US Senate

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.

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

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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!

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!

Bright Moments For Democrats In Election Results

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At a time of so much feeling of disappointment and concern about the election results of 2024 for the Democratic Party, there are bright moments to applaud.

Josh Stein became the first Jewish Governor of North Carolina.

Angela Alsobrooks in Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester in Delaware became the first combination of African American women elected to the US Senate, and only the fourth and fifth such women in American history. They also became only the 13th and 14th African American Senators, including nine men.

Two new Jewish American Senators were elected, including Adam Schiff of California and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan; and the first Korean American Senator, Andy Kim, was elected in New Jersey.

Predictions On 119th Congress (2025-2027) Races

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This author and blogger senses that the Democrats will regain control of the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress, since the Republicans have had a disastrous two years under Speaker Kevin McCarthy for nine months and then Speaker Mike Johnson, having the fewest accomplishments in legislation in more than a century.

While it is very difficult to project on 435 House races, it seems likely that some Republican seats in New York and California are likely to go to the Democrats, along with some gain of seats in the South, specifically in Alabama and Louisiana.

Likely, the majority will be, however, only on a few seats, as is now the situation.

The Senate will likely see a slight Republican majority, with the retirement of Joe Manchin, insuring that a Republican will replace him.

However, if all Democrats running for reelection, and those running to replace fellow Democrats, seem likely to win, that sets up a possible 50-50 Senate, which the Vice President would organize.

It depends on whether Republicans Ted Cruz in Texas, Rick Scott in Florida, and Deb Fischer in Nebraska can keep their seats. If any of them lose, we would see a Democratic controlled Senate.

If however, Democrats Jon Tester in Montana or Sherrod Brown in Ohio lose their seats, the Republicans would have the majority of the Senate.

Key Issues For Kamala Harris To Emphasize In Last Week Of Campaign!

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Kamala Harris gave a great speech last night at the Ellipse near the White House, the site of the incitement of the January 6, 2021 Insurrection at the US Capitol by Donald Trump, with an estimated crowd of 60,000 people cheering on the Vice President.

It was a well tailored speech, calling for promoting unity and finding common ground, rather than the division and chaos of Donald Trump.

It offered bipartisanship with Republicans, and the promotion of working to overcome the divide that has been promoted by Trump since 2015.

Now, with six days to go until the election, but with many (more than 40 million people) already having voted, the emphasis by Kamala Harris and Tim Walz should be:

Emphasizing a positive view of America and its future, rather than the negativism and division promoted by Donald Trump.

Promotion of women’s right to control their own bodies, and to restore abortion rights.

Promotion of the reality that economic growth has occurred, and that Harris offers improved economic futures for the younger generation through expansion of social programs, including housing, health care, and education advancements.

Reviving the efforts for a bipartisan immigration reform proposal that was negated by Donald Trump, although sponsored by and supported by conservative Republican Senators, along with Democrats.

Importance of retaining our alliances with other nations as essential for the long term defense and political stability of America, as well as the world at large.

The push is on to promote massive increase in voting, particularly by the younger generation Z which has an opportunity to participate in American democracy for the first time for many.

Global Warming/Climate Change Ignored By Republican Party And Donald Trump!

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A series of recent events, most notably Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, but also many other warnings of the escalating Global Warming/Climate Change crisis, is making the environment a growing political controversy!

The Republican Party en masse has long ignored the issue, favoring the oil and gas industries, and working against any efforts to combat the problem.

Donald Trump ridicules the concept of Global Warming/Climate Change, and if he is elected, the nation will be in ever greater crisis.

But even Republican members of Congress, and Republican governors, most notably Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have chosen to ignore the problem, and in Florida, DeSantis has followed former Governor and now Senator Rick Scott, in removing any mention or actions in state law to deal with Global Warming/Climate Change.

A long term disaster seems certain, and clearly there is no concern about the effect it will have against poor people, who always end up affected more by actions taken to benefit the powerful and wealthy corporate interests.

The Tim Walz-JD Vance Vice Presidential Debate

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Tonight, CBS will sponsor the one Vice Presidential debate, between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance.

Walz has years of experience in government, as a House member for 12 years and as Minnesota Governor for six years, while Vance has less than two years in the US Senate as his total government experience.

Sadly, the fact that one candidate has much more experience does not mean that such candidate has an edge over his opponent, because experience is often not a factor in who will triumph in a debate or in an election at any level.

However, the fact that Donald Trump is 78 years old and in cognitive decline makes the reality of 40 year old JD Vance much more terrifying, as clearly, if Trump is elected, it is likely that Vance might succeed him during the term, and if not, would be the frontrunner for his party in 2028.

There is a general feeling that Tim Walz would be far less a problem to worry about, were he, somehow, to succeed to the Presidency.

JD Vance clearly is a liar and a chameleon, and should not be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.

Tonight’s debate will showcase the differences between the two candidates.

Justice Department Under Merrick Garland NonPartisan In Prosecutions!

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The Justice Department under Attorney General Merrick Garland has been aggressively involved in prosecutions of law breakers, but has been accused by Donald Trump and Republicans of being partisan, due to their prosecution of Trump and people around him.

But reality is that Garland and the Justice Department have been nonpartisan in their prosecutions, as witness, the prosecutions of

NYC Mayor Eric Adams
Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden
New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez
Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar
Former California Congressman T J Cox

So Garland and his department have accomplished what is expected–pursuit of wrongdoers and corruption, and without partisan basis!