Erick, why do you think that the grassroots aggressively promoting Rick Scott is a mistake? Is the point that this would hurt him in the Senate? We really don't need a new majority leader to thwart Trump's reform efforts, and it looks very much as though that is what McConnell intends. I have been suspecting that scheduling this for right after the election was deliberate in case Trump won. Your thoughts?
It is due to the unique dynamics of the Senate. The Founders envisioned one chamber of Congress that was intentionally insulated from short-term political pressures, unlike the House. As much as I hate to reference that snooty, liberal rag POLITICO, they had a smart summary the other day:
"There’s probably no group of Republicans more insulated from an outside pressure campaign than the 53 senators and senators-elect who will be voting Wednesday on [Mitch McConnell's] replacement.
"Most of them don’t have to run until 2028 or later. Some won’t run again at all. And, crucially, the vote is by secret ballot , meaning there’s no public accountability for how they vote."
Yes, I forgot about the secret ballot part. That stinks. How is it that they can have secret ballots? They are supposed to work for the American people. If we cannot hold them accountable, they can be as duplicitous as they choose without consequence. Not good :(
what we see here in middle Ga (no, the news you see in California or Maine is not the same national news I see in Ga) I know this because I used to travel for work. The mainstream media cannot seem to wrap their heads around the fact that Trump won. I also don't think they would know the truth if it hit them in the ass with a bass fiddle. I also think what you see on TV (streamed and cable adds) is based on an algorithm from your phone history. I don't think we are all watching the same commercials.
As a Texan, I despise Corny and have actively supported candidates who have attempted to primary him and always undervote him in the general. He has not protected our rights, so he has failed to earn my vote, period.
He needs to appoint people to lead departments who will be feared by the incompetent bureaucrats. Make them worry when his/her representative shows up and wants to know why things were not done.
Leaders do not have to be at every catastrophic event and consume vital people and resources. They send qualified representatives to assist the local authorities to obtain the help they actually need.
I see that overnight the Repubs have secured the House, absent the Dems overturning at least 3 close districts.
By my reading, holding the house shuts down the Dems impeachment disruption for at least the first 2 years. After that it would be a waste of energy to attack a lame duck, so President Trump may have neutralized a major disruption.
Agree with you on all points. The extreme left is either in complete denial concerning the reasons for his victory and/or rapidly assembling a circular firing squad. Hard to imagine how the saner heads can prevail given the complete wokeness and clueless of the extreme elements of the Dems now fractured coalition.
Eric: You wrote " What I also know from my years as a conservative activist is that United States Senators of both parties resent like hell when the grassroots make a demand on who the party’s Senate leader should be or loudly side with one person."
May I state without reservation that, I, a United States Citizen, strongly resent that any United States elected official, due respect for their office notwithstanding, would dare resent any demand, idea, suggestion, plea, directive, anything coming from any single, or any group of, United States citizens! And frankly, Eric, I am shocked that you seem to think that's acceptable!
Just yesterday you posted a poem that satirically posited government officials being so disenfranchised from their citizens that they should/would just replace those citizens. Now today, you think it's acceptable for a U S Senator, regardless of party affiliation, to have a bad attitude toward their citizens!
Cornyn and Thune are consummate RINO's who will undo every good thing in the Senate. Scott is a pragmatist who would fit ideally in that slot.
And where does Trump get off "requiring" anything here? He's not in the Senate; and can say what he'd like, but that's it.
And Rubio as Secretary of State is a disaster waiting to happen. I frankly don't think he's got the intellect for that kind of job. LIke LIndsey Graham, he's all about what ever the current political winds blow his way.
I also hate to see all the solid GOP representatives forfeiting that for these positions. Special elections are tricky and could actually swing the balance in the House to the Democrats.
I agree, Erick, the picks so far are pretty good. Interesting though that Trump is requiring that any candidate for Leader of the Senate pledge to allow recess appointments, essentially avoiding any oversight, even from a Republican controlled Senate. It is in these recess appointments where I expect the clown car to roll back into town. Perhaps RFK Jr, for Secretary of Health, Rudy for AG, and The My Pillow Guy for Secretary of Commerce? And maybe Tucker Carlson as Ambassador to Russia?
Despite the fact that you cannot criticize any appointments yet, it sounds as if you have already decided that the glass is 3/4 empty. Why not hold off jumping to conclusions , after all the one thing we do know is that in total his picks will be a lot better than Biden’s and some will have business and/or other experience appropriate for their positions.
Erick you didn’t mention the best one of all, Tom Homan for Border Czar. Awesome! Watching him chew up and spit out dumb little AOC in past hearings is straight fire.
Ditto ... Homan in that position may be able to accomplish more to restore our nation as a nation (a construct with actual borders and genuine citizenship requirements) than any other Trump appointee.
Erick, why do you think that the grassroots aggressively promoting Rick Scott is a mistake? Is the point that this would hurt him in the Senate? We really don't need a new majority leader to thwart Trump's reform efforts, and it looks very much as though that is what McConnell intends. I have been suspecting that scheduling this for right after the election was deliberate in case Trump won. Your thoughts?
It is due to the unique dynamics of the Senate. The Founders envisioned one chamber of Congress that was intentionally insulated from short-term political pressures, unlike the House. As much as I hate to reference that snooty, liberal rag POLITICO, they had a smart summary the other day:
"There’s probably no group of Republicans more insulated from an outside pressure campaign than the 53 senators and senators-elect who will be voting Wednesday on [Mitch McConnell's] replacement.
