The election proved just about everyone’s fed up with Washington politics but the first day of the new Congress the Washington Politicians proved they didn’t get the message: Foolishness usually starts at the top in Congress but this time it started at the bottom with the Republican back-benchers who, out of a clear blue sky, decided to gut the Independent Ethics Committee.  

The Democrats were both surprised and delighted: Nancy Pelosi cherupped, Ethics are the first casualty of the new Republican Congress. But, of course, Pelosi’s barb didn’t faze the Republicans.

Then, unexpectedly, reaching for his Twitter machine a lion roared: Donald Trump tore into Republicans tweeting, With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog…their number one act and priority.

Trump then repeated it’s time to ‘Drain the Swamp.’

Next a mad scramble broke out: The Republican Caucus re-caucused, the back-benchers about faced, the Independent Ethics Committee was saved – but, of course, the harm was already done. There was no way to put Humpty-Dumpty back together again.

But, at least, the clash made one fact clear as the sun set over the Potomac: A new Bull Moose rules in the Republican Caucus in Washington. And it’s not Paul Ryan or Kevin McCarthy.