January 28, 2018
Jan 28 02:13 Thom Tillis vs Tina Smith Jan 28 03:03 Scarborough's scatter-brain thoughts Jan 28 10:03 Trump's uppity peasant rebellion Jan 28 10:44 Dems considering political suicide Jan 28 12:04 Immigration shoe is switching feet Jan 28 14:51 Media's continued dishonesty Jan 28 18:55 Swanson running for re-election Jan 28 21:11 Sen. Housley: Trump, senior advocate
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Thom Tillis vs Tina Smith
Saturday, I wrote this post about Tina Smith's misguided attention towards the Special Counsel. I wrote that post right after writing this post about Thad McCotter's delightful tongue-in-cheek article about the Special Counsel.
In my post about Tina Smith's attention to the special counsel, I highlighted something that Sen. Karin Housley said during a hearing on abuse at elder care facilities. Sen. Housley said "It snowballed over the Dayton administration and was completely ignored and was brushed completely under the table so I think there needs to be some apologies made and some accountability taken." This crisis was serious business. At least 1 person died. Other elderly people were sexually assaulted or ignored.
For 7+ years, Tina Smith was nowhere to be found to deal with this crisis .
While Tina Smith plays politics with the special counsel issue, a serious senator who initially dealt with the issue is abandoning his push for legislation that would've tried to protect the special counsel because Daniel Keylin, Tillis spokesman, said that the "chatter that the administration is considering removing Special Counsel Mueller has completely come to a halt. In fact, the president and his administration have spoken favorably of Special Counsel Mueller's professionalism and integrity, and recent reports indicate the investigation may soon come to an end."
Tina Smith isn't a serious legislator. While it's too soon to call her a political hack, it isn't too soon to question whether she's more than Sen. Schumer's shill.
On Friday of the Schumer Shutdown weekend, Smith voted to shut government down. On Monday, Smith voted to re-open the government by voting for the exact same bill that she voted against to start the shutdown. By comparison, Thom Tillis voted twice to keep government open and to extend the CHIP program.
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Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 2:13 AM
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Scarborough's scatter-brain thoughts
To remain semi-relevant, Joe Scarborough has taken to the Washington Post to write fanciful stories that Republicans are debasing themselves while abandoning their principles. This week, Scarborough's mild, semi-coherent diatribe focuses on the non-story of President Trump considering firing Robert Mueller.
Morning Joe writes "In more settled times, this kind of presidential assault on an independent investigation would have stirred grave concerns throughout the halls of Congress. But Trump's corrupted coalition has instead trotted out one twisted conspiracy theory after another, all designed to distract the president's most fevered fans and concoct a case against Mueller's investigation." It's important to remember that the Mueller investigation was launched to determine whether anyone in the Trump campaign contacted the Russian government to rig the 2016 presidential election.
Even after 7 months of 'investigating', Mueller's team can't identify a single person from the Trump campaign team who worked with Putin's government to rig the 2016 presidential election. Considering the amount of money and investigative manpower that's been poured into this witch hunt, I'd categorize that fact as nothing short of stunning.
After failing to find a single person in the Trump campaign who worked with Putin's government to rig the 2016 presidential election, the Mueller witch hunt next turned to trying to prove that the Trump administration obstructed justice in their attempt to hide the nonexistent Trump-Russian collusion.
Here's a question for Morning Joe: If you've done nothing wrong, what is there to cover up? Seriously, Joe, there's nothing here to find. Therefore, there's nothing there to hide. Your talk about conspiracy theories are a waste of time.
In more settled times, this kind of presidential assault on an independent investigation would have stirred grave concerns throughout the halls of Congress. But Trump's corrupted coalition has instead trotted out one twisted conspiracy theory after another, all designed to distract the president's most fevered fans and concoct a case against Mueller's investigation.
That Morning Joe is just now figuring out that President Trump is different speaks volumes to Joe's intellectual heft, not to mention Joe's new-found pretty boy features. What other idiot would create a song like this?
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The Florida pretty boy now is lecturing Republicans on how to be a true conservative? Seriously? After failing to make it as a balladeer, Morning Joe finishes his column as a prognosticator:
As a storm gathers over Washington and the world, Donald Trump's Republican Party remains complicit in his frenzied efforts to undermine the American institutions and established values that conservatives once claimed to share. And while the clouds overhead are cause for all to be concerned, it will be the husk of a once-proud Republican Party that will be swept away first by the deluge that is sure to come.
It's quite possible that the people will rise up against the GOP -- in 2024. Republicans will gain seats in the Senate in the midterms. They'll hold onto their majority in the House, too. In 2020, they'll re-elect President Trump.
