The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Sen. Jeff Sessions to be attorney general in the Trump administration despite fierce Democratic opposition to the Alabama Republican over his record on civil rights and immigration.
The 52-47 nearly party-line vote capped weeks of divisive battles over Sessions, an early supporter of President Donald Trump and one of the Senate's most conservative lawmakers. After the vote was announced, Sessions' Republican colleagues applauded the outcome while barely a handful of Democrats did the same.
In a post-vote valedictory speech, Sessions alluded to the bitter partisanship and wished for more collegiality.
"Denigrating people who disagree with us, I think, is not a healthy trend for our body," he said.
That last remark was of course a shot at the heroic Senator Elizabeth Warren who was shut down while trying to read a letter from Coretta Scott King on the Senate floor that King wrote when Sessions was being considered for an appointment as a federal judge.
At this point I really have serious doubts that the Democrats have the numbers to stop ANY of Trump's future appointments. Which includes his Supreme Court nominee.
That does not mean that we don't stop fighting, int fact it means that we need to start fighting harder.Congratulations, America. We have an oil man at State, a billionaire idiot at Education, and a racist as Attorney General. #SwampRats— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) February 9, 2017
However we must realize that Trump is damned and determined to sabotage the government and roll back progress just as far as he can in the next two years.
Which means we better have our ducks in a row for the 2018 election cycle because that will be the first time that we really have a shot at slowing him down, if not completely stopping him.
And our presidential candidate in 2020 better be a fucking star, because we are going to need one.
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| #ShePersisted |
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/02/08/elizabeth_warren_rule_19_and_white_supremacist_ben_tillman.html
ReplyDeleteRule Used to Silence Warren Was Created to Protect Delicate Feelings of Senate’s Foremost Lynching Advocate
OT
ReplyDeleteThe NBA's Golden State Warriors Steph Curry has drawn a line in the sand with his mega bucks sponsor Under Armour relative to Under Armours association with don the con drumph ..
http://www.foxsports.com/nba/gallery/shannon-sharpe-steph-curry-drew-a-line-the-sand-over-ceos-comments-on-president-trump-020917
OT <Jim Wright
ReplyDelete"the job has to be done and theirs is not to question why, it's to do or die and ride into the valley of death when commanded. And while it may be the military’s duty to do or die, it is for us to question why." It is the DUTY of FREE citizens to question their leadership."staying in power, no matter how diminished, no matter how far they have to crawl on their bellies, is more important to them than their duty to the nation."McCain himself and those like him in Congress continue to endorse this president and his decisions."
http://www.stonekettle.com/2017/02/into-valley-of-death-again.html
Alec Baldwin Assures the Nation That His Upcoming SNL Episode Is Going to Be a ‘Big Deal’
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vulture.com/2017/02/alec-baldwin-my-snl-episode-is-going-to-be-a-big-deal.html
Frankie Boyle has penned an opinion piece on Donald Trump and it's both hilarious and snarky as hell. The Scottish comedian is notorious for his obnoxious, controversial brand of humor and this article for The Guardian is no exception.
Deletehttp://mashable.com/2017/02/09/comedian-hilarious-trump-frankie-boyle/
Donald Trump: a man so obnoxious that karma may see him reincarnated as himself
...Of course, presidents always enter office with something to prove, it’s just rarely their sanity.
You look into Trump’s eyes and you see the fear and confusion of a man who has just been told he’s got stage-four cervical cancer. He is a super-villain in a world without heroes, a man so obnoxious and unhappy that karma may see him reincarnated as himself. You kind of wish he’d get therapy, but at this stage it’s like hiring a window cleaner for a burning building.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/08/donald-trump-obnoxious-karma-reincarnated-as-himself-frankie-boyle
1902 fistfight gave rise to arcane rule that silenced Warren
ReplyDeleteA fistfight on the Senate floor involving two Southern "gentlemen" gave rise to Rule 19, the arcane Senate directive that Republicans used more than a century later to silence Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren. GOP lawmakers rebuked Warren Tuesday night for speaking against colleague and Attorney General-nominee Jeff Sessions.
She was silenced for reading the letter that Coretta Scott King wrote three decades ago criticizing the Alabama senator's record on race. Senators barred Warren from speaking on the Senate floor until Sessions' confirmation vote.
___
CONDUCT UNBECOMING
Rule 19 states that senators may not "directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another senator or to other senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a senator."
It states that when, in the opinion of the presiding officer, a senator violates that decorum, the presiding officer "shall call him to order and ... he shall take his seat."
