Trump's Tweets Show That House Republicans Have Horrible Political Instincts on Ethics

That House Republicans even entertained the thought gutting the Office of Congressional Ethics demonstrates their horrible political instincts and why Congress is held in about as high esteem as pond scum.


There may be some truth to the argument advanced by Jim Geraghty that isn't the end of the world, everything's fine and Members of Congress can be investigated through other bodies. Maybe so, but perception is nine tenths reality and when you're image is lower than pond scum even the appearance of lowering ethical standards will only deepen such perceptions.


While at lunch today with my co-workers, I learned about the House Republicans' about face after President-Elect Trump's two tweets criticizing them for making this move. This crowd generally isn't sympathetic to Trump but I could see they were pleasantly surprised by Trump's intervention.


However, this development worries Harvard University lecturer Yascha Mounk. While Mounk praises the about-face as "a good outcome", he remains concerned about the long-term implications.
Mounk notes that Trump didn't object to the move itself, but rather its timing. Read his two tweets in sequence:


With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it may be, their number one act and priority. Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance! #DTS


Trump is no more enthusiastic about the ethics watchdog as House Republicans are. Perhaps even less so. After all, this is a man who refused to release his tax returns and got away with it. Who can say that in six months from now that House Republicans will pull off the same move and perhaps Trump looks the other way?


Mounk is also concerned that when House Speaker Paul Ryan objected to the proposal, he was ignored. But when Trump tweets, House Republicans say "How high?"


I think Trump feels the same way about corruption as Groucho Marx's Rufus T. Firefly did in Duck Soup:


I will not stand for anything that's crooked or unfair. I'm strictly on the up-and-up, so everyone beware. If anyone's caught taking graft... and I don't get my share, we stand him up against the wall and...pop goes the weasel!


Welcome to Freedonia 2017!!!


Meanwhile, the Stupid Party will carry on being the Stupid Party. I suspect this won't be the last time House Republicans (and, for that matter, Senate Republicans) make this kind of mistake. If they do this often enough even Trump won't be able to save them. It might take awhile (say the 2022 mid-terms), but I think we will get a Democrat controlled Congress and then the fun will really begin.