When those things happen, what will Morning Joe do to resurrect his political career? The possibilities are frightening.
Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 3:03 AM
Comment 1 by Chad Q at 28-Jan-18 07:37 AM
According to Mr. Wolfe, Trump didn't want to become President so why would he be colluding with the Russians? Either Wolfe is lying or this investigation is a big waste of money. I think it's both. Also, where is the crime in colluding with anyone?
Trump's uppity peasant rebellion
It's fun watching socialists, aka Democrats, pull their hair out watching Trump's tax cuts work . The socialists, aka Democrats, aren't upset that the tax cuts, aka capitalism, are failing. Democrats are upset because capitalism is succeeding.
With tongue planted firmly in cheek, Michael Goodwin states "The cash-in-the-pocket benefits are great news to many families, but the boom is doing something else too: It's giving the millennials a firsthand lesson in economics. Following eight slow-growth years under President Barack Obama and an election where their favorite candidate, Bernie Sanders, railed against the wealthy and promised free stuff for everybody else, many young Americans were taught that socialism is their friend and capitalism their enemy. Now they are getting proof that the opposite is true. They are eyewitnesses as capitalism provides more opportunities and financial security to more people than any other system."
Despite the prosperity that's becoming increasingly clear, Democrats still won't admit that the Trump/GOP tax cuts are working. Prominent Democrats like Nancy Pelosi "likened them to cheese on a mouse trap. Former party boss Debbie Wasserman Schultz told a crowd that 'I'm not sure that $1,000 goes very far for almost anyone.'"
This must drive Democrats nuts:
The contrast with Trump is striking. His 'America is Open for Business' spiel at Davos was consistent with his promise to get the economy roaring. Never a shrinking violet, he is most convincingly authentic when cheerleading for jobs, jobs, jobs.
He starts his second year in office with the dividends piling up. As The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, the tax cuts are 'rippling through' the economy and leading all kinds of firms to explore expansion and some to consider new plants and acquisitions.
Many companies also are increasing their charitable contributions, with JPMorgan Chase saying it will boost its community-based philanthropy by 40 percent, to $1.75 billion over five years. That, too, is unique to capitalism, people and businesses freely giving away their money.
Trump is the modern-day version of economist Milton Friedman, a salesman for capitalism par excellence:
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As the tax cuts kick in and as businesses continue handing out bonuses and pay increases, Democrats will be put into the difficult position of explaining why every Democrat in the House and every Democratic senator voted against the tax cuts. To this day, that's one of the most stunning political mistakes in modern political history. Truthfully, it's inexplicable, foolish.
Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 10:03 AM
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Dems considering political suicide
According to this article , Democrats are planning on committing political suicide. According to the article, "Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opposes the immigration framework released by the White House - a potentially fatal blow for the prospective legislation in the closely divided Senate." If Democrats oppose a bill that might give 1,800,000 DREAMers a path to citizenship, their ratings with Hispanics will drop precipitously right before the midterm elections.
If that happens, the wave will be on. This time, though, it will be a red wave, albeit a small wave in the House.
Think about this. Republicans would be able to run ads saying that Democrats unanimously opposed the Trump/GOP tax cuts that produced huge bonuses, tax cuts and improved employee benefits. Think about this. That's just Round 1. Round 2 would be an ad that features Democrats making speeches on the Senate floor expressing their unwavering loyalty to DACA recipients before showing those same Democrats voting against the thing these DACA recipients want most.
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With President Trump delivering his first State of the Union Address Tuesday night, President Trump will have a nationwide audience watching. What a perfect opportunity to tell the American people his sensible blueprint for immigration reform and border security.
Democrats are right. People want DACA solved. Republicans are right, too. The American people want their borders secured and chain migration ended. People rightly think that chain migration puts the immigrants in charge of immigration policy. People think that amnesty without a border wall is foolish.
If President Trump tells the American people his plan, then challenges Democrats to oppose him, he'll push Democrats into a can't win situation. Good luck with that. Sen. Schumer isn't getting pushed into that can't-win situation. He's racing into it:
"This plan flies in the face of what most Americans believe," Schumer said on Twitter. While Trump "finally acknowledged that the Dreamers should be allowed to stay here and become citizens, he uses them as a tool to tear apart our legal immigration system and adopt the wish list that anti-immigration hard-liners have advocated for for years."
Sarah Huckabee-Sanders made sure he'll pay the price for that foolishness:
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders quickly shot back, tweeting that Schumer prefers "open borders & sanctuary cities over law & order and popular, common sense reforms."
