Susan Collins Of Maine

Essential To Pass Voting Rights Legislation, Which Republicans In Senate Supported Unanimously In 2006!

Ronald Leave a comment

Voting Rights legislation is essential if America is to remain a democracy.

The 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24, and 26th Amendments guarantee voting rights, as did the Voting Rights Act of 1965, passed as part of the Great Society of Lyndon B. Johnson.

The Supreme Court in 2013 weakened the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County V Holder, and have caused the deterioration of voting rights, now accelerated by many states in the South and Midwest and Mountain West creating all kinds of restrictions, designed to prevent minority groups, the elderly, college students, and the disabled from ability to vote.

This MUST be reversed by dropping the filibuster and allowing “reconciliation” to be used to insure voting rights are restored to what they were.

The shocking thing about this whole matter is that the Republican party unanimously supported renewal of the Voting Rights Act in 2006 under the Presidency of Republican George W. Bush! The vote was 98-0, so therefore, there is no excuse for Republican opposition other than they have allowed their party to be hijacked by Donald Trump and his supporters.

But it is still hard to believe that at least some Republican senators–such as Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and others who voted to convict Donald Trump, and also those Republican Senators retiring in 2022, should by their consience, if they have one, support the voting rights legislation promoted now–the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Freedom To Vote Act.

Nineteen states have passed 34 restrictive laws, which would be negated by passage of the above two proposed laws. Meanwhile, 25 states have passed 62 expansive laws, and the right to vote should be the same in every state, so action to overcome restrictions is essential!

Voting Rights Takes Precedent Over The “Build Back Better” Bill!

Ronald 1 Comment

A major aim of the Biden Presidency has been to promote “social infrastructure” through the “Build Back Better” legislation.

However, it has been tied up in process due to the opposition of Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema Of Arizona, and it is now clear that it cannot be accomplished before the end of this year, sadly.

But the aim now is to promote the guarantee of Voting Rights, preventing Republicans from destroying the suffrage rights of millions of Americans, so the push is on to make certain that the basic and fundamental right to vote is insured.

It is a crucial battle for the survival of democracy, and it can be accomplished by “reconcilation”, as long as there are 50 votes, and it is hoped possibly one or two Republican Senators, such as Lisa Murkowski of Alaska or Susan Collins of Maine, will cross the aisle if it determines the basic prevention of the loss of voting rights!

Fingers are crossed that this can be accomplished!

Roe v Wade Under Attack On Supreme Court With Case Heard On Wednesday

Ronald 2 Comments

Nearly half a century has passed since the Supreme Court decision in Roe v Wade on January 22, 1973.

Women have had the right to determine their own future, and yet, now, the majority of the Supreme Court are Republican and conservative appointments, and could end abortion rights completely in at least 12 states.

This would include making women criminals if they had an illegal abortion, or had even a miscarriage, and would not allow even for rape or incest or life of the mother.

The thought that this could happen in the 21st century in a nation supposedly advanced like the United States’ reputation is shocking and rprehensible, and will harm poor and minority women the most, as wealthy white women will always be able to fly out of states that ban abortion and accomplish their goals of ending unwanted pregnancies safely!

The concern over the unborn fetus ends when a child is born, as the same Republican and conservative forces have no concern about the life of poor women and their newborn babies!

There is hope that possibly one or more of the six Republican justices–Chief Justice John Roberts, likely, and Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was backed by Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine for the Court membership, when he said he believed Roe V Wade was settled law–will save basic abortion rights, but the future is uncertain!

Also, Amy Coney Barrett, new to the Court, could surprise, but seen as highly unlikely!

Neil Gorsuch seems unlikely, also, to leave Roe V Wade alone, and as far as Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, both clearly are a “lost cause”, sadly!

Six Republican Senators Supported Creation Of Bipartisan January 6 Commission

Ronald 1 Comment

Six Republican Senators ended up supporting creation of the bipartisan January 6 Commission, to do a thorough investigation of the US Capitol Insurrection, with the proposal failing 54-35 in the Senate last Friday.

Five of the six Republican Senators also supported conviction of Donald Trump on impeachment charges, including

Mitt Romney of Utah
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
Susan Collins of Maine
Ben Sasse of Nebraska
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana

Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania was absent for the vote, but said he would have joined the others in support, as he did on the conviction of Trump.

Also, Rob Portman of Ohio, who did not support conviction of Trump on impeachment charges, joined the five above Senators in voting for the commission, and should be commended.

Richard Burr of North Carolina, who supported conviction of Trump, failed to vote on the legislation, but indicated he would not have supported such a commission.

Absolutely Brilliant Presentation By House Prosecutors In Donald Trump Second Impeachment Trial

Ronald 1 Comment

America can be proud of the nine member House Prosecution in the Second Donald Trump Impeachment Trial.

Watching their presentation evokes great emotions, at the tragedy of what happened on January 6, 2021.

January 6, the day of the Capitol Insurrection, will always be remembered in the same vein as September 11, 2001; December 7, 1941; and November 22, 1963, as days of mourning.

Jamie Raskin, the leader of the nine prosecutors, made every decent American proud, but the other eight prosecutors also demonstrated how decent and patriotic they are, and they will be well remembered in the long run of history.

