Associated Press
The House majority seemingly within their grasp, Republican lawmakers huddling at a retreat in Florida this week turned to the architect of the “Republican Revolution” nearly three decades ago — former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — for ideas on starting their own political revolt come November.
Needing only a handful of seats to recapture the House, Republicans are exceedingly confident of their chances. With incumbent Democrats retiring in droves, and President Joe Biden’s poll numbers slumping amid deep voter pessimism about the economy, many in the party — including their leader Kevin McCarthy — are treating the Republican victory as a fait accompli.
They see Gingrich, the man who swept away four decades of Democratic House rule with the “Contract With America” in 1994, as a model. He spoke to House Republicans Wednesday night as they gathered in Jacksonville, Fla., to prepare for the campaigning ahead. His message was simple: offer a contrast to what he called the failing Democratic agenda and then deliver to the American people.
“He saw the chance in Republicans when no one thought we could win,” McCarthy said on Wednesday. “If we’re successful, in which we win 18 seats, that’s the same number of Republicans after the 1994 election.”
He added, “But it’s different than just recruiting candidates and raising money. It’s what you do with it. You make a commitment to the American public.”
But while Republicans have numbers on their side in the election, what they would do with a majority is very much a work in progress. And it remained unclear at the three-day retreat what, if any, lessons Republicans have learned from the tumultuous eras of Gingrich, Dennis Hastert, John Boehner and Paul Ryan — the past four Republican House speakers, all of whom found it is easier to win power in the House than to control it.
Much of Gingrich’s “contract” never became law as the triumph of the ’94 elections gave way to intra-party strife, a damaging budget standoff that ended in a government shutdown and an ethics tangle that contributed to Gingrich leaving office. Boehner, like Gingrich, relinquished the gavel and resigned amid divisions between the party’s ideological factions.
McCarthy, 57, is charting his own delicate course as he works to become speaker in what would be a divided Washington, with President Biden still in the White House. Last summer McCarthy tasked several groups of Republican lawmakers with drafting proposals on the party’s core legislative priorities, including lowering costs in the economy, securing the Southern border and countering China, in hopes of making a fast start in 2023.
But creating a governing majority is a daunting challenge. Hard-right members of the conference are ascendant, creating headaches with their inflammatory actions and statements. Many in the party are likely to welcome new rounds of brinkmanship over government spending and the debt. And some Republicans are already agitating for partisan investigations of figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci and President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, that could easily overshadow their legislation.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump continues to hold enormous sway over the GOP despite his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his lies about election fraud that fueled the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. McCarthy has kept close to Trump, jetting to his private club to secure his support earlier this year, as the party relies on his brand and his fundraising prowess to motivate Republican voters.
North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry, who is the top Republican of the Financial Services Committee and close to GOP leadership, said what comes after the election is what will determine whether a new GOP majority endures.
“I think right now, not being the Democrats is a sufficient answer to win the election,” McHenry told The Associated Press in an interview. “But that doesn’t make us worth a damn as a governing majority. That doesn’t electrify our electorate. That doesn’t bring over folks that are in the middle.”
Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, in line to take over the powerful House Oversight committee, said the way for the conference to move forward is to focus on what they can realistically deliver to the American people.
“We’ve got plenty of things that I think the base and the American people will appreciate that we can do,” he said. “So let’s commit to things that are achievable, not just talking points that will get you on Fox News for four and a half minutes.”
Members spent the damp and rainy days of the retreat reiterating that while there are loud voices on the fringe of party lines, including a few who have called for Biden’s impeachment, the majority are united behind McCarthy’s vision.
“I call it a 50-year election,” McCarthy told reporters. “It won’t come around like this in the House for a long time.”
Gingrich gave McCarthy a vote of confidence, saying he’s capable of leading them to victory.
“I think (Kevin) proved that in the last election,” Gingrich told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “If you look at who won and what their recruiting has been like.”
___
Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
37 comments
Never voted for them
March 26, 2022 at 11:25 am
“I call it a 50 year election”
Becuase all republicans look like they could end up in A funeral home at any second? Lol
You people won’t ever be my leaders.
