John Fetterman Pennsylvania

The Changed Dress Code In The US Senate Is A Blunder, Should Be Reversed!

Ronald 9 Comments

In the midst of so many important national issues, we have the controversy over the changed dress code in the US Senate, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has relaxed dress requirements, primarily for Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, who likes to wear shorts and hoodies, sneakers, short sleeve button down shirt and no tie.

This has caused an uproar particularly among Republicans, as the argument is that proper dress code is appropriate in a legislative body.

This author and blogger must say that on this matter, the Republicans, who are rarely on the side of virtue, are correct, in his view.

Certainly, it seems likely that if the Republicans regain the Senate in 2024 or later, they will rescind this change in the dress code.

It is not the most important issue, but still the dignity of a legislative body should demand proper clothing be worn!

The US Senate Hits The 2,000 Mark After 234 Years, With 8 New Senators!

Ronald Leave a comment

With the Senate retirements and elections of 2022 now part of history, the US Senate has finally hit the 2,000 mark of membership after 234 years of history since 1789.

There are 2,002 people who have served in the Senate, most by election, but some by appointment, with 202 appointed to fill a vacancy since 1913, with the ratification of the 17th Amendment, providing for direct popular election of the US Senate.

Eleven of the present membership of the Senate was originally appointed to fill a vacancy, but have won election to the office since then.

The 8 new Senators are:

Katie Britt (R) Alabama
Ted Budd (R) North Carolina
John Fetterman (D) Pennsylvania
Markwayne Mullin (R) Oklahoma
Eric Schmitt (R) Missouri
J D Vance (R) Ohio
Peter Welch (D) Vermont

All of the above were sworn in opening day of the 118th Congress, January 3, 2023.

Additionally, former Governor Pete Ricketts (R) Nebraska, appointed to replace Senator Ben Sasse, who resigned to become President of the University of Florida, will be sworn in on January 23, 2023 as number 2,002!

Ricketts is part of the family that owns the Chicago Cubs baseball team since 2009!

The 118th Congress Opens: Prediction Of Worst Congress In Modern Times!

Ronald 1 Comment

The 118th Congress has just been gaveled into session, and it seems clear that, at least in the House of Representatives, the nation is facing the worst two years of Congressional action in modern history!

After the very successful 117th Congress under President Joe Biden, while the Senate has one extra Democrat now (John Fetterman of Pennsylvania), the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives is on the way to disaster, as it now seems inevitable that the battle over whether Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California is to become Speaker of the House is going to take multiple ballots for the first time in a century!

Frederick Gillett had to suffer through nine ballots before he was chosen to be Speaker in the 68th Congress, precisely a century ago!

There have been 14 Congresses that had a battle over who would be Speaker, all but 1923 being before the Civil War, with four being Congresses between 1847 and 1861; five being between 1819 and 1841; and four being between 1793 and 1811.

So this will be the 15th Congress out of 118 that has had this struggle over who would be Speaker.

The longest battles have been in the 34th Congress (1855-1857)—133 ballots; the 31st Congress (1849-1851)—63 ballots; the 36th Congress (1859-1861)—44 ballots; and the 16th Congress (1819-1821)—22 ballots.

As I write this mid afternoon, Kevin McCarthy has lost on the first and second ballots, and it seems as if this struggle for the Speakership will go on endlessly, and the feeling is that someone else, possibly Jim Jordan of Ohio, may end up as Speaker, even though he has supported McCarthy!

If such happens, the nation is is dangerous times, as Jordan was too close and supportive of Donald Trump, and has vehemently condemned the January 6 House investigation of the US Capitol Insurrection!

Donald Trump, Election Deniers, Dobbs Decision Are Losers In Midterm Election!

Ronald 10 Comments

Not all election results are in this quickly, but it is clear that the Republican Party has NOT had a “Red Wave”, and at most, might have a “Pink Splash”, as it now seems that while they may control the House of Representatives, it will be a razor thin margin!

Also, the Senate may end up 50-50 again, or with John Fetterman’s victory in Pennsylvania, might end up with a 51-49 Democratic controlled Senate.

Clearly, Donald Trump was a loser in this election, with many of his choices losing, although not all, and “Election Deniers” losing in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania at the least, with Arizona still up in the air!

The Dobbs decision against abortion rights also was a loser in many states, and the chances of a national abortion ban is no longer possible.

So overall, on first examination, Joe Biden and the Democratic Party managed to do better than any party in the White House in a midterm election could have imagined!

Projections On Midterm Elections Of 2022

Ronald 5 Comments

Here we are, a day before the Midterm Elections of 2022, so it is time to project the results, with trepidation about what is likely to happen tomorrow.

The odds are heavily in favor of the Republicans winning the House of Representatives, since they only need to gain five seats, so sadly, my projection is that they will gain about 20 seats, giving them an edge of about 15 seats–so a balance of about 232-203.

The Senate will remain Democratic in my estimate, with the following results:

Retention of presently held Democratic seats:

Mark Kelly, Arizona
Raphael Warnock, Georgia
Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire

However, the loss of Catherine Cortez Masto in Nevada!

Open Seats Gained by Democrats:

Tim Ryan, Ohio
John Fetterman, Pennsylvania
Mandela Barnes, Wisconsin

The end result would be 52 Democrats and Independents and 48 Republicans!

In the Governorships, Democrats gain seats:

Wes Moore, Maryland
Maura Healey, Massachusetts
Beto O’Rourke, Texas

So we would end up with 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans as Governors of their states.

So the elections will be a mixed bag, with both Democrats and Republicans able to claim vindication.

Sadly, however, Florida will remain strongly Republican both for the US Senate and the Governorship.

The Midterm Elections of 2022 will be seen as a “Red Ripple”, with less of a repudiation of Joe Biden than it was for earlier Presidents who saw much greater losses!

12 Days To Go, and A Nail Biting Election Coming Up!

Ronald 6 Comments

This author and blogger cannot recall the tension and emotions that are being felt around the upcoming Midterm Elections of 2022 ever being quite as intense in past cycles.

It could be a poor memory, or seeing the past with rose colored glasses!

But literally, EVERY Senate race, EVERY House race, and EVERY Gubernatorial race is so significant for the future of American democracy, which is on the verge of being lost to the MAGA Republicans and Donald Trump!

With only about six vote margin in the House of Representatives, and an evenly split US Senate for only the 4th time in American history, and with Governors having tremendous power and influence on an issue such as abortion rights, every citizen needs to vote!

Last night’s debate in Pennsylvania leaves one worried about the performance of John Fetterman, as it could be the Senate election that decides Senate control in the 118th Congress. But also, the Georgia race of Raphael Warnock; the Ohio race of Tim Ryan; the Wisconsin race of Mandela Barnes; the North Carolina race of Cheri Beasley; the Florida race of Val Demings; the New Hampshire race of Maggie Hassan; the Nevada race of Catherine Cortez Masto; the Arizona race of Mark Kelly; and the Iowa race of Michael Franken, are all crucial.

And Governorship races, particularly in Michigan with Gretchen Whitmer; in Arizona with Katie Hobbs; in Florida with Charlie Crist; in Texas with Beto O’Rourke, are all significant for the future!