Congress has crushed the spirit of Rep. Trey Gowdy.

In a recent interview with Vice News, the South Carolina Republican admits that he’s not just counting down the days until his time in politics is over. Gowdy is literally counting the number of flights left, the number of trips to-and-from D.C., before he can retire for good (it’s 19). Why?

"To the extent men judge themselves based on what they do for a living,” Gowdy tells the camera, “I don't have a lot to show for the last seven years."



That’s interesting coming from Gowdy. While other members were naming post offices, he was at the center of every major investigation. YouTube is full of viral clips showing the former prosecutor shredding everyone from former IRS Administrator John Koskinen to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Measured against the average congressional career, Gowdy has achieved more than most.

But Gowdy isn’t satisfied anymore. Outspoken and aggressive during the Obama administration, he has been relatively silent and reserved during the Trump administration, disappointing those who had hoped he’d defend the administration from the Russia investigation. It seems Gowdy just doesn’t to have the appetite for it anymore.

And perhaps that explains why Gowdy, along with some of the 38 other retiring Republicans, don’t want to stay in Congress. It says a lot more about the institution. Without control of the White House, a party can raise a little hell before giving in to the president. With control of the White House, they just do what he wants.

Either way, Congress has willingly surrendered its authority and made itself ineffective. The once-feared as an legislature is mostly a rubber stamp where members cede power to administrative agencies to avoid the responsibility of governing and oversight and the tough choices that make reelection difficult. In short, Congress doesn’t really do anything anymore.

Look back at the oversight Gowdy did on his committees. Sure he went viral and became a conservative hero. But aside from scoring political points, what good did it do? His two most prominent witnesses, Koskinen and Clinton, faced no serious consequences.

Gowdy is right. He doesn’t have much to show for the last seven years. But it’s not all his fault. It’s Congress’.