Impeach Biden
March 26, 2022 at 12:16 pm
Really? I give you not only the Incompetent in Chief, but how about Pelosi, Schumer, Waters, Hirono, Blumenthal, Whitehouse, Kerry. Man the list goes on and on. November can’t come soon enough. In one years time your side has completely screwed up. Inflation, fuel prices, the southern border, crime, defund the police. Can’t wait.
As if
March 26, 2022 at 5:14 pm
You will vote Republican and still not be able to afford gas in 2023 lol
Impeach Biden
March 26, 2022 at 9:34 pm
How do you know? Can you predict the future? We should have seen this invasion of Ukraine coming then right? After all Putin invades Crimea while Obummer is President and then goes round two on Ukraine when basically the Obummer administration is back in power.With regards to fuel prices I’m betting once we clean house with the progressive morons, fuel prices will come down..
House on wheels
March 26, 2022 at 10:16 pm
“Can you predict the future”
No I just know a republicans natural habitat is has wheels
Tom
March 26, 2022 at 12:18 pm
LMAO, Get use to it Manchurian Alex, fake moniker. You Dems can’t be indentified anymore. Running for cover!
Biden’s approval near 40%. He’s collapsed into the 30’s on every substantive issues. 30 to 60 House seat flip. 6 to 8 Senate seat pick up.
65% public blames him on economy.
Runaway: inflation, gas, housing, foods.
It’s a disaster. Debacle after debacle foreign policy.
Historical trends and history no lie. Closer to 40% the worse it gets with losses. Even at 50%, 12 losses. They need 5, after special election this summer, 4. 31 Dums retiring.
Party in power in midterm, shellacking.
Get user to it!
U got no issues, Oh I forget, Trump, Jan 6, Wah Wah Wah. No issues, clueless, hopeless and hapless the Dum Manchurians.
Secret weapon, giggles Harris. Bring the two of them on , it’s a colossal West Wing embarrassment! Oh yeah a few Hunter exposes with hookers and degenerates.
Getting your ass kicked! Enjoy!
75 never see 47
March 26, 2022 at 10:18 pm
Bush won with approval ratings in the lower 30s and he did not look like orange zombie looking for his hole.
Bring it on grampa trump.
Tom
March 26, 2022 at 11:35 pm
Your ignorance is overwhelming ass wipe. Go suck mommies nipples.
George W averaged 49% for 8 yrs.
first term was 67%, second term was 37%. GOP lost 40 plus seats moron.
Biden had no chance. His idiocy incoherence with troops and repeated today only adds to his incompetence.
Biden’s real clear avg is 41%, overall. Worse In the 30’s on economy, foreign policy and s w USA border. Minimum 20 to 60 house seats flip. Book em Dano!
He’s toast! Slaughter coming. Your ignorance can’t save him.
Billy and bob
March 27, 2022 at 3:10 am
41?
Man then he should have problems getting re elected you back of the woods product of two cousins lol
Alex
March 27, 2022 at 7:13 am
Forget Trump and Jan 6th? Never. You seem to have forgotton the 70,000 dead in FL from Covid-19 from UnAmerica’s Governor’s policies. Policies matter. Booming economy will not bring back the DEAD that didn’t have to be.
So WAH WAH. DeSantis is a murder. The RED STORM already came bigly. It’s the DEAD’s blood on Destantis hands.
Tom
March 27, 2022 at 9:39 am
Alex, yooopuuuuurrrr back!
Tom
March 27, 2022 at 9:50 am
How about the million plus under fauci. Biden’s 500,000 Covid deaths.
Please you idiot. Alex so desperate.
Box of rocks.
Trevor H
March 29, 2022 at 12:45 pm
You’re such a liar. And your posts are perpetually riddled with distortions. You’re a really sick human being. I’m sure even your dogs hate you.
“Inflation, gas, housing, “foods” (sic)”…You MIGHT recall that supply issues began in late 2020–when Trump was still in the White House. Inflation would still be a concern even if he still were in charge.
Of course, there’d be a lot more homelessness. President Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress passed legislation that helped us put COVID in check and allowed millions of Americans to stay in their homes.