__
RAUCOUS HISTORY
In the Senate, where men are referred to as "gentleman" and women are called "gentle lady," the rule stems from a notorious 1902 incident in which two South Carolina lawmakers got into a fistfight on the Senate floor.
http://www.mlive.com/news/us-world/index.ssf/2017/02/1902_fistfight_gave_rise_to_ar.html#incart_most-commented_news_article
Like it's never been violated before.
DeleteWell, like Warren said, Jeff Sessions is fair game now.
Awesome.
ReplyDeleteEight countries sign up to counter Trump's global anti-abortion move
The Netherlands announced in January the launch of a global fund to help women access abortion services, saying Trump's "global gag rule" would cause a funding shortfall of $600 million over the next four years.
Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Luxemburg, Finland, Canada and Cape Verde have all lent their support, Lovin said.
"(The gag order) could be so dangerous for so many women," said Lovin who posed for a photograph this month with seven other female officials signing an environmental bill, in what was seen a response to a photograph of Trump signing the gag order in the White House with five male advisors.
The global gag rule, which affects U.S. non-governmental organizations working abroad, is one that incoming presidents have used to signal their positions on abortion rights. It was created under U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Trump signed it at a ceremony in the White House on his fourth day in office. Barack Obama lifted the gag rule in 2009 when he took office.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-abortion-europe-idUSKBN15O0H7?il=0
Good for those countries!
DeleteBeaglemom
Grifting Family Seem Upset They Can't Make Money Off White House
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wmagazine.com/story/donald-trump-tweet-nordstrom-ivanka-trump
Ivanka Trump: Did the President just put the final nail in the brand's coffin?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/ivanka-trump-did-the-president-just-put-the-final-nail-in-the-brands-coffin-a7571116.html
The resistance: 1, Ivanka Trump: 0
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/09/ivanka-trump-nordstrom-boycott-resistance
Trump Enlists the White House Staff to Boost His Family Business
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/nordstrom-und-drang/516126/
House Oversight leaders want ethics review of Conway's comment on Ivanka Trump
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/318771-top-lawmakers-on-oversight-committee-to-call-for-ethics-review-of
Tapper Begins Program By Asking ‘When Did the White House Briefing Room Become QVC?’
Deletehttp://www.mediaite.com/online/when-did-the-white-house-briefing-room-become-qvc-tapper-teases-conway-on-ivanka-comments/
Bathrobed drumpf:
Deletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-bathrobe-photoshop-battle_us_589c2ac6e4b09bd304c02016?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
I don't see Warren as a viable candidate for potus. I respect her, but I think she wpuld not have the backing of the majority of Democrats. I am taking a hard look at Tom Udall of New Mexico. His record is solid and I think he has the appeal that is needed.
ReplyDeleteGo Pete!
ReplyDeleteIs Obama's official White House photographer trolling Donald Trump?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/09/pete-souza-barack-obama-official-white-house-photographer-trolling-donald-trump-instagram
https://www.instagram.com/petesouza/
https://www.instagram.com/petesouza44/
http://www.petesouza.com/portfolio.html?loopTrack=1&folio=Image%20Galleries
Rachel Maddow talked last night about Sessions' solicitor general. Dangerous in the past and dangerous now:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a52952/charles-cooper-solicitor-general/
Top Senate Democrat says has 'serious concerns' about court nominee Gorsuch
ReplyDelete..."I thought there was a deliberate strategy to duck the hard questions. And he has an obligation to answer them, not simply to the Senate but to the American people," Schumer told reporters afterward, referring to Gorsuch.
Schumer said Gorsuch declined to answer questions such as whether a ban on Muslim immigration would be constitutional or comment on what is known as the Emoluments Clause in the U.S. Constitution that bars officeholders from accepting money from foreign powers.
Supreme Court nominees routinely avoid weighing in on pending legal disputes they could end up casting a vote on if confirmed to the job. But Schumer said he was seeking Gorsuch's views on broader principles, rather than specific cases, that he believed a nominee should be able to answer.
"The judge today avoided answers like the plague," Schumer told reporters.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-gorsuch-schumer-idUSKBN15M2D3
Al Franken (if he'd run).
ReplyDeleteKeith Ellison.
Kamala Harris.
Al Franken burns the Repubs asses but good.
DeletePlease don't leave out my hero from Ohio, Sherrod Brown!
DeleteKeith Ellison.
Delete=========
ugg, I saw him on a Sunday program and he was so unprepared it was embarrassing.
My cat could have made better arguments than he did.
