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Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Henry Kissinger
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Rosalynn Carter
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
This isn't the kind of history you want to see created
Let’s be clear about one thing: the unprecedented – literally – ousting of sitting Speaker of the House by a maverick group of extreme-right Republicans yesterday?
Idiotic.
Last week Speaker Kevin McCarthy orchestrated a
bi-partisan effort to avoid a government shutdown. Whatever the merits of the
act, and your opinion of it, it was mundane. It was not, by any stretch of the
imagination, a grand betrayal of the Republic.
Enter Rep. Matt Gaetz, who as part of the deal McCarthy
made to secure his leadership, had pushed for a rule change to allow any single
lawmaker the ability to file a motion to vacate the Speakership.
He did so.
Gaetz and seven Republicans voted to oust; they were
joined, ironically, by 208 Democrats.
No Speaker had ever been ordered to vacate the post.
Until yesterday.
Don’t try and tell me that this was some triumph of
principle over tradition. That’s a lie, both for the extremist cadre of Republicans
and their newfound Democratic allies. The former are content to scorch the
earth, as governance seems a secondary desire to them. And the Democrats? A
petty, partisan pile-on. Unless you think they voted to oust McCarthy because he
worked with them last week, which seems like a good way to ensure no olive
branches are extended in the future.
Chaos rules the House today. There is no Speaker.
There is no easy *path* to Speakership, as any candidate would have to concede points
to the fringe to get the votes, and after yesterday, who will trust them?
If Gaetz and company wanted to demonstrate to the
world that the party is in turmoil, mission accomplished. If they wanted to handcuff
a third of the government, the mission was accomplished. Beyond that . . .
Shameful.
Friday, September 29, 2023
Dianne Feinstein
Diane Feinstein, the longest serving Senator from California and the oldest member of the Senate, has died. She was 90.
A centrist by her state's standards, in 1992 she became the first California woman to be elected to the Senate, after previously serving as Mayor of San Francisco.
That centrist reputation served her well through the first three decades of her Senate career, but put her at odds with her constituents as California moved further Left in recent years.
You might remember recent questions about her mental acuity - even from party members - as her age began to affect her work. Partly if not fully in response to that criticism, she had announced she would not seek re-election after her current term, which was to end next year.
RIP
Monday, April 19, 2021
RIP Walter Mondale
Thursday, March 4, 2021
The Centennial of the Harding Presidency
Sunday, February 7, 2021
Saturday, November 7, 2020
You Don't Say
Friday, November 6, 2020
What changed?
Democrats in 2016: "Russia rigged the election!"
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Election Day is Finally Here
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Saturday, October 3, 2020
Enough with the Ads
Friday, October 2, 2020
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Score!
I scored this great selection of political buttons at Rummage O Rama this afternoon. Of particular note, check out the Eisenhower bracelet!
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Reminder
Reminder: If you're a legal US Citizen eligible to vote, please do so today.