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Ouster Of Kristi Noem Satisfying, But Markwayne Mullin As Replacement Is Not An Improvement!

Ronald 13 Comments

Finally, after a full year of a massive nightmare, the leadership of Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Donald Trump has dismissed her, without even giving her warning ahead of time.

Noem should be prosecuted for her uncaring, abusive leadership of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), which is part of her department.

But the truth is that Donald Trump is ultimately responsible for the ICE abuses against American citizens, legal immigrants, and even undocumented immigrants, which has led to the deaths of Rene Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, plus the massive abuses, including some deaths, at detention facilities, and the horrendous tactics utilized by ICE all over America.

So the fact that Noem is gone is not satisfying, as her proposed replacement is Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, who has made a reputation of being a lunatic in his utterances, and no better than Noem in his agreement with ICE tactics that have outraged all those who believe in the Bill of Rights.

Mullin has been labeled “the dumbest Senator” by many, and embarrassed himself by his threats to engage in a physical brawl with the President of the Teamsters Union, Sean O’Brien, at a hearing, causing Senator Bernie Sanders to intervene, and call for civil behavior.

ICE needs to be massively reformed in its tactics, and Mullin must be pressed to agree that the outrageous mistreatment of people much like a secret police or Gestapo, has to end.

But the massive campaign against immigrants, and the racism that is so evident, most likely will not change, so Mullin will just be the “front person”, who will rapidly alienate the American people as Noem has done.

The Age Issue In Congress

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A total of 24 members of Congress in 2026 are over the age of 80, and 13 of them are planning to remain in Congress, if the voters agree in this upcoming Midterm Election of 2026.

Among those leaving are:

Nancy Pelosi of California, former Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, age 85
Steny Hoyer of Maryland, former Democratic House Majority Leader, age 86
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, former Republican Senate Majority Leader, age 84
Dick Durbin of Illinois, Senate Democratic Whip, age 81

Among those 80 or over who are remaining in Congress, and are running for reelection are:

James Clyburn of South Carolina, former Democratic House Whip, age 85
Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, Republican Congresswoman, age 82
Maxine Waters of California, Democratic Congresswoman, age 87
Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Democratic Senator, age 84
Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Republican Senate President Pro Tempore, age 92
Jim Risch of Idaho, Republican Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, age 82
Angus King of Maine, Independent Senator, age 82
Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Democratic Senator, age 80
Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Democratic Senator, age 80

While age alone should not be the only factor in judging who should be in Congress at an advanced age, it is perceived that Congress, overall, is out of touch with the vast number of Americans of younger generations!

The Inspirational Inaugural Address Of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani

Ronald 3 Comments

The inaugural address of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani on New Year’s Day was inspirational, and there is a need for critics to pause, and give the young Democratic Socialist Mayor an opportunity to promote his programs, before going on the attack.

To this author and blogger, Mamdani reminded him in many ways of Barack Obama and his Inaugural Address in 2009.

The youngest NYC Mayor in more than a century; the first South Asian and Muslim Mayor; and a rare immigrant Mayor—sworn in by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, demonstrated his charisma and commitment to his ideas, which some see as attacking billionaires and oligarchs, who clearly see him as a threat.

Also, the Jewish population is concerned due to Mamdani’s Muslim religion, including being sworn in on a Quran, rather than a Bible. Also, the fact that the new Mayor has been harshly critical of Israel’s massive war on Gaza, which led to more than 70,000 deaths, with many seen as avoidable, has caused great stress.

Many might think that his “Socialist” goals are “pie in the sky”, but the thought is that his ideas and programs should be given a chance to succeed, as the voting population was strongly in favor of his election.

In any case, Mamdani’s Mayoralty has to be better than the disastrous tenure of now former Mayor Eric Adams over the past four years, with lots of corruption and conflicts of interest.

The Issue Of “Age” In Upcoming Midterm Elections In 2026

Ronald 21 Comments

The US Congress, in both chambers, is the oldest in age of any period of American history, and the issue of whether it is time for members in their 70s, 80s, and beyond to move on, and allow a younger generation better able to relate to the future, to be replacing them.

David Hogg of Florida, who was a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, caused controversy in promoting such change, and he was pushed out, and is working with others to challenge many older, longer serving members in upcoming primaries for the 2026 Congressional Elections.

And the issue has come to the forefront, particularly, in the state of Maine, where Democratic Governor Janet Mills, age 77, is challenging sitting Republican Senator Susan Collins, who will have served for 30 years in the upper chamber, and is presently 72 years old.

So Graham Plattner, age 41, an oyster famer and Marine Corp veteran, is challenging Janet Mills, with the issue of age being a crucial one.

And Maine already has Senator Angus King, who just won reelection at age 80 in 2024, and Vermont has Bernie Sanders, who won reelection in 2024 at age 83.

But there are other such cases, as with Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massacusetts, age 80, who has served a half century combined in the House of Representatives until 2013, and since then in the Senate. Congressman Seth Moulton, age 47, is arguing that while Markey has been an excellent leader for Massachusetts, it is time for change.

Other Democratic Senators of advanced age are retiring, including Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Also Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is retiring in 2026.

But there are others who are over 70 and choosing to run for reelection, or planning to when the next elecion for their seat takes place, including Ron Wyden of Oregon and Chuck Schumer of New York in 2028.

Also, in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi of California, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, the fist three past leaders in the chamber, are running again in 2026, despite their being in their 80s. And Republican Senator and President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley also could run for reelection in 2028, although at present, he is 92 years old!

It would seem legitimate that these older political leaders would finally give up their positions, and allow for the future generation to take over Congress.