A SHOT ACROSS THE BOW --- FIRE RETURNED
Thomas Massie Deeply Wounded By His Own Hand
A “shot across the bow” is a metaphor for a warning. But what happened to Thomas Massie was far beyond routine warning. Yesterday Massie was removed from the House Rules Committee just days after he openly rebelled against President Trump — again — as he sought to prevent Speaker Johnson from retaining his position for not being the type of Representative and Speaker of the House that Mr. Massie and his small clique of ardent supporters believe he should be.
Here are the House Committees on which Mr. Massie sat on January 13, 2025:
Committee on the Rules
Committee on the Judiciary
He chairs the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust within the Judiciary Committee.
Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government
Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
Here are his Committee Assignments as of yesterday, January 14, 2025:
Committee on the Judiciary
He chairs the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust within the Judiciary Committee.
Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government
Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
Mr. Massie was removed from the powerful House Rules Committee, aka The Speakers Committee.
I knew someone way back when who often used the analogy of the the Big Dog and the little dog. It goes something like this.
A little dog knows certain things among which is the fact that the Big Dog can kill him anytime he wants. The Big Dog also knows that. AND they both know that IF the Big Dog does kill the little dog for no reason he will suffer the same fate at the hand’s of his owner. But every now and then the little dog crosses the line of routine yapping harassment into the realm of persistent yapping, nipping, and bitting until the big has no choice but to respond.
Thomas Massie has shown contempt for almost everyone except Thomas Massie. That includes virtually everyone who holds an opinion of governance different than his. That contempt has been expressed on the Hill and in his own District. He has disparaged President Trump, falsely accused him of responsibility for the events of January 6, 2020, criticized many of president Trump’s decisions including his support for Israel, and in his latest contemptuous act, Mr. Massie rebelled against President Trumps unconditional support for Speaker Johnson who has the obligation to hold together the slimmest of majorities in the House during the vital transition from the ruinous policies of the hard left democrat party to a more normal, common sense theory of governance offered by President-Elect Trump.
Trump understands that compromise is sometimes required, particularly when you are trying to build a coalition within your own party.
Thomas Massie understands that he has a point to make and he will make it at all cost and on all issues and it is an uncompromising point. Mr. Massie’s constant position of “NO” has become nothing more than annoying political theater; a nipping, and biting at the heels of the President and the Speaker. I have often gently prodded Mr. Massie that sometimes he needs to find a way to say yes. But instead of understanding what the founders hoped for in seeking compromise Mr. Massie has been so uncompromising that he has never gained the respect or cooperation of his colleagues. As a result of his intransigence any good ideas that Mr. Massie may have had have been tossed out with the baby, the bath water, and the bath tub.
To be clear, it was not just this one act that led to Mr. Massie’s removal from the Rules Committee. There have been many; too many. I have written about Thomas Massie extensively here, here, and most recently here. Over the years I have also been critical of Mr. Massie’s voting record in numerous postings on FaceBook. But it is not just me who has been critical — in depth — about Mr. Massie’s record in office.
What is clear is that Mr. Massie’s removal from the Rules Committee was a warning shot across his bow that came in response to an harassing act on Thomas Massie’s part. It was an act of defiance and “power politics” without the power to enter the arena and it happened at a critical step in the presidential transition process.
The Big Dog had no choice. The little dog had to be taught a lesson. Let’s hope that it’s one that has been well learned.
10Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.11Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. 12Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2: 10-12
Union, Kentucly
15 January 2025
T -5