Republican Party

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

Ronald 7 Comments

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!

Totally Disillusioned By Lisa Murkowski, Who Caved In And Caused Budget Bill To Pass Senate! :(

Ronald 12 Comments

This author and blogger is fully aware of the pressures brought on by the feeling of “party loyalty”, as that is the nature of politics.

But the idea that Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has often demonstrated a sense of independence and sincere conviction, would allow herself to vote for the Trump “Big And Beautiful” Budget bill, just because a few details favored her home state, is a sign of the true disaster the nation is facing in 2025 from Trump authoritarianism.

Murkowski made it clear she did not like the details of the bill in broad terms, so why did she lower herself to gain an image of being weak, unprincipled, and afraid of Trump?

If we cannot count on even Lisa Murkowski, the “last great hope” of mainstream Republicanism in the past ten years, to show courage and determination, then it leaves us with a feeling of hopelessness!

After all, her colleague, Susan Collins of Maine, who sometimes shows weakness and indecisiveness, came through in opposing this bill, so why could not the two women, who generally represent the little bit of decency left in the national Republican Party in Congress, team together and show they are jointly “profiles in courage”?

The hope is that the House of Representatives will reject the Senate bill, and will change it dramatically, and maybe then, Murkowski can join Collins and a few others, and stop this disgraceful, outrageous legislation dead in its tracks, with the help of a few House members, most notably Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is not running for reelection, and represents one of a few House districts won by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden, alongside Bacon’s victories.

Are There Enough GOP Votes To Kill “Big And Beautiful Bill” Attack On Medicaid?

Ronald 19 Comments

It is still possible that a few Republican Senators and or Republican House members could kill the “Big and Beautiful Bill” of Donald Trump, and in the process, save Medicaid!

ALready, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul have made it clear that they will not support the legislation, Tillis because of the Medicaid cuts that would affect so many North Carolinians, and Paul, because he does not want to add trillions to the National Debt, already 36 Trillion!

But what about Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and Maine Senator Susan Collins, who have both expressed dismay at the Medicaid cuts, that would hurt so many of their constituents?

And also, similar thoughts have been expressed by Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, and also, to some extent, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran.

In the House of Representatives, with Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon deciding not to run again for his Omaha seat, and already seen as the most moderate, centrist Republican who might refuse to support such legislation, since his seat was won by Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024, there could be another vote.

California Congressman David Valadao has also spoken out against Medicaid cuts, and is one of two Republican Congressmen to have voted to impeach Donald Trump in the second impeachment effort following the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection.

Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie and Ohio Congressman Warren Davidson haver voted against the House bill already, and New York Congressman Nick LaLota, Maryland Congressman Andy Harris, and Texas Congressman Chip Roy all have different reservations.

Also, the members of the Republican House Freedom Caucus are not guaranteed in any sense to support the complicated legislation.

This horror of a bill will do such heavy damage to the American people at large, while the corporations and Billionaires will gain major tax cuts that will add many trillions to the national debt.

It is a repudiation of much of the mid 20th century “Great Society” of President Lyndon B. Johnson, a totally horrendous attack on common decency and compassion for those among us less fortunate!

Six Decades Ago, LBJ Accomplishment For Independence Day, Contrasted With Donald Trump In 2025! :(

Ronald 21 Comments

Six decades ago, right as the Independence Day celebrations were about to take place, the Democratic controlled US Congress passed the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, bringing about the greatest period of civil rights reforms, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was signed in August.

President Lyndon B. Johnson presided over the massive amount of political, social, and economic reforms known as “The Great Society”, which also included the Immigration and Nationality Act of October 1965, and the passage of Medicare in 1965, Medicaid in 1966, and the Food Stamp Act (SNAP) in 1964.

That period of time saw great hope and optimism that the nation had moved in the proper direction toward true justice, progress, and freedom.

Sadly, now, after six decades, we are witnessing a massive backtracking of civil rights, immigration reforms, and social and economic reforms, with the present move by Donald Trump and the Republican Party to reverse all of the great reforms of “The Great Society”, with their “Big and Beautiful” bill, that seems ready to promote massive cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Food Stamps (SNAP), all major moments of the Presidency of LBJ.

This is a time of great feelings of betrayal and sadness over what has changed from the optimistic and expansive times of the federal government back in the 1960s!

Elizabeth MacDonough, Senate Parliamentarian, A Light In The Darkness!

Ronald 7 Comments

Elizabeth MacDonough has been the nonpartisan Senate Parliamentarian for the past 13 years since 2012.

She has a high level of respect and regard by most members of the Senate, and has been seen as the “guardian” of Senate rules, who does what is best for the Senate and its reputation. This is true even when some disgraceful Senators, like presently Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, have called for her to be fired for refusing to back all of the demands of Donald Trump.

She has presided over periods of Democratic and of Republican party majorities, and been part of the institutional history of the upper chamber in a very distinguished manner.

MacDonough has enforced the so called “Byrd Rule”, named after the late Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, which allows elimination of “extraneous” proposals that interfere with reconciliation of provisions of legislation, with 60 votes needed to overrule the Senate Parliamentarian, a high barrier.

It seems likely that Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota will not listen to a few Senators who want her fired, as she is well respected, and Thune is reluctant to interfere with her nonpartisan approach to Senate rules.

Already, with North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, opposed to aspects of the House bill, it is possible that the Trump “Big And Beautiful” bill might fail to get past the Senate, if on final passage, other Senators, such as Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Josh Hawley of Missouri, vote to reject the legislation as it is constituted right now, particularly regarding Medicaid cuts.

