Democrats upbeat after tumultuous week

Trump attacks his own FBI Director

Also in today’s edition of ‘Regular Order’ for July 26, 2024:

• Capitol Hill Veep Watch.

• House GOP flops on spending bills.

• Another solid economic report.

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CAMPAIGN 2024. It's hard to believe how quickly the race for President changed this week. Congressional Democrats headed home last night probably thanking their lucky stars - as in just five days, Democrats went from a party in full panic mode to one where lawmakers instantly rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris. In the hallways, Democrats clearly feel much better about their chances in November.

• BIDEN. "I haven't had a single conversation with a member of the House Democratic Caucus who has expressed that they are upset with what has unfolded," said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

• HALLWAYS. It was very obvious how the departure of President Biden and the arrival of Vice President Harris had instantly generated more enthusiasm among Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "I think she changed the dynamic throughout the entire country," said Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY).

• CHOICES. "The choice in this election couldn't be more clear," said Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), who had a sharp exchange on a call with Biden earlier this month. “Donald Trump is a convicted felon. Kamala Harris is a prosecutor.”

• UNKNOWN. Obviously, we have no idea whether Harris will be a better candidate than Biden against Trump in November. But it's very clear that Democrats in Congress saw themselves losing - and maybe losing big - if Biden had stayed on the ticket.

SPEECH. Democrats yesterday hailed President Biden's speech to the nation where he explained why he decided to 'pass the torch' to a new generation. "Joe Biden put the country over his personal ambitions," said Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM). "The enthusiasm has shifted," Heinrich told reporters, "particularly among young people."

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DEBATES. Donald Trump is balking right now at a scheduled September 10 debate. Last night, his campaign put out a statement saying nothing can be scheduled until the Democrats nominate a candidate for President. “Democrats could very well change their mind,” Trump’s campaign said, in a line that made absolutely no sense.

• COCONUT ARMY. For her part, Harris was having none of it. "I'm ready to debate Donald Trump. I have agreed to the previously agreed upon September 10 debate," Harris told reporters. "Now, here he is backpedaling."

• HUSSEIN. There was one really weird thing in the Trump Campaign statement last night - apart from where it called Harris a 'Marxist fraud.' It was the use of 'Barack Hussein Obama.' That reminded me of the Fox News/GOP uproar over the 'terrorist fist bump' involving the Obamas in 2008. Some things don't change.

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HARRIS. House Republicans did their best to help Trump on Thursday, by approving a GOP resolution condemning Harris over the border and immigration policies of the Biden Administration. The tally couldn't have gone much better for Republicans, as six Democrats voted for it - quickly putting them at odds with their party's likely nominee.

• DEM SIX. Here are the six Democrats who voted to condemn Harris:

  • Yadira Caraveo D-CO

  • Henry Cuellar D-TX

  • Don Davis D-NC

  • Jared Golden D-ME

  • Mary Peltola D-AK

  • Marie Gluesenkamp Perez D-WA

DEMS. As you might imagine, most Democrats ridiculed the GOP plan. "This is such a naked partisan effort to help Donald Trump in the campaign in November," said Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY).

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WHAT’S NEXT. The next big decision for Harris will be a running mate, as national Democrats want to get those choices ratified by a ‘virtual’ convention vote before August 7 - to insulate the party from any GOP ballot challenges or lawsuits.

• VEEP STAKES. Here on Capitol Hill, one of the serious V.P. contenders is Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona - and all you had to do to confirm that was watch reporters chase after him this week. This was Thursday, after the last vote of the week in the Senate.

CAPITOL. Normally, Kelly doesn't stop to chat very much with reporters in the hallways. I often joke that when he walks by, he gives me the look of, 'If you ask me a question, I'm going to break you in half with one hand.' But, Kelly was happily answering questions yesterday. That should tell you a lot.

• KELLY. "This is not about me," the Arizona Democrat said as reporters repeatedly asked if he wanted to join a ticket with Harris. "We have 103 days to work as hard as I can to make sure Kamala Harris is elected President."

• RACING FORM. Who are my top three possible V.P. candidates for Harris?

  • Josh Shapiro - Popular Governor in a key state (PA).

  • Tim Walz - Midwestern Dad who is also a Governor (MN).

  • Mark Kelly - Strong resume, military, astronaut, Senator.

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FBI DIRECTOR. Republicans on Friday joined Donald Trump in calling for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign, a day after Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee. What did Wray do that was so wrong? It was his simple answers to questions about Joe Biden's brain and Trump's ear. (I'm not kidding.)

• VAN GOGH. Really aggravating Trump was Wray's answer about Trump's injuries from the July 13 attack. "There’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear," Wray said. No one really knows the answer, as Trump has not released any medical records about his treatment.

