Guest Post: Thaddeus McCotter on “unpopular presidents”
posted at 6:20 pm on August 5, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Rep. Thaddeus McCotter joins Mark Tapscott in his disappointment over George Bush’s failure to call Congress back into session for a vote on drilling. McCotter, who has a good sense of satire, penned a guest post comparing two Presidents who exited the White House on a wave of discontent. He doesn’t exactly mince words in this Hot Air exclusive:
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Profiles in Unpopular Presidents:
“Give ’em Hell Harry” vs. “Beijing George”
By U.S. Representative Thaddeus G. McCotter
Chair, Republican House Policy Committee
Facing momentous domestic problems and mounting disapproval ratings, two modern Presidents have differently dealt with “Do Nothing” Congresses.
Facing an “impossible” re-election, on July 26, 1948, the wildly unpopular and doggedly anti-communist President Harry S. Truman accepted his Democratic nomination and boldly confronted the GOP’s “Do Nothing” 80th Congress:
“My duty as President requires that I use every means within my power to get the laws the people need on matters of such importance and urgency. I am therefore calling this Congress back into session July 26th.”
“Give ’em Hell Harry” got re-elected; and the “Do Nothing” 80th Congress got booted.
Today, in his final term, the wildly unpopular President George W. Bush boarded Air Force One bound for the Beijing Olympics and a meeting with his chum Hu Jintao, the dapper ruler of a nuclear armed, communist dictatorship. Yet before jetting off, the President’s spokesman Tony Fratto bid “Beijing George’s” best wishes to the Democrats’ “Drill Nothing” 110th Congress:
“We don’t have plans to call Congress into session – it won’t make a difference if Democratic leaders are unwilling to bring up a bill for an up-down vote.”
Regardless, we will continue our “Speak-In” on the adjourned House floor to protest Speaker Pelosi’s refusal to vote on lowering gas prices and furthering American energy security and independence.
On his part, perhaps our Compassionate Conservative-in-Chief will bring our absent Democrat Congress some “Made in (communist) China” souvenir t-shirts.
“Bush went to Beijing and all I got was this lousy five week, paid vacation.”
Bon Voyage, Mr. Bush!
House Republicans will fight on for America!
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Rep. McCotter will be in Washington all week, along with many other Republicans. Maybe enough Democrats might join him and the rest of the Republicans to get some work done.
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Well said, Sir.
tickleddragon on August 5, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Tapscott should have said he “pulled the rig out from under”
Spirit of 1776 on August 5, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Damn, I love this guy! McCotter for POTUS!
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 5, 2008 at 6:25 PM
Like I stated in Chat today in Ed Morrissey Show
Bush’s spokesman addressed this on fox. Said that Bush is hoping that the dems will go home and face the heat of not doing anything.
William Amos on August 5, 2008 at 6:25 PM
The perfect encapsulation of Bush’s consistent inability to understand the importance of making a point.
Cicero43 on August 5, 2008 at 6:26 PM
I understand that the President can call back Congress, but can’t set the agenda.
Since when don’t our t-shirts come from our enemies in Communist China? Making it sound like President Bush would be bringing back an unusual item makes this argument a bit naive.
Hening on August 5, 2008 at 6:27 PM
Quite an indictment.
amerpundit on August 5, 2008 at 6:27 PM
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, those were pretty harsh words. I happen to like and respect President George Bush. You sound alot like Harry Reid when you speak like that. Although I support the actions of House republicans this week, this post lacks civility and is over the top.
Zorro on August 5, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Bush went to the Olympics, in part, because China is helping us with North Korea, and, we hope, Iran.
Bush is right in not demanding congress reassemble just to have the Dems knock down the Republicans
bnelson44 on August 5, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Give ‘em hell, Thaddeus!
Frozen Tex on August 5, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Damn.
CP on August 5, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Something tells me that when President Bush reads this, he will respond with a big ol’ grin.
Like AP said yesterday, he’s right to keep his fingerprints off this.
RushBaby on August 5, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Can’t say I’m impressed. The Dems walking out without taking any action on high oil prices is a gift to the Republican party. If you want to blister somebody, blister the legislators who actually failed to act. Don’t waste your abuse on the President for not making them act, which is not really something he could do anyway.
Speaking plainly, this rant is politically stupid. By whining about what President Bush hasn’t done, you encourage people to blame the President for the price of gas, rather than putting the blame on Congress where it belongs. So the high price of gas will reward the Democrats who are actually responsible for it, while punishing the Republicans who are trying to fix it.
tom on August 5, 2008 at 6:39 PM
I agree. I think Bush should call them back. They can take vacation after they have an up or down vote on drilling. No vote; no vacation.
