John Thune Of South Dakota

With Trump Criminal Indictment, Many Republican Senators Back Away From Endorsements!

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Donald Trump has become the first President to be criminally indicted by the US Government, alongside his indictment by the state government in New York, and also being impeached twice while President.

Today, Trump has reached his 77th birthday, and there are already signs of dwindling support for the 45th President, with the crowds at his two indictments being nowhere near what he asked of his supporters.

And at least in the US Senate, there are many Republicans who are moving away from Trump, at the least neutral, but with some endorsing other Republican contenders or considering such.

There is concern that Trump would take down the party in Congressional elections in 2024, and cannot win the Presidential election against Joe Biden.

One must recall that Trump has NEVER won the popular vote, neither in 2016 nor 2020, and each time the Republicans have been on the ballot since his election, they have lost control of the House of Representatives in 2018, the Senate in 2020, and only barely won control of the House of Representatives in 2022, while seeing a Democratic gain in the Senate of one seat. Additionally, many gubernatorial races have been lost by candidates backing Trump on his claim that he won the Presidential Election of 2020,despite more than 60 court cases showing otherwise!

The Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, refuses to comment on the Trump indictment, but the two men have not spoken since the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection.

Second ranking Republican John Thune has expressed criticism of Trump, and has endorsed South Carolina Senator Tim Scott for President, along with the other South Dakota Senator—Mike Rounds. And the two North Dakota Senators, Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven are backing North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, the “forgotten” Presidential contender.

Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine are also critical of Trump, as are Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

Only about ten Republican Senators are supportive openly of Trump.

Can Senator Tim Scott Become The Republican Presidential Nominee In 2024?

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The only black Republican Senator, Tim Scott of South Carolina, has just entered the race for the Presidency.

With only five black Republican House members and Scott the only black Republican Senator, the Republican Party does not have the image of caring about African Americans.

So the question arises whether Scott has any possility of becoming the Republican nominee for the White House.

With South Carolina being a crucial state in the battle for the nomination of both parties, he might have an avenue to advance, but also has to deal with the woman who chose him originally to fill an open Senate seat a decade ago, then Governor and later United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who has already announced her own Presidential candidacy,

And Donald Trump has the backing of the South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and Senator Lindsey Graham, so these complexities make one wonder if Scott has any chance to move forward.

Scott comes across as likeable to his own Republican Senate colleagues, with South Dakota Senator John Thune, the Minority Whip, endorsing him, and even New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker praising him as a colleague across the aisle.

His announcement was inspiring to those who think conservative government is the best, and have no issue with his promotion of Christianity in government.

But such viewpoints are not inspirational to anyone, such as this author and blogger, who believes in progressive and liberal values.

Scott will make the race more interesting for sure, but one has to wonder how Donald Trump will treat him in language and behavior, as the former President’s racism may, once again, show up in his rhetoric.

Mitch McConnell Successor As Senate Minority Leader: Battle Of The “Three Johns”!

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As Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican Minority Leader, returns next week after an extended period of absence due to a concussion and rib fracture after a fall, there is speculation that he might retire from the Senate in the short term.

So the battle for who would replace him has begun, with the “three Johns” competing for leadership of the Republican Party in the Senate moving forward.

These “three Johns” are

John Thune of South Dakota
John Barrasso of Wyoming
John Cornyn of Texas

John Thune has been in the Senate since 2005 and is 62, and is Republican Whip, second ranking position.

John Barrasso has been in the Senate since 2007 and is 71, and is Republican Conference Chairman, third ranking position.

John Cornyn has been in the Senate since 2002 and is also 71, and served in the past as Republican Whip.

If one went by population, which is not a factor, Texas and Cornyn would win with 30.3 million population, as South Dakota and Wyoming are among the five smallest states in population, with South Dakota 5th smallest with 900,000 population, and Wyoming the smallest of all states with 580,000 population.

An educated guess on the part of this blogger is that John Thune may have the upper hand, and the issue of age is not to be ignored, as he is a decade younger than the other two “Johns”, and is more “photogenic” and “charismatic” than they are.

Thune next faces voters in 2028; Cornyn in 2026; and Barrasso in 2024, so longevity is added to age as a factor.

But one never knows what will happen, and when it would happen, so we shall see!

Ron DeSantis Comes Out As Neville Chamberlain, Divides Republicans On Foreign Policy Toward Vladimir Putin

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who clearly will be announcing for President in the near future, has come out clearly against aid to Ukraine, seeing the Russia-Ukraine War as not an issue of national security for the United States.

In that regard, he is acting like Donald Trump!

In so doing, DeSantis and Trump are coming out as Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister who made a deal with Adolf Hitler to give up half of Czechoslovakia in 1938 (the Munich Conference), thinking it would satisfy Hitler’s territorial demands, which was instead appeasement of a dictator.

The issue of Ukraine has divided the Republican members of the US Senate, including:

Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
Mitt Romney of Utah
Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
John Cornyn of Texas
John Thune of South Dakota
Marco Rubio of Florida
Mike Rounds of South Dakota
Kevin Cramer of North Dakota
Roger Wicker of Mississippi
John Kennedy of Louisiana

And there are others in the Senate who have not spoken publicly who would take the same stand, being critical of both DeSantis and Trump on Ukraine.

There are also a few House Republicans, the so called “moderates”, who would join the Senate Republicans who are in opposition.

So a major battle for the soul of the party is in process!

The Three “Johns” Competing To Succeed Mitch McConnell As Senate Republican Leader In The Future

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Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will soon set the record as the longest serving Senate Republican leader, as Minority Leader and Majority Leader.

He is in his 16th year of party leadership, since the beginning of 2007, and if he remains the leader into 2023, he will surpass Democrat Mike Mansfield, who served from 1961-1977 as party leader.

Even if McConnell continues as party leader into next year, there is speculation about who would be his successor, with three “Johns” seen as in competition.

They are Senator John Thune of South Dakota, who serves as Minority Whip, and was elected in 2004, and is facing reelection this fall, at age 61. He also served in the House of Representatives from 1997-2003.

The second contender is Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who served as Minority Whip in past Congresses, and was first elected in 2002, and is age 70. He was on the Texas Supreme Court and Attorney General of Texas before coming to the Senate.

The third contender is Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, who is a orthopedic physician, and has served in the Senate since 2007, and is also age 70. He also has served as Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the third ranking position in leadership.