Category Archives: senate
Worried that Trump Less than a Stable Genius
After the March 6 Capitol riot world leaders from China’s military brass to America’s Nancy Pelosi worried that President Trump was less than a stable genius. So General Milley called his Chinese counterpart to assure him he’d let him know if Trump ordered an attack.
The general also said that President Biden rejected his advice to keep a force of 2,500 troops in Afghanistan. He didn’t resign but described the withdrawal as a logistical success but a strategic failure.
Four New Justices and Two Senators in D.C.
The House introduced legislation last week to pack the Supreme Court with four new justices. So why not add a couple senators while they’re at it? Done. They passed a bill on Thursday to make Washington DC the 51st state.
Biden Unlikes Filibuster Relic of Jim Crow Era
President Biden has unliked the filibuster. He now thinks it’s a relic of the Jim Crow past.
However, he used to think the filibuster was a relic of “fair play.” He said so in a speech on the Senate floor in 2005. Senator Ben Sasse read Biden’s speech aloud on Wednesday night. But if you’d like to hear it from the crow’s mouth here’s Senator Biden himself.
By the way, Jim Crow is “Jim Eagle” compared to the Georgia voting law passed last week.
Scorched Earth Response to Filibuster Nuclear Option
Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell gave a “scorched earth” speech last week. Democrats have been threatening to end the filibuster which requires 60 votes to pass legislation. But McConnell said if they do that they’ll turn the Senate into a “100 car pile-up.” And nothing will get done:
Let me say this very clearly for all 99 of my colleagues: Nobody serving in this chamber can even begin — can even begin to imagine — what a completely scorched earth Senate would look like.
Mitch McConnell on the U.S. Senate floor
Senate rules require the consent of all its members to conduct business. So Republicans could easily grind the place to a halt. For example they could withhold consent to minor votes without quorum calls.
Harry Reid invoked the “nuclear option” in 2013 to kill the filibuster for approving most presidential appointments. But when the worm turned McConnell added Supreme Court nominees to Reid’s list and Trump landed three new justices.
Citizen Trump Impeachment Trial Underway
The Citizen Trump impeachment trial is off and running under the watchful eye of Senator Patrick Leahy. And that’s because Chief Justice Roberts turned down the gig. The Constitution calls for the Chief Justice to preside over presidential impeachments. But Joe Biden’s busy, so there’s no president in the room. Anyway this is more efficient because Senator Leahy also gets a vote on Trump’s guilt or innocence, so he’s judge and jury.
Citizen Trump
The Dems have their reasons for beating a dead dog-faced pony soldier. If they convict Trump he can’t run for office again. But they beat a live President Trump last election. So Professor Charles Lipson wonders why they’d want him off the ballot in future elections.
