John Cornyn wants Steve Bannon to shut up. Texas’ senior senator is outraged that the conservative Breitbart boss (and former White House strategist) is focusing on Republicans rather than Democrats.
Think what you will about Bannon, he’s right to hold Republicans accountable. Indeed, the problem is that, for far too many Republican officials, there simply isn’t much difference between them and their Democrat cohorts. Sure, sure, they campaign like the second coming of Ronald Reagan, but more often than not they end up legislating with frightening similarity to the donkey party.
Cornyn, like so many swamp dwellers, wants voters to look no further than the party labels. Ignore the governing results! Hate the other party! It’s their fault! It’s like athletics for those who don’t like sports.
As an ardent Aggie, I understand the urge to cheer for your “tribe.” It doesn’t matter who the coach or players are, their record, or what team is being opposed, I cheer for the Aggies. Always.
But the future of our Republic is categorically different than an athletic championship. Let’s swing from one extreme example to another.
In the prosecution of a war, a revealed traitor is dealt with immediately. No one would say, “Yeah, Benedict Arnold is a bad guy who would rather have King George than American self-governance, but let’s go after the redcoats and leave him alone.” (And any who did would be treated as similarly suspect.)
Whether it’s in Washington or Austin, Republicans are in charge; GOP elected officials literally run everything. Yet the governing results demanded by taxpayers are unfulfilled.
It’s quite simple. From the repeal of ObamaCare nationally to reform of property taxes in Texas, it’s Republicans – not Democrats – who are thwarting the governing agenda of conservatives.
But John Cornyn would rather us not notice that. He’s comfortable in the swamp; he knows that if Republican just and go yell about how horrible the Democrats are, then nothing much will change for his fellow swamp-dwellers.
Reforming Washington, just like reforming Austin, will come only when a sufficient number of nominal Republicans are replaced with governing conservatives.
