Tag: Senate Republicans

Republicans can choose power

Republicans can choose power

Posted on by Jack

Republicans in Congress have a choice. They can choose to continue opposing the majority in everything or they can choose to exert their power as a minority. This is an important point so let me repeat it another way. Simply put, Republican power is a choice.

The Democrats have a small majority is the House of Representatives. They can pass bills with a party line vote, although a bipartisan votes is preferred. One reason is President Biden’s desire for bipartisanship. Another would be that it just looks better to the American people.
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Republicans against freedom or just servile puppy dogs

Republicans against freedom or just servile puppy dogs

Posted on by Jack

Senator Ted Cruz is now talking a stand against the free and fair election we had a few months ago. He is the leader of a group of 12 Republican Senators who will not allow the Electoral College votes to be certified without another investigation into voter fraud.

I do not think this is the way to go. (See Are Republicans the enemy of democracy? ) There have been repeated claims of widespread voter fraud in this election by Republicans and there is just no credible evidence backing the claim. Over 50 lawsuits have been rejected. Attorney General Barr sees no evidence. Do we really need another investigation?
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Josh Hawley stands out

Josh Hawley stands out

Posted on by Jack

I have previously written Are Republicans the enemy of democracy?. I think that is generally true but one Senator stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has announced his intention to object the Congressional certification of the electoral college vote. This is extremely unlikey to succed but if it did, it would disenfranchise millions of American voters.
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Who is rich? Don’t ask Mitch!

Who is rich? Don’t ask Mitch!

Posted on by Jack

Earlier I had reminded Georgia voters that the run-off Georgia election has big consequences. If either David Perdue or Kelly Loeffler are returned to the Senate the Republicans have a majority. This would almost certainly mean that Mitch McConnell would have control of the Senate.

In a not-so-surprising way he reminded us why this would be a disaster. You see old Mitch seems to think folks making $75,000 a year or less are rich and they don’t deserve help getting through this pandemic. If you don’t believe this of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, read the article that starts this way,
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Are Republicans the enemy of the people?

Are Republicans the enemy of the people?

Posted on by Jack

I don’t think I need a reference to convince anyone that the people of the United states are facing hard economic times. There are probably some who are doing OK or better but a good number of people could use a bit of help.

The Democrats in the House realized the Covid-19 relief bill (H.R.6800 – The Heroes Act) passed May 15, 2020 was not enough. Some benefits were insufficient and others were set to expire. For example the federal supplement to unemployment benefits would expire at the end of July.

Of course the Senate Republicans have done next to nothing to address this problem. Except the occasional complaint about unemployment benefits being too high. They are now in the process of trying to look like they are helping while spending as little as they can get away with and eliminating worker protections.

It appears the Republicans are the enemy of the people, at least those who work. And Democrats are trying to help. I hope Georgians consider this in the run-off elections.

The trouble with originalists such as Judge Amy Coney Barrett

The trouble with originalists such as Judge Amy Coney Barrett

Posted on by Jack

I have trouble with Originalists. I had trouble understanding Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Antonin Scalia . Now I have trouble understanding Judge Amy Coney Barrett. I am certainly less than thrilled by the Republican rush to confirm Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court.

For more on my views on Justice Neil Gorsuch see Are women people ? – legally speaking.
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COVID-19 is not a joke even if Mitch McConnell thinks so

COVID-19 is not a joke even if Mitch McConnell thinks so

Posted on by Jack

During their one and only debate, candidate Amy McGrath asked the Senate Majority Leader repeatedly why he refused to try to alleviate some of the economic pain ordinary Americans felt from the COVID-19 crisis. Senator Mitch McConnell just laughed.

This is the start of the CNN article on that:
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Food for the living

Food for the living

Posted on by Jack

Thanks to our President and his mismanagement of the COVID-19 crisis millions of Americans are in great financial difficulty and quite often do not even have food to eat. In addition there are over 150,000 of us dead. I’ll not speak about them today, the hungry living will be my topic – Food for the Living.

As I’ve often mentioned: It did not have to be this bad.
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Ridiculous Republican corona virus relief plan

Ridiculous Republican corona virus relief plan

Posted on by Jack

A bit over 2 months ago the House passed their corona virus relief bill (H.R.6800 – The Heroes Act) It was passed May 15, 2020 to help our county beyond the action taken earlier. This post specifically the unemployment benefits to help people when have lost the jobs in the Trump-Covid economy which are set to empire at the end of July.

Of course the Senate Republicans have done next to nothing since May 15 to address this problem. Except the occasional complaint about unemployment benefits being too high.
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Defund Homeland Security ????

Defund Homeland Security ????

Posted on by Jack

Is it time to talk about defunding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)? It seems to be a needed function so we are not talking about a full defunding. It has been frequently misused by the Trump administration, often in violation of the law.