The fact that one extra Republican, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, joined five other Republicans in legitimizing the trial, was a good development, but eleven more Republicans need to join the six (including Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania) to convict Donald Trump, and prevent him ever running again for public office.

If the Republicans were a decent group, which they are not, that would happen, but is highly unlikely to occur!

Only Three Republican House Members Are Consistent On Donald Trump And Marjorie Taylor Greene!

Ronald Leave a comment

An amazing reality, that only THREE House Republicans are consistent in their principles.

They voted for the impeachment of Donald Trump, and for the stripping of committee membership for QAnon follower and advocate of violence and lies, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.

The three “heroes” were;

Adam Kinzinger of Illinois
Fred Upton of Michigan
John Katko of New York

All three will likely have major challenges for nomination to their seats in 2022, sadly, and it shows how corrupt and unprincipled the Republican Party has become.

It will be interesting to see how many Republican Senators vote to convict Donald Trump in his second upcoming impeachment trial, with only five voting to impeach him–Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Republicans In Senate Try To Stop Second Trump Impeachment Trial: Total Disgrace!

Ronald 5 Comments

The Republican Party used to be an honorable party, with some really good Senators and Congressmen, as well as Governors.

But now, the Republican Party is more than ever a Fascist oriented party, still backing Donald Trump despite his inciting the US Capitol Insurrection on January 6, 2021.

So today, the Republican Party in the Senate disgraced itself, with 90 percent of the 50 Senators, 45 out of 50, voting to try to stop the Second Trump Impeachment Trial, scheduled to start in two weeks.

Only Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Ben Sasse, and Pat Toomey voted in favor of a trial, and even Mitch McConnell, who had condemned Trump for the Insurrection voted against having a trial.

The trial will go forward, but it seems clear that Donald Trump will escape conviction, and that will mean Donald Trump will NOT lose the right to seek public office again, creating a literal nightmare scenario that he could attempt to return to a political campaign again in 2024!

There should be a rule that those senators who voted against an impeachment trial should not be permitted to vote on Trump since they did not want a trial!

If only that was allowed, there would only be 55 votes and only 37 would be needed for conviction!

The Witness And Testimony Issue Can Be Resolved If The Republicans Wish It In The Donald Trump Impeachment Trial

Ronald 2 Comments

John Bolton, the former National Security Adviser, and other witnesses, including Mick Mulvaney at the least, need to testify in the Donald Trump Impeachment Trial, and Chief Justice John Roberts needs to step in and rule on this matter, with the help of at least three Republican Senators.

It seems as if Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski are ready to vote for witnesses and testimony, and also, Lamar Alexander, Pat Toomey, Rob Portman and Jerry Moran seem leaning that way.

If all of these seven support each other, or at least four, then it will occur, but if not, Roberts needs to intervene if there is a 50-50 tie in the Senate.

It may not change the final vote on conviction, requiring two thirds to remove Donald Trump, but the trial, in order not to be a sham, MUST have witnesses and testimony, and Roberts has the responsibility to intervene if necessary!

Profiles In Courage: Heidi Heitkamp Of North Dakota And Lisa Murkowski Of Alaska

Ronald 6 Comments

Tow US Senators, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the first a Red State Democrat, and the second a Republican, shine today as true “Profiles in Courage”, for voting NO on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Heitkamp is in danger of losing her seat, but let her conscience rule her decision.

Murkowski was the only Republican to break the solidarity of the party and do the right thing.

Both saw Kavanaugh as besmirching the image of the Supreme Court as more significant than the future of this one individual nominee.

The rest of the Republicans, including Jeff Flake of Arizona, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, and also Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia did what seemed more to defend their seats and position, than do what is right.

Susan Collins will now face the wrath of Maine voters in 2020, as will Ben Sasse in Nebraska, and both are likely to see their political influence wane as a result of their actions.

The Moment Has Come For Jeff Flake, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Ben Sasse: Put Up Or Shut Up, And Be Never Believed Again!

Ronald 3 Comments

There are four Republican Senators who are drawing all the attention on the issue of Brett Kavanaugh:

Jeff Flake of Arizona

Susan Collins of Maine

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

Ben Sasse of Nebraska

It is these four who will decide if Kavanaugh ends up on the Supreme Court, and besmirches the reputation of the Court.

Kavanaugh on the Court will never be accepted as legitimate by half the nation, particularly after he lost his temper and became partisan, worrying Court watchers that he would not recuse himself on cases involving left wing issues and Democrats, including anyone or anything that might show up in the Court regarding Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Kavanaugh lacks the judicial temperament, and self destructed in that rampage a week ago, and it is like an egg that has been broken, and it cannot be put back together again, even if he were to apologize.

It would paralyze the Court, or cause great controversy on many Supreme Court cases that will be divisive enough without his outburst.

So it is up to these four Senators to do what is right, even if it affects the long term career of Collins, Murkowski, and Sasse, with Flake retiring from the Senate.

The first and the third face election in 2020, and Murkowski in 2022.

Sasse may also plan to run for President, and it would be good if he demonstrated independence from Trump.

The two women want abortion to survive, but to believe Kavanaugh will not work to destroy Roe V. Wade, is to be naive.

So it is now that true “Profiles in Courage” are needed, as written about by John F. Kennedy in 1956.