US Senate

For 15 Years, No Republican Plan For Health Insurance, And Still None!

Ronald 3 Comments

With five weeks to go until 2026 arrives, the Republican Party, once again, has no plan or ideas about health insurance for millions of Americans, who have relied on the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) since its passage in 2010, to provide health care coverage.

The truth is that Republicans have been, as a party, vehemently opposed to Obama Care, to a great extent, because it is the accomplishment of former President Barack Obama, so the reality is that Racism is a major factor in their rejection.

For 15 years, Republicans have shown a lack of concern about this premier issue, and if it was not for Chief Justice John Roberts in 2013, and Arizona Senator John McCain in 2017, the Affordable Care Act would have been obliterated years ago.

This is nothing new for the Republican Party, which has been opposed to Medicare and Medicaid, enacted into law under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 and 1966 respectively.

It is also the reality that the Republican Party has been opposed to Social Security since it became law under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935.

Had the Democratic Party not controlled the House of Representatives for 58 of 62 years from 1932-1994, and controlled the US Senate for 52 of 62 years from 1932-1994, America would not have had these premier examples of social justice.

The fact that Congress has been so evenly divided since 1994 has complicated the ability of the federal government to deal with health care and so much else in a statesmanlike manner, and endangers the lives and health of millions of Americans, moving forward!

Republican Party Splintering As Doubts About Keeping Majority In Congress Escalates!

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The sudden resignation of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greeene of Georgia from the House of Representatives, and her denunciation of Donald Trump, and the threats from MAGA supporters after Trump denounced her, is causing a split in the Republican Party.

It is leading to strong rumors that other Republicans in the House of Representatives are planning to announce their retirement, as it seems clear that Donald Trump has no regard for them and their needs.

So many have bowed down to Trump consistently, while economic problems multiply, and foreign policy issues cause a massive split among many officeholders in the party.

Midterm elections ordinarily see a major swing to the party NOT in the White House, and Democrats, despite their own internal turmoil, are more likely now than ever after the recent elections in Virginia, New Jersey, California, and local races in several states, including Pennsylvania, to regain control of the House of Representatives in the Midterm Elections of 2026.

Additionally, the possibility of the US Senate switching to Democratic control is growing, although it will be a tough battle.

Speculation Begins About Successor To Donald Trump Among MAGA Republicans, As His “Lame Duck” Status Has Begun!

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One year since the Presidential Election of 2024, and Donald Trump is facing defeats, challenges, losses, and is no longer seen as invulnerable.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a “true believer”, has denounced Trump for abandoning many of the ideas that he promoted in the campaign, and she is not the only one who is starting to rebel against the concept that Donald Trump is invulnerable.

And rumors and gossip is spreading about who will succeed Trump, as the term “lame duck” has started to permeate political discussions.

Of course, Vice President JD Vance is the theoretical successor, and might end up in the White House, as Donald Trump continues to deteriorate mentally, and as his unpredictable behavior multiplies.

But even if that happens, it is not a guarantee that Vance would be the heir of MAGA Republicans, as there are too many ambitious people to claim that Vance is a shoo in for 2028.

Among those who seem likely to compete are:

Eric Trump, the President’s younger son from his first marriage

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky

But there are others as well, including

Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia

Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri

Trump Threats To Execute Political Opponents Escalating The Constitutional Crisis That Trump Represents!

Ronald 3 Comments

Donald Trump, crazily, has accused Democratic political opponents in Congress of sedition, punishable by death, because of them stating that soldiers in the military do not have to obey illegal orders against the Constitution of the United States. They swear allegiance to the Constitution, not to a particular President or administration.

Six lawmakers, Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona Navy) and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan (CIA and Department Of Defense analyst), and House members Jason Crow of Colorado (Army), Chris DeLuzio of Pennsylvania (Navy), Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire (Navy), and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania (Air Force) reacted in condemnation, and now face death threats perpetrated by Trump’s denunciation of them.

This threat by Trump is “an alarm bell in the night”, a danger sign that the nation is moving ever closer to an authoritarian Fascist dictatorship, if the Republican Party in Congress, and the Supreme Court majority do not react in fierce opposition!

It is clear that Donald Trump is “running scared”, as he suffers defeats in federal courts, and has his own MAGA Republicans backing away from him regarding the Epstein Scandal, where he was forced to give in, as a few courageous Republicans defied him in wanting to release the records.

