As a foreigner, I don't fully understand what's going on. If the Republicans have majority in both places why can't Trump have who he wants? Is the fundamental issue that there are too many Rinos who won't let the President be a proper Republican president?
The upper house, the Senate, is really the only body that counts for appointments (yes, the House could play a role by refusing to allow the Senate to adjourn if Trump were to pursue a strategy of "recess appointments" (basically, sneaking nominees into posts for a limited time while Senate is out of session), but that doesn't look likely to happen). On January 3rd, Republicans will have 53 Senate seats, Democrats (and a few Independents who caucus with them) will have 47. Basically, Trump could afford to lose 3 Republican Senators on an appointment (no Democrats can be expected to cross over, as that party enforces Supreme Soviet-level discipline), as VP Vance would come in and break the tie via his dual role as President of the Senate.
I am coming to the conclusion that, while Donald Trump was undeniably a superb candidate for President, alas he is terrible at governance (or even management). After all the supposed lessons leaned from his first term, he still produces a mediocre cabinet riddled with people at cross-purposes with his own stated aims and with people who, while correct on policy and loyal, nevertheless are more PR stunts than serious choices. (I might put Gaetz in that category, but certainly Hegseth and Bondi). Why go with risky, flashy nominations when very competent America First alternatives are available? The answer, unfortunately, is that at the end of the day Trump is merely what we all knew him to be from the beginning, a showman. I may be wrong. I hope I’m wrong. But my expectations for the Great Draining of the Swamp are now quite low. At this point, I’ll just be happy if he manages to keep us out of WWIII.
Truly brilliant Machavallian strategy , to cleverly move aside someone who has more real enemies than friends in the upper echelons of political corruption , which regardless of your party , permeates throughout the Establishment.
He’s nominating Pam Bondi former FL AG. She is quire the rock star down here. She also served as counsel of many of his legal battles. She’ll be good, not quite as fierce as Gaetz, but an excellent attorney.
When requested to by the governor (her boss) she assigned a special prosecutor to the case. She agreed with the family attorney (Crump)that Zimmermans attorney shouldn’t be allowed to question him, which may have or not been the correct legal call. The Last Refuge disagrees, someone feeds him some good info now and then but at the end of the day he’s a Publix manager with I’m not sure how much legal training he has for that job.
Once again overlooking many OBVIOUS choices in favor of someone marginal or questionable. It’s clear Trump is not assembling the best team possible. Lots of horse-trading and haggling going on. Kinda counter-intuitive for a team that’s supposed to “drain the swamp.”
Getting pretty tired of all the rationalizing of Trump’s choices and the silly comments about “4D chess.” Sundance is as guilty of this as anybody. But even he is throwing his hands up in despair now.
It sees to me that Democrat administrations usually get their people confirmed. It's like Manual said about self-immolation. I wish the GOP had taken, WI, VA, NV and AZ.
I like the idea of Bailey, but he may have gone too hard on abortion and other "morality issues" in MO to cause Collins, Murkowski, Caputo and the like to buckle under vociferous "selling out all women" pressure from the Dems/media. Todd Blanche seems like a decent option, as he has solid federal prosecutor and white-collar experience and, most important, has been directly on the business end of all the crap the DS has pulled against Trump and Manafort. Don't really trust Lee...just a hunch from some of this dithering in the past.
I read that the same old suspects, Collins and Murkowski, said no to Gaetz. They are women who are squishy and love to wield power as the Republican feminist conscience; and Gaetz apparently has some sex scandals in his closet. Nearly every Congressman has some skeletons they want to keep hidden. Democrats by and large don't care - for them a scandal can be a resume enhancer with their base. Republicans, nearly always bent on self-immolation of some kind, will fold at the slightest indication that a fight may be necessary. And if you are going to fight, why do it over Gaetz, who sunk McCarthy (and sadly stuck us with the even worse Johnson)?
It's easy for Trump to recover from this. First, appoint someone who's a better lawyer than Gaetz and will still clean house at the DOJ. And then tell Thune to inform his women that they got their scalp and there will be no more, or they will be washing laundry on some useless, no-name Senate committees. Or better yet, those two can become Democrats, where no one will care what they think.
Trump may have gotten ahead of himself with Gaetz. He had to know that he would run into trouble with the usual suspects in the Senate. If the House and the Senate want to play 2016 with Trump, in 2026 the Rs lose both.
They've got to automatically primary every one of these RINOs who raise no objection to whatever whack job a D president nominates but their tiny little hearts simply couldn't endure a strong republican nominee. They've got to know. If you only punch right, you'll have a primary opponent from the right.
As a foreigner, I don't fully understand what's going on. If the Republicans have majority in both places why can't Trump have who he wants? Is the fundamental issue that there are too many Rinos who won't let the President be a proper Republican president?
