A small group of extremists and obstructionists, who once called themselves the TEA Party, now known as the Freedom Caucus, forced Speaker John Boehner to resign from his position. A reluctant Paul Ryan became his replacement. He promised positive change which would accomplish his party’s goals and serve the American people. So much for promises.

The extremists remain in control of the House. An obvious lack of strength by Ryan allowed these ‘pretend-Republicans’ to block emergency funding to fight the Zika Virus.

“We will not duck the tough issues,” Ryan said after being sworn in. “We will take them head on.” The new motto, Ryan said, would be: “Opportunity for all.”

This is just another instance when ‘words are cheap.’ The House remains in the control of those so far to the right, they are wrong.

The Republican Party has not had strong leadership for decades; in truth, it has continued to deteriorate. In the last seven years RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, Boehner, and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell have offered nothing but weakness to their party. No accomplishments can be credited to the GOP, only obstructionism.

Paul Ryan is the supposed leader of the Republican establishment. If he is the best Republicans have to offer, the party remains in trouble.

“Ryan’s instinct to refuse the speakership opportunity was correct,” said congressional scholar Thomas Mann, via e-mail. “It has been an unmitigated disaster. He has been unable to run the House as he promised (entirely predictable), he has been personally diminished in his relations with Trump (more to follow in Cleveland) and the job will become even worse if Hillary wins and Republicans retain a majority in the House.”

The basic reason for the GOP’s lack of effective leadership is the same as the tactic used by those who seek public office; fear. They are fearful of losing elections. Preventing President Obama from accomplishing all of his goals was a pitiful attempt to discredit his administration. The reverse happened; the American people witnessed a concerted effort to break our government, and this failure is directly responsible for the creation of “Trumpenstein.”

Without offering ideas to positively affect the lives of all American people, Republicans will continue to lose elections. After the conventions this month, voters will demand answers from the candidates; answers regarding the major problems facing our nation.

The most recent polls reveal the fact that the largest voting bloc by party is Independents at 39 percent. Registered Democrats compose 32 percent, and Republicans 23. More Americans have come to realize that there is no benefit belonging to one of the two major parties. Independents know that voting for a party rather than the best candidate is ignorant, and produces unqualified Congressmen such as Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Joni Ernst, and many others.

Paul Ryan is certainly a disappointment to his party as well as to the American people. With a strong possibility that Democrats will regain control of the Senate, Mitch McConnell will lose all of his negative powers. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about Ryan; at least not yet.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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