US Senate

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!

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.

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.

Republican Senate Critics Of Trump “Big, Beautiful” House Bill!

Ronald 32 Comments

Now that the “Big, Beautiful” Donald Trump House bill has passed by the bare margin of 215-214, it is up to the US Senate and Republican majority to have its role in the process.

This bill is so horrendous, that it is hoped that the Republican Senate will balk at it, but hard to imagine that it can be stopped.

Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Josh Hawley of Missouri all have registered problems with the bill, for different reasons.

To count on these four objectionable legislators to, somehow, save the day, and prevent the horrors of this proposed legislation, causes a sense of despair.

If all four, along with Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine, and were to ally together, it could possibly occur, assuming no Democrat would join the majority.

But that is even assuming that Murkowski and Collins would not disappoint which is no certainty!

“Giving Pass” To Marco Rubio No Longer Possible!

Ronald 3 Comments

This author and blogger has always felt, in comparison to Florida Senator Rick Scott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, that former Florida Senator, and now Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was far less objectionable, although not acceptable.

Apparently, all of the Democrats in the US Senate felt similarly, as every Senator of both parties voted for Rubio to be Secretary of State for Donald Trump.

The feeling was on this author and blogger’s part, that Marco Rubio, despite doubts about him, was the “best” member of the Trump Cabinet, less outrageous, less objectionable, less infuriating, and less arrogant and nasty.

Well, after his testimony before the Senate yesterday, and his declaration that neither he nor President Trump ever needed to obey the federal courts on the issue of “due process” and “writ of habeus corpus” regarding deportation of immigrants, now it is clear Marco Rubio is as arrogant and abusive and law breaking as all other members of the Trump Cabinet!

A number of Democratic Senators, including Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, as well as others, were outraged and stunned at what has happened to Marco Rubio.

Marco Rubio, who was such a critic of Donald Trump in 2016 and during his term on many issues, and seemed to have true principles, has “sold his soul” to Donald Trump!

When he seemed visually uncomfortable a few times at the Oval Office meetings and Trump Cabinet meetings, the thought was that he was very uncomfortable working for Trump, but that perception clearly was wrong.

So for his own future ambitions, including likely wanting to consider running for the Presidency, Marco Rubio has disgraced his name in the long run of history!

His reputation, whatever good it was, is destroyed by his kowtowing to an authoritarian leader who is only too willing to deport people of Rubio’s Cuban ethnicity as well as everyone else who is not clearly “white” South African Afrikaners, or people from countries such as Norway and Sweden (blond hair, blue eyed whites)!

Donald Trump Abuses Worsen Every Day: The Controversy Over The Qatar Luxury Jumbo Jet “Gift” To Trump For Air Force One!

Ronald 13 Comments

Donald Trump Abuses get worse every day!

Now, the nation of Qatar, which has bankrolled the Hamas terrorist group that attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, is offering Donald Trump a $400 million luxury jumbo jet that could be used, possibly, as a newer Air Force One, and then be a gift to the future Donald Trump Presidential Library and Museum!

It is good to see, at least, that a number of Republican Senators are challenging this “gift”, which is against the Emoluments Clause (Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8) in the Constitution.

This includes Senators Ted Cruz of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

Whether their concerns are about the appropriateness of such a gift, the multitude of security issues involved, or the cost to make this jet totally up to par if it is to be used as Air Force One, finally there is stated opposition to the growing autocracy and corruption of Donald Trump.

But it seems as if Trump will likely get his way, no matter what the constitutionality of the matter!

Essential To Have Younger Voices Advance In Democratic Party

Ronald 8 Comments

If the Democratic Party is to recover from the defeat in the Presidential Election of 2024, and the losing of seats in the US Senate races of 2024, it is essential that younger voices be advanced in the party structure and leadership.

With a few members of the party in both houses of Congress deciding to retire in 2026, this is the time for “new blood” to play a major role in the future.

So in the House of Representatives, this includes such members as:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
Jasmine Crockett of Texas
Maxwell Frost of Florida
Ro Khanna of California
Robert Garcia of California
Joe Neguse of Colorado
Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania
Greg Casar of Texas
Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts

and includes such members of the Senate as:

Ruben Gallego of Arizona
Chris Murphy of Connecticut
Jon Ossoff of Georgia
Cory Booker of New Jersey
Andy Kim of New Jersey

The call by Democratic National Committee Vice President David Hogg, who is just 25 years old, for a youth movement in the party in future elections, and the advancement of younger members of the party in Congress, makes total sense!

55th Anniversary Of Earth Day, But Trump Is Promoting Defiance On Environmental Issues!

Ronald 4 Comments

Wisconsin Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson is considered the brainchild of Earth Day, first celebrated on April 22, 1970, and embraced by President Richard Nixon, who went on to accomplish one of the best environmental records of all Presidents, considered just behind Theodore Roosevelt.

Later Presidents, and especially Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton (with the encouragement of Vice President Al Gore), Barack Obama, and Joe Biden—all Democrats—advocated for the environment, while Ronald Reagan in particular, and even more so, Donald Trump, have worked against facing the threat of climate change and global warming.

Instead, Trump is promoting drilling for oil and natural gas, mining for coal, and cutting down forest lands, all undermining the future of the planet, and American conservation of natural resources.

Already, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin is on a campaign to reverse the great progress made under Joe Biden and earlier Democratic Presidents.