US Senate

51 Years Since Richard Nixon Resignation

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Today, August 9, marks the 51st Anniversary of the resignation from the Presidency of Richard Nixon, due to the Watergate Scandal.

A half century ago, his Republican Party had true principles and convictions, and their leadership made it clear in a visit to the White House that Nixon was on the road to being easily impeached by the House, with minority Republican support, as well as the Democratic Party majority, and that he would be unable to gain 34 Republican votes to save him from conviction in the US Senate.

Sadly, today, the Republican Party is owned totally by Donald Trump, with only a very few principled Republicans who have opposed him at any time.

THe Republican Party has lost its conservative principles and its soul, and the nation is in the process of the development of a Fascist authoritarianism, which endangers the US Constitution, American Democracy and the rule of law.

Future Hopes For Democrats: James Talarico, Maxwell Frost, David Hogg

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In the midst of horrendous times under Donald Trump and the Republican Party majority in both houses of Congress, there are encouraging signs of future hope for Democrats in the younger generation.

Three such examples are Texas State Legislator James Talarico; Florida Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost; and Youth activist David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland, Florida, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Massacre in 2018.

Talarico is considering a run for US Senate in Texas at age 36, while Frost at age 28 has made a name for himself in the House of Representatives.

Hogg at age 25 is trying to promote younger people running for public office, and has, in the process, alienated older establishment Democrats, and was pushed out as a Vice President of the Democratic National Committee.

While it may not happen, it would be ideal if Talarico could be elected to the Senate, and for Frost to decide to run for the Senate in 2026, and for Hogg to have the opportunity to run for the House of Representatives.

Even if not occurring immediately in 2026, these three young men are positive signs for the future of the Democratic Party.

Early Prognosis Of Potential Republican Presidential Contenders In 2028

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Already, just short of six months into the second term of Donald Trump, speculation is rampant as to potential Republican Presidential contenders in 2028.

From this author and blogger’s perspective, it is a literal “horror’s list” of potential Presidential nominees.

It includes:

Vice President JD Vance, assuming he does not succeed to the Presidency during this term

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also, presently, National Security Advisor

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, primarily responsible for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which now will have more funds to promote arrest and deportation than many government militaries worldwide have.

US Senators Ted Cruz of Texas; Rand Paul of Kentucky; and Tim Scott of South Carolina, with the first two having contended against Donald Trump in 2016.

Governors Brian Kemp of Georgia; Glenn Youngkin of Virginia (both who will be out of their Governorships at the end of 2026 and 2025 respectively): and Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas, former Press Secretary to Trump in his first term.

There may be other contenders as well, but looking at this list, it is a horrible group, with this author and blogger’s personal opinion being that Noem, Cruz, and Huckabee Sanders are the worst of the worst.

But Vance, Paul, and Scott are not much “better”, and Kemp and Youngkin, while comparatively less controversial, are still far from adequate.

Out of this list, Marco Rubio is the “best”, but simply not being as horrendous as the others!

Hopefully, none of these or any other Republican contenders gain the White House in the Presidential Election of 2028!

Lisa Murkowski And Don Bacon Disappoint Those Who Thought They Had Basic Principles!

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When one looks at the cave in of Congressional Republicans on the “Big And Beautiful” Bill that just passed Congress, wiping out a lot of “The Great Society” of Lyndon B. Johnson from six decades ago, what particularly disturbs is that only three Senators and two House members voted against the legislation.

Had one more US Senator and two more House members voted against, the legislation would have failed, and would have had to go back for further consideration and modification, hopefully making it less onerous.

It is amazing how members of both houses of Congress, that were opposed to adding to the deficit, and those who made clear their concern about the Medicaid Cuts, still went ahead and voted for the Senate bill, which was more extreme than the House bill.

So called “principled” Republicans demonstrated that they were NOT “Profiles in Courage”, and two come to mind.

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon both seemed to be people of principle, who would stand up for the needs of their constituents and the nation at large.

But both failed to do so, and now makes this author and blogger look at both as no longer believable, and really, no better than the multitude of Congressional Republicans surrounding them!

Donald Trump Has Set Out To Destroy “The Great Society” And “The New Deal”!

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Clearly, Donald Trump and his “Project 2025” has set out to destroy “The Great Society” of Lyndon B. Johnson, and given time and ability, the next goal is to wipe out “The New Deal” of Franklin D. Roosevelt!

IF the Democrats do not win control of the House of Representatives in the Midterm Congressional Elections of 2026, nothing will stand in the way of further destruction of federal agencies and programs.

The ability to win the US Senate is a tall order, but Democrats must find a way to flip four seats, and not lose any of their members.

Otherwise, the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), already under attack, will be also under threat, as well as environmental reforms promoted by Theodore Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden!

The last century and more of reforms will be under danger of total destruction!

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

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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! :(

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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?

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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!

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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!

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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.