Deal-Maker Trump Snubs Mitch and Ryan

A political earthquake rattled Washington recently when President Trump brokered a deal with Democrat Party leaders.  Republicans in Congress shrieked in horror.  "Betrayal," they brayed to the television cameras.  These imposters had nothing to complain about. They are the traitors.

Since Mr. Trump's inauguration, Republican leaders Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Mitch McConnell have stonewalled the president's agenda at every turn.  To add insult to their recalcitrance they have criticized Mr. Trump on every issue from his use of social media to his town rallies.

Their behavior underscores the difference between Democrats and Republicans.  Democrats take care of their own.  Party leaders marshal their soldiers to support their president. Republicans eat their own.  They desert their party's occupant in the Oval Office at the first sniff of controversy.

Just ask George W. Bush.  Or Ronald Reagan, who is lionized today by Republicans but was buffeted by the GOP on many issues.  President Reagan quickly extended a hand to Democrats and discovered willing allies. This Republican Death Wish is hard to swallow for the party's legion of voters.  

Remember when the House impeached President Clinton?  Every single Democrat lined up in support of their flawed leader.  On the other hand, a tweet can land President Trump in hot water with Mitch or Paul. Republicans are too eager to curry media favor and establishment fawning.

Mr. Trump schooled Republicans that ignoring his agenda comes with a price.  The president will link arms with Democrats if that's what it takes to achieve legislative progress. He understands keeping his promises with his political base is more important than party fealty.

Hypocrite Republicans pilloried Mr. Trump after the Democrat-supported deal to avoid a government shutdown, raise the debt ceiling and provide emergency hurricane funding. These same detractors failed to repeal and replace Obamacare after seven years of promises. They are the  turncoats.

This disgraceful performance has earned them the scorn of Republican voters.  A recent Gallup Poll showed that Republican voter approval of Congress is below water at 18 percent. In the same poll, GOP voters gave Congress a thumbs up 50 percent approval in February.

All voters, both Republican and Democrat, surveyed by Gallup gave Congress a 16 percent approval rating.  Despite the polling data, Republicans appear to be blissfully ignoring the rising tide of vote anger.  They are wasting a golden opportunity while controlling two branches of government.  

The spineless duo of Mitch and Ryan have failed to come to grips with the message of millions who cast ballots for Mr. Trump.  Voters, especially Republicans and independents, want disruptive change. They are fatigued with Washington's business-as-usual political gamesmanship.  

Republican voters want more than a few niggling changes to Obamacare.  They want it erased from history. They want a border wall. They don't give a wit about how Congress gets the funding. They want tax reform.  Lowering a few rates won't satisfy them.  They are demanding sweeping change.

Mitch and Ryan are from the old school of Republican establishment politics.  Nothing big ever gets done until the Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable and the big donors are in agreement. Those days are gone.  Too many Republicans and Democrats haven't read the voters' memo.

Whatever his imperfections, Mr. Trump did not stroll in the Oval Office to occupy space.  His passion is action, getting things done.  You can disagree with his methods, his brusqueness or his non-traditional presidential style, but America has a president that wants action on important issues.

If his party's weak-kneed Republican leadership and their sycophant sheep are intent on obstruction, then they had better get used to being snubbed by the president.