When Speaker Johnson called House members back to vote on the budget reconciliation bill within 10 minutes of dismissing them, I was deeply impressed.
As a former speaker of the House, I keenly appreciated Mr. Johnson’s position. Only one Republican could defect if the bill was going to pass. I also knew that Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky would never budge.
Mr. Massie’s stubbornness meant Mr. Johnson could not afford to lose an additional Republican. The Democrats had made it clear they would be unified in opposition.

- Respecting Your Enemies
We are a long way from this kind of strategic focus and yet it will be the key to an acceptable future. - A Swiss Warning Bares the Implications of an Older, Greyer, and Smaller West
The entire pattern of younger people having more children, who then had more children, is broken. - If We Lose Chicago
Looking at the consequences of Iran acquiring destructive weapons. - Winston Churchill and the Iran War
Past conflicts can provide valuable lessons for the present. - The Resurrection of Christ is the Foundation of Hope
On Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ – the most important day of the year for the Christian community.
