Matt Gaetz had a near-death experience this week.
The guy who represents the Redneck Riviera around Pensacola, Fla., and who is a perennial candidate for the Biggest Ass in Congress Award must have caught some virus or something that caused him to have a moment of sanity and clarity.
Not only did he vote with the Evil Democrats and Arch Villain Nancy Pelosi on the War Powers Resolution, he actually sent out a blast email urging other Republicans to do the same.
The message, arguing for Republicans to buck the president, ended: “We WILL be voting in favor of H. Con. Res. 83, and hope you will do the same!”
How did that go over with Trump?
A senior White House official said it was “super uncool” and “quite unwise” for Gaetz to push for limits on the president’s authority. This person added that White House officials would not be returning Gaetz’s phone calls, text messages, “smoke signals or his kneelings in the snow.”
As Scooby Doo would say, “Ruh roh!”
This is the guy whose website proudly claims the title “the Trumpiest Congressman in Trump’s Washington.”
Yes, Matt, but what have you done for him lately?
Better start sucking up big time.
He spent much of the day Friday defending his vote and praising Trump, saying his vote was about principles and not the president and citing friends of his in the military who were killed overseas.
“This resolution offers no criticism of the president, no critique,” he said on the House floor, adding: “It doesn’t criticize the president’s attack on [Iranian commander Qasem] Soleimani. I take a back seat to no member of this body when it comes to defending the president.”
I’d have to guess that Gaetz doesn’t have too worry about a primary challenger being recruited to run against him. It might be easy to find a Republican with a better driving record, but it’s doubtful there is anyone crazier than Gaetz, even in northwest Florida.