Juan Williams: Senate GOP begins to push Trump away

[bostonangler]

Juan Williams: Senate GOP begins to push Trump away

By Juan Williams - 02/20/17 06:00 AM EST  

 

 

At what point do Republicans in Congress start looking out for their political future and go after President Trump’s ties to Russia?

Even before the president’s national security advisor Michael Flynn was forced out, Gallup had President Trump with the worst ratings of his presidency so far — 55 percent disapproval to 40 percent approval. 

At that point, the top Republican in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellHow does placing sanctions on Russia help America?THE MEMO: Trump's wild first monthJuan Williams: Senate GOP begins to push Trump awayMORE (Ky.), began talking like a man concerned about keeping his majority. 

 

He complained to the conservative Weekly Standard that the president’s approval numbers would be “10 to 15 points higher if he allowed himself to stay on message.” 

 

“What [Trump’s] saying makes everything harder,” McConnell said — and that was before Trump’s epic Thursday press conference in which the president claimed stories about Russian involvement in the election amounted to “fake news.”

Flynn was forced to resign, apparently for misleading Vice President Mike PenceMike (Michael) Richard PenceJuan Williams: Senate GOP begins to push Trump awayTrump meets with candidates to replace FlynnAide denies report that Christie has been talking WH roleMORE about a phone call he held with the Russian ambassador during which U.S. sanctions were discussed. That was followed by a New York Times report of regular contact between Trump campaign officials and Russian intelligence agents in the year leading up to last November’s election.

McConnell’s tone took on a sharp edge as he began separating himself from Trump. 

“You know, everybody looks at last year’s election,” he said on MSNBC, “and says it was a change election. Well, it was in the presidential race, but in the Senate races, it was not a change election.”

If a White House scandal begins to damage the GOP brand, the political dynamic will shift. The 2018 midterm elections defined by Trump scandals will threaten Republican control of the Senate — not the Trump White House.

If Republicans in Congress look to be covering up a national scandal, they open the door to a “change election” that pushes them out of power.

The Senate Intelligence Committee has already pledged to investigate the Russian controversy. But that is not enough for Sen. Claire McCaskillClaire McCaskillJuan Williams: Senate GOP begins to push Trump awayDem senator: I may face 2018 primary from Tea Party-esque progressivesDems ask for hearings on Russian attempts to attack election infrastructureMORE (D-Mo.), who argues that the GOP majority on that panel could lead to a cover-up.

“Republicans need to look in the mirror and do a gut check,” she told the New York Times. She wants an open, public investigation in the form of a select committee.

Top Senate Republicans are resisting a select committee so far.

But the counter-threat for Republicans is the prospect of a catastrophic 2018 election.

Sen. Charles SchumerCharles SchumerOvernight Cybersecurity: Trump defends Flynn, blasts leaks | Yahoo fears further breach Overnight Finance: Trump's Labor pick withdraws | Ryan tries to save tax plan | Trump pushes tax reform with retailersDemocrats declare victory after Puzder bows out MORE (D-N.Y.), the Senate Minority Leader, is not ramping up the calls for a select committee. He only asked that McConnell and Sen. Richard BurrRichard BurrJuan Williams: Senate GOP begins to push Trump awayReport: Senate Intel Committee asks agencies to keep records related to Russian probeComey meets Intel senators amid uproar over Trump-Russia tiesMORE (R-N.C.), the head of the Intelligence Committee, promise to “making their findings as public as possible,” including open testimony from Trump campaign and transition officials.

Burr pledged there would be no political limits on the probe, promising his committee will “go anywhere the intelligence leads.”

Already, Senate Republicans are open to writing a law requiring Congress to sign off on any changes in the current sanctions against Russia imposed by the Obama administration.

It is a different story in the House, where fear of blowback from Trump supporters has the leadership playing defense for the president.

The House Intelligence Committee is chaired by Rep. Devin Nunes, a California Republican who served with Gen. Flynn on Trump’s presidential transition team at a time when some of the illicit communication between Trump’s team and Russia apparently was going on.

Does this mean that Nunes is investigating himself, along with his House colleagues who also served on the transition team?  

In addition, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Jason ChaffetzJason ChaffetzJuan Williams: Senate GOP begins to push Trump awayGOP Congress unnerved by Trump bumpsThe latest scheme in the left’s war on TrumpMORE (R-Utah) said last week his committee would not be investigating the Flynn scandal. 

"I think that situation has taken care of itself,” Chaffetz said. “I know that the Intel committee is looking into the hacking issue.”

Chaffetz had no problem asserting his committee’s broad jurisdiction over matters of national security when they were looking into Benghazi.

Chaffetz did call for an investigation by the Department of Justice on the Russian issue —  but not into Flynn, only into who leaked the transcripts to reporters. 

That is consistent with Trump’s complaint that the real story is media bias against him, as well as leaks from the intelligence agencies intended to do political damage.

Senate Republicans have fully accepted that there needs to be some form of investigation.

“I don’t think we need to go through setting up a special committee,” McConnell said. “But we are going to look at Russian involvement in the U.S. elections. It’s a significant issue.”  

The contrast between how Speaker Paul RyanPaul RyanJuan Williams: Senate GOP begins to push Trump awayTrump’s feud with the press in the spotlightRepublicans play clean up on Trump's foreign policyMORE’s (R-Wis.) House Republicans and McConnell’s Senate Republications handle Flynn is instructive.

