida who are going to be very right of center and who are more conservative Republicans.
You have a lot of different listen, this can turn out fine.
I'm hoping that they can s resolve this quickly.
I think the longer it goes on, the worse they look.
That's my hope.
All right, John, appreciate it, man.
Luke is in Illinois, disagrees with both of us.
What's up, Luke?
Glad you called.
Well, not necessarily disagreeing with everybody, but uh thank you for having me, Sean.
Um, like I kind of, you know, it's it's this is a historic day today, and um looking at everything, everyone's pointing the finger.
Um, but really what it comes down to is McCarthy's out, and we have to look forward to who is gonna be the next representative to the House.
And I think it's gonna come down to a whole bunch of narratives.
And like you just mentioned, what's the timing looking like?
Because I mean, we go back to January and it took weeks.
So I mean, what are we looking at here?
Uh that that that is look, I am not in this doom and gloom and Republicans are doomed stage where everybody else is.
However, um, and I'm not gonna name names.
I was warning people in July and August that they needed to get ahead of this.
Uh and that's all I'm gonna say.
And I was taught as I talked to my sources regularly.
I was telling people you guys better get your act together.
The last time you did the the the last budget deal you did did not go over well.
I said, you guys better get ahead of it, get ahead of it, get ahead of it.
But you know nobody listens to me, Luke.
Why why would they listen to a dopey talk show host, right?
Uh I know.
I can't I can't get it either, but I think the word of the day is a mess in Washington.
I think that's what the word of the day is.
Thanks, Luke.
Let's see what happens.
It's not it's not doom and gloom yet.
It could it could turn into a complete Adam Schiff show.
I hope not.
Stephanie, North Carolina, hi.
Hi.
Thank you for taking my call.
Yes, ma'am, glad you called.
I'm so happy.
I'm so happy he's out.
Okay, who would you like?
One.
I mean, I mean, I've a lot of people are happy.
I understand that.
Yeah.
I'm so tell me so tell me who you think could bring together this these varying coalitions and actually do better.
Tell me who.
I I will I will name a ton of people, but that but they just need to decide that they're gonna stand up for the American people, read is out of the case.
I'm gonna I'm gonna push you.
Name them.
Tell me who.
I think it'd be a great choice.
Jim Jordan's not gonna do it in a million years.
Chip Roy, Mac Gates, Marjorie Taylor Green.
I want to fight her.
I want the gloves off.
All right.
Now now here's my next tougher question.
And by the way, there's not one person on your list that I don't like.
I'm not mad at anybody today.
I'm just saying here's the reality.
How do you deal with the moderate wing of the Republican Party that won't go along with with the things that you and I would want done?
How do you handle that part?
That's the tough part.
Okay, they need to go, but right but that they're not going anywhere until next November.
We're stuck with them.
And if we're not getting if we don't, and if they don't govern properly, none none of them are gonna be in the majority, which they better be aware of that too.
The American people decide that this is nothing but chaos and a complete shift show, they're gonna vote a lot of them out.
We're tired.
We've had it.
You're tired, but you can't do anything if you don't have power and you don't win.
Well, people need to step up and start doing what Trump did.
People need to start putting it out there.
If we played it safe, we would have never had a revolution.
We would have never had a revolution back in 1776.
Listen, I'm not talking about playing it safe.
I want all the things that we've all been talking about today.
There's not one thing that I I don't want.
You know?
Anyway.
Uh appreciate you uh appreciate you being on the on the phone, Stephanie.
I w let's see what happens.
Everybody needs to take a little bit of a deep breath here.
Jim in Illinois.
Hey Jim, how are you?
Hey, Sean, how are you doing?
Good.
What's going on?
Hey.
Well, you know, I I I can't help but not feel, you know, a little bit h hopeless, but honestly.
You know, let's see how this plays out.
Give it a c listen, if if it takes a few days, it'll be fine.
If it takes weeks and months, then it's a disaster.
You there?
What we need to do is what yes.
Uh what we need to do is what Trump said.
We need to be going after the Democrats.
This should not be about infighting between us because our party is diluted.
I mean, we've been diluted for a long time.
We got mit.
I gotta put you on hold here.
Hang on one second.
Newt Gingrich just uh finally got out of a meeting.
Sir, how are you?
Good.
How are you?
Uh it uh from my perspective, I know there's a lot of angst, anxiety, panic.
I'm not there yet.
Um uh however they need to get their act together, but with a three or four vote Majority, it's not easy.
You've been there with, you know, when you're dealing with all these varying factions and points of view in the House, it's hard.
Sure.
But look, you you had four percent of the conference.
Four percent.
Side with all of the Democrats.
Now that's suicidal.
I mean, maybe because Gates hates McCarthy, and maybe somebody else can bring the eight of them back or whatever.
But but if I were there, I I don't candidly, Sean, I don't know what I'd do.
I I would regard these eight people as traitors.