"Most of them don’t have to run until 2028 or later. Some won’t run again at all. And, crucially, the vote is by secret ballot , meaning there’s no public accountability for how they vote."
Yes, I forgot about the secret ballot part. That stinks. How is it that they can have secret ballots? They are supposed to work for the American people. If we cannot hold them accountable, they can be as duplicitous as they choose without consequence. Not good :(
Wow! That's enough bombshells to win a war, but they lost. What a herd they are. Do they all get the same message at the same time?
Great commentary today! I like his picks, so far and my hope is they will move slow and steady in making needed changes.
I am pulling for Scott and hope those who have “Pull” will quietly push for him.
what we see here in middle Ga (no, the news you see in California or Maine is not the same national news I see in Ga) I know this because I used to travel for work. The mainstream media cannot seem to wrap their heads around the fact that Trump won. I also don't think they would know the truth if it hit them in the ass with a bass fiddle. I also think what you see on TV (streamed and cable adds) is based on an algorithm from your phone history. I don't think we are all watching the same commercials.
As a Texan, I despise Corny and have actively supported candidates who have attempted to primary him and always undervote him in the general. He has not protected our rights, so he has failed to earn my vote, period.
What did he do to make you feel this way?
The senate is a herd of cats. I sure hope they can come together for a change rather than undermining each other. That leader is key.
The Senate is about to lose 2 good men to the Prez. I hope they are replaced with people as good as Vance and Rubio.
He needs to appoint people to lead departments who will be feared by the incompetent bureaucrats. Make them worry when his/her representative shows up and wants to know why things were not done.
Leaders do not have to be at every catastrophic event and consume vital people and resources. They send qualified representatives to assist the local authorities to obtain the help they actually need.
Erick,
I see that overnight the Repubs have secured the House, absent the Dems overturning at least 3 close districts.
By my reading, holding the house shuts down the Dems impeachment disruption for at least the first 2 years. After that it would be a waste of energy to attack a lame duck, so President Trump may have neutralized a major disruption.
Can you speak to parts of this today?
Cheers
Just the facts - from the media- would be nice.
Tom Holman as Border 'Czar.' Is another stellar pick.
I'm very encouraged so far by the team with which Trump is surrounding himself.
Agree with you on all points. The extreme left is either in complete denial concerning the reasons for his victory and/or rapidly assembling a circular firing squad. Hard to imagine how the saner heads can prevail given the complete wokeness and clueless of the extreme elements of the Dems now fractured coalition.
Eric: You wrote " What I also know from my years as a conservative activist is that United States Senators of both parties resent like hell when the grassroots make a demand on who the party’s Senate leader should be or loudly side with one person."
May I state without reservation that, I, a United States Citizen, strongly resent that any United States elected official, due respect for their office notwithstanding, would dare resent any demand, idea, suggestion, plea, directive, anything coming from any single, or any group of, United States citizens! And frankly, Eric, I am shocked that you seem to think that's acceptable!
Just yesterday you posted a poem that satirically posited government officials being so disenfranchised from their citizens that they should/would just replace those citizens. Now today, you think it's acceptable for a U S Senator, regardless of party affiliation, to have a bad attitude toward their citizens!
It's absolutely unacceptable.
He didnt say it was acceptable. He said it was reality.
Really, it is the job of the House of Representatives to listen to (or act like they listen to) all the rabble. The Senate tries to stay above that.
Cornyn and Thune are consummate RINO's who will undo every good thing in the Senate. Scott is a pragmatist who would fit ideally in that slot.
And where does Trump get off "requiring" anything here? He's not in the Senate; and can say what he'd like, but that's it.
And Rubio as Secretary of State is a disaster waiting to happen. I frankly don't think he's got the intellect for that kind of job. LIke LIndsey Graham, he's all about what ever the current political winds blow his way.
I also hate to see all the solid GOP representatives forfeiting that for these positions. Special elections are tricky and could actually swing the balance in the House to the Democrats.
I want Trump to appoint somebody Tucker Carlson rails against, then I will know it’s a good pick.
I agree, Erick, the picks so far are pretty good. Interesting though that Trump is requiring that any candidate for Leader of the Senate pledge to allow recess appointments, essentially avoiding any oversight, even from a Republican controlled Senate. It is in these recess appointments where I expect the clown car to roll back into town. Perhaps RFK Jr, for Secretary of Health, Rudy for AG, and The My Pillow Guy for Secretary of Commerce? And maybe Tucker Carlson as Ambassador to Russia?
Despite the fact that you cannot criticize any appointments yet, it sounds as if you have already decided that the glass is 3/4 empty. Why not hold off jumping to conclusions , after all the one thing we do know is that in total his picks will be a lot better than Biden’s and some will have business and/or other experience appropriate for their positions.
It was a joke. Hopefully.
Whew!
Erick you didn’t mention the best one of all, Tom Homan for Border Czar. Awesome! Watching him chew up and spit out dumb little AOC in past hearings is straight fire.
Ditto ... Homan in that position may be able to accomplish more to restore our nation as a nation (a construct with actual borders and genuine citizenship requirements) than any other Trump appointee.