TRICK OR TREAT
Republicans are very good at playing games. It’s too bad they don’t put some of that effort into governing. Politico reported that Republicans plan to “put the squeeze” on Democrats over Alejandro Mayorkas and their faux impeachment. Though they had no impeachable offense on Mayorkas, they decided to move ahead, and now, we know why. Democrats have vowed to shut down the impeachment, and Republicans smell blood-Senators Jon Tester and Sherrod Brown, both of whom hail from purple districts. Because the Senate maps seem to favor Republicans, they want to take full advantage of it and try to overtake these two seats. Again, Republicans do nothing for their constituents. They are not driven by service to their communities; they are driven by greed and power. If they do take control, nothing will get done. We’ve seen plenty of evidence of that.
At the same time, a bipartisan border bill would have helped immigration issues. Republicans quashed it earlier this year. If-and that’s a big if-Republican voters are paying attention, they will see where the trouble is coming from, and it’s not from the left. Because immigration is all Donald Trump has to campaign on, Republicans didn’t want it in play. They show time and again that they don’t care about governing. They care about winning. What will they do if they do win? Likely, what they’re doing now-nothing. Politico reported that Senate Majority Whip John Thune said: “Not dealing with it in some ways runs the risk of putting a lot of incumbent Democrats and probably, for that matter, candidates in races around the country, in a really difficult decision.” If people are really paying attention, that won’t happen.
Even though he has been targeted in a sense, Sherrod Brown isn’t worried. He calls the Republican play “a distraction.” He cares very little about Republicans “playing politics.” Jon Tester said, according to Politico, that Republicans trying to use the vote against him was “not a damn concern, honestly.” These men and others like them simply want to do their jobs. It’s a shame that Republicans can’t see the value in doing the job they were sent to Congress to do. What they do best is create animosity and problems. They’re already trying to use this nonsense. Politico quoted Torunn Sinclair, who is a spokesperson for Senate Leadership Fund, the GOP’s main super PAC: “Any senators who vote against holding an impeachment trial for Secretary Mayorkas are absolving Mayorkas and the Biden Administration of their roles in creating this border crisis, and we will hold them accountable in November.” That’s rich. The border was out of control under Trump, and it could have been better handled by the passing of one bipartisan bill. But that would be too much like right. Republicans don’t care about securing the border if it creates an advantage for them. It’s a damned shame.
Republicans need to grow up and do their jobs. Both Republicans and Democrats are in Washington to do a job-a job that benefits the people. When they lose sight of that, it’s time for them to go.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years