Hakeem Jeffries Of New York

Top Five Political Heroes Of The Year 2023

In a year with so many politically difficult moments, certain situations stand out as bright moments.

Liz Cheney, the former Republican Congresswoman from Wyoming, stayed strong and continued to fight against the cancer represented by Donald Trump, holding to the traditions and beliefs of a Republican Party that once believed in principle, but no longer exists, ready to sell its soul to a charlatan who is destroying its history and traditions.

Adam Kinzinger, the former Republican Congressman from Illinois, has also, like Cheney, been a Profile in Courage, who has refused to bend to the intolerance and authoritarian nature of a party which has left him, and Cheney, rather than the other way around.

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York has proved to be an exceptional potential Speaker of the House in 2025, as he has kept the Democratic minority united and strong against the degradation of the small majority Republicans in the House of Representatives. His leadership contrasts with the disgraceful, extremist oriented leadership of Kevin McCarthy, but even more so, Mike Johnson, a true religious extremist and moral hypocrite, who is sadly only two heartbeats away from the Presidency in his role as Speaker of the House.

President Joe Biden has shown great principle, courage, and decisiveness in a multitude of domestic and foreign crises, too often underrated and unappreciated for his strong stand for basic principles, including promotion of democracy, common decency, empathy, compassion, and the rule of law. He is presiding over the greatest crisis to our Constitution since the Civil War, but something that will only be fully understood in the future.

And finally, above all else, the survival of American Democracy itself, with the support of Democrats, courageous Republicans, the courts, the responsible news media, and decent citizens who value our heritage of nearly 250 years of constitutional government, is the ultimate “HERO” in this nation!

Resistance to authoritarian Fascism in all its forms is a constant, long term battle, and the final defeat, conviction, and imprisonment of the evil Donald Trump is the battle ahead, and with the understanding, that MAGA Trumpism will continue to be a threat, that all decent people will need to continue to resist beyond the time of Donald Trump!

Jim Jordan As Speaker Of The House Unacceptable Danger!

The future of the nation is in danger if Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan, now the choice of House Republicans, is permitted to become Speaker of the House.

This man is a danger, a supporter of Donald Trump, who was engaged in the planning of January 6, and refused to testify before the January 6 House Committee investigating the Insurrection at the US Capitol!

Jordan is a divisive figure, an extreme right wing MAGA Republican, who would be two heartbeats away from the Presidency under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, endangering American national security and undermining support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

It is hoped that more than five Republicans will work to prevent this menace to public order from becoming Speaker, as he would also have access to important national secrets by assuming leadership in the House of Representatives!

Unless someone like Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Don Bacon of Nebraska, or Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania can become Speaker, then moderates, such as the above, must unite to make Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader, the Speaker of the House for the remaining 14 months of the 118th Congress!

Time For Bipartisanship To Keep Federal Government Operating

The Republican controlled House of Representatives is proving its inability to operate the federal government, and holding Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy hostage.

With only a five seat edge (222 Republican and 213 Democrats), the time has come for the small band of moderate, mainstream conservative Republicans to “cross the aisle” and work with Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and take action this week to keep the government operating, and avoid the financial crisis and the mass damage that would do.

The extremist small band group of Republicans must be neutralized, and Republican members of the bipartisan “Problem Solvers Caucus” have the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to stability and cooperation.

Officially, the Problem Solvers Caucus consists of 63 members of the 118th Congress, including 32 Democrats and 31 Republicans.

Among the Republicans seen as most engaged in promoting cooperation are :

Don Bacon of Nebraska
Anthony D’Esposito of New York
Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania
Andrew Garbarino of New York
Dusty Johnson of South Dakota
Thomas Kean Jr of New Jersey
Young Kim of California
Nick Lalota of New York
Mike Lawler of New York
Nancy Mace of South Carolina
Marc Molinaro of New York
David Valadao of California

If 6-10 of these or other Republicans work with the 213 Democrats, the government will avoid shutdown, and the mood is developing to have such cooperation, so let’s hope such a situation transpires.

Kevin McCarthy, as horrible as he is, would be likely to stay on as Speaker, but the Republican control of the House of Representatives, as fragile as it is, is likely to evaporate in 2024.

The New York members of the Republican group, including those mentioned above, are representing Biden won districts, and they are working to survive and keep their seats, which will be a tall order. The present Congress includes 18 Republicans who won districts Biden won in 2020, so a major challenge for those Republicans.

The “Gang Of Eight” And The Chinese Balloon Incident

The Chinese Balloon incident this past week, with President Biden ordering it be shot down over the Atlantic Ocean off South Carolina after being mapped over Montana, Missouri, and the Carolinas during the week, is an example of proper reaction in a way that does not threaten the safety of people or locations over land.

