Robert F. Kennedy Jr

Lack Of Principle And Guts Of So Many Republicans Disillusioning!

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This author and blogger is so disillusioned at the lack of principle and guts of so many Republican Senators, as it seems more likely by the day that there will be little, if any, opposition to any of the most controversial Donald Trump Cabinet nominees.

By all reasonable judgment, the nominations of:

Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
Kash Patel, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services

should be rejected for a multitude of reasons.

And this does not include another objectionable nominee, Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security.

But at least four Senators would have to be willing to gamble their future and vote against, and that seems now highly unlikely.

Those most considered possible to oppose some, if not all, of these nominees, would include:

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
Susan Collins of Maine
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
John Curtis of Utah (newly elected to succeed Mitt Romney)

Some other Republican Senators are also seen as possible holdouts, but not as likely as these four.

And even among these four, the truth is that Susan Collins is unreliable, and Mitch McConnell, despite his plans to retire, and his contempt for Donald Trump, cannot be considered in any way likely to vote against any of these nominees, when push comes to shove.

Murkowski and Curtis seem more likely, but the pressure on them and other Republicans is intense. Joni Ernst of Iowa, who first seemed likely to oppose Pete Hegseth, is now receiving blowback with her reelection race coming up in 2026, and Collins also faces reelection two years from now.

So the odds are that Trump will get all of his controversial Cabinet appointments confirmed, and the nation will face a Presidential cabinet with a number of ill qualified, and in some cases, totally terrifying, and reprehensible individuals who will undermine America and its population for the next four years at a minimum.

So this blogger and author is taking a break, escaping from the morass we are in, and will be back near the end of the year!

Republican Senators Who Are Likely To Oppose Some Trump Cabinet Nominees

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Signs that a substantial number of Republican Senators are seen as likely to oppose some Donald Trump Cabinet nominees, particularly Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense; Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence; and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Among those Senators who have issues with Trump appointees are the following:

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
Thom Tillis of North Carolina
Todd Young of Indiana
Jonie Ernst of Iowa
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
Susan Collins of Maine
James Lankford of Oklahoma
Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma
John Cornyn of Texas
John Curtis of Utah (Senator Elect)
Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia

If four or more of this group vote against any of the above appointees or any others, such individual would not be able to be part of the Cabinet or other advisers.

However, the concept of a “recess” appointment could become a controversial action taken by Donald Trump, which would likely become a legal issue, and be seen as a grab for power.

61st Anniversary Of JFK Assassination: It Still Hurts!

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As I write this blog entry, the time of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy arrives, the most tragic event of my lifetime until September 11, 2001!

A young, vibrant, charismatic, good looking young President, murdered at a time when there was hope and optimism about the future of America.

This is very different than the present sense of pessimism and dread that millions of Americans feel after the nation has put into the White House a man who represents the worst elements of the American experience.

The fact that two women–Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris–who represented the sense of hope and change that Kennedy represented six decades ago, lost to Trump is very much a source of disappointment.

It is not as if John F. Kennedy was perfect or had a perfect rcord in office, but he inspired millions by being the youngest elected President in American history.

And the fact that his nephew, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has so damaged the historical memory of both his father, Robert F. Kennedy, who was also taken from the nation by assassination, and his uncle, by his horrendous and lunatic conspiracy theories about health and medicine, is tragic.

And the fact that RFK Jr. is about to work with Donald Trump in undermining the health care system, makes the anniversary of the JFK Assassination more depressing than ever before.

Never Has Any President Had Such A Horrendous Group Of Cabinet Nominees!

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Donald Trump is setting a record for the most horrendous selection of Cabinet nominees in American history!

Every President will have critics about one or more of his appointees, but Trump beats them all, and not just the traditional four spoken about–Matt Gaetz (now withdrawn); Pete Hegseth; Tulsi Gabbard; and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

There are others who are also terrible choices, including Mike Huckabee to be US Ambassador to Israel; Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security; Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency; Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior; Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy; Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce; Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education.

And Trump is refusing to allow FBI Background Checks, which makes it terrifying to have Cabinet Officers who are not fully vetted!

Republicans And Male Sexual Assault And Abuse Becoming A Norm!

