4. KEEP THE “YES-MEN” IN CORNCOB, TEXAS
Surround yourself with staff members who know how to use the word “No!” Nothing — and I mean nothing — is more dangerous to a new member than bringing a group of “yes men” from the district. What you need is a group of tough insiders whose existence doesn’t revolve around pleasing the bright, shiny new lawmaker from Corncob, Texas. Your best-case scenario would be if they were bored by your very existence and you felt honored to be in their presence. Four terms in Congress taught me the most important thing a staff member can tell you is “No!”
5. ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE
House Minority Leader John Boehner is right. You need to be humble. And you can start by having a better understanding of your role in Washington than hotheads like me had in 1994.
Fight for small government if that’s what you promised to do. But understand that the cuts you pass in the House will be watered down in the Senate and then killed by the White House. If you believe your job is to keep fighting for less government, charge ahead. But understand that your mandate is yours alone. There are 534 other actors in this play, with 534 separate mandates. Don’t demonize them for doing their job.
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