The entire Congress has gone along on wanting the revelation of who was involved in the abuse of young women and girls by wealthy and powerful individuals, including Donald Trump himself!

Momentous Day: Robert F. Kennedy Centennial And Joe Biden’s 83rd Birthday!

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Today, November 20, is a momentous day, as it is the Centennial of the birth of Robert K. Kennedy, former Attorney General, US Senator, and Democratic Presidential contender in 1968 before his tragic assassination.

It is also the 83rd Birthday of former President Joe Biden, who saw RFK as his model, being 17 years older, but sharing the same birthday.

Biden had a bust of RFK on his desk in the White House, and it was always evident when he was sitting and being interviewed on camera.

Joe Biden is under constant attack by Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans, but he will be rated much higher in history than Donald Trump could ever hope for.

Biden is a President who is not fully appreciated, but already is in the mid teens in ratings of Presidents, such as the Siena College Research Institute Poll of 2022 and the American Political Science Association Poll of 2024, while Trump is last or near last in both surveys.

This is a day to celebrate for both Robert F. Kennedy and Joe Biden, but also sad that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, the namesake of his father, has so disgraced his family name by his lunatic behavior as Secretary of Health and Human Services for Donald Trump, as well as his disgraceful personal behavior throughout his life, indicating a low standard of ethics and morals!

The Question Of Chuck Schumer Remaining As Senate Minority Leader

Ronald 2 Comments

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has come under fire for the reality that eight members of his caucus abandoned the unified party stand on the Federal Government Shutdown, leading to an end of the 43 day crisis, but leaving the issue of health care for millions of American unsettled as 2026 comes upon us.

Millions of Americans are learning their health care costs will dramatically increase, sometimes double or triple the amount monthly, making many have to consider abandoning any insurance coverage, a very dangerous action for anyone to consider.

So the thought is whether Schumer should give his leadership of the Senate Democrats, but the question is who would replace him, and be able to accomplish advancement of Democratic Party initiatives, leading up to the midterm Congressional Elections of 2026, and beyond.

Clearly, any Democratic Senator facing election in 2026 cannot become the Minority Leader.

But also, none of the seven Democrats who voted to end the Federal Government Shutdown can become an alternative to Chuck Schumer.

Additionally, any Democrat retiring in 2026 is ineligible for the position of Minority Leader moving forward.

Also, any Democrat considering the possibility of a White House run in 2028 would not be a likely alternative.

So looking at the present roster of Senate Democrats in the leadership group means there are slim alternatives for now to replace Schumer.

So it seems to this blogger and author, that the only possible alternatives would be the following:

Adam Schiff of California
Brian Schatz of Hawaii
Chris Van Hollen of Maryland
Elissa Slotkin of Michigan
Martin Heinrich of New Mexico
Kirsten Gillibrand of New York

Only Schatz and Gillibrand have any leadership position at the moment in the Senate—-Chief Deputy Whip and Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Caucus in the case of Schatz, and Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in the case of Gillibrand.

Two States–New Hampshire And Nevada—All Four Women Senators—Break With Democratic Party On Government Shutdown!

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An odd circumstance has occurred regarding the decision of eight Democratic Senators to support the end of the federal government shutdown without gaining assurance of health care coverage for millions of Americans.

That odd circumstance is that both New Hampshire and Nevada have two women Senators who are part of the group that has caused so much turmoil in the Democratic Party by their decision to support ending the government shutdown.

New Hampshire has Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and Nevada has Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen representing their states in the US Senate.

Nothing like this has ever happened before in American history, and one wonders how the citizens of the New England state of New Hampshire and the Desert Southwest state of Nevada will react.

Eight Senate Democrats Under Fire For Joining Republicans In Agreeing To Reopen The Federal Government!

Ronald 17 Comments

Seven Senate Democrats and Independent Angus King of Maine have come under fire for joining Republicans to pass the Budget bill to reopen the Federal Government, and end the Government Shutdown of 42 days.

Two of these eight Senators—Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen—are retiring at the end of 2026.

Durbin will be 82 at the end of his term, having served 30 years in the Senate, including times as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, and an additional 14 years in the House of Representatives.