Sen. Schumer, welcome to God's little acre: east of the rock, west of the hard place. Enjoy your stay. You'll be there a while.
Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 10:44 AM
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Immigration shoe is switching feet
Anyone that thinks Republicans are in a difficult situation on immigration isn't paying attention. This week, Chuck Schumer took to Twitter, saying "The clock is ticking for #Dreamers. If we don't solve this problem in 15 days, the Republicans are going to have to explain to dreamers what their plan is to prevent them from being deported." Unfortunately for Sen. Schumer, President Trump is putting Sen. Schumer and other Democrats in a difficult position.
President Trump has put Democrats in a tricky situation because the Trump administration "proposal on immigration will contain a path to citizenship for up to 1.8 million young people brought into the United States as children as part of a package that also includes $25 billion for a border wall and other security measures. President Trump's plan would also include a massive cut in family-based immigration and the end to a diversity visa lottery system that gives preference to immigrants from under-represented countries, according to a White House briefing for congressional staffers and Trump allies hosted by White House senior adviser Stephen Miller."
Whether they'll admit it or not, Democrats can't vote against this bill because it's what DREAMers want most. Voting against it, then saying that they weren't willing to compromise with Republicans on a once-in-a-lifetime offer won't sit well with DACA recipients.
If Sen. Schumer thought he got tough treatment over shutting down government, he hasn't seen anything yet. Americans of all political stripes will see Democrats exposed as phonies. They've told Hispanics that Republicans are racists and that Democrats are their saviors. If Democrats filibuster this bill, that facade will disappear instantly. This tweet will haunt Democrats for years:
The clock is ticking for #Dreamers. If we don't solve this problem in 15 days, the Republicans are going to have to explain to dreamers what their plan is to prevent them from being deported.
- Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 24, 2018
In this year's mid-term election, Republicans will benefit by being seen as reasonable. Democrats will be hurt for looking unreasonable.
Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 12:04 PM
No comments.
Media's continued dishonesty
The media's cluelessness is displayed in this Our View editorial . For instance, the editorial says "In just the past few weeks, the president offended much of the world with his derogatory comments about poor and struggling countries. He hammered away at Democrats over the government shutdown. And he continues to assail the FBI and special investigator Robert Mueller's probe into Russia's influence in U.S. elections."
First, let's admit that Democrats deserved to get hammered for shutting down the government. Asking 100 Democrats why they shut down the government and you'll likely get at least 50 different answers. The truth is that they likely voted to shut the government down for 2 reasons. First, most Democrats likely voted to shut government down because Sen. Schumer told them to. Next, a handful of Democrat senators voted to shut the government down because they have presidential aspirations.
Missing in the Democrats' reasons is because it was the right thing to do. Three days later, 33 Democrats voted to re-open the government by voting for the exact same bill they voted against on Friday night. If highlighting that type of duplicitousness isn't justified, then political speech is worthless.
Next, President Trump isn't assailing the FBI. That's been the Democrats' talking point forever. It's a bald-faced lie. President Trump has been criticizing the FBI's political leadership because they've tried undercutting him while treating Mrs. Clinton with kid gloves. Law enforcement agencies that selectively enforce this nation's laws are virtually worthless. When a small handful of political appointees to the FBI determine which laws they'll enforce and which people they'll give preferential treatment to, this nation is lost.
To the St. Cloud Times: spare me the sanctimony.
This past week he took up immigration, specifically talking about linking together legal immigration (think DACA) along with his oft-mentioned border wall.
This will be one of the centerpieces of President Trump's State of the Union Address. If he does it right, he'll put Democrats in the difficult position of either siding with DACA recipients or their special interest allies that want the immigration issue to campaign on and that fund the Democrats' campaigns.
This is often known as the moment of truth. Democrats either reveal themselves as caring only about the special interests or they show that they'll do the right thing. If Democrats don't side with the DACA recipients, which they've announced they won't do, they'll be in political peril for another decade or longer.
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Seriously, if Sen. Manchin survives his re-election bid, he'd be better off as a Republican. He and Sen. Schumer fit together like oil and water mix together.
Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 2:51 PM
Comment 1 by eric z at 29-Jan-18 09:57 AM
I notice you are not contending that "shithole countries" was a wise choice of words; and the FBI is a junior agency to the DOJ, so blame Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III, weed warrior without equal in fiddling while you and others are writing as if Rome is burning.
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 29-Jan-18 10:08 AM
It's indisputable that the FBI got politicized before Jeff Sessions got there. Don't blame him. Blame Lynch & Holder for that.