I would think that what they just did to I mean to say to 210 of your colleagues, we don't care who you choose, the eight of us are more important, and we are going to side with your mortal opponents.
I mean, are they are they gonna you know make Hakeem the speaker?
They don't have any strategy.
These were eight people on a suicide mission with no idea of the next step.
Mm-hmm.
They have no idea.
And the longer this goes on, the worse it looks to the country.
Yeah, but I don't I don't worry about that.
I mean, the we we we will get through this at some point.
I we just got some polling numbers back at at the America's New Majority Project email that I run.
Uh and you know, w we're up by eight points on the generic ballot.
Uh Gallup just came out and said that we were we're a way ahead.
Lar, not because we're smart, but because Biden and Bidenism is so bad, it's gonna be like Jimmy Carter.
Uh so uh, you know, I I as a practical matter, politically, I'm not too worried in the short run.
I worry in the long run, you know, and the answer is you if you want Republicans to govern, you better get them about 30 more seats in the House and about six more seats in the Senate.
I totally agree with you.
You know, uh the the thing about today that is a little frustrating to me, and I think you'd agree with me, there's guys that I really like respect in the Freedom Caucus that really busted their ass behind the scenes and gave two very viable continuing resolution options.
Now, would it have been optimal to pass the twelve appropriations bills as promised?
Yeah, that would have been optimal.
I'm I'm I'm in total complete agreement.
But when Chip Roy, Scott Perry, Byron Donald say, okay, we're gonna have an eight percent cut across the board, uh, we're gonna secure our border, take care of our defense department, and take care of our veterans, and we'll give you the 30 days to come up with the appropriations bills, which was the main criticism.
That to me was reasonable.
That was a solution.
Another solution that they came up with was a 30% cut, and it would have included HR2, that was the border security bill.
I like that solution also rather than going the nuclear option today.
Yeah, look, but two things.
One, you're exactly right.
Uh, I've been trying to write a newsletter and just haven't quite got my head around it, that you know, they had a moment there to win a great conservative victory.
They threw it away, and so they ended up with a very mediocre continuing resolution, and the alternative was to quit paying the soldiers and quit paying the co the the border patrol, uh, etc.
Uh and if it you know, if you are somebody on a limited income serving your country, uh it's not a joke if that's what happens.
Um the con the the the conservatives who voted no because they have this this principle that if they don't get exactly what they want, they have the right to destroy everything.
Um they guaranteed a worse outcome when they in fact you're right, they had an opportunity to win a pretty big conservative victory if they had just voted yes.
Uh and that's what concerns me.
I mean, whether it's Kevin McCarthy or somebody else, I want to see how they're going to manage because the other side of that is remember, this majority is a majority only because we have 15 members from seats that Joe Biden carried.
That's a big and I'm trying to explain that to people.
That is a reality that when you have a tiny, tiny coalition majority, which is three to four seats.
I mean, this this reminds me a lot of you know, any pro uh parliamentary system of government that which is like this is akin to a no confidence vote.
And Mike, my question is who is going to be able to bring together the all the varying factions?
I'm the I'm the conservative faction.
You're the conservative faction.
We're we're freedom caucus supporters, right?
Um okay, but then you got The Tuesday group, the study group.
Then you've got these moderate Republicans from California and New York, and and they're in districts that Joe Biden won.
That's a problem for them.
So they're looking out for themselves and their future also in their elections.
Right.
And then it's very hard to get across to people who come from a district that's you know 60 or 70% Republican and have no idea what the counterpressures are.
But you know, we did uh people forget this.
In 1996, the labor unions decided to go for an increase in the minimum wage.
And they made it a huge, huge issue.
And we had 23 districts in which we could lose members if we didn't have a vote.
Right.
Army got up and it was one of the great acts of leadership, got up at the conference and said, I'm an economics professor.
I ran to oppose the minimum wage.
It is a terribly destructive thing.
And I want you to know that as the Congressman from Dallas, I am going to speak against and oppose the minimum wage measure, which is the majority leader.
I am going to schedule.
Because you understood if we didn't do that, we weren't going to be a majority.
And no, no majority have been re-elected since 1928.
And we were determined to break that.
And we did.
We became the first Republican reader elected.
Hey, by the way, you're also the last speaker to balance the budget.
By the way, you've uh uh you don't need a sp uh a member of Congress to be the speaker.
Do you mind going back to work?
No, it's impossible.
You have to have somebody who lives it and breathes it and works it every day and knows every number.
Well, I could I could encourage you behind the scenes.
I'll bring you coffee and you know take care of you.
It's brutal.
Listen, you did the work you accomplished in five years, and then they wanted to throw you out.
I mean, and you did a phenomena you were the best speaker in our lifetime.
Brought Republicans to power for the first time in 40 years.
You're right about that.
All right, speaker to Gingrich, thank you.
Gotta take uh, well, we're done.
We have a great handity, nine Eastern tonight, Fox News, set you D VR.
See you tomorrow.
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