House Speaker Mike Johnson didn’t just score an ‘own goal’ by touting Congress in 1948 as a reason to vote Republican this fall. It’s more like he dove into the algae of the Lincoln Reflecting Pool because Trump told convinced him the color wasn’t green but (American Flag) blue. Clearly Mikey’s education didn’t cover the 1948 election and Harry Truman’s (and Democrats) winning when it was so widely assumed Thomas Dewey would beat him the Chicago Daily Tribune published the story of Truman’s defeat complete with the headline “Dewey Defeats Truman.” Did Johnson never, ever see the iconic picture of Truman triumphantly holding up a copy?
I know education has fallen off an awful lot since I was in school (I’m pushing 70 now) but geez. I don’t think having have some great (and I’m not exaggerating) history teachers back in the day for knowing the story of Truman’s seemingly impossible win and how he pulled it off. Truman never pretended to be anything more than what he was and people grasped that simple fact. Some, as in detractors and political opponents used it against him but more found him genuine and imbued with an ability to bring common sense American values to the halls of power in Washington, DC.  His famous whistle stop train tour where he spoke in town after town registered with voters. More to the point a key theme was him railing against the (Republican controlled) ‘Do nothing Congress.’
That Congress was in fact almost do nothing. By both objective and subjective standards it’s been considered the least productive in our history. At least until the current one. And that’s why as this Raw Story article explains Johnson stepped in a big pile of you-know-what invoking it as a reason for people to vote Republican. I admit often finding my fellow jarhead James Carville annoying but in highlighting Johnson’s gaffe he knocked it out of the park. So what happened?
On the latest episode of “Politics War Room,” Carville and co-host Al Hunt zeroed in on Johnson’s claim that the current Congress was the most productive since Harry Truman’s in 1948, a comparison that collapsed the moment anyone checked the history. Carville and Hunt were sizing up Republican vulnerabilities heading into the midterms, with President Donald Trump’s approval sitting at 36 percent.
Hunt dryly noted Johnson’s ‘expertise’ doesn’t extend to history, as that Congress was (and still is) known as the “Do nothing Congress.” Carville was even more cutting in simply agreeing with Johnson and letting him make that dumbass comparison:
“Mike Johnson, I think you may be right,” Carville said. “I think the parallels are very much there.”
From there, the veteran Democratic strategist walked through exactly how thin the record was and landed on a single piece of legislation Republicans themselves won’t campaign on.
“The only thing you really passed that was big was the Big Beautiful Bill, which most Republicans are running away from,” Carville said.
Carville then dared Johnson and his candidates to keep bringing it up and framed the current Congress as marginally less toxic than the president at the top of the ticket.
It’s not like most GOP candidates are talking up the one major piece of legislation they passed. No, Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill is something most want to avoid talking about. (They aren’t completely stupid it seems) Carville of course knows this so despite expressing a bit of sympathy for Johnson (says he’s in over his head) Carville chose to twist the knife:
“Talk about this Congress a lot, Speaker Johnson, candidates out there, it may not be as bad as talking about Trump at 36 percent,” Carville said. “But it ain’t going to be very good.”
It’s not like a key campaign pitch wasn’t already teed up for Democrats. Pundits keep saying how crucial it is for Democrats to talk about more than how bad Trump and the GOP enablers on Capitol Hill have been. That they’ve got to offer a positive alternative vision. That’s true and Johnson has not only teed it up but at a perfect time. Congress would be recessing soon so members can campaign but Johnson is facing another Epstein discharge petition and he doesn’t want momentum (and the news about it) to build so Congress will be in recess before you know it.
THAT is Democrat’s opportunity. After tying Johnson and this Congress to Harry Truman’s description of the Congress he first dealt with they can list policy and legislation THEY would be passing and sending to Trump. I’m not a political professional operative but the segue should be easy for any Democratic candidate to make.
Having been a fan of the band Chicago since my teens and a fan of Harry Truman (thanks to my parents) I loved their 1975 song American Needs You, Harry Truman. We sure as hell do. Actually we had a version in Joe Biden but didn’t realize it. That’s another story for another time. However, while younger voters might not have gotten the full education on Truman’s incredible and successful 1948 campaign I figure most people over the age of 50 will recall it if reminded. Keep in mind older voters are the most reliable of voting blocs and I’m thinking a lot of older Republicans also long for some normalcy in our politics. Less Trumpiness and more calm, focus on fixing what needs to be fixed.
How many look at their kids and grandkids and say to themselves we need to end the Trump/MAGA Madness and the sooner the better? By calling forth the ghost of Harry Truman Speaker Johnson has given Democrats an opening. America DOES need you Harry Truman. While we can’t have you, we can have the kind of down-to-earth practical, no nonsense politics we desperately need. Just one qualifier. Truman like to cite the quote “It’s amazing how much can be accomplished when non one cares who gets the credit.” Democrats with an eye on 2028 need to wall off dreams of running for higher office and just be part of a team. Let Harry Truman play the role of Captain.
