Resistance for resistance’s sake is not a viable governing strategy

For the resistance, Pelosi’s refusal to negotiate on border security was a moral imperative. But for the rest of the country, it was irresponsible.

The Speaker of the House is an important job in our system of government, more important than in parliamentary systems. Third in the line of succession, a Speaker plays dual roles as a party leader and as a protector of the House as an institution.

But the Speaker of the House is not a dictator. To be effective, a Speaker must find a way to work with the Senate (which is often very difficult) and then get a presidential signature.

Mrs. Pelosi thinks that she gets to set the terms of the debate. But that’s not how it works. The president proposes and the Congress disposes. And the process of disposing what the president proposes is called negotiation.