Much controversy erupted post-debate following Donald Trump’s refusal to pledge he would not mount a third party campaign for the presidency. I hope he never does, here’s why.
Trump didn’t explain during the 30 to 60 seconds he was afforded for explanation; then again, who could? The answer “why” is far more serious than a half-minute soundbite would allow. However, using one specific example allow me to point out the obvious.
We’ve taken a lot of criticism for pointing out the lack of difference between Republicans and Democrats, so take the time to just consider this simple real life question.
ObamaCare was created by scheme and trickery. You’ll remember Scott Brown became the 41st vote against Obamacare with his January election to take Ted Kennedy’s senate seat.
As a consequence, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid no longer had the 60 vote threshold to approve the construct. So he used a parliamentary gimmick, “reconciliation”, to allow passage with a simple majority, 51 votes.
70% of the electorate did not want Obamacare. So we turned up in huge numbers and removed Democrats from control of the House in 2010. Within two election cycles we also removed the Democrat Majority in the Senate (2014) giving Republicans control of the House and Senate.
♦ The primary campaign promise of the Republicans’ was to repeal Obamacare.
Did Mitch McConnell use the same process, 51 votes threshold, to repeal ObamaCare? No. Instead the only repeal attempt was led by Ted Cruz, and McConnell insisted in upholding the more difficult 60 vote majority rule. Why?
In my humble opinion, McConnell did so because he really didn’t want to see ObamaCare repealed. Again, why? The answer to that question is because The U.S. Chamber of Commerce via Tom Donohue, does not want ObamaCare repealed. Look at the money, and you’ll see millions given by the CoC to McConnell to insure those Donohue legislative priorities were retained.
Simultaneously, from the political perspective of McConnell, his team gets the benefit of ObamaCare, which Donohue wanted but the population hates, while not being held responsible for it. A nice political trick.
However, the “why” is not really the issue. Fast forward six months and you’ll find McConnell is not unwilling to use the 51 vote trickery. McConnell did it for another piece of legislation – The Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Authority, or TPPA fast track.
When it came to the TPPA McConnell was willing to change the Senate approval threshold. But when it came to ObamaCare repeal, he wasn’t. Why?
The same reason. Tom Donohue wants the Trans-Pacific Trade deal, the majority of the voters do not. Now you begin to see why we view the U.S. CoC in such a negative light.
Two legislative priorities, amid many, opposed by the majority of the electorate yet constructed by both Democrats and Republicans. One created through trickery by Democrats, the other created through trickery by Republicans.
Who benefits? This guy:
Not us.
This is just one real life example of how there is only one party in DC; and the uniparty is focused on the legislative priorities of special interests – Tom Donohue at the top of the priority list.
Need more reasons for keeping leverage?
In addition, the Republican National Committee (RNC) who controls the GOP has two major structural issues:
#1) They can, by the rules within some state RNC party construct, and specifically because the national party controls those state rules, disregard the votes of 15 states and assign delegates with the stroke of a pen.
If they don’t like Donald Trump, or they view Trump as a risk to their power and/or influence, the RNC can simply say we want a different candidate, and nullify his delegates from 15 states; assigning them to anyone they choose, Jeb Bush.
#2) Perhaps even worse – The RNC is under a federal consent decree. If, say, a statistically impossible 103% of Philadelphia registered voters, vote for Barack Obama Hillary Clinton – the RNC cannot challenge or require verification of the Philadelphia ballots. The RNC is forbidden by law from challenging any election result. They have been under this consent decree for the past 30 years.
The DNC is under no such prohibition. The DNC can challenge any election result, in any district, in any state. The RNC has one hand tied behind its back.