FloatingRock on August 5, 2008 at 6:41 PM
We are now so much in hock to China thanks to so many America’s proclivity to “shop till you drop” that no American President dare say too much about China least they pull the rug out from under our financial “House of Cards”.
MB4 on August 5, 2008 at 6:41 PM
A failed Presidency that died of self inflicted wounds. I hope that Bush sticks his ‘compassionate conservatism’ where the sun never shines.
Hilts on August 5, 2008 at 6:43 PM
He can call them into a special session on it. If it came to a vote, the offshore drilling measure would either pass (which is good since Republicans had to push for it) or it would fail (which would make every Dem nay voter a target).
amerpundit on August 5, 2008 at 6:44 PM
One, big difference: Bush is not running for reelection. I agree with him, let the Dems hang themselves out to dry.
Kafir on August 5, 2008 at 6:56 PM
I am damn proud to have Rep. McCotter as my Representative in my District. This is excellent to see him get some national exposure. Even if I was so disillusioned with the Presidential race this year and pondered staying home, I would make sure to go just to re-elect Rep. McCotter.
Michael in MI on August 5, 2008 at 6:58 PM
I think that will happen either way, but recalling them will have more impact, I believe. It will demand more media attention and in addition to the lights being turned back on, the cameras probably will be as well.
FloatingRock on August 5, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Add McCotter to the looong list of LYING LIARS WHO LIE ABOUT JOHN MCCAIN!!!!
misterpeasea on August 5, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Exactly. Bush needs to distance himself from this. He has already done what he needed to do (lift the executive order on drilling). Even if he did call a special session, all Pelosi would have to do is to adjourn immediately! Yeah, I watched Cspan today! Bush sees the bigger picture. Let’s not turn on ourselves now that we have discovered we have a little fortitude!
Neocon Peg on August 5, 2008 at 7:14 PM
And let’s make a long list of the things that the Republican majority should have done and another list of what Republican majority should not have done so we wouldn’t have to call them the minority. I guess Rep. McCotter has cast the first stone but I can guarantee that there will be no stones returned from the President. How is it helpful to sound like the Democrats?
Cindy Munford on August 5, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Are you sure? What about this?
he [the president] may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper
FloatingRock on August 5, 2008 at 7:27 PM
Calling them back would put an end to this way too soon. Attack Bush all you want (he was certainly not my first choice in 2000), this was the right move on his part.
Buford Gooch on August 5, 2008 at 7:32 PM
read this and weep
pabarge on August 5, 2008 at 7:33 PM
From the article Pabarge linked:
Looks like the Dems are betting they can hold off and do whatever they want with a new big-majority Dem Congress. The President is betting that stalling on this issue will turn the election around for Republicans.
If the price of gas stays high (speculate you traders! bid it up!), the President will win.
MrLynn on August 5, 2008 at 7:43 PM
pabarge on August 5, 2008 at 7:33 PM
Allah posted this earlier
darwin on August 5, 2008 at 7:47 PM
I got that from John Carter (R) Texas from CSPAN today as they were holding a press conference outside the house. One of the press or visitors (I couldn’t see as it was behind the cameras) asked that question and that was his response. He said that Pelosi has all the power. The President could call it, but it would only take Pelosi to adjourn, which, to me means that she sets the agenda. I can see why President Bush refused to do it. He didn’t want it to appear that it was his fault, playing right into Democraps hands.
Neocon Peg on August 5, 2008 at 7:47 PM
Thad rocks!
darwin on August 5, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Representative Thaddeus G. McCotter should turn some of that scorn to his fellow members of Congress that have been there prior to 2006 (including himself). There have been plenty of opportunities squandered by the House Republicans when it comes to addressing our energy concerns. Granted everyday that goes by without addressing this hurts our economy but I don’t think it’s all that fair to say Bush isn’t doing his part. I remember plenty of State of the Union addresses where Bush pointed out the need and urgency to cut our dependence on foreign oil yet congress failed to bring any useful legislation.
lowandslow on August 5, 2008 at 8:03 PM
He may be right, I’m not sure what the presidents capability to keep them there is in practice, but it seems that Truman managed it somehow. Maybe the circumstances are different.
But if it is possible for Bush to call them back and keep them their until they either vote on the issue or their vacation time has elapsed I think I would prefer that route, though I see merits to both sides of the argument.
They simply haven’t earned a vacation.
FloatingRock on August 5, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Don’t have a real good understanding of how the bond system works, huh? Good, recruit. Now I see how you went up that hill so many times.
See: Public debt (private and government debt)
flashoverride on August 5, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Bush: “It won’t matter anyway…[sniffle]”
Jeez what a quitter.