So what is the remedy?. It seems if President Trump is able order DHS to gas peaceful protests in American cities, imprison and torture child, and other outrages, DHS may have much more money than needed to provide it needed functions. Should the budget be decreased (a partial defunding)? Or would it be better to add additional safe guards or perhaps reorganize the department? Or maybe the easiest thing is just getting a new President or a Congress willing and able to stand up to the president when he does this type to thing?

There is a good article online about this id you would like to read more-

https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/is-it-time-to-defund-the-department-of-homeland-security

What should we do?

Will Mitch McConnell be a Bad Juror

Will Mitch McConnell be a Bad Juror

Posted on by Jack

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has told us he is not an impartial juror and he will work with with the White House. Does Leader Mitch McConnell plan on a sham trial which will exonerate the President no matter what evidence is presented?

Will any evidence be allowed?

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski finds Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s positions on the impeachment trial disturbing. We all should find McConnell’s positions on the impeachment trial disturbing.

We heard from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham back in early November that he has no plans to listen or evidence or be impartial.

Where are the other Republican Senators? Are they OK with a sham trial or would they like a real trial?

Kavanaugh hearings: what are they afraid of?

Kavanaugh hearings: what are they afraid of?

Posted on by Jack

The Senate Republicans seem to be in a big rush to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. They want the Kavanaugh hearings to proceed to a vote as soon as possible.

So quickly they do not have time to let the Democrats see 90% of the relevant documents.

So quickly we will not hear more about his years in the Bush administration and possible perjury before the Senate.

So quickly they rather not let the FBI investigate an attempted rape he has been accused of.
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Reverse Robin Hoods of the Senate

Reverse Robin Hoods of the Senate

Posted on by Jack

It seems we have quite a few reverse Robin Hoods in the US Senate.

Remember Robin Hood. Rob from the rich and give to the poor. But that was back in the old days.

Modern Republicans are trying to rob from the poor and give to the rich. The Congresssional Budget Office (CBO) report is out on their tax bill and it confirms this.
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My party, right or wrong

My party, right or wrong

Posted on by Jack

I see that Todd Akin, the “legitimate rape” guy, now has the support of the Republican Party. The Senate is supposed to be a great deliberative body but, of course, it doesn’t always work out that way.

But this seems to be a new low. The Republican position seems to be: better an ignorant extremist in my party than a reasonable person in another party.

Where are the independents when you need them?

Christmas miracle – do the right thing for 9/11 responders

Christmas miracle – do the right thing for 9/11 responders

Posted on by Jack

It has been called a Christmas miracle. But it is not quite there yet. Let’s hope the Senate can do the right thing.

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 has been passed by the House but is now being filibustered in the Senate. The bill (HR 847) was passed by the House on September 29, 2010 and passed on to the Senate. Well it seems the Senate was rather busy and managed to read it twice by the middle of November and put it on the calendar and finally considered it on December 6. Then it was filibustered and on December 9 they voted to end the filibuster but that voted failed.

This is the recent legislative history accord to Thomas, Library of Congress

9/29/2010:
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
11/15/2010:
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 641.
12/6/2010:
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S8552)
12/6/2010:
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the bill presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S8552; text: CR S8552)
12/9/2010:
Cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 57 – 42. Record Vote Number: 269. (consideration: CR S8668-8669; text: CR S8669)
12/9/2010:
Motion by Senator Reid to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to the bill (Roll Call Vote No. 269) made in Senate. (consideration: CR S8669)

These are the votes (Roll Call Vote No. 269 to invoke cloture) according to Thomas

Grouped By Vote Position
YEAs —57
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Begich (D-AK)
Bennet (D-CO)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Coons (D-DE)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hagan (D-NC)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Specter (D-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Warner (D-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs —42
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brown (R-MA)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kirk (R-IL)
Kyl (R-AZ)
LeMieux (R-FL)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Reid (D-NV)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Wicker (R-MS)

Not Voting – 1
Brownback (R-KS)

Does anyone see a pattern here?

I don’t know when they will act but the NY Senators are optimistic. I hope the Senate does do the right thing. Here is a more complete story on this sad tale with the possible happy ending by ABC News

Notes added to post: I suspect I’ll be adding a bunch of notes to reflect recent events and posts I come across. Often they will be links to recent comments on news but sometimes a note from me will be here.

  1. PoliticusUSA
  2. Talking Points Memo
  3. GOP blockade
  4. Where is the outrage
  5. FireDogLake “…Hey, Jon Stewart…”
  6. Sen. Tom Coburn to block bill NPR
  7. Sen. Coburn again

Update:
They did reach a compromise. It looks like the lame-duck Congress is actually reaching some agreements. Wer’ll have to see how the new congress does in 2011.