Lisa Murkowski Of Alaska

US Senate Should NOT Give Trump Recess Appointments For Cabinet Choices!

Donald Trump is clearly attempting to grab power from the US Senate in his move to make recess appointments to his Cabinet, bypassing the power of the Senate “to advise and consent”.

The idea of recess appointments has always been rarely utilized, and for Trump to just go ahead and pick his advisers, and ignore the Senate, is alarming.

One has to hope that enough Republicans are willing to challenge Trump, and prevent what would be the gaining of a new absolute power of Trump, and potentially, future Presidents, making the Senate a weakened legislative body.

There may be 53 Republican Senators, but if four of them resist Trump, they, hopefully, could stop this dangerous power grab.

Potential such Senators would likely include:

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
Senator Susan Collins of Maine
Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia
Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
Senaator Thom Tillis of North Carolina
Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma

If the Senate allows Trump to do what he wants, and allows Billionaire Elon Musk to have a major power over Trump policies as well, without any resistance, it will be a massive step toward what Trump had called “Dictatorship on Day One”!

This is a battle for survival of American democracy, and no patriotic American can sit on the sidelines, and they must pressure the Senate and others on Capitol Hill to fight and resist in every way possible!

Liz Cheney And Dick Cheney Endorsement And Vote For Harris A Major Moment!

The decision of former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, to endorse and vote for Kamala Harris in November is a major turning point, joining with former Congressman Adam Kinzinger and others in understanding the threat of Donald Trump.

No one can doubt that these individuals are traditional conservatives and Republicans, who, while not agreeing with Democrats on many issues, are patriotic enough to do the right thing.

There is a need for people like the Cheneys and Kinzinger across America to follow their lead .

It is also time for those called “RINOS” by Donald Trump, but are really the true Republicans, to come to support of Harris for the future of the American Republic!

This would include such figures as the following:

The Bush Family members, specifically George W. Bush and Jeb Bush in particular

Senator Mitt Romney
Senator Lisa Murkowski
Senator Susan Collins
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

The Ten Best And Ten Worst US Senators In The 118th Congress

Creating a list of the ten best and ten worst US Senators in the 118th Congress is based on their viewpoints and utterances over their careers.

Of course, it is subjective in nature, but based on careful consideration and analysis.

The rankings below are not in numbered order, but simply the Senators considered by the author to be the best and the worst in the upper chamber of Congress.

TEN BEST US SENATORS

Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
Chris Murphy (Connecticut)
Jon Ossoff (Georgia)
Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts)
Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota)
Cory Booker (New Jersey)
Sherrod Brown (Ohio)
Jeff Merkley (Oregon)
Ron Wyden (Oregon)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island)

TEN WORST US SENATORS

Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
Tom Cotton (Arkansas)
Rick Scott (Florida)
Rand Paul (Kentucky)
Josh Hawley (Missouri)
JD Vance (Ohio)
Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
Ted Cruz (Texas)
Mike Lee (Utah)
Ron Johnson (Wisconsin)

If one was asked which five Senators were the “best” and the “worst”, this author and blogger would say the following:

BEST—Chris Murphy, Jon Osoff, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Sheldon Whitehouse

WORST—Tommy Tuberville, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson

No Labels Movement Demonstrating There Are No Republicans Worth Trusting To Recognize Danger Of Donald Trump In 2024!

The “No Labels” Movement is demonstrating that there are NO Republicans worth trusting to recognize the danger of Donald Trump in 2024!

Most of those who are publicly backing “No Labels’ are Republicans, who had been perceived as being mainstream and reasonable, but no longer have that image with recent revelations.

How could Jon Huntsman, Jr, former Utah Governor and Ambassador to China and Russia, be willing to attack Joe Biden, when Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are such threats to civil order in the future?

How could Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, who this author and blogger had always respected as “decent” and “balanced”, now assert that if the choice is between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, she is for West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who has done more to undermine his party and Joe Biden than anyone imaginable other than Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema?

And former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is another Republican who one now feels disillusionment toward, since he so admires former President Ronald Reagan, not seeing the major shortcomings of the 40th President, and not willing to support Joe Biden over Trump or DeSantis.

And New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu seems to be another possible supporter of “No Labels”, but who also does not understand that a third party contender could only help Trump, not Biden, in November 2024!

Party Loyalty over principles and the nation’s welfare is an indication of how dangerous the present situation is, and makes one also furious at former Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman, who has lost all sense of reality in his opposition to Joe Biden!

To think that the former Vice Presidential running mate for Al Gore in the Presidential Election of 2000 would abandon Biden in a difficult time like now, is mind boggling!

The threat of “No Labels” is real, and concerning, for the future of the nation!

With Trump Criminal Indictment, Many Republican Senators Back Away From Endorsements!

Donald Trump has become the first President to be criminally indicted by the US Government, alongside his indictment by the state government in New York, and also being impeached twice while President.

Today, Trump has reached his 77th birthday, and there are already signs of dwindling support for the 45th President, with the crowds at his two indictments being nowhere near what he asked of his supporters.

And at least in the US Senate, there are many Republicans who are moving away from Trump, at the least neutral, but with some endorsing other Republican contenders or considering such.

There is concern that Trump would take down the party in Congressional elections in 2024, and cannot win the Presidential election against Joe Biden.

One must recall that Trump has NEVER won the popular vote, neither in 2016 nor 2020, and each time the Republicans have been on the ballot since his election, they have lost control of the House of Representatives in 2018, the Senate in 2020, and only barely won control of the House of Representatives in 2022, while seeing a Democratic gain in the Senate of one seat. Additionally, many gubernatorial races have been lost by candidates backing Trump on his claim that he won the Presidential Election of 2020,despite more than 60 court cases showing otherwise!

The Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, refuses to comment on the Trump indictment, but the two men have not spoken since the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection.

Second ranking Republican John Thune has expressed criticism of Trump, and has endorsed South Carolina Senator Tim Scott for President, along with the other South Dakota Senator—Mike Rounds. And the two North Dakota Senators, Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven are backing North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, the “forgotten” Presidential contender.

Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine are also critical of Trump, as are Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

Only about ten Republican Senators are supportive openly of Trump.

Party Loyalty Should Be Secondary To Loyalty To Democracy!

It is extremely infuriating to discover that almost all Republican office holders are unwilling to state that loyalty to the nation is more important than party loyalty!

Considering the criminal behavior of Donald Trump, and the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection, it is beyond belief that many office holders continue to deny what happened, and even those who are so called “critics” of the former President are unwilling to state that if Trump is the Republican nominee in 2024, that they would refuse to support and vote for him.

This shocking attitude has recently been expressed by New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu. And former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan first said he would back Trump if he ends up the nominee in 2024, but then walked it back, stating he would not pledge to support Trump, but believed he would not be the party nominee. This is not encouraging, the need of Hogan to walk back what sounded like party loyalty was more important than loyalty to democracy!

At this point, it seems as if only the two Republicans who served on the House January 6 Committee, former members of Congress Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, are committed to opposing Trump completely.

It also seems that former Arkansas Governor and potential Presidential contender Asa Hutchinson might be in this camp, but still not for certain, and Republicans who hold office, and are not running for President, who would seemingly refuse to support Trump would be limited for now to Utah Senator Mitt Romney and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski!

This is all very wearying, the refusal of most Republicans to put country above party!

Adam Kinzinger Goes Bipartisan, Endorsing Democrats Up For Election, To Save Democracy!

Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, one of only two Republicans on the January 6 Committee investigating the US Capitol Insurrection, will be leaving Congress at the end of the year, as his Congressional seat was eliminated in reapportionment, and he chose not to run in another district.

But Adam Kinzinger is a man of courage and principle, and he, along with Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming, is fighting against the Fascist takeover of their party by Donald Trump and his “Election Deniers” crowd!

So Kinzinger has endorsed Democrats running in the Midterm Elections next month, including:

Pennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro, against the very dangerous Doug Mastriano

Arizona Democratic gubernatorial nominee Katie Hobbs, against the lunatic Kari Lake

Four Democratic Secretary of State candidates in Minnesota, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada, crucial states for certifying election results, making them safe from “Election Deniers”.

Also, Kinzinger is backing Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Independent Evan McMullin for the Senate seat in Utah, held by Republican Senator Mike Lee.

Kinzinger is someone who should be paid attention to, as he is seen as likely to announce a Presidential campaign, if for nothing else, to work against the MAGA Republicans, who are a danger to American democracy!

Abortion Rights Fails In US Senate, And So Called”Supporters” Collins And Murkowski Bail!

Abortion Rights has failed in the US Senate, by a vote of 49-51, not surprising, but two so called “supporters”, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, bailed on the legislation on technical grounds, along with Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia!

Basically, both Senators showed they talk the talk but do not walk the walk.

So it seems certain that women will lose their rights to their own bodies’s autonomy, and there will be botched abortions and suicides rapidly increasing!

This is extremely tragic as women’s rights are going backwards, and yet, at this point, nothing can be done to stop it, unless by miracle, the Supreme Court backs away from its draft decision from February.

This would require Chief Justice John Roberts to influence at least one of the five Justices in the majority, likely either Brett Kavanaugh or Amy Coney Barrett, to join him and the three Democratic appointments on the Court.

But there is no way to know if Roberts might in the end join the five other conservatives, and make the final vote in June 6-3 instead of 5-4!

Supreme Court Nominees Lied, And Susan Collins And Lisa Murkowski Were Tricked!

Two Women Republican Senators, considered the most “moderate” Republicans in the US Senate, have made it clear that they are supportive of abortion rights–Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Both interviewed Donald Trump’s three Supreme Court nominees–Neil Gorsuch in 2017, Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, and Amy Coney Barrett in 2020–and all three nominees pledged that they would not touch Roe V Wade.

But now, based on the draft of the likely decision of the Supreme Court in late June, all three are supportive of Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, to wipe out fifty years of abortion reaffirmation, and take away a basic right already granted, a totally reprehensible action!

So it comes down to this–all three Trump nominees LIED to Collins and Murkowski, and have undermined faith in the veracity and reputation of the Supreme Court!

By all rights, all three should be impeached and removed, but of course, that will not happen, but the image and historic role of the Supreme Court has been sullied for all time!

And Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski SHOULD support a carve out on the filibuster to allow 51 votes, including theirs, to pass legislation to insure the continuation of abortion rights, and therefore, tell the Supreme Court to go to hell, as a disgrace to the law and the Constitution!

Marjorie Taylor Greene And Other Extremist Republicans Use Pedophilia Accusation Against Critics

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and other extremist Republicans in Congress are using a Pedophilia accusation against critics, within and outside the party.

This is part of the QAnon Conspiracy theory, which includes claiming Hillary Clinton was engaged in such activity in a pizza parlor in Washington DC years ago.

Now Greene is saying that those three Republican Senators who voted for confirmation of Ketanjai Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court—Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, Sudan Collins–are pedophiles.

And Republican Senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee–including Lindsey Graham, Tom Cotton, Marsha Blackburn, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley—implied that Jackson was out to protect child pornographers.

This outrageous behavior and utterances are not being responded to adequately by mamy other Republicans, as the party veers ever further to the far Right, and conspiracy theories, that undermine any possibility of progress and ability to cross the aisle and do the work of the American people!