Mike Johnson, the new Speaker of the House, is often portrayed as trying to balance his extreme-right positions with a folksy, soft-spoken persona. However, a closer analysis reveals that this perceived balance is more a calculated strategy to put people at ease rather than a genuine attempt to reconcile disparate views.

Strategic Persona vs. Core Ideologies

It is not a balance but a strategically crafted facade. Johnson uses his folksy and smooth-speaking persona to create an environment where his intensely right-wing politics can be overlooked or softened. This approach is reminiscent of older politicians from the Republican Party who employ the same tactics to appeal to a broader base without fundamentally altering their ideological stance.

PUSHY AND CONTROLLING

Johnson's first significant action as Speaker was a pushy and domineering move, akin to the tactics of accomplished political figures like Mitch McConnell. He adopted a controlling posture, such as holding aid money hostage, setting a tone of manipulation and hostility. This behavior indicates a deep-seated need to assert dominance and control, rather than a balanced approach to governance.

DISGUISING DESIRE FOR POWER

By exploiting the IRS to achieve his goals, Johnson is using a common political strategy to disguise his underlying desire for power and control. The IRS is a crucial agency responsible for enforcing the law, particularly in the realm of tax evasion. By highlighting the IRS's need for resources to combat wealthy tax evaders, Johnson is able to position himself as a defender of the American taxpayer, while fundamentally seeking to undermine the agency's effectiveness.

TARGETING THE RICH

The real agenda behind Johnson's rhetoric is to target the wealthy. However, it is crucial to recognize that the IRS has limited resources and primarily focuses on small businesses and individual taxpayers. The agency's capacity to investigate and prosecute large-scale, sophisticated tax evasion schemes is constrained. Cases like that of Donald Trump, where it took a long time for the IRS to unravel his complex scheme, highlight the agency's difficulties in dealing with such high-profile and complex cases.

IMPOSSIBILITY OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Given the immense wealth and influence of certain individuals, it is inherently challenging to make them accountable, especially if they belong to an interconnected network with political and economic power. The example of Donald Trump demonstrates this issue. He could claim that signing paperwork was just a formality, thus dodging responsibility for the multiple crimes his businesses committed. This further emphasizes the systemic issues that prevent the accountability of the ultra-wealthy and powerful.

EXTREME RIGHT STANCE: A LONG-STANDING REPUBLICAN PERSPECTIVE

Johnson’s positions do not represent a new extremist view. Instead, they align closely with the conservative stance of the Republican Party for over a century. These positions are often perceived as extreme by some due to the significant shift of the Democratic Party towards more progressive policies. The Republican Party's core principles, rooted in limited government, strong defense, and strict law and order, remain consistent, but they appear more radical against the backdrop of Democratic policy changes.

CONCLUSION

Mike Johnson's strategy involves using a folksy, soft-spoken persona to mask his extreme-right views. This approach is not aimed at genuine reconciliation but rather at gaining political leverage and control. By exploiting issues like IRS funding and targeting the wealthy, Johnson seeks to advance his agenda without fundamentally altering his conservative ideology.