Congress

Absolute Fury Felt Over Trump GOP Budget Bill, And The Harm It Will Cause For Millions Of Americans!

This author and blogger has lived a long life, but the feeling, presently, of absolute fury over the Trump “Big And Beautiful” bill, that will harm millions of Americans who will lose Medicaid, and SNAP (Food Stamps), is something very hard to live with!

The federal government under Donald Trump is rapidly putting the nation back a century on basic needs, such as health care and nutrition, along with many other reversals of significant government policies under a multitude of American Presidents of both political parties!

This is unconscionable, and harmful to the well being of most Americans, whether indirectly or directly!

The idea that so called “moderate” Republicans have expressed dismay at the harm this legislation will visit on the lives of the disabled, the poor, the elderly, and children, and which will cause the shutdown of hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities in much of the nation, has not led to their voting no on the bill. After complaining, they follow in unison to support Trump’s demands, absolutely infuriating!

Why are so many Republicans so afraid of defying Trump? Why are they so focused only on keeping their seats in Congress, when none of them depend on the membership in the House of Representatives or US Senate for their survival?

It is well known that most members of Congress are very well situated financially, and while they might wish to keep their seat in Congress, they do not have desperate need to do so!

Why cannot we have “Profiles in Courage” that will leave these politicians with a heroic reputation in history, instead of one of being a “lackey” to an unprincipled and totally immoral and unethical President, who does not give a damn about any of these politicians beyond “using” them for his aggrandizement?

The American democratic system of government is in dire danger, and needs men and women of principle and convictions, but at such a difficult moment, the nation faces a true domestic disaster in the making, that could have been avoided if only a few sacrificed their personal futures for a better present situation!

Trump Attack On The Smithsonian Institution, Library Of Congress, Copyright Office, Kennedy Center: An Attack On Truth And Facts Of American History And Culture!

Donald Trump has unleashed an attack on the Smithsonian Institution and its various museums, including the National African American Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, the proposed National Women’s History Museum, and the proposed National Latino Museum in particular; on the Library of Congress, on the US Copyright Office; and on the Kennedy Center For Performing Arts.

This is endangering the quest for facts and truth regarding the American historical past, and on American culture at large.

It is also interfering with the separation of powers, with agencies that the Executive Branch should have no power over, and should not be able to fire their leadership, but Trump has gone ahead and done so, anyway! This is Executive Branch overreach to the extreme!

The nation is in a crisis over so many issues, but interference with these institutions is something that Congress MUST stop in its tracks, for the safety and survival of these crucial organizations!

Russell Vought, The Destroyer Of The Federal Government Work Force And Agencies!

The confirmation of Russell Vought as the head of the Office of Management and Budget in the Trump Administration is a danger sign to the issue of federal civil service employees and federal oversight on a host of issues and policies.

This man is a “wrecking crew”, considered by Democrats as the most dangerous of all Trump nominees, as he is a prime author of Project 2025, which is a right wing declaration of war on federal regulations in so many areas, including as examples, the environment, consumer protection, civil rights, labor protections, and separation of powers. He also is an advocate of Christian Nationalism.

Vought believes the Presidency should be more centralized and not be accountable to Congress and the courts, so he is promoting anarchy, chaos, and endorsement of what would be authoritarian Fascism, if it is not stopped by those who believe in the survival of American democracy and the rule of law!

Growing Threat To Members Of Congress, Their Staffs And Even Presidential Staffs!

The growing threat to members of Congress and their staff, and to all government employees, even those who work for the President of the United States, is alarming!

The number of threats has quadrupled in the past four years overall, and to members of Congress ten fold, and the attack on staff members of Virginia Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly, and the intrusion in the home of Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, in the past few days, are just the latest examples of constant threats posed by domestic terrorists!

There is a dire need for upgraded security for all government workers, wherever they work and wherever they live, as working for government should not be a threat to the lives of dedicated employees!

Inspirational Speech By President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Before Congress!

Tune Magazine’s Person Of The Year, Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, just delivered a very inspirational speech to a joint session of Congress, after traveling to the United States, and meeting in the Oval Office with President Biden.

Zelenskyy asked for more military support, making clear that he was not requesting US Troop involvment, as Ukranians want to defend their own country from the 300 day war waged by the Russian Federation.

This was an appropriate time to have Zelenskyy visit, and anyone who is unwilling to support Ukraine is clearly against the promotion and sustaining of democracy in the world.

Hopefully, with a tough winter ahead, Ukraine can continue, with US and NATO support, to push back Russia’s aggression, and undermine Vladimir Putin!