Homeland Security Secretary floats plan to ask US visitors for social media passwords
ReplyDeleteMeeting with Congress on Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly suggested the United States could soon ask international visitors for passwords to social media accounts.
"We want to get on their social media, with passwords: What do you do, what do you say?" Kelly told the House Homeland Security Committee about the potential vetting measure, in a moment noted by NBC News. "If they don't want to cooperate then you don't come in." The idea was one of several ideas being considered, according to Kelly, who was recently appointed by President Trump.
http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/8/14549026/homeland-security-kelley-social-media-passwords-travelers
The Republican Party, faced with the catastrophic real-world consequences of repealing the Affordable Care Act, is divided over how to proceed. Some nervous Republicans want to figure out what they want to put in place of Obamacare. Senator Mike Lee insists that Republicans repeal Obamacare first, before they decide on an alternative. And his reason is straightforward: If people saw the Republican alternative, they might not like it!
ReplyDeleteRepublicans Are Now Terrified That Obamacare Town Halls Could Get Out of Hand
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/02/08/republicans_are_now_terrified_that_obamacare_town_halls_could_get_out_of.html
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/republicans-obamacare-protests-safety-234733
Republican Senator Admits GOP Health-Care Plan Has to Remain Secret Because It Will Be Unpopular
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/02/republican-admits-why-gop-health-plan-must-remain-secret.html
http://khn.org/news/conservatives-urge-speed-up-of-health-law-repeal-dismiss-calls-for-caution/
One idiotic proposal that I've read about from various GOP House members is to give every "citizen" a $1,000. health savings account so that each of us can go out and get our own insurance. Each month I contribute over $200. for Medicare and over $500. for my supplemental insurance. And they want to eliminate Medicare too. There is no way that !,000 per year will give anyone any viable health insurance. Sheer lunacy only proposed by idiots who have no health insurance worries of their own.
DeleteBeaglemom
Well they better be terrified, they couldn't come up with anything in 8 years, now they want to throw something together to appease the ignorant minority of trump supporters.
DeleteI read it was $1200/year savings account, that probable will cover one MONTH. My plan with BCBS MI would cost about $900/month without subsidy.
House Democrat Drops A Truth Bomb On National TV By Suggesting Trump Will Be Impeached
ReplyDelete...The stench of corruption is so strong around President Trump that members of Congress are discussing impeachment less than a month into his first term. For those of you who are worried about Vice President Pence taking over if Trump is impeached, don’t be. Pence has welded himself to Trump with repeated defenses of the President’s comments about Putin and Russia. If Trump goes down, Pence is going with him.
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/02/09/house-democrat-drops-truth-bomb-national-tv-suggesting-trump-impeached.html
That would give us POTUS Paul Ryan......
DeleteEvery single person nominated by Trump to fill crucial cabinet and agency offices is the worst possible choice for the position. Health and Human Services will be in the hands of someone who dose not believe in providing health care to Americans; State will be in the hands of a Putin pal; Education in the hands of a billionaire fake Christian who is intent on ending public education; Labor will be in the hands of a business owner who hates the very idea of employee rights, and on and on. They all make Ben Carson look good except that we know, even if he has good intentions, he's not very competent and is liable to sleep through all the meetings he has to go to. Trump and his minions in the White House are intent on destroying the country, every minute of every day. Would that the GOP majority in Congress would show some moral fortitude and stop their leader in his tracks.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
http://www.ktva.com/anchorage-school-district-investigates-confederate-flag-photo-590/
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Warren has been my hero for awhile. Love how she actually demonstrates INTEGRITY which is something many of our politicians lack.
ReplyDeleteIf she thinks it's wrong, she's gonna damn well speak up, and I love her for that. McConnell's move to shut her up backfired. It's going to make her much more famous in the long run. And when Sessions turns out to be terrible, and grossly unpopular, we'll all remember how Senator Warren tried to warn us.
Elizabeth Warren might be your personal hero, but she is total no-go as President. Try again.
ReplyDeleteHey look at this latest non surprise.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ft.com/content/74408ae0-eeb3-11e6-ba01-119a44939bb6
Rupert Murdoch secretly sat in on interview with Donald Trump
News Corp boss joined Tory columnist for The Times newspaper exclusive
"It was the journalistic coup of the moment, the first British newspaper interview with Donald Trump since his victory. But there was one thing The Times did not reveal: that its proprietor Rupert Murdoch was sitting in on the conversation."
Focked News, Roosian Papaya Puppets and orange tinted media noses.
Damn. The 20-day, shit show coming out of the White House is so-o-o exhausting!
ReplyDelete