It brings to attention the so called “Gang Of Eight”, which are given special access to intelligence information regarding any danger to national security.

They include:

Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio (R), Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Congressman Jim Himes of Connecticut (D), Ranking Member

Senator Mark Warner (D) of Virginia, Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Senator Marco Rubio (R) of Florida, Vice Chair

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R) of California

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) of New York

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) of New York

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky

Hopefully, the members of this group will avoid politics on this issue, but already there has been strong criticism of the tactics used by Joe Biden by Turner and Rubio, a regrettable situation.

The Kevin McCarthy Speakership Will Be, Sadly, A Disaster For The Nation!

Finally, on the 15th ballot in the wee hours of the morning of January 7, Kevin McCarthy became the 55th person to be elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, but with a bare margin and opposition by six extremist right wing members of the Republican Party, who voted present, to resolve the issue.

This was the fifth most contentious election in the history of the House of Representatives, and it does not bode well for the future, as McCarthy has “sold his soul” to the extremist, seditionist, treasonous MAGA Republican criminals who backed the challenge to the results of the Presidential Election of 2020 even after the US Capitol Insurrection of two years ago!

Ironically, the Congress came back in session early on January 7, 2021, to finish what had been delayed the day before by the Insurrection, and now early on January 7, 2023, Kevin McCarthy caved in on demands at almost precisely the same hour, weakening the position of Speakership, and guaranteeing that he might be one of the shortest duration Speakers!

The comparison to his predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, will make it clear that his Speakership, however long it lasts, will pale by comparison.

Hearing Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who kept the support of his 212 member Caucus for all 15 ballots, speak in an oratorical fashion that will be seen as memorable for the ages, was so inspiring and made all decent people feel pride!

One can only hope that a small number of moderate Republicans will support him to replace McCarthy when a political crisis arises, and the extremist element wants McCarthy’s head.

The alternative certainly would be to gain a Democratic majority in 2024, so that Jeffries is the 56th Speaker of the House in 2025!

One thing is clear: Kevin McCarthy will never be able to overcome the weakness, and lack of principle and ethics, that he demonstrated by going to Mar A Lago, less than two weeks after condemning the criminality of Donald Trump in inciting the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection! It will be one of the first statements about his life and poor reputation in his eventual obituary!

21 House Republicans Are Effectively “Terrorists” Preventing House Of Representatives From Governing!

After three days and ten ballots and counting as I write this entry, the House of Representatives is still not able to move ahead and begin its responsibilities to the nation!

As things now stand, it seems likely that this chaos and disaster will be at least the 5th longest Speaker battle, only surpassed in 1819 (22 ballots); 1859 (44 ballots); 1849 (63 ballots); and 1855 (133 ballots)!

This is due to 21 Republicans refusing to support their Caucus leader, Kevin McCarthy of California, who “sold his soul” to Donald Trump after the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection!

These 21 Republicans are, effectively, “terrorists” who want to have the power to cripple the House of Representatives on a daily basis, with the idea that if even one member objects to anything McCarthy might do as Speaker, that a vote could be taken to oust him from the leadership of the chamber!

This is pure insanity, and it is time for Kevin McCarthy to refuse to do so, and ultimately, to withdraw from the possibility of being Speaker, in order to move the House of Representatives forward!

But, whoever else might wish to be Speaker, must NOT give in, either, to these seditionists and traitors!

So it is time for the more reasonable, more moderate, and more rational small band of House Republicans to agree to one of the following alternatives:

As this author and blogger suggested yesterday, back a former member of the chamber, such as Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Justin Amash of Michigan, Fred Upton of Michigan, or John Kasich of Ohio, to be the Speaker, with the support of the Democratic minority, and refuse to agree to any demands that limit the Speaker’s ability to lead the chamber!

OR have a small band of these moderate Republicans agree to support Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the Democratic Minority Leader, in this crisis and arrange for a truly bipartisan House of Representatives!

These are the only choices now, and national security and stability are at stake, and these 21 members should be denied any committee memberships, and possible action to expel them from the House of Representatives should be under consideration!

No more MR NICE GUY, but rather tough action against members who have no interest in anything but their own egos!

With the second anniversary of the January 6 attacks coming tomorrow, one has to worry about a sudden attack by domestic terrorists as two years ago, or a foreign attack, with our international reputation as a functioning democracy in tatters right now!

Nancy Pelosi Is The Greatest Elected Woman Leader In US History!

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, California, is giving up her leadership of the Democratic Party in the lower chamber, as a result of the Republicans taking over as the majority by just a few members, basically a switch from the Democratic slim margin in the 117th Congress, to the Republican slim margin in the upcoming 118th Congress.

Pelosi will remain, however, as the representative of her district, and will contribute her expertise and skills to the new, younger generation leadership of the Democratic Party, led by New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries.