The upper house, the Senate, is really the only body that counts for appointments (yes, the House could play a role by refusing to allow the Senate to adjourn if Trump were to pursue a strategy of "recess appointments" (basically, sneaking nominees into posts for a limited time while Senate is out of session), but that doesn't look likely to happen). On January 3rd, Republicans will have 53 Senate seats, Democrats (and a few Independents who caucus with them) will have 47. Basically, Trump could afford to lose 3 Republican Senators on an appointment (no Democrats can be expected to cross over, as that party enforces Supreme Soviet-level discipline), as VP Vance would come in and break the tie via his dual role as President of the Senate.
I am coming to the conclusion that, while Donald Trump was undeniably a superb candidate for President, alas he is terrible at governance (or even management). After all the supposed lessons leaned from his first term, he still produces a mediocre cabinet riddled with people at cross-purposes with his own stated aims and with people who, while correct on policy and loyal, nevertheless are more PR stunts than serious choices. (I might put Gaetz in that category, but certainly Hegseth and Bondi). Why go with risky, flashy nominations when very competent America First alternatives are available? The answer, unfortunately, is that at the end of the day Trump is merely what we all knew him to be from the beginning, a showman. I may be wrong. I hope I’m wrong. But my expectations for the Great Draining of the Swamp are now quite low. At this point, I’ll just be happy if he manages to keep us out of WWIII.
Truly brilliant Machavallian strategy , to cleverly move aside someone who has more real enemies than friends in the upper echelons of political corruption , which regardless of your party , permeates throughout the Establishment.
Most unfortunate he became the sacrificial lamb .
Watch your back Pete !
He’s nominating Pam Bondi former FL AG. She is quire the rock star down here. She also served as counsel of many of his legal battles. She’ll be good, not quite as fierce as Gaetz, but an excellent attorney.
I have a concern about Bondi. Wasn't she on the wrong side of the attempted railroading of George Zimmerman?
When requested to by the governor (her boss) she assigned a special prosecutor to the case. She agreed with the family attorney (Crump)that Zimmermans attorney shouldn’t be allowed to question him, which may have or not been the correct legal call. The Last Refuge disagrees, someone feeds him some good info now and then but at the end of the day he’s a Publix manager with I’m not sure how much legal training he has for that job.
Once again overlooking many OBVIOUS choices in favor of someone marginal or questionable. It’s clear Trump is not assembling the best team possible. Lots of horse-trading and haggling going on. Kinda counter-intuitive for a team that’s supposed to “drain the swamp.”
Getting pretty tired of all the rationalizing of Trump’s choices and the silly comments about “4D chess.” Sundance is as guilty of this as anybody. But even he is throwing his hands up in despair now.
Why is no one talking about Sydney Powell for AG ?
" you cannot be serious " in the words of one far more credible than even Jesse Smollets council.
She an excellent attorney, but allowed herself to be duped in 2020.
It sees to me that Democrat administrations usually get their people confirmed. It's like Manual said about self-immolation. I wish the GOP had taken, WI, VA, NV and AZ.
Thanks, Turtle.
I like the idea of Bailey, but he may have gone too hard on abortion and other "morality issues" in MO to cause Collins, Murkowski, Caputo and the like to buckle under vociferous "selling out all women" pressure from the Dems/media. Todd Blanche seems like a decent option, as he has solid federal prosecutor and white-collar experience and, most important, has been directly on the business end of all the crap the DS has pulled against Trump and Manafort. Don't really trust Lee...just a hunch from some of this dithering in the past.
I read that the same old suspects, Collins and Murkowski, said no to Gaetz. They are women who are squishy and love to wield power as the Republican feminist conscience; and Gaetz apparently has some sex scandals in his closet. Nearly every Congressman has some skeletons they want to keep hidden. Democrats by and large don't care - for them a scandal can be a resume enhancer with their base. Republicans, nearly always bent on self-immolation of some kind, will fold at the slightest indication that a fight may be necessary. And if you are going to fight, why do it over Gaetz, who sunk McCarthy (and sadly stuck us with the even worse Johnson)?
It's easy for Trump to recover from this. First, appoint someone who's a better lawyer than Gaetz and will still clean house at the DOJ. And then tell Thune to inform his women that they got their scalp and there will be no more, or they will be washing laundry on some useless, no-name Senate committees. Or better yet, those two can become Democrats, where no one will care what they think.
Since Gaetz, to my understanding, resigned his House seat what happens now?
Is DeSantis likely to appoint him to Rubio seat?
Or does Gaetz somehow get his House seat back?
I read that Gaetz resigned his seat in the 118th Congress. He ran and won a seat in the 119th Congress.
Good. We can't afford to lose a strong House seat!
Exactly.
Clever! Was this all a trial balloon and part of 5 level chess?
Trump may have gotten ahead of himself with Gaetz. He had to know that he would run into trouble with the usual suspects in the Senate. If the House and the Senate want to play 2016 with Trump, in 2026 the Rs lose both.
They've got to automatically primary every one of these RINOs who raise no objection to whatever whack job a D president nominates but their tiny little hearts simply couldn't endure a strong republican nominee. They've got to know. If you only punch right, you'll have a primary opponent from the right.
Exactly right.
Those are my thoughts, too?