The consensus in Washington seems to be that newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has the most insecure job in politics. The job will no doubt be difficult, writes law professor Jay Sterling Silver. “But insecure? Not so fast.” |
Silver, law professor emeritus at St. Thomas University College of Law, says that Johnson job is secure, but not because he has the support of former President Trump. Rather, it’s because of “the GOP House members, whose three weeks of Keystone Cops behavior began to call their competence — individually and as a group — into question in the eyes of their constituencies.” In other words, with public approval of the House GOP at a historic low, and as two wars rage abroad, Republicans really didn’t have much choice but to elect Johnson in their fourth attempt to end the Speaker stalemate. Much is still unknown about Johnson and it’s an open question whether he’ll be able to tame the GOP’s fractious caucus. But the unanimous support he received among Republicans means that, as Johnson said upon taking the gavel, “The people’s House is back in business.” Read the op-ed at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill's Views & Opinions newsletter, it's Friday, Oct. 27. I'm Daniel Allott, bringing together a collection of key opinion pieces published from a wide range of voices. |