Pelosi has served for 36 years, and has been a massive figure in the history of Congress.

Without a doubt, she is the greatest elected woman leader in US History, and has borne the burden of vicious personal attacks on her person and that of her husband.

She is truly a heroine for the ages, and was of great assistance to Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, but also came to the support, when needed, of Republican President George W. Bush.

Pelosi is irreplaceable, but Hakeem Jeffries, hopefully the future Speaker of the House in the 119th Congress (2025-2027) is certain to outshine the mediocre, self serving, traitor to the Constitution and rule of law that Kevin McCarthy represents, being beholden to Donald Trump, after rightly condemning him immediately after the US Capitol Insurrection on January 6, 2021.

McCarthy will be condemned in history for having been subservient to Donald Trump!

A New Generation Of House Of Representatives Democratic Leadership Is Likely To Come!

No matter what happens in the House of Representatives in November, it is time for a new generation of leadership in the Democratic Party.

Nancy Pelosi has been an exceptional Speaker from 2007-2011, and now from 2019-2023, but at age 82 and 36 years as a member of the House of Representatives, it is time for change!

The same goes for Steny Hoyer, age 83 and House Majority Leader, who has been in the House for 42 years, and also for James Clyburn, age 82 and the House Majority Whip, who has been in the House for 30 years.

This team has done a great job, but all being octogenarians, and dominating for so long, it is time for a younger generation to take over, and there are excellent candidates, whether the Democrats keep control of the House of Representatives, or go into the minority for the next two years!

Hakeem Jeffries of New York is the likely choice to be Speaker or Minority Leader, and would be the first person of color in that position. But Adam Schiff of California will probably challenge him, and would be the first Jewish person to be Speaker or Minority Leader.

Katherine Clark of Massachusetts would be the frontrunner for the Majority Leadership, but will be likely challenged by Pramila Jayapal of Washington, who would be the first Asian American in that position, but with either being a woman.

For the third ranking position, Peter Aguilar of California, who is Hispanic, has the advantage, but Joe Neguse of Colorado, who is of Eritrean (Africa) heritage, would be likely to contend for the post.

So there would be great diversity in the Democratic leadership, although Pelosi and Clyburn already have been an example of gender and race diversity in their years of leadership!

Future Democratic House Of Representatives Leadership–Hakeem Jeffries Vs Adam Schiff Likely Choice!

It seems clear that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will give up leadership in the House of Representatives after the Midterm Elections in November 2022.

Pelosi had pledged she would do so, back in 2018, so it would be difficult to change her mind.

There is the argument that the Democrats need younger House leadership, since Pelosi is 82 this coming March; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is 83 this coming June; and House Majority Whip James Clyburn is 82 this coming July.

There has never been a situation in which the top three House leaders are all octogenarians, although all three are very alert and competent.

As one looks ahead to the future, at this moment, the major competition for the Democratic leadership in 2023, whether majority or minority in the House of Representatives, seems to be between Hakeem Jeffries of New York, and Adam Schiff of California.

If Jeffries who is now 51 and has been in Congress since 2013 becomes the leader, he would be the first African American leader of either party. He is 5th ranking Democrat in the House as the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. He was one of the seven House managers in the first Senate impeachment trial in January 2020 against President Donald Trump.

If Adam Schiff, who has been in Congress since 2001 becomes the leader, he would be the first Jewish House leader, although Chuck Schumer is now Senate Majority Leader. He is Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and was the lead manager, heading a group of seven, in the first Trump impeachment trial in 2020.

House Impeachment Managers Brilliant, And Reflective Of The Diversity of America

The Democratic House Impeachment Managers, seven of them selected by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, have conducted themselves in a brilliant fashion, and are reflective of the diversity of America.

Particularly exceptional are Adam Schiff of California and Hakeem Jeffries of New York. But also, Jerrold Nadler of New York, Zoe Lofgren of California, Val Demings of Florida, Sylvia Garcia of Texas, and Jason Crow of Colorado have performed well.

This group includes four men and three women; two who are Jewish (Schiff, Nadler); two who are African American (Jeffries, Demings); one who is Latina (Garcia); three who are long time veterans of the House (Nadler, Lofgren, Schiff); three who have served three years or less (Demings, Garcia, Crow); two each from California and New York, and one each from Florida, Texas, and Colorado. So all of the top four states in population, plus growing Colorado are represented by this group of seven members of the House of Representatives. And their ages range from 72 down to 40, with two in their 70s, two in their 60s, one in the fifties, and two in their 40s.

The Democrats are fortunate in having such talented members doing the job of informing the nation of the crimes and illegalities of Donald Trump, no matter what the result of the Impeachment Trial.