Shaheen will be 80 shortly after leaving office after 18 years in the Senate, and an earlier six years as Governor of New Hampshire.

Three of these eight Senators—John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada—face election in 2028.

Fetterman is 56, earlier was Lieutenant Governor of his state, and is in his first term in the Senate, with a reputation of being an outlier, unpredictable and controversial in his utterances and actions.

Hassan is 67, in second term in the Senate, and former governor of her state.

Cortez Masto is 61, in her second term in the Senate, and former Attorney General of her state.

The remaining three Senators—Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Angus King of Maine—do not face voters again until 2030.

Rosen is 68, in her second term in the Senate, and served one term in the House of Representatives.

Kaine is 67, in his third term in the US Senate, after having served earlier as Governor and Lieutenant Governor of his state, and also, Mayor of Richmond. Most notably, he also was the Vice Presidential nominee for Hillary Clinton in the Presidential Election of 2016.

King is 81, in his third term in the Senate, and former governor of Maine. He is a political Independent, who caucuses with the Democrats.

This group of Senators is generally termed as “moderate”, and they are gaining a lot of criticism, for what is seen as “caving in” to the Republicans, with no certainty that any action will be taken regarding health care coverage for millions of Americans.

It is clear that a new generation of leadership is needed, as by the time the term ends for six of these eight Senators, they will be in their 70s and 80s, with the only exceptions being Fetterman and Cortez Masto.

Eight Democratic Senators Caving In To End Government Shutdown, But Will Health Care Be Sacrificed By That Action?

Ronald 6 Comments

The Democratic Party is at a crossroads, now that 8 Democratic Senators caved in, and agreed to open up the government, due to the deleterious effects of the 42 day Government Shutdown over the issue of the Affordable Care Act subsidies.

With government workers not being paid, and SNAP (Food Stamp) benefits not being available, and the aviation system in chaos, and so much else, these eight Senators, including two who are retiring in 2026, and the other six not coming up for election again until 2028 and 2030, chose to gamble on a promised vote on continuing the Affordable Care Act, but without a certainty that it will be restored for 2026.

This author and blogger realizes how difficult this situation is, and disagrees vehemently with this group of Senators, but it is a reality that the Democrats, being the party of the minority, has little control over what the federal government does.

So sadly, we may see the demise of health care for 24 million Americans, insuring more deaths and human suffering, with the issue one that should insure a Democratic takeover in the midterm elections of 2026, particularly after the amazing triumph of Democrats in the recent elections in several states and cities.

It is clear, that these 8 Senators will be condemned in history, and that will be their legacy long term. And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has lost the ability to control his caucus, a tragic circumstance.

But beyond that reality, if Donald Trump is able to rig the elections through his promotion of gerrymandering seats in the House of Representatives, or utilizes ICE and the National Guard and other law enforcement agencies to police election sites, nothing may save the American Republic, just as we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States next July!

The nation is in a major crisis with no optimism left that it will work out in a positive manner!

A Truly Divided Nation With No Sign Of Compromise!

Ronald 61 Comments

As America votes in off year elections in just a few states, the recognition is that America is a truly divided nation with no sign of compromise, as we move toward the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Republic, with every indication of Fascist authoritarianism being dominant under Donald Trump!

At present, there are 25 Trump states and 19 Anti Trump states, with only six states really competitive, both in support or opposition to Trump, and in percentages of seats in the House of Representatives.

In the 25 Trump states, 22 of them have Republican governors, and all of the state legislatures and Senate seats, as well.

Only six states really remain “competitive”—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Nevada, a total of 77 Electoral College votes.

In Electoral Votes, the Democrats have 226 from the 19 Anti Trump states and the District of Columbia. The 25 Trump states have 235 electoral votes.

Also, Nebraska and Maine have divided electoral votes, with the Second District of Nebraska often having one electoral vote going to Democrats and the Second District of Maine often having one electoral vote going to Republicans, so they balance each other.

The states that have strongly gone Republican, while formerly competitive, are Texas, Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina.

With Texas and Florida still gaining population growth, the likelihood is that both states will have more electoral votes after reapportionment in 2032, which makes the Democrats facing a massive challenge in future elections.

And California, Illinois, and New York are likely to lose Electoral votes, necessitating the need for Democrats to win the six “swing states” that have been in play, but won recently by Republicans, as in 2024!