Pat Toomey Of Pennsylvania

US Senate Races Crucial For Both Democrats And Republicans In 2022

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As in every even year, the US Senate faces one third of its membership facing election contests this November.

Six Senators are retiring, five Republican (Richard Shelby of Alabama, Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Rob Portman of Ohio, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania), and one Democrat (Patrick Leahy of Vermont).

Besides these six open seats, 28 other Senators are running for reelection, with a total of 20 Republican seats up, and 14 Democrats.

This should give the Democrats the advantage in gaining seats, and if even one seat is added, the Democrats will have control, and if two seats are gained, the unreliability of Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia will not have as much impact and influence in holding up Democratic Party goals for legislation.

On the other hand, if the Republicans gain just one seat, Mitch McConnell becomes Majority Leader, and this will hamper the remainder of the Joe Biden Presidency in this term.

The best hopes for the Democrats are to win Ohio with Congressman Tim Ryan, who was a Presidential contender in 2020; North Carolina; Pennsylvania; Wisconsin; and Florida, where Marco Rubio faces challenge from Congresswoman Val Demings.

THe best hopes for the Republicans are to win Arizona, where Mark Kelly faces a tough fight; Georgia, where Reverend Ralphael Warnock has a serious challenge; Nevada, where Catherine Cortez Masto has a close race; and New Hampshire, where Maggie Hassan has a challenging race.

On Eve Of Voting Rights Vote In Senate, Why Cannot At Least Ten GOP Senators Vote Support?

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In 2006, the US Senate voted 98-0 for extension of the Voting Rights Act.

In 2022, it seems highly unlikely that even one Republican Senator will do so, therefore undermining American democracy.

The concept that there are not at least 10 Republican Senators who have the courage and the principle that voting rights matter, and are willing to go on record to that effect, is mind blowing.

Why cannot Susan Collins of Maine and Ben Sasse of Nebraska, both of whom voted to convict Donald Trump in the second impeachment trial, and are safely in office through 2026, vote to support voting rights?

Why cannot Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has been elected to the Senate as an Independent in a three way race in 2010, and is often an outlier in the party, including voting to convict Donald Trump, support voting rights, even though she faces election in 2022?

Why cannot Mitt Romney of Utah, who also voted to convict Donald Trump, and is seen as more centrist than anyone in the party in the Senate, other than Collins and Murkowski, have the ability to vote to support voting rights?

Why cannot Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who also voted to convict Donald Trump, and who has his seat until 2026, as Collins and Sasse also do, have the courage to support voting rights?

Why cannot Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Richard Burr of North Carolina, both who also voted to convict Donald Trump, and are leaving the Senate at the end of 2022, do the right thing and support voting rights?

Why cannot Roy Blunt of Missouri, Rob Portman of Ohio, and Richard Shelby of Alabama, all retiring, do the right thing and support voting rights?

If all of the above did the right thing, we would have 10 Republican Senators joining with the 50 Democrats, and voting rights would be restored!

37 Members Of Congress Leaving In 2022, With 22 No Longer Seeking Public Office

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Thirty seven members of Congress, including six US Senators, are leaving office in 2022, with fifteen House members seeking a Senate seat or a a Governorship or other office, rather than retiring completely from politics.

Some are worthy of attention as follows:

Five Republican Senators:

Richard Burr of North Carolina
Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania
Rob Portman of Ohio
Richard Shelby of Alabama
Roy Blunt of Missouri

and Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont

In the House of Representatives, notable retirements include:

Devin Nunes (R) of California
Peter DeFazio (D) of Oregon
Jackie Speier (D) of California
Adam Kinzinger (R) of Illinois
John Yarmuth (D) of Kentucky
Anthony Gonzalez (R) of Ohio

Amonag those running for the US Senate:

Peter Welch (D) of Vermont
Conor Lamb (D) of Pennsylvania
Val Demings (D) of Florida
Tim Ryan (D) of Ohio
Mo Brooks (R) of Alabama

Running for Governor:

Charlie Crist (D) of Florida
Tom Suozzi (D) of New York
Lee Zeldin (R) of New York

Also, running for Mayor of Los Angeles–Karen Bass (D) of California

Six Republican Senators Supported Creation Of Bipartisan January 6 Commission

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Six Republican Senators ended up supporting creation of the bipartisan January 6 Commission, to do a thorough investigation of the US Capitol Insurrection, with the proposal failing 54-35 in the Senate last Friday.

Five of the six Republican Senators also supported conviction of Donald Trump on impeachment charges, including

Mitt Romney of Utah
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
Susan Collins of Maine
Ben Sasse of Nebraska
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana

Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania was absent for the vote, but said he would have joined the others in support, as he did on the conviction of Trump.

