Congress Spins Into a Ditch

Rather than declare Trump innocent or guilty, which might make keeping their jobs harder, senators chose to let him off on a technicality.

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The pivotal question of the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump was fittingly both the result of seeking favorable media coverage and considered in terms of what kind of media coverage it would create.

According to CNN sources, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy rebuked then-President Donald Trump in a phone call during the January 6 siege of the Capitol. Trump reportedly mocked a desperate McCarthy’s plea to quell the rioters. “Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are,” Trump is said to have said. The source claims that McCarthy shot back: “Who the f–k do you think you’re talking to?”

The chances that exchange went down verbatim are about as good as the chances for snow in Bakersfield on the Fourth of July. Don’t worry about packing your parka. McCarthy is not quite Lindsey Graham, who celebrated the former president’s acquittal by beaming dewy-eyed love for Trump into a Fox News camera, praising him as “potent,” though sometimes “a handful”—as if Trump were a prize bull loosed in a cow pasture. But McCarthy still doesn’t seem like he would be so sassy as to rebuke Trump. Maybe in the chaos and panic, he lashed out. Maybe the outburst was what led McCarthy to don Lilly Pulitzer sackcloth and head to Mar-a-Lago for re-admittance to the faith.

It’s McCarthy’s question, though, that sounds the goofiest. Trump knew exactly who the eff he had on the line. Indeed, in subsequent weeks McCarthy would prove Trump was talking to a congressional leader who disdains congressional power. Trump was talking to a subordinate, and they both knew it.

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  1. Ryan King

    I'm from Utah as was quite saddened to see Mike Lee take the route that Stirewalt talks about here. As someone who seems to care deeply about the constitution and executive overreach I was surprised to see him take the stance he did.

    "While there are certainly arguments against the constitutionality of such an action, how sad it is to hear them from members of Congress. How little they care for the power of the institution they have worked so hard to join and expend so much of their effort and other people’s money to remain a part. Rather than declare Trump innocent or guilty, which might make staying harder, they let him off on a technicality—a brazen and effective bit of jury nullification. Trump would never be convicted."

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  2. Tony Rice

    Honestly, I don't need to guess at what McCarthy said on that phone call. Who cares?

    His subsequent homage and surrender to that greasy guy playing with the puppet strings down at Mar-a-Lago defines everything that I need to know about McCarthy.

    Sad for his legacy, sad for our nation.

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  3. Ell

    Well done Chris. Miss “I tell you what”.

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    Will Bates

    It seems fitting to say this here, and in no way do I mean this to be an affront to Mr. Stirewalt:

    As long as the majority of Republicans get their “news” from Fox News, and only Fox News, there will never be a GOP worth supporting.

    We can cast blame on the spineless goblins in Congress all day long, but we put them there, and we are keeping them there.

    They are giving us the government we deserve...and Americans have never quite got the taste for just desserts (mispelling intended for punny effect).

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  5. ROBERT

    I'm so glad that Chris is here at The Dispatch. He fits like a glove.
    He's presented actual unvarnished analysis! That can't be found anywhere else but here.

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    EricRemcon@gmail

    Nice job Mr. Stirewalt. I’m sure that I have less than 0.05% of your political savvy, but even I was questioning the forcefulness (who do you think your talking to?) of that story. It sounded like exaggerated bravado on McCarthy’s part. You also nailed the essence of Congress -spin/diversion/equivocation, but not action that would be subject to accountability.

    You mentioned something that puzzled me, and I did not see much discussion about. The Republicans threatened to call dozens of (irrelevant) witnesses and slow everything down but how could they seize control from the Democrat majority? I would assume the number of witnesses called would have to be agreed to by both sides. That sounded like an excuse from the Democrats to move on. Or maybe the Republicans threatened to bog down the Biden agenda after the trial was over? Either way it was a face plant by the Democrats to win a vote to call witnesses (including Republican votes) then say never mind.

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      EricRemcon@gmail

      Almost forgot. Its great to see you have joined The Dispatch (apparently those guys in the talent acquisition office know what they are doing). I always enjoyed your podcast with Dana Perino when I got a chance to listen. I look forward to reading more of your truthful, witty commentary.

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  7. Bill O'Donnell

    "If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power."
    Dwight D. Eisenhower 1956

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  8. Mary Stine

    Thanks for joining the Dispatch, Chris! Your work is clear, crisp and cogent!

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    Dana Goldstein

    Why this is not titled “Congress Spins into a Mitch” is beyond me. C’mon Chris, we got standards around here! (Welcome aboard)

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  10. David Murphey

    Chris,
    So good to have you here! I've missed your daily newsletter from Fox. I have no doubt that you will be freer to express yourself in this forum without the Fox hierarchy peering over your shoulder. And yours is a voice worth hearing.
    Welcome!

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