October Update From a DC Insider - 10.18.2023

[Mike McKenna is a long-time analyst/advisor/polling professional in Washington, DC. Also a former Trump staffer, he currently writes op/eds for the Washington Times, The Daily Caller and other publications. He sends out comprehensive state-of-play reports to a select email distribution, and allows me to share them with paid subscribers here. This is his report for March.]

From: Michael McKenna

Date: October 16, 2023

Re: October 2023 Monthly Note

It’s good to get the train back on schedule. There are an amazing number of things in the works, so let’s get to it.

Speaker

As I have noted in columns, on the Unregulated podcast, and in conversations with friends, neighbors, and people who just won’t let it be, I don’t really care who the Speaker of the House is. Neither should you unless you are part of his or her retinue. The simple reality is that the speaker is, in most cases, the best vote counter in a particular room. He or she does not create a lasting imprint on American history.

If you doubt that, try a thought experiment. Who was the speaker the day you were born? Now, who was the president the day you were born? For just about everyone, the answer to one of those is easy and the answer to the other is impossible without resorting to Google.

Or ask yourself, what did Joe Cannon do to warrant a building being named for him?

On the other hand, one of the few truly useful powers of the speaker is that he or she can put legislation on the floor.