As I go to press, we are once again seeing Washington grind to a halt. With the government shutdown in its second week and no end in sight, one can truly understand why this Congress has the lowest approval ratings (5 %) of any since polling began.
The frustration is truly understandable, we have elected these representatives to govern and they do everything but govern. What other profession would allow its members to stay in office? Wasting hours, days and weeks to produce the most basic of government functions, namely, a budget. We are supposed to be the leader of the free world and right now the only distinction we can honestly claim is, leadership of the inactive, which is not exactly something to be proud of.
I recently read an op-ed piece by Judd Gregg, the former Republican Senator from New Hampshire, in which he states: "What a tactical fiasco it has been for the Republicans, especially those who really do want to change ObamaCare and address our debt issues rather than just raise money and control the microphone.
The Democratic Party in the '70s went through a period of being led around by a bunch of folks who were incredibly self-destructive to the effectiveness to the party, and who almost destroyed its ability to govern and speak to a majority of the American people.
In time, other members of the party, led by Bill Clinton and the centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), righted their boat and got them back on course.
The Republican Party is fast approaching the same sort of test.
People who have no interest in governing cannot be allowed to be the dominant voices in a major party. Any such party must by definition be inclusive, within the basic bounds of its ideology. If it is to succeed, the majority of the American people must see it as serious and constructive.
The Republican Party is not in that place today. It had better get there soon if it plans to be an effective force for fiscal responsibility, rather than just a gathering place for gadflies, PAC funders and base-narrowers."
Mr. Gregg has been described as a moderate Republican, which is as one commentator described as "an endangered species". The Republican Party has in the past had a very good record on immigration reform.
Today Senators, McCain, Graham, Hatch and Rubio have shown real leadership on the issue. Now is the time for the leadership in the House to step up and take the advise of Mr. Gregg and pass immigration legislation that is worthy of the GOP.
