This exchange on Meet the Press between Reps Charlie Dent and Dave Brat is why Republicans are incapable of governing and should not, under any circumstances, have any more political power than they do now. In fact, I would go so far as to say they should be removed from power.
Hugh Hewitt agrees.
I'll just leave the transcript here and let Dave Brat show you that he's earned his surname.
HUGH HEWITT:
A pox on both your wings. I am very and desperately hoping that Paul Ryan is praying about it and accepts this and here's my question. Yesterday a Russian jet was set down in Turkey. Yesterday almost 100 people were killed in Ankara, Turkey. The world is on fire. How dare you, with the American people waiting for leadership, paralyze the House? Charlie, you have to stop going on CNN and blasting David. And David, there are like 15 of you people. The Freedom Caucus is, like, 15 people. Paul Ryan's is like by 225 Republicans. Get with the program, guys.
REP. DAVE BRAT:
How do you know we're not on the program? I mean, you're doing fine.
HUGH HEWITT:
We support Paul Ryan. If he wins the conference, no, we support his agenda.
REP. DAVE BRAT:
Yeah, we have a constitution as a country, I've got five policy principles, and--
HUGH HEWITT:
And it's not a hard question. Will you support Paul Ryan--
REP. DAVE BRAT:
Well, if you let me answer it, it'd be easier. I've got give policies on my webpage and five process. If he goes with that, we’re gonna give him a strong look.
HUGH HEWITT:
You're holding caucus hostage.
REP. CHARLIE DENT:
The answer is, yes, I will support Paul Ryan. But Paul Ryan is also a very smart man. The underlying governing and political dynamic of the House has not changed. Paul Ryan, if he becomes speaker, and I hope he does, what will happen is he will have to make accommodations and collaborate with the Democrats to pass a debt ceiling, to pass a budget agreement, and an omnibus appropriations bill.
If he does those things, he will have his legs taken up by some of his own members. We all know that. Now, if he chooses to go through the status quo, with the status quo, then the House will continue to be mired in this paralysis and the institution will be weaker, the speaker would be weaker. He's going to have the same problems that John Boehner had and Kevin McCarthy is about to experience.
Someone had better get a clue and shut this group down, or we're going to be in serious trouble three weeks from now.