Republicans didn’t even want to give hardworking Americans laid off during COVID any assistance at all. Not even a stimulus check. Even Trump saw the need for that sort of help.
MOST Americans appreciate Democratic policies, as evidenced by the fact that Republicans have only won the popular vote in any presidential election ONCE IN 30 YEARS. And that was back in 2004.
Democrats’ only failure is an inability to promote their achievements.
FP Monitor
March 29, 2022 at 12:56 pm
It’s a big mistake to respond to anything Tom posts. He’s an arrogant ignorant Trumpster hack simply looking for the attention he doesn’t get from friends or family. Do yourself and ALL OF US a big favor. Ignore all of his return comments. Maybe the internet troll will go away.
P
Tom
March 29, 2022 at 8:51 pm
Total lies Trevor. Total incompetence from you. You are warped.
This President is a embarrassment. He literally stepped on self 4x and mislead, spoke on his recent trip. Disaster. His VP is a dumb box of rocks.
As for your fabrications, you have no clue what you say. Trump economy and foreign policy was peace and prosperity at home and abroad.
Economic growth. Both sides have spent to much. Repubs and Dems in Senate and Dem House with Repub President. The $1.9 billion Covid orgy and $1.3 billion infrastructure is all Dems, inflation went into inflation overdrive. No one said we would not have 3 or 4% inflation. It’s at 10% when consumer price inflation is combined with core inflation.
Your supply chain collapsed under Biden, period! Fact. Inept Covid relief, ran out of test kits, in fall. Therapeutics stopped. Clown show,
Trevor I am a legend, you are clueless.
Dems own the economy and incompetents at WH. POTUS is at 41% overall approval, probably lower after NATO. On specific issues he’s in the mid 30’s. Civiqs poll has him Florida at 34%. He’s toast. Dems are dragged down in Florida. At 40%, Dems lose 40 to 60 seats. 50% they lose 10.
You show your ignorance.
DeSantis wins big, WH will follow if he chooses. Read it snd weep loser.
Kiss off Manchurian Trevor,
PeterH
March 26, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Did you notice that this article lacks Republican policies?
Today’s Republican Party is full of empty suits with no agenda to make America a better place for Americans.
Tom
March 26, 2022 at 3:56 pm
Go scratch ignorant one. What a crock that is.
We just just have to remind people of the worst presidency since Herbert Hoover, and Great Depression. 100 yrs ago. Biden is horrible. Runway inflation, runaway gas prices, housing, food, disgraceful and debacle foreign policy. Nuc. war seconds away thanks to him. People know how awful this guy is. The big lie.
Any objective political scientist, and student of presidency knows that he’s the worst. Atrocious and Abysmal, Biden and giggles Harris, one is more incompetent than other. 3 more years of this clown show. They both are incoherent! Repub. House agenda is to investigate Biden, and Hunter, Garland, expel Schiff, Pelosi, Schumer, Swawell, with China & Fang bang, and Mueller and his deputy, so called pit Bull, hack Andrew Weissman. Lastly, and for you H, new majority will investigate Lincoln predator Org. And the tiki torches. Count on it!
You are a Lincoln apologist. Mitt Romney your hero and pathetic Liz Cheney, 100 members of Congress going to Wyoming to defeat her.
Minimum 20 seat new Repub. majority, up to 60. Senate 6 or more.
Enjoy! America’s Gov gets re-elected, as-he will defeat Biden, Harris or AOC.
Still mad
March 26, 2022 at 5:15 pm
“You are a Lincoln apologist”
You are just mad he took your states rights away from you lol
Ocean Joe
March 26, 2022 at 9:56 pm
Notice Tom the legend didn’t mention a single GOP policy.
Let me help:
1. Another attempt to abolish the ACA and strip 20 million people off health insurance, and allow the insurance companies to refuse to cover pre-existing conditions.
2. Another tax cut aimed at the top 10%, sooner or later trickle down economics has to work.
3. More harping about the southern border but refuse to pass any meaningful immigration reform. Rep. Salazar wants to, Rubio tried to but was scared off by Trump. It won’t happen, and besides, who else would put your roof back on or pick your vegetables?