FIGHT, DUDE!
fossten on August 5, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Now when you say “help,” do you mean doing the same thing Russia and Iran and NK have been doing to us recently, e.g. putting on a friendly face and stonewalling our efforts?
Honestly, the only difference between China and Africa is that the Chinese are too proud to beg other nations to bail them out. They both end up being tribalist paradises for the power-mad thug du jour. I gotta say, the quantum jump from feudalism to communism didn’t much change their lot in life. Unless the Chinese wake up and smell the stench of failure emanating from Marxism, they;’ll basically be the same theoretical superpowert they have always been: Purely theoretical.
BKennedy on August 5, 2008 at 10:31 PM
I’m thinking the same. Imagine the press conferences.
MadisonConservative on August 6, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Let’s face it, Bush promised a China vacation on Air Force One to Laura and his daughter Barbra. He’s not going to let an energy crisis stop the family vacation, especially when taxpayers are paying for the fuel.
RJL on August 6, 2008 at 12:43 AM
He forgot to mention how The Accidental President actually left the world a far more dangerous place than when he took over by losing China and North Korea to the reds, two problems we’re still struggling with the effects of 60 years later.
At least George will be able to say he actually won the wars he waged, even if he is blind to the fact that The People need him here now with the congressional Republicans to take this fight to the Do Nothing Dems rather than hobnobbing with the same red appartcheks Harmless Harry inadvertantly helped put into power so many years ago.
Still, fight on GOP! Take it straight to those slackers and pound ‘em into rubble! Expose them as the gutless Power For The Sake of Power authoritarian scumbags that they are!
SuperCool on August 6, 2008 at 6:19 AM
Ouch…better put some ice on that Mr. President! Have a good time slapping backs with the ChiComms while the real conservatives are doing the heavy lifting in the House of Representatives!
sabbott on August 6, 2008 at 8:58 AM
McCotter seems high off the response he’s received from being ‘courageous enough to stand up to the Dems’. /sarc
And now he’s using that to attack the President?
Why doesn’t he use that to go after all of the Dem’s other lunatic policies? Like welfare / social security / government expansion, etc…
It seems wasted on someone that is on his way out.
keving on August 6, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I support President Bush through thick and thin even though I disagreed with him on immigration and not fighting back harder against the democrats with their “Bush lied amnesia driven propaganda” on the Iraq war,and Harriet Myers.
McCotter is right on this and Bush should have stood with them.This issue has a chance to drive a serious wedge between the democrats and help wipe away the support from independents that they have.
Any positive daylight the GOP can get on issues right now combined with the success in Iraq should be supported 100%.
Bush should have stood and fought with the rest of the GOP,they have done a pretty good job of standing strong with him though the tough times of 05-07.
Baxter Greene on August 6, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Several posters have said, in effect, “Call them back and make them take an up-or-down vote.” How? Pelosi wouldn’t permit that to happen when Congress was in regular session. Why would she cave and allow it in a special session?
By calling Congress back into session, Bush could indeed play “Give ‘em hell” George and gain some points. Just how would this help McCain and his chances (and the party’s chances) in November?
It’s better to give McCain and other Republicans a month to hammer the Democrats and their leadership on this issue. Bush doesn’t gain any points (what would be the point of that?), but McCain certainly can if he works it right.
Come to think of it, gasoline prices spiking to about $4.75/gal nationwide would make for some interesting political ads, wouldn’t it? Any of us could write the dialog:
“The Democrat Congressional leader refused to allow an up-or-down vote on expanding domestic oil drilling and lowering gas prices–and then the Democrats went on a five-week vacation. Now gas prices are at an all-time high. You can’t afford to go in vacation this August, but they can. Is this the kind of ‘leadership’ they promised when they took control of Congress in 2006? Call your congressman today and wish him a happy vacation.”
glendower on August 6, 2008 at 12:07 PM
The only justification that I can buy for Pres. Bush not calling them back is he understands he is electoral poison and does not want to make himself too large of a focus of this debate.
Nathan_OH on August 6, 2008 at 2:06 PM
This is ridiculous. If these guys had worried about this issue when they had the majority it would not be a problem now. But nooo, they were too worried about Dubai and illegal immigration to even give this a passing thought.
Bush does not need to stand by them. He is not a part of the House of Representatives. He lifted the executive ban, now let these guys do their job and get the Congressional ban lifted.
This is just another attempt for the Congress to blame their failings on the White House. They do it all the time.
Terrye on August 6, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Nathan:
There is another reason: It will do no good if the House leadership will not go along with the Republican agenda. And why would they? Did a make a difference that they were in session last week?
Terrye on August 6, 2008 at 4:17 PM
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