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Republicans and Sexual Assault and Abuse are becoming a norm, and the lack of a moral and ethical standard surrounding Donald Trump is maddening!

Trump himself has been convicted of sexual assault and abuse, but apparently will not pay the price, since he was elected to return to the Oval Office.

But Trump is surrounding himself with a slew of immoral, unethical characters, who have a record of sexual assault and abuse, and or cheating on wives, including

Matt Gaetz
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Pete Hegseth

And this is just the tip of the iceberg!

In the past, people with such low morals would be prevented from serving in a President’s cabinet, and in many cases, their political career was destroyed by scandals.

One thinks back to Gary Hart and Al Franken, as just two examples of Democrats, who were destroyed by revelations of sex scandals, that were, actually, quite minor by comparison, but the Democratic Party worked against them, and their careers in public elected office came to an end!

But now, Republicans, particularly those surrounding Donald Trump, have no accountability for their misbehavior!

And yet, millions of Americans seem unphased by this reality, which demonstrates how ethical and moral standards have declined precipitously in recent years!

Two Women Republican Senators Likely To Resist Trump Appointments, But Can They Gain Two Other Republican Senators As Supporters?

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Two women Republican Senators who have often disagreed with and voted against Donald Trump—Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine—are seen as likely to resist many of Trump’s controversial Cabinet nominees.

Both women voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges in his second trial. Both are seen as moderates, and have shown courage and conviction in their careers in the Senate, with Collins in the Senate since 1997 and Murkowski since 2002.

The question is whether they can gain at least two Republican colleagues to join them in fighting to reject Trump’s outrageous Cabinet nominees, including:

Matt Gaetz, Attorney General
Pete Hegseth, Defense
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services
Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence

It seems clear other Republican Senators are very unhappy with some, or all of these choices, but will they be willing to challenge Trump is the unknown matter.

And sadly, future Senate Majority Leader John Thune, of South Dakota, not Trump’s “favorite”, has to deal with the likelihood of Trump deciding to call for the Senate to go into recess.

This would be an abdicating of their responsibility as a co-equal branch of government, and allowing two year “recess” appointments, which might be challenged in the courts, but with no clear answer as to what the resolution on the matter would be!

Impossible To Reject All Of Trump’s Outrageous Cabinet Appointments!

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Reality must sink in, that there is no possibility to expect the Republican controlled US Senate to reject all of Donald Trump’s outrageous Cabinet appointments. Trump is not allowing FBI checks of his nominees, and threatens to force recess appointments of his nominees, if the majority Republicans do not play along!

At most, maybe one might be stopped, with the one thought to be most likely being Attorney General nominee, former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who has most members of the House of his party, and many Republican Senators really opposed to him, based on his scandalous life, but also his horrendous relationships with fellow Republicans over the years.

Sadly, Director of National Intelligence nominee, former Congresswoman and Democrat Tulsi Gabbard; Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr (also a former Democrat); and Pete Hegseth, Fox News host and nominee for Secretary of Defense, despite horrendous information about all three of them, will unlikely be able to be stopped.

All of these male nominees have been accused of sexual harassment and sexual abuse, but will likely overcome accusations of their misbehaviors, as Donald Trump has managed to do so throughout his life!

The idea that America’s Justice Department; Intelligence Agencies; Health Care System; and Military and Defense establishment are under attack by extremists chosen by a President who is out to destroy the existing system of American democracy, is a reality hard to accept.

All decent people, including this author and blogger, are fighting off a sense of despair and depression, but knowing that if good people give in and give up, then the damage done will be greater, than if there is resistance.

Two “Democrats” Who Now Are MAGA Republicans And Cabinet Members!

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It is stunning that two former Democrats are now MAGA Republicans, and will be part of Donald Trump’s second term Cabinet, assuming they are confirmed by the Republican majority in the US Senate!

Both are very dangerous to be part of the Cabinet, but sadly, we are faced with the likelihood that they will be in key positions

Tulsi Gabbard, former Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, as Director of National Intelligence, despite her flirtations with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin over recent years. The thought that such a person, who is a massive security risk, would become the leading spy executive of our federal government is horrifying beyond belief!