Just as Ryan mishandled Trump’s candidacy during the campaign, he is mishandling Trump’s presidency. Ryan did chide Trump over the Muslim ban and his slander of Judge Gonzalo Curiel’s integrity on the basis of his ethnicity. But Ryan still backed him on the basis of party unity.

McConnell, on the other hand, kept his mouth shut and never took the bait when asked to respond to a Trump tweet or rude remark, instead focusing on preserving his Senate majority. 

As last week showed, McConnell is a much shrewder political operator than his party colleagues in the House. 

He is putting daylight between Trump and the fate of the Senate GOP majority. 

Juan Williams is an author, and a political analyst for Fox News Channel.

The views expressed by contributors are their own, and are not the views of The Hill.

 

 

 

Looks like the old guard is lining up against him... They don't like change.

 

 

B/A

[markb57]

Looks like the old guard is lining up against him... They don't like change.

 

 

B/A

 

This is probably the truest statement out there about Trump. He is shaking things up all over and the old crohns of Washington don't like it, from either party.

[TexasMike1958]

someone needs to tell them the Rasmussen polls have the President's approval ratings at 55 PERCENT!!!

[markb57]

Just now, TexasMike1958 said:

someone needs to tell them the Rasmussen polls have the President's approval ratings at 55 PERCENT!!!

Juan Williams........what do you expect.....

[bostonangler]

I thought no one believed polls....

 

B/A

[Shabibilicious]

18 minutes ago, bostonangler said:

I thought no one believed polls....

 

B/A

Only believe what Donald says to believe.....all else, FAKE!!!  

GO RV, then BV

[MyLadiesDaddy]

If you're looking at Juan Williams and McConnell as anything other than the problem then you're wasting your time. By the way how hard do you all think it will be for the Justice Department to find some damning evidence on anyone of those FAKE RINOS? The most hilarious part is that these idiots just don't get it. Trump isn't going to back down and his supporters aren't going to fade away. NOTHING the LSM or any RINO can do will stop Trump or his supporters. In the end if those against Trump want to take things to its finality they will find out how pi$$ed off middle America really is at there 100 yrs of socialist policies. This is a battle that you don't want to fight. Let President Trump do his thing or you will answer to US, not the pollsters or the media.   

[Shedagal]

I think before this is over there will be a new political party called the American Party.

[bostonangler]

5 minutes ago, Shedagal said:

I think before this is over there will be a new political party called the American Party.

I agree. The two party system is a nightmare. Trump might be more successful had he run as an independent.

 

B/A

[patrickgold]

Are we talking about the Juan Williams that said Trump was to blamed for Hillarious's collapse, that Hillarious spoke the truth about deplorables, that Obama was responsible for the growth in the stock market, the Juan Williams that protected Hillarious from criminal accusations, he said in regards to Benghazi that they didn't say " stand down" they were told to just "not go".  You mean the Juan Williams who gave a disparaging remark about the Marine Sergeant that was imprison in Mexico as unimportant, and probably never apologized for that remark.   You mean Juan Williams the race card holder and defender of division.  OHHHH that Juan!!! BS  

President Trump doesn't need these politicians, they can push all they want, but Trump will push harder, he has the people backing him. 

 

[bostonangler]

11 minutes ago, patrickgold said:

Are we talking about the Juan Williams that said Trump was to blamed for Hillarious's collapse, that Hillarious spoke the truth about deplorables, that Obama was responsible for the growth in the stock market, the Juan Williams that protected Hillarious from criminal accusations, he said in regards to Benghazi that they didn't say " stand down" they were told to just "not go".  You mean the Juan Williams who gave a disparaging remark about the Marine Sergeant that was imprison in Mexico as unimportant, and probably never apologized for that remark.   You mean Juan Williams the race card holder and defender of division.  OHHHH that Juan!!! BS  

President Trump doesn't need these politicians, they can push all they want, but Trump will push harder, he has the people backing him. 

 

Yup that is Juan, The FAUX news guy. Funny isn't it?

 

B/A

[patrickgold]

1 minute ago, bostonangler said:

Yup that is Juan, The FAUX news guy. Funny isn't it?

 

B/A

Yep, they're everywhere!!! Especially on the Clinton News Network.

[bostonangler]

Just now, patrickgold said:

Yep, they're everywhere!!! Especially on the Clinton News Network.

They are just trying to sell ad time... There is no journalism anymore.

 

B/A

[patrickgold]

Just now, bostonangler said:

They are just trying to sell ad time... There is no journalism anymore.

 

B/A

Exactly, their journalism is down right unethical.

[bostonangler]

Just now, patrickgold said:

Exactly, their journalism is down right unethical.

Yup we can't believe the news so everyone is turning to bloggers which is even worse. It's Infotainment now. Not news.

 

B/A

[Shabibilicious]

9 minutes ago, patrickgold said:

Yep, they're everywhere!!! Especially on the Clinton News Network.

Actually Juan is a Fox News contributer / whipping post.  

GO RV, then BV

[patrickgold]

Some may be infotainment, depends on which one are you going to believe.  Others have honest solid information. 

News is news, how the narrative is presented to the reader eventually will guide the reader in the direction of their belief.  I prefer to dig more into the issue if in doubt. 

[patrickgold]

2 minutes ago, Shabibilicious said:

Actually Juan is a Fox News contributer / whipping post.  

GO RV, then BV

You are correct.