# "House Republicans Vote to Gut Independent Ethics Office" **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 3, 2017, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207 "2017-01-03T04:16:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/41 "2017-01-03T19:38:07Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > If it was staged, it was done clumsily. [Here’s Kellyanne Conway, earlier today](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/312452-conway-defends-gop-weakening-ethics-watchdog): How many times has he let his surrogates struggle to explain, often with wildly differing accounts and throw them all under the bus with a later statement? I’m surprised he has any left. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/42 "2017-01-03T19:55:35Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Don’t forget Trump was not against the neutering, just the _timing_. He even said the Ethics Committee was unfair. > > It _will_ get gutted. I think Ryan _et al_. want their minions to know who’s in charge. Trump is just riding the coattails of this dramedy. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/43 "2017-01-03T20:07:17Z")
I kind of admire the GOP for not even bothering with the pretense. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/44 "2017-01-03T20:27:30Z")
Apparently public opinion is no longer important in the governance of our nation. Cuz I can think of a lot better things for Congress to tackle on Day One than neutering the Congressional watchdog. But apparently in the new scheme of things, doing the right thing-- or even the \*appearance \*of doing the right thing-- doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/45 "2017-01-03T20:30:34Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Don’t forget Trump was not against the neutering, just the _timing_. He even said the Ethics Committee was unfair. > > It _will_ get gutted. He doesn’t care if it’s unfair or not. It won’t affect anything _he_ does. And it may come in handy down the line when he needs to extract some revenge. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/46 "2017-01-03T21:53:32Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Apparently public opinion is no longer important in the governance of our nation. … Maybe, maybe not. Several news outlets are reporting a flood of negative calls coming in from plain ol’ us. Attention is devoted to Himself interjecting, but is that why? Dunno. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/47 "2017-01-03T23:31:23Z")
I’m not sure what the establishment, favor factory Republicans were thinking. They didn’t have the votes to pass the new rules assuming Democrats followed up on their criticism by voting against the new rules. With 74 Republicans opposed, they would have needed a lot of Democrats to join them. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/48 "2017-01-04T00:15:37Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I’m not sure what the establishment, favor factory Republicans were thinking. They didn’t have the votes to pass the new rules assuming Democrats followed up on their criticism by voting against the new rules. With 74 Republicans opposed, they would have needed a lot of Democrats to join them. Which is another point supporting the idea that this was a set-up. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/49 "2017-01-04T00:22:31Z")
I thought so too, but why would 119 Republicans make themselves look bad and subject themselves to likely Tea Party primary challenges? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/50 "2017-01-04T00:51:35Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I thought so too, but why would 119 Republicans make themselves look bad and subject themselves to likely Tea Party primary challenges? If I was a republican I would say: Looking bad is a matter of opinion and not fact, and I do not agree with your view. It all looks fine to me. Why worry about something that doesn’t exist? Then, if you had a problem with that I would just remind you that I have my own little point of view and you can never get in there and change it. Because it’s mine. Hey trumpies and righties listen up: _ **The comedown is a bitch, and not too far away.** _ ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/51 "2017-01-04T01:22:18Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I thought so too, but why would 119 Republicans make themselves look bad and subject themselves to likely Tea Party primary challenges? Because it was done by secret ballot. They all have plausible deniability. None will face negative consequences, and they’ve now done Trump a favor (and will expect to collect on it eventually. Whether or not that comes to pass is another thing, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/52 "2017-01-04T01:27:20Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I thought so too, but why would 119 Republicans make themselves look bad and subject themselves to likely Tea Party primary challenges? Because they don’t have a fucking clue about this “responsibility” stuff? What’s \*your \*theory? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/53 "2017-01-04T01:29:58Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Because it was done by secret ballot. They all have plausible deniability. None will face negative consequences, and they’ve now done Trump a favor (and will expect to collect on it eventually. Whether or not that comes to pass is another thing, of course.) > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Because they don’t have a fucking clue about this “responsibility” stuff? > > What’s \*your \*theory? It’s the party of “Personal Responsibility” [rationalizing]The difference is this was business, nothing personal. [/rationalizing] ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/54 "2017-01-04T04:00:18Z")
_You all recall that on the Lupercal I thrice did offer him a kingly crown Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?_ ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/55 "2017-01-04T05:10:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > _You all recall that on the Lupercal > I thrice did offer him a kingly crown > Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?_ Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/56 "2017-01-04T06:04:29Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Because it was done by secret ballot. They all have plausible deniability. None will face negative consequences, and they’ve now done Trump a favor (and will expect to collect on it eventually. Whether or not that comes to pass is another thing, of course.) I’ll jump onto this conspiracy theory bandwagon, and add some more tinfoil fodder. Ford’s announcement that they were opening a plant in Detroit and hiring 700 workers, all while obviously fellating Trump and gushing their confidence in him, was orchestrated just as much as this phony ethics office victory. . . > [@](#): > > Top Ford executives personally notified Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence of their decision. Fields praised tax and regulatory proposals advocated by Trump and his fellow Republicans who control Congress. > > “Our view is that we see a more positive U.S. manufacturing business environment under President-elect Trump and the pro-growth policies and proposals that he’s talking about, so this is a vote of confidence for President-elect Trump and some of the policies that they may be pursuing,” Fields said. Maybe this is the whole truth. Maybe they really do feel that way and couldn’t help but shout it from the rooftops, but by God they’re talking up Trump pretty bigly and gratuitously. Why’d they bring him up at all? Why not just announce the new plant and jobs? Is it common to praise the president and make a big deal about him when opening a new factory? Did someone make a deal with Ford already for this? Was it already in the works, and they were persuaded to move up the announcement, with a little extra slobber thrown in? I’m just asking (a lot of) questions. This kind of pre-inauguration propaganda, if true, is kind of chilling. The republican song & dance was bad enough, but getting the public beeg from Ford before he even takes office bothers me somewhat more - like the pod people are everywhere. Of course, we always knew where big corporations were going to come (or go) down on Trump, but I guess I wasn’t ready for it pre-inauguration. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/57 "2017-01-04T09:52:31Z")
Trump cracks the whip and the House instantly falls in line. There’s little doubt who will wear the pants in this setup. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/58 "2017-01-04T10:07:03Z")
The alternative story is that all of those Congressgits phones were melting down from all the calls screaming their heads off. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/59 "2017-01-04T11:09:10Z")
The alligators are not going to vote for draining the swamp… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207/60 "2017-01-04T11:11:05Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Trump cracks the whip and the House instantly falls in line. There’s little doubt who will wear the pants in this setup. He only complained about the timing. He’s fine with the gutting as he called the Committee unfair. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-vote-to-gut-independent-ethics-office/776207.md?page=4)