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, son of the late Senator and Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy is a conspiracy theorist; anti vaccine advocate; against flouride in America’s water supply; and desirous of damaging America’s health care system. He is a disgrace to the Kennedy family name, and has a horrendous history of drug and alcohol abuse, and sexual misconduct during his three marriages.

Neither Gabbard nor Kennedy should have any impact on American government policy, and both are very dangerous, but unlikely that either can be stopped from gaining power under Donald Trump!

Unqualified And Controversial Trump Appointments Abound In Early Selections!

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When one observes Donald Trump’s early appointments, one concludes that he has decided to name unqualified individuals to a multitude of major positions.

When one can say that Florida Senator Marco Rubio becoming Secretary of State is the “best” appointment of a horrendous list, that summarizes what a disaster the nation is facing!

Rubio has 14 years of Senate experience, and is on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and while no great intellectual, he meets the minimum requirements to lead our foreign policy establishment, but is no star in any sense.

But then, one looks at other appointments:

Pete Hegseth, a Fox News Host, as Secretary of Defense
Kristi Noem, South Dakota Governor, as Secretary of Homeland Security
Elise Stafanek, NY Congresswoman, as United Nations Ambassador
Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas Governor, as US Ambassador to Israel
Tulsi Gabbard, former Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii as Director Of National Intelligence
Lee Zeldin, former NY Congressman, as head of the Environmental Protection Agency

Pete Hegseth is a total surprise to the Pentagon with no real credentials to head the Pentagon.

Kristi Noem has ZERO experience to head Homeland Security, and has been an embarrassment as Governor of a very small state, South Dakota.

Elise Stefanik is an ultimate example of an individual who transformed, conveniently, from being a moderate Republican to a MAGA Republican, as a way to advance her career.

Mike Huckabee is a Christian Zionist, whose ultimate aim is to convert Jews to his radical brand of Christianity, the last thing that American Jews would support, but may be acceptable to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as he works to take over the Palestinian territories.

Tulsi Gabbard is a former Democratic Presidential contender, who has gone over to the Republican Party, after going off the rails in her foreign policy views, and now will be more powerful over intelligence gathering than anyone else .

Lee Zeldin has no desire to promote environmental protection, so can be described as a fox put into a chicken coop.

It seems clear that the major qualification to be in the Trump Cabinet is to be slavishly loyal to his agenda, with no concept of considering what is constitutional and legitimate!

Add to this list Robert F. Kennedy Jr. possibly being Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Billionaire Elon Musk everywhere, trying to have a major influence.

This list will become even more controversial as the days pass, and fireworks are possible on some of the appointments.

And now, as I am writing, controversial Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has been chosen to be Attorney General, which would seem extremely divisive.

It also means now THREE Republican House members, including Mike Waltz of Florida as National Security Adviser, along with Stefanik and Gaetz, will be removed from that chamber, endangering, at least for the short term, having a Republican majority, which seems a lunatic move!

The last 24 hours have been shocking, and will continue to be in the coming hours and days!

Disturbing Influence Of Elon Musk And Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., As Neither Should Be Near Power!

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It has only been a few days since Donald Trump won a second term in the Oval Office, surprising millions of Americans.

But now, the apparently growing influence of Billionaire Elon Musk, along with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is alarming even many who voted for Trump.

Musk, the wealthiest person on the planet, is a control freak who would wish he could be President, but is ineligible, since he was born in South Africa.

But his dominating personality and desire to influence national and international policy in ways that benefit his own bottom line, has for now, at least, attracted Donald Trump, since Musk contributed more than $100 million to the Trump Presidential campaign.

RFK Jr. has also attracted Trump support, and the fear is that he will play a major role, possibly in the Trump Cabinet, as possible Secretary of Health and Human Services or specific health agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, advocating his crazy campaign against vaccines, and even fluoridation of drinking water.

Both many medical and dental professionals are deeply alarmed that his looney attitudes on public health will endanger America, if Trump gives him a free hand to do what he wants, which so far, is the indication of what is about to happen.

The nation is in the early stages of what is likely to be a series of nightmares on many areas of government policy, brought about by millions of Americans, who have lost all sense of sanity and common sense, in their decision to support Donald Trump, despite the many shortcomings and scandals of the first Trump Administration!