• DR. RONNY. That outraged Trump World. "Christopher Wray was completely inappropriate and out of line to question if President Trump was hit by a bullet," said Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX). "It was absolutely a bullet wound with all the hallmark signs that accompany a wound from a high-powered rifle."

• BIG MAD. What's strange about Trump’s reaction is that it doesn't really matter what hit his ear. Whether it was a bullet, shrapnel, glass, or whatever - it doesn't erase the fact that someone came close to killing him that day. But obviously, that detail does matter to Trump, as he went on a long screed against Wray last night.

BIDEN BRAIN. The other thing aggravating Trump was when Wray was asked if he had noticed any cognitive decline in President Biden during their interactions. The FBI Director said he had not. "If you can’t see that, you sure as hell can’t be running the FBI," Trump wrote on his Truth Social website.

• SPEAKER. Also piling on Wray was House Speaker Mike Johnson. "His responses were apparently inaccurate and he was not forthcoming," the Speaker said about the FBI chief, completely ignoring all of the new information provided by Wray at the hearing about the Trump gunman.

• FINAL NOTE. One should not forget that Christopher Wray was installed as FBI Director - by Donald Trump.

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TRUMP RALLY. Speaking of the Trump assassination attempt, the head of the Secret Service managed to do something this week on Capitol Hill that few people ever achieve - unify Congress into demanding answers about the Trump rally attack. As I wrote in my column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the American people deserve answers.

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FUNDING. For months, Republicans in Congress talked a big game about passing all 12 government funding bills through the House by August 1. The GOP didn't come close, as they left town yesterday - for an over 6-week summer break - having only approved five of the 12 spending bills for 2025.

• STALEMATE. "This is unacceptable," said Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), who urged his leadership to keep lawmakers at work, and cancel the summer break. The problem was inside the GOP, as Republicans couldn't muster the votes to pass their own funding bills on the House floor.

• FAILURE. Democrats attacked. "They can't govern within their own party let alone across the aisle," said Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL). "This is a Do-Nothing Majority," said Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA). "House Republicans are totally incapable of governing," added Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-NC).

• STOPGAP. The House isn't scheduled to return to work until September 9, which means when lawmakers return, they'll have to quickly figure out how to keep the government running with a temporary funding plan. The fiscal year ends on September 30. Here’s the House legislative floor calendar: 5 work weeks in three months. That’s pretty good for a $174,000 salary.

SENATE. Let’s be honest - the appropriations record isn't any better across the Capitol for Democrats in the Senate, where no government funding bills have reached the Senate floor as yet for 2025. The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to approve all 12 bills by next week - as the Congress will again blow by the September 30 funding deadline.

• TRIVIA. Just four times in the last 50 years has the Congress approved all 12 funding bills on time: 1976, 1988, 1994, and 1996. It won’t happen in 2024, that’s for sure.

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ECONOMY. The latest economic growth numbers out on Thursday were very positive, showing the economy grew at a 2.8 percent rate in the second quarter of this year. That's up from a 1.4 percent growth rate in Q1. In other words, despite all sorts of headwinds, the economy just keeps plugging away in a positive direction.

• ELECTION. Obviously, economic uncertainty is one of the biggest issues in this year's election - as Republicans argue the economy is in a ditch. But when you look at the numbers, they make a strong case for Democrats, like the jobless rate, which is historically low at just over 4 percent.

• WHITE HOUSE. Note how President Biden's statement characterizes the latest GDP numbers: "Thanks to my and Kamala's economic agenda, our economy grew 2.8 percent this spring," Mr. Biden said in a statement. "We’ve created nearly 16 million jobs, wages are up, and inflation is coming down."

• NUMBERS. There are only a few months left before Election Day, and it seems highly unlikely that the economic numbers will collapse. But because of the pain of inflation - the Democrats continue to struggle in the polls on the economy.

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ONLINE SAFETY. Even in the midst of a crazy election year, there was some bipartisan legislative action in the Senate this week. Senators voted 86-1 on Thursday to force the start of debate on a pair of bills designed to require social media companies to do more to protect children.

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RAP SHEET. A man from Maine has pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting police on Jan. 6. Christopher Maurer was part of a group of rioters trying to break through police lines in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel at the Capitol. Maurer threw various items at officers, and tried to rip away riot shields from police.

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MUSE OF HISTORY.  July 26, 1894.  On this date, Sen. Watson Squire offered petitions in favor of creating ‘Washington National Park’ in his home state.  "It especially includes the celebrated Mount Rainier," Squire said on the Senate floor, noting the support of the National Geographic Society and conservationists like John Muir.  "Let this national park be created now," Squire added.

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:

The House is back for votes on September 9.

The Senate returns on Monday.

Follow me on Twitter @jamiedupree.

Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com