Swanson running for re-election
Tom Hauser's tweet is the first to break the news that Lori Swanson isn't running for governor. Instead, she's running for re-election to be Minnesota's Attorney General. Hauser's tweet simply states "JUST IN: MN Attorney General Lori Swanson announces she will run for re-election as AG rather than run for governor."
I'm betting that this will start the speculation of whether this means Tim Pawlenty is getting into the gubernatorial race.
In Swanson's announcement , she said "I appreciate the support of the many people who have encouraged me to run for Governor. I signed up with my fellow Minnesotans for a four-year term as Attorney General. While I am complimented that recent polls show me in a leadership position if I were to run for Governor, the work of the Attorney General's Office is at a critical juncture for the next two months. I must focus all my energy and attention on that work."
Did Lori Swanson decide not to run because she heard TPaw is running? This isn't an endorsement of TPaw. It's the perception amongst the chattering classes that TPaw is unbeatable. That's still an untested theory that might never get proven or disproven.
Here's Hauser's tweet announcing Swanson's decision:
JUST IN: MN Attorney General Lori Swanson announces she will run for re-election as AG rather than run for governor. pic.twitter.com/j2IQlP7qIK
- Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) January 28, 2018
Let the speculation begin.
Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 6:55 PM
Comment 1 by eric z at 29-Jan-18 09:44 AM
Pawlenty likes his big bank lobbyist paychecks. The man has fully exchanged Sam's Club for the country club, liking those people better as more genteel. You can hope, but don't expect.
Comment 2 by eric z at 29-Jan-18 09:49 AM
My intuition says Swanson recognized time of precinct caucusing is days away, and it just set in her mind that she had to commit one way or the other. She's been a good AG. Active enough on the budget her office has been constrained to work with under Pawlenty a time ago, under Daudt now. She's okay.
Niska was the best candidate your party had and he dropped pursuit of the AG office. It seems a nullity, GOP side.
Comment 3 by eric z at 29-Jan-18 09:52 AM
A third and final comment: Can you and readers here say without looking it up who in the GOP is seeking the AG office?
Yeah. Right.
Sen. Housley: Trump, senior advocate
There's no doubt that Sen. Karin Housley is a strong advocate for seniors, especially those living in elder care facilities. Last week's hearing on elder care abuse proved how passionate Sen. Housley is about the issue. Rather than speak like a politician spewing policy, Sen. Housley sounded like a relative looking for justice for a parent who'd gotten abused. She also sounded like a skilled litigator trying to get to the bottom of this crisis .
During the hearing, Sen. Housley said "How long did the Minnesota Department of Health know this was going on and cover it up? I have to say it's been disappointing to learn what's been happening for the last I don't know how many years."
Daniel Pollock, the acting commissioner of the state Department of Health, replied "We openly acknowledge that in recent years the Office of Health Facility Complaints really has not met the reasonable and appropriate expectations of Minnesotans when it comes to investigating maltreatment complaints in a timely way."
TRANSLATION: I admit that we didn't give a damn because our pay isn't tied to our performance.
This weekend, Sen. Housley stopped past WCCO studios to be interviewed by Esme Murphy:
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The part that stung Esme was when she said "The economy though -- U.S. News and World Report named us the third best state in the country -- 2017 the blistering pace of construction in the Twin Cities in recent years is one sign of an economy firing on all cylinders. Don't they deserve credit for that?" Sen. Housley replied "There's still a lot of room for improvement. You know, you go up to the Iron Range and those people are suffering up there. They need jobs up there and they really need to have their voices heard."
Sen. Housley is an impressive candidate and an impressive legislator. She isn't the type of legislator that'll let bureaucrats off the hook. When they come before her committee, they'd better be prepared and they'd better tell the truth from start to finish.
By comparison, I can't see Tina Smith being much more than Sen. Schumer's shill. That isn't to say that Smith isn't smart. I'm just saying that she's like most Democrats in that they do what they're told.
Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 9:11 PM
Comment 1 by eric z at 29-Jan-18 09:32 AM
Nanny State regulatory advocate; not trusting the market to reach an optimal government hands-off solution. Same as with your guys on reproductive rights and family reproductive planning liberty. Won't you ever let up and trust the markets you at times espouse - when convenient? Other times, it's Nanny State again and again?
You have Trump-appointed Pai at FCC wanting to preempt states from protective principles of Net Neutrality. Ex-Verizon lawyer Pai, sucking up to Verizon and Comcast so that the net becomes as messed up as cable TV, and I may have to pay extra to read your posting. You guys.
When will you stop?
