Senate Democrats

Senate Democrats Split Over Graham Platner

Ronald 15 Comments

The victory of Graham Platner in the Maine Democratic primary for the US Senate was overwhelming, but has split many Senate Democrats, who retain doubts about the controversial history of their party’s nominee.

Among those registering doubts and misgivings are:

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly
New Mexico Senator Catherine Cortez Masto
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin
New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen
New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth
Vermont Senator Peter Welch

At the same time, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and other progressive oriented Democrats emphasize the need to support Platner despite his shortcomings.

The vast majority of Democratic Senators are seeing Platner as their best hope to reach a Senate majority in the Midterm Elections of 2026.

And they point out that despite his checkered record on many fronts, the opposition Republicans have so many more checkered backgrounds, including, most notably:

Donald Trump
Pete Hegseth
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Ken Paxton

The clear conclusion is that there are few “saints” in politics, and that the American people have overlooked or had to accept shortcomings in candidates over many years.

The days of candidates, such as Gary Hart, Bob Packwood and Eric Swalwell losing their careers due to their misbehaviors, seem even more distant than the 1980s and early 1990s, when ethics and morals seemed to matter more.

This author and blogger is very uncomfortable with Platner, but every effort to gain a Democratic majority in the Senate is essential, in order to fight to resist and reverse a lot of the damage of the Trump Presidency, and gain the recovery of American democracy and the rule of law.

This author and blogger is glad he does not live in Maine, as voting directly for Platner, who comes across as unseemly in so many ways, would be a very difficult effort.

But his record is just about the same as Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, who is not beneath vicious, unwarranted attacks on his opponent, Democrat James Talarico, so the mud slinging on both sides in this midterm election cycle is already in full swing.

Massive Demonstrations All Over America After Alex Pretti Murder By ICE In Minneapolis!

Ronald 57 Comments

The tragic murder of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last Saturday by multiple ICE agents has led to massive demonstrations all over America.

The fact that there are multiple videos of the tragic event, taken by bystanders, has had the effect of neutralizing the arguments of the Trump Administration that this nurse, and also Rene Good a few weeks ago, were “domestic terrorists”, as claimed by Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, and others.

It has also led, finally, to some Republicans in Congress expressing the need for a change in policy and actions by ICE, while many Democrats and the American people want ICE dramatically changed or eliminated, although the latter clearly will not occur.

A move is being made to stop funding for ICE by Senate Democrats, and hopefully, it will start a massive change in the ability of the agency to continue its dirty deeds.

Another government shutdown may occur on Friday, as the Trump Presidency is finally on its heels, as public opinion ratings collapse.

Barack Obama, The Senate Democrats, And Health Care

Ronald Leave a comment

President Obama is scheduled to go up to Capitol Hill for a meeting with Senate Democrats at 2 pm on Sunday.

This may be the most crucial meeting and moment in the fight for health care, but it does not loom well for the President or the health care legislation, which has been a controversy for many months.

How is the President going to rally the forces in the Senate, a notoriously egotistical body of men and women who all love the sound of their own voices and have complete belief in their own virtues, to overcome their differences, particularly in relation to the “public option”, abortion, and their own individual re-election campaigns that they will face in 2010 or 2012?

This is the time to be the so called “fly on the wall”, able to observe the body language and the verbal interaction between the President and his colleagues in the Democratic party.

Barack Obama has many skills, but it is not clear yet that he is the successor to Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson in the ability to win over support by whatever means necessary.

At this point in the debate over health care, that is what is required! Unfortunately, don’t bet on it! 🙁