Republican Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler A Hateful Homophobe!

This past week, the Congress approved the protection of same sex marriage and interracial marriage, insuring protection of the marriages or future marriages of people, who, sadly, face many so called “good Christians” promoting hate and discrimination and denial of a basic human right to marry who one loves!

We saw a displapy of pure hypocrisy and viciousness by Missouri Republican Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, who became teary eyed, claiming that Christianity and people of faith were being threatened by such action, to prevent a right wing Supreme Court from taking away a basic right, as they did in June on abortion rights!

Now her gay nephew has denounced her rightfully, as Hartzler put on a display that embarrassed her and demonstrated her vicious nature, an aunt who should be ashamed of herself, because she is trying to promote theocracy, rule of religious views over a nation based on separation of church and state and freedom of religion.

The fact is that religious institutions, including schools, are being state supported, while promoting discrimination, and that should not be permitted.

Thank goodness this excuse of a so called “religious” woman is leaving Congress, as she gave up her chance for reelection to pursue a Senate bid in Missouri, but failed to accomplish her goal. Good riddance is the best statement to make on this woman!

Women And Young People Are Registering To Vote In Record Numbers, Due To Abortion Issue!

Women of all ages and backgrounds, and young people in general, are registering to vote in record numbers, and the main reason is the denial of abortion rights by the Supreme Court in June.

That, plus the danger to American democracy represented by the “MAGA” Republicans, who are Fascist in orientation and empower Donald Trump, no matter what is emerging about his treason and sedition, are motivating Americans to realize that the Midterm Elections of 2022 are crucial for the future.

While the Democrats have a major problem historically, with the reality that the party out of power gains in the midterm elections that follow, this time, more than ever before, it is absolutely essential that Democrats keep control of both houses of Congress and do better in state legislatures and governorships, as otherwise, the Consitution and rule of law will be in danger!

The House January 6 Committee Makes It Clear: Donald Trump Promoted Sedition And Revolution, And MUST Be Prosecuted!

If there was any doubt about the criminal involvement of former President Donald Trump in the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection, yesterday’s hearing of the House January 6 Committee, settled the issue.

Donald Trump conspired with the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys and other domestic terrorists (racist and white supremacist) to provoke violence and bloodshed and stage a coup, endangering the lives of Vice President Mike Pence, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and all members of Congress and law enforcement and other staff on Capitol Hill.

Donald Trump is a criminal, the worst since Jefferson Davis and the Confederate States of America, and MUST be prosecuted for sedition and treason by the Department of Justice under Attorney General Merrick Garland!

If he is not held accountable, then the danger of further domestic terrorism by extremist right wing groups will flourish, and America could face the loss of its democracy!

And all those around Trump, including family members, and staff and advisers who went along with what he provoked, must also face prosecution!

And members of Congress who helped promote the conspiracy and violence must also be prosecuted, and barred from ever holding public office again!

Assault Weapons Massacres An Epidemic With No Solution!

America has become the murder-massacre capital of the world, and Congress and the Supreme Court seem unconcerned to take action against assault weapons, which should only be available to police and the military.

There is absolutely no need for any citizen to own and use AR-15s and AK-47s and other assault weapons, as they are not needed to go hunting, only to obliterate the flesh of unfortunate victims, often by people who are mentally deranged and/or have anger that is uncontrollable!

Every day, and often every part of a day, we have multiple Americans in all locations imaginable being murdered, as no other civilized nation on earth experiences!

There are so many cases of a few to large numbers of people becoming victims, that only the most extreme cases as Buffalo New York, Uvalde Texas, and now Highland Park Illinois, over the past two months gain widespread attention!

Right Wing And Republicans Gone Mad: The Threat To Destroy Modern Times!

It is becoming very clear that right wing conservatism and Republicans have gone mad, as they wish to destroy modern times, and the advancements of the New Deal, Great Society, Warren Supreme Court, and promotion of change under Barack Obama and Joe Biden!

If they had their way, and it is becoming more likely, we would see women’s rights, civil rights of racial minorities, gay and lesbian rights, and privacy rights of the past generations being erased!

And corporate domination over workers’ rights would be worse, and agencies designed to make America a better place, such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, would be denied the ability to do their work, or even maybe be eradicated!

And the role of evangelical religion would grow ever more rapidly, despite the fact that the majority of the nation is far less religious over time than it has been in the past!

It is difficult to be optimistic about the future in a nation which has gone into reverse on so many issues, both within Congress and in the federal judiciary, due to appointments by former Republican Presidents, including George W. Bush and Donald Trump!