4. More America first isolationism, followed by abject surprise that enemies would take advantage of it.
5. More playdates with Kim Il Jong.
6. Drill baby drill. Forget about climate and environmental issues. Sacrifice is too hard, going without cheap gas is unacceptable. Jimmy Carter tried and failed to put us on the right course, instead everybody went out and got a 4-door truck.
7. Federal legislation for all the stupid stuff. Why deal with inflation when you can attack folks for the biological condition they were born with? That strict constructionist stuff will go out the window once the equal protection clause shows up.
Seriously, the real issue is inflation, nothing else. Not a peep how to address it. Instead a howling mob who tried to hang their own VP complaining incessantly about the one who replaced him.
FP Monitor
March 27, 2022 at 9:40 am
It’s a big mistake to respond to anything Tom posts. He’s an arrogant ignorant Trumpster hack simply looking for the attention he doesn’t get from friends or family. Do yourself and ALL OF US a big favor. Ignore all of his return comments. Maybe the internet troll will go away.
Tom
March 27, 2022 at 10:11 am
F off Soros FP monitor.
You are a joke.
But you make me a legend!
Legend grows.
Tom
March 27, 2022 at 9:45 am
Joe. You have lost your mind.
You forget to mention AOC’s green new deal.
What a crock of manure from you joe.
You forget to mention the 3.5% unemployment under Trump. Peace and tranquility at home and abroad.
No troops committed, no foreign policy debacles.
Total lies, fabrication and distortions.
Such a juvenile you are.
PeterH
March 26, 2022 at 4:06 pm
Adolf Hitler: Make Germany Great Again!
Suicide in bunker!
Ronald Reagan: Make America Great Again!
Tripled the National Debt.
Donald Trump: Make America Great Again!
Added Four Trillion to the National Debt.
Empty promises from wanna be dictators!
Tom
March 26, 2022 at 4:51 pm
You mental Elmo shoes midget peter h. Total lies. Lincoln predator.
America first always.
Again, call to action, where are you Manchurian Dums!
Got your ass kicked again today!
I look forward to again tomorrow!
Tom
March 26, 2022 at 4:10 pm
Incoherent incompetents.
Harris laughs on stage in Poland with polish president. Ukrainians dying, walking miles to flee, with nap sacks and one suitcase for 15 miles. What an embarrassment these two are. Biden tells U S forces they are going to war in Ukraine. He calls for Putin’s removal.
You can’t make up this incoherent rhetoric up.
Just embarrassing.
Kenneth Sponagle
March 26, 2022 at 4:22 pm
Dear Darryl Paulson:
I appreciated your input last Sunday on “Florida Politics”. I want to send you a letter I wrote to House Speaker Gunn of Mississippi when his “partner in crime” Robert Foster came out with “the firing squad” approach in handling LGBQT+ people. Although retired now, I have taught Anatomy and Physiology, etc. for some time at SPC but recently found Dr. Emeritus John Mecham of Meredith College who has an excellent 45-minute lecture on the scientific rules of epigenetics that explain how some individuals are exposed to genetic changes in the womb and develop as LBGQT+ people, which is clearly a medical condition and not a moral choice. I’d like to ask Dr. Ladapo (PhD and M.D,) why he didn’t fill in Ron DeSantis on these issues. He makes $437 USD and I would expect better for that money. Why hasn’t the medical community debated these issues with DeSantis and put him in his place?
Kenneth Sponagle
March 26, 2022 at 4:26 pm
Post Script: Dr. Ladapo makes $437 K per year! (The K was missing!) I asked why he didn’t educate DeSantis on the medical reality of the LGBQT+ community. Where were the doctors and medical community to debate this issue? They’ve all heard of Epigenetics and Methylation – why were they so afraid?
Tom
March 26, 2022 at 4:56 pm
Earth to Kenn, you are in Florida.
Another mental Manchurian.
Hello McFly. How deranged all of you are.
You mean like fauci making $440,000 plus China’s $$$. And other assorted benefits $$.
Alex
March 26, 2022 at 5:28 pm
Earth to Terrorist Tom.
Fauci makes $3k less to handle National Health issues than Ladapo who handles a single state? Seems like Ladapo is overpaid or Fauci is underpaid.
