The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Opinion The most interesting part of Corker’s retirement isn’t what you think it is

Columnist|
September 27, 2017 at 9:15 a.m. EDT
Dozens of Republican lawmakers have announced they will retire, resign, or choose not to seek reelection in 2018. (Video: Sarah Parnass, Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post, Photo: Mark Wilson/The Washington Post)

The Post reports:

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) has announced he will not seek reelection this year, another blow to the Republican establishment wing that comes on the same day the latest Republican effort to revamp the Affordable Care Act failed.
Corker and other establishment Republicans have come under fire from President Trump and his supporters for not delivering in the early days of the new administration.
Once considered an ally of Trump’s national security team, Corker and Trump traded insults during the August break amid chatter that staunch conservatives would mount a primary challenge to the Foreign Relations chairman.
Corker’s retirement will create what is likely to be a highly contested, ideologically driven Republican primary. It also creates a vacuum among Senate Republicans for leaders on national security issues.

As to the Tennessee seat, there are a batch of well-known Republicans who may seek the seat, including Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Rep. Diane Black and Gov. Bill Haslam. The Democratic bench in a state that has trended deep red for several campaign cycles is not deep. The names most frequently mentioned are either old (e.g. former governor Phil Bredesen, Blue Dog Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper) or lesser-known non-politicians (e.g. James Mackler). Republicans are still highly favored to retain the seat, but if they nominate a wacky extremist or someone who can be painted as a card-carrying member of the Beltway crowd, Democrats may have an opening. Indeed, their best bet might be an outsider who can run against professional politicians and promise to deliver on items the GOP has failed to pass.

The more interesting aspect of Corker’s retirement has to do with who will succeed him as chairman of the critical Foreign Relations Committee. Corker was a true moderate, often not as aggressive as Republican hawks would have liked but well within the traditional GOP mainstream on foreign policy. He has been critical of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s slow pace in filling political slots and Tillerson’s support for an absurd budget that would have devastated his department. Corker was not so much a creator of policy or high-profile foreign policy voice internationally, as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has been, but he has earned his colleagues’ respect and kept a fractious committee — which includes diverse members such as Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) — functioning.

Ranking member Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) issued an effusive statement. “Bob Corker is a consummate statesman and a thoughtful policymaker who has always served his constituents and his nation admirably,” he said. “Personally, I am saddened by this news because over our years of service together on the Foreign Relations Committee, first as members but since 2015, as chair and ranking member, Bob and I have forged a genuine partnership and friendship. It has been a privilege to lead the Committee with Bob as Chairman. Our work has been steeped in a love of country and the enduring belief that the foreign policy of the United States should always be conducted in a bipartisan, sober, values-based manner.”

So who will succeed Corker as chairman if the GOP keeps the majority? The member next in seniority is Sen. James E. Risch (R-Idaho), one of the lowest-profile Republicans and a staunch defender of President Trump. He served up softball questions when Attorney General Jeff Sessions appeared and acted as the president’s defense counsel when former FBI director James Comey testified. That has earned him a reputation as a White House patsy with Democrats:

It’s an approach that has given Risch a reputation as one of the most ardent defenders of the president and has frustrated some Democrats.
“It’s pretty clear to us that Risch doesn’t have much interest in investigating Russian interference in the 2016 investigation,” said Shelby Scott, spokeswoman for the Idaho Democratic Party, who called his approach to the hearings “shocking.”
A senior Democratic Senate aide called Risch “one of the biggest shills for the administration.”
“Many other Republicans have played this much more down the middle and made clear they’re interested in finding the truth. Senator Risch isn’t one of them,” the aide said. … And, as he has made clear during public hearings, Risch believes there is likely to be zero evidence of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia, despite anonymously sourced media reports that hint the evidence is there.

When the president and his Cabinet misstep or misspeak (which is often) or seem asleep at the wheel, Risch is less likely to provide exacting oversight. He is not known as a motivated defender of human rights.

Senate committee chairmanships don’t always go strictly by seniority, and sometimes a senator less well-regarded on one committee can be diplomatically handed another chairmanship. In this case, there may be considerable support for going outside seniority to back the next man in line, Rubio, who has focused much of his time in the Senate on foreign relations, taken up the cause of human rights, urged a tough line on U.S. enemies including Russia and been more critical of Trump (although not consistently enough for #NeverTrumpers’ tastes) than some Republicans. Given truth serum, most Democrats and Republicans on the committee would say Rubio would be a more qualified, sharper, focused, energetic and knowledgeable chairman. Rubio’s office did not respond to a request for comment on his possible interest in the chairmanship.

In sum, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which plays a critical role in everything from confirmation of foreign policy nominees to Russia oversight to treaty ratification, may wind up less effective and less willing to check Trump under Risch. If, however, Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) recalls he persuaded Rubio to stay in the Senate in 2016 and owes him one, he may find a way to slip Rubio into the chairmanship. That would be bad news for Trump, Russia and international dictators but good news for those who want the most proactive Senate possible during the Trump presidency. Then again, if the GOP falters, Cardin — a forceful defender of human rights and critic of Trump’s Russia moves — may find himself in charge of arguably the most important committee in the Senate.