This week, Secretary of Homeland Security answered questions in front of the US Senate. Mayorkas has been impeached by the House of Representatives, but his trial in the Upper Chamber of Congress is expected to be tabled, then ignored, by Senate Majority Leader Schumer.
Several clips of his appearance are posted online. Some, like his questioning by Senator John Kennedy of Louisianna show a contentious back and forth. But the title of this particular clip seems overly dramatic. “Mayorkas Comes Unglued When John Kennedy Confronts Him With Illegal Immigration Facts”.
This doesn’t seem to be the case. “Unglued”? Hardly. While Kennedy does appear frustrated during his line of pointed questions, there really isn’t anything here to indicate a flustered Mayorkas
Consider. In this line of questioning and, indeed, every time he has been hauled in front of Congress, Mayorkas does come across as many things. He comes across as smug, condescending, uncooperative, corrupt, smarmy, evil, and dirty. One would certainly want to wipe one’s hands after having the displeasure of meeting this swamp thing.
He feigns indignation, but gives another impression altogether; that of the good soldier. On behalf of the Biden Administration, he dutifully pretends to take hearings seriously, like the mischievous student called to the principal’s office. But there is something missing in all the video of the Homeland Secretary in front of Congress. Fear. He doesn’t seem intimidated or scared of his inquisitors.
In fact, the keen viewer notices in this clip that Senator Kennedy seems more ill at ease than does the witness. Senator Kennedy appears to be disgusted equally by the pompous ass before him and the stark reality that no consequences are going to befall him. Kennedy mentions numerous times that Mayorkas’ impeachment may be swept under the rug. He charitably uses the modal verb “may”, when in reality he knows that there will be no repercussions, no penalty exacted. Of course, Kennedy’s accusations are spot on, but his body language suggests that the Senator is just as bothered by his colleagues in the Senate as he is by Mayorkas. To that point, he shares something with Mayorkas. Both know that the deep state is going to protect the Secretary from any punishment or admonition.
In 1785, French fashion merchant Marie-Jeanne Bertin is said to have remarked to Marie Antoinette, “Il n’y a de nouveau que ce qui est oublié” (“There is nothing new except what has been forgotten”). Lest we forget, remember Eric Holder, Alberto Gonzales and Harriet Miers. Each faced Contempt of Congress charges. Holder was the first sitting Cabinet Member to be held in Contempt of Congress for his role in the Fast and Furious gun debacle in which at least 300 Mexican nationals lost their lives. Not quite impeachment but similar cases. Each claimed Executive Privilege, each was tossed around a bit but none were prosecuted, and each walked away with a few bruises, but with their pensions and dignity intact. Now recall the names Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro, Roger Stone, General Mike Flynn. Each of these members of the Trump Administration were held in Contempt of Congress, or something of the like, each also claimed Executive Privilege, but in their cases, each suffered jail time, bankruptcy, and/or financial ruin.
Why? The dirty secret known by everyone, but acknowledged only at quiet, exclusive parties in DC, is that modern Democrats play hard ball, while the Republican party has no testicular fortitude to speak of. This is why Mayorkas is untouchable. This Biden Caporegime is a made-man.
On a related note, this is also precisely why Washington, in a rare case of bipartisanship, hates Donald Trump and the millions of MAGA members. Bush, McCain, Christie, Cheney, Haley, McConnell, Ryan and Romney Republicans have always been members of the uniparty. They obeyed the rules of the game, rolling over and offering their bellies to their swamp entrenched masters. Trump and his loyalists threaten the financial and political power held by Washington elites, who only fear a disruption to the status quo.
Mayorkas knows nothing is going to happen to him. So does Kennedy. But reverse the roles, and members of the Trump Cabinet risk their freedoms, and livelihoods, by being willing to serve. They ought to be elected, if only to reward their willingness to place country before self. As Thomas Jefferson wrote to James Madison, “I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.” It is time for a little rebellion to unsettle those in power who have done a remarkable job of screwing up absolutely everything. Give the other guys a chance again.
This article was written by Louis Biad, a contributor to Catholics for Catholics.
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