Another mental Facist .
Hello DickFly, how deranged you are.
Funny how facists hate communists (especially when they’re not), although they both drink from the same tea.
Tom
March 26, 2022 at 6:51 pm
Fauci makes $450,000 bastard son.
Alex, How was the mental home? Blew your cover ass wipe. You still are mental.
China stuffs millions down Fauci’s crotch plus all the other pharmaceutical companies. He’s well over a million plus. That’s why he refuses to criticize them. He’s fired by new Repub. majority,
You and the Dems are racists towards Dr Ladapo who is a brilliant PHD scholar. Along with racism vs Florida’s environmental director, Shawn Hamilton. Both are outstanding.
Everyone knows why they are opposed.
Thanks for making me a legend on FP, you were the first to do so, Legend grows, Kick all
Your asses. You and your Manchurians can’t handle free enterprise, freedom, free society of Florida. Disney getting ass kicked in state and nationally.
Wait til November for yours, in state and nationally. I kicked peter h, yours and go call J D, he actually make me work some. LMAO.
You don’t know what a fascist is, or a communist. Biden is abysmal, Harris is clueless!
DeSantis. America’s Gov kicks all your asses! Just tell me where in person. American society running from Dums, how’s Biden AOC green gas deal now.
You and your Manchurian racists. I know, Trump, Jan 6. Wah.
Ashli Babbitt
March 26, 2022 at 7:46 pm
God won’t let me into heaven! Help! It’s too hot!
Tom
March 26, 2022 at 8:13 pm
Alex Another cheap moniker, cause you PUD Manchurians have to hide.
Nothing like being pathetic so as to mock the dead, Godless creature. Just like a Russian.
No surprise, you have Biden/Harris, messing up and telling u s forces u r going in, Harris laughing in the faces of displaced Ukrainians, and Biden declaring Putin must go. Go get em
Joe. What a clown show. American people, independents, 1/3 of Dems and all Repub. going to give a beat down in November to giggles, and alzie Joe. Enjoy
Ashli meat
March 26, 2022 at 11:33 pm
She’s cooking like a burger on a grill lol
Tom
March 26, 2022 at 7:36 pm
Go hang with degenerate Hunter.
Facts: Trump called Germany out on the Nord steam pipeline, he opposed.
Alzie Joe approved. Sounds like Putin Russian collusion mental Alex. How baby it be,
Trump demanded NATO pay 2% GDP for defense, as they did.
You and your far left extremist, AOC and squad are the fascist and racists. You attempt to
Silence all speech.
You are disgusting China boot lickers! Disney made Tom Cruz take the Taiwan/Tapei patch off bomber jacket. Disney caved, China threatened to ban sequel. DeSantis kicked China’s ass, just like yours and Manchurians
Wsh. Jan 6, Wah Trump, Wah.
LM
March 29, 2022 at 12:22 pm
Looks like I will be redistricted into FL 24, Frederica Wilson’s district. I am a moderate, registered Democrat (for now) but can not abide her far left positions, her lack of attendance (votes by proxy 95% of the time) and her ignoring issues that matter to my friends and neighbors: inflation, crime, roads and bridges, water quality, education. Her big accomplishment is getting House rules changed to allow women (her) to wear hats on the floor.
Since it is a D +30 district, I will simply register a protest vote and go R, whoever the candidate is. Wish the Democrats would out up some moderate, common sense candidates. And by that I do not mean flip-floppy Charlies Crist.
Trevor H
March 29, 2022 at 12:36 pm
The party of The Great Insurrection, an ACTUAL stolen election (2000), pro-Putin Russia, and not to mention their blind loyalty to a corrupt and impeached president is now plotting a return to power after ignoring COVID and cheering on Putin.
Politics is such a sad business. And Republicans are so anti-democratic and Fascist. It’s terrible that so many Americans won’t open their eyes to the awful reality that the Republican party is dangerously un-American and un-democratic.
Tom
March 30, 2022 at 8:34 am
Trevor, blinded by the Manchurian Dums light. So incompetent.
Repubs. are the party of middle class, blue collar, working class, the people’s party. Grow up, educate self.
Get a life.
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