The Republican Stronghold, Rural America, To Be Disastrously Affected By Medicaid And Food Stamp Cuts In “Big And Beautiful” Trump Budget Bill!

Ronald 11 Comments

The Republican Party stronghold in rural America will be disastrously affected by the proposed Medicaid and SNAP (Food Stamp) Cuts in the “Big and Beautiful” Trump budget bill being promoted to become law by July 4!

Much of rural America is “red”, the strongest supporters of Donald Trump, but clearly, Trump and his Republican Party are more interested in promoting massive tax cuts for the wealthy one percent and corporations, and ignoring the reality that rural health care will be dramatically harmed by this legislation, with many rural hospitals shutting down, when Medicaid is cut.

And to cut nutrition for poor people is unseemly, and the bulk of people affected by these heartless cuts in Medicaid and SNAP (Food Stamps) are actually white working poor, disabled, elderly, and deprived children.

Most Trump supporters are not aware of what is happening, and a rude awakening is coming!

Trump Calling Out Marines For Domestic Use, And Threatening Arrest Of Gavin Newsom Totally Beyond The Pale!

Ronald 7 Comments

President Donald Trump’s decision to call out the Marines for domestic use in Los Angeles to back up deportation raids, and his threat to arrest California Gavin Newsom, has escalated the crisis of Trump moving toward authoritarianism!

The possibility of the invoking of the Insurrection Act, when there is no rebellion or invasion, is horrifying, and moves America close to a true Fascist dictatorship, reminiscent in many ways to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

And yet, millions of Americans seem content, as their racism, nativism, and lack of concern about anyone other than their selfish selves, is demonstrated for all to see.

The worship of money, and prejudice toward immigrants shows how sick and demented many Americans are, until the time comes, that they would become victims themselves.

When that horrifying moment occurs for many of these unprincipled, selfish people who only care about their financial bottom line, there will be no sympathy by those who have, vigorously, opposed Donald Trump and his evil supporters in the Republican Party, who are not patriots, but rather traitors to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the rule of law!

Trump-Musk Split A Major Boon For Democrats!

Ronald 10 Comments

The sudden end of the “bromance” between Donald Trump and Elon Musk may have surprised many observers, but there were many others who predicted it would happen, but maybe not so rapidly.

At this point, Trump seems to have all the cards in the battle, as it seems highly unlikely that many, if any, Republican officeholders in Congress, particularly in the House of Representatives, are going to rush to Musk’s side.

But Musk’s threat to form a third political party, and to finance opponents to many Republicans in the House and US Senate who face election contests in 2026, throws a “fly in the ointment”, complicating the hope of Trump and Republican office holders to keep their majorities, particularly in the lower chamber, but even possibly in the Senate.

So this split can be seen as a major boon for Democrats, looking forward, if they can manage the breakup of Trump and Musk in a way that benefits their party.

Massive Suffering And Death Promoted By Evil Donald Trump, Who Has No Conscience!

Ronald 37 Comments

Anyone, except the most uncaring individuals, can fail to see how Donald Trump is promoting massive suffering and death, and has total evil and cruelty as his mantra, and no sense of morality, ethics, compassion, empathy, or conscience.

But the House Republicans have shown willingness to go along with this horrendous bill that would cut millions of Americans off SNAP (Food Stamps) and Medicaid, and also threaten major cuts in Medicare.

Republicans have not spoken up on the wiping out of USAID (US Agency for International Development), which has saved millions of people overseas who have varying diseases and illnesses. This includes the elimination of PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Program For Aids Relief), President George W. Bush’s major contribution in office, which has saved 26 million lives in Africa.

But Republicans have not been willing to speak up on the mass deportation of immigrants, most of whom are not criminals, as Stephen Miller, Thomas Homan, and Kristi Noem continue their heartless, cruel, inhumane quest to remove people at the rate of 3,000 per day, without any ethical or moral qualms.

The damage and harm being visited by an oppressive, Gestapo type Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has its agents wearing masks, as if this is Nazi Germany revived, is horrifying!

The shock that Elon Musk, as he leaves the government, has condemned the “Big and Beautiful” bill gives hope that the Senate will reject the legislation, but at this point, there is no way to step in and stop the executive abuse of power by Donald Trump and his authoritarian Fascist supporters against millions of immigrants, most who have broken no laws other than entering without authorization into America, but with the desire for a better life!

Odd Change Of Support For Both Political Parties: Will It Affect The Future?

Ronald 7 Comments

The tradition has been that African Americans and Latinos, and people who are working class and less educated voters, tend to vote Democratic, and that white suburbanites and wealthy, educated voters vote Republican.

That changed in the Presidential Election Of 2024, but it is hard to know if it is simply a one time occurrence.

What is clear also is that young women are moving more toward the Democrats, while younger men are moving toward the Republicans, but again, that may be an outlier as well.

It makes trying to project ahead for the Midterm Congressional and state elections of 2026, and the Presidential Election of 2028, a massive challenge for both parties.

At this point, Democrats have a tremendous, talented group of Governors, along with a few Senators and Representatives, who are seen as potential national candidates.

Having so many potential candidates may be a blessing, or a curse, while the Republicans, seemingly, have far fewer potential candidates.

Recruitment of candidates for state and national office is in full swing now, as the talent pool will be particularly urgent for Democrats!

Whether the Democrats can reorganize much of the coalition that won the Presidency twice for Barack Obama ins 2008 and 2012 is a crucial matter, as we plan ahead for 2026 and 2028.