Also, Rob Portman of Ohio, who did not support conviction of Trump on impeachment charges, joined the five above Senators in voting for the commission, and should be commended.

Richard Burr of North Carolina, who supported conviction of Trump, failed to vote on the legislation, but indicated he would not have supported such a commission.

Absolutely Brilliant Presentation By House Prosecutors In Donald Trump Second Impeachment Trial

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America can be proud of the nine member House Prosecution in the Second Donald Trump Impeachment Trial.

Watching their presentation evokes great emotions, at the tragedy of what happened on January 6, 2021.

January 6, the day of the Capitol Insurrection, will always be remembered in the same vein as September 11, 2001; December 7, 1941; and November 22, 1963, as days of mourning.

Jamie Raskin, the leader of the nine prosecutors, made every decent American proud, but the other eight prosecutors also demonstrated how decent and patriotic they are, and they will be well remembered in the long run of history.

The fact that one extra Republican, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, joined five other Republicans in legitimizing the trial, was a good development, but eleven more Republicans need to join the six (including Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania) to convict Donald Trump, and prevent him ever running again for public office.

If the Republicans were a decent group, which they are not, that would happen, but is highly unlikely to occur!

Only Three Republican House Members Are Consistent On Donald Trump And Marjorie Taylor Greene!

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An amazing reality, that only THREE House Republicans are consistent in their principles.

They voted for the impeachment of Donald Trump, and for the stripping of committee membership for QAnon follower and advocate of violence and lies, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.

The three “heroes” were;

Adam Kinzinger of Illinois
Fred Upton of Michigan
John Katko of New York

All three will likely have major challenges for nomination to their seats in 2022, sadly, and it shows how corrupt and unprincipled the Republican Party has become.

It will be interesting to see how many Republican Senators vote to convict Donald Trump in his second upcoming impeachment trial, with only five voting to impeach him–Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Republicans In Senate Try To Stop Second Trump Impeachment Trial: Total Disgrace!

Ronald 5 Comments

The Republican Party used to be an honorable party, with some really good Senators and Congressmen, as well as Governors.

But now, the Republican Party is more than ever a Fascist oriented party, still backing Donald Trump despite his inciting the US Capitol Insurrection on January 6, 2021.

So today, the Republican Party in the Senate disgraced itself, with 90 percent of the 50 Senators, 45 out of 50, voting to try to stop the Second Trump Impeachment Trial, scheduled to start in two weeks.

Only Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Ben Sasse, and Pat Toomey voted in favor of a trial, and even Mitch McConnell, who had condemned Trump for the Insurrection voted against having a trial.

The trial will go forward, but it seems clear that Donald Trump will escape conviction, and that will mean Donald Trump will NOT lose the right to seek public office again, creating a literal nightmare scenario that he could attempt to return to a political campaign again in 2024!

There should be a rule that those senators who voted against an impeachment trial should not be permitted to vote on Trump since they did not want a trial!

If only that was allowed, there would only be 55 votes and only 37 would be needed for conviction!

Republican Senate Reprehensible In Its Lack Of Compassion For Victims Of COVID 19, And Depression!

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The Republican Party of Donald Trump is demonstrating once again its lack of compassion for victims of COVID 19 and the Second Great Depression which has developed as a result of Trump’s refusal to take action early, and be consistent on promoting patriotism and sacrifice on the part of the American people!

The Republican Senate majority has resisted any substantial federal aid, and there are plenty of villains in this matter, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky; Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin; Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky; Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania; Senator Ted Cruz of Texas; Senator Mike Lee of Utah; Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas; and others.

Hopefully, the two runoffs in Georgia will lead to two Democrats, and the ability of the Joe Biden Administration to have control of both houses of Congress in the 117th Congress of 2021-2022!

The Witness And Testimony Issue Can Be Resolved If The Republicans Wish It In The Donald Trump Impeachment Trial

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John Bolton, the former National Security Adviser, and other witnesses, including Mick Mulvaney at the least, need to testify in the Donald Trump Impeachment Trial, and Chief Justice John Roberts needs to step in and rule on this matter, with the help of at least three Republican Senators.

It seems as if Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski are ready to vote for witnesses and testimony, and also, Lamar Alexander, Pat Toomey, Rob Portman and Jerry Moran seem leaning that way.

If all of these seven support each other, or at least four, then it will occur, but if not, Roberts needs to intervene if there is a 50-50 tie in the Senate.

It may not change the final vote on conviction, requiring two thirds to remove Donald Trump, but the trial, in order not to be a sham, MUST have witnesses and testimony, and Roberts has the responsibility to intervene if necessary!