Senate To Herman Cain: Nein. Nein. Nein.
When pizza magnate Herman Cain ran for president, he came up with a snappy slogan for his inane tax plan: "Nine, nine, nine." Donald Trump apparently thought the man was a financial genius, because he recently nominated Cain for a seat on the board of the Federal Reserve. But today, the Senate sent both Cain and Trump a very clear (Germanic) message: "Nein, nein, nein."
Four Republican senators went on the record today stating that they'll be voting against Cain's nomination. In a Senate where Republicans only enjoy a 53-47 majority, that is enough to tank his nomination. For the record, the four GOP senators who have now publicly opposed Cain's nomination are: Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Kevin Cramer, and Cory Gardner.
This is somewhat significant, since up until now Senate Republicans have cheerfully confirmed many Trump appointees who are patently unqualified for the jobs they now hold. Cain was just one of the most egregious examples, but he certainly hasn't been the only one. Cain was also tainted with sexual harassment charges (which successfully tanked his presidential bid, but never got a full airing afterwards). So his confirmation hearings certainly would have been lively, to say the least.
Is this a continuation of a trend of Republicans in the Senate beginning to find the backbone to stand up to Trump? I wrote about this growing phenomenon last month (two days in a row, actually), so this could indeed be a continuation of a positive trend. It's still too early to really tell, but Cain's rejection is certainly a welcome sign for Democrats.
While the battle for the White House is going to be the main event in the 2020 election, the Senate elections are going to be almost as important. Democrats will have a much better chance at taking back the Senate than they did in 2018, because of the map they'll be facing (only one-third of the Senate is up in any election, meaning the map of vulnerable seats changes every time). Democrats are going to have to pick up three seats at a minimum to take back the Senate, or four if they somehow don't manage to unseat Trump. They've got a shot at doing so, and some of the most-threatened Republicans are already feeling the heat.
Each time the Senate rebukes the president, a different group of Republicans winds up being the stumbling block (or stumbling bloc, if you want to be pedantic). This time around there was only one Republican who faces a tough race in 2020 (Cory Gardner of Colorado) among those opposing the president, while other vulnerable Republicans weren't on the list (Susan Collins of Maine and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, most notably). So it's not like there's a solid GOP anti-Trump movement in the Senate quite yet.
While some Republican senators are now willing to occasionally buck Trump, what they're really lacking is a strong public spokesman. Ever since the death of John McCain, there has been no one go-to Republican to explain why Trump has gone too far. Lindsey Graham is now a total Trump toady, and Mitt Romney is more milquetoast than an effective foil. We'll see, as the election gets closer, whether any such figure emerges.
For now, it is rather heartening for Democrats to see a growing willingness among Republican senators to refuse to go along with Trump's worst (or least-thought-out) impulses. Herman Cain is a terrible pick for the Fed, that much is painfully obvious. In fact, it's to the detriment of all the other Republicans in the Senate who have not publicly come out against Cain. But they've shown an almost-bottomless capacity for spinelessness ever since Trump hijacked their party, so it's not all that surprising.
But increasingly, enough of them do show some spinal fortitude in the face of Trump's idiocy to make a difference. We can all breathe a sigh of relief at the news that Herman Cain is never going to be in charge of America's monetary policies. Or, to put it another way, that at least some Republican senators still have the ability to realize when Donald Trump is going too far. Only four out of 53, mind you, but that'll have to do for now.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
9-9-9 is just 6-6-6 upside-down.
And yet not a word about Stephen Moore, who has recommended abolishing the Fed?
Surely a less-qualified candidate couldn't be found.
Of course, the fact that he's a deadbeat dad and tax cheat also enter into it, meat for the remarkably docile GOP. Still, I don't breathe easy until it's over.
Ya'all are just picking on Cain because he's black... :^/
For now, it is rather heartening for Democrats to see a growing willingness among Republican senators to refuse to go along with Trump's worst (or least-thought-out) impulses.
Just as it is heartening to see Democrats in the House go along with Republican measures.. :D
See how wonderful it is? It works both ways!! :D
OBAMA OFFICIAL INDICTED FROM MUELLER'S PROBE..
Obama White House counsel Greg Craig charged with lying to prosecutors about foreign lobbying
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/11/obama-white-house-counsel-gregory-craig-charged-by-federal-prosecutors.html
I am *CERTAIN* ya'all will condemn this complete and utter CRIMINAL with all the enthusiasm and bombast that ya'all condemned Manafort...
Right???
"In a pig's eye!"
-Dr Leonard McCoy, STAR TREK, Amok Time
CW: Herman Cain is a terrible pick for the Fed, that much is painfully obvious.
That's not possible since Donald Trump promised to surround himself "only with the best and most serious people" and "top-of-the-line professionals."
In fact, it's to the detriment of all the other Republicans in the Senate who have not publicly come out against Cain.
I'm quite certain they would have been raising Cain against Cain but for the fact that they are afraid that "The Mad King" might tweet mean things about them, and they are cowards who are afraid of itty bitty words. :)
JL
1
9-9-9 is just 6-6-6 upside-down.
Careful now. You wouldn't want to upset all the GOP snowflakes suffering with incurable hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia. :)
I'm quite certain they would have been raising Cain against Cain but for the fact that they are afraid that "The Mad King" might tweet mean things about them, and they are cowards who are afraid of itty bitty words. :)
Nice GOT ref: :D
Without John McCain, Lindsey Graham is just an empty hand puppet which has been commandeered by new Republican hands.
Russia efforts to reach Bernie Sanders supporters more than was known, researcher says - The Washington Post
https://t.co/9CtIcYihsX
Noted without fucking (Hi Liz!) comment.
So it was a DEMOCRAT Candidate For Pres who was/is colluding with Russians!!!
HA!!! :D
Sorry Michale, that doesn't let the Republican off the hook.
Sorry Michale, that doesn't let the Republican off the hook.
Of course it doesn't...
MUELLER let the Republican off the hook..
But of course you'll ignore the DEMOCRAT candidate who colludes with Russians..
Because it's all about the -D / -R... :D
And in other news..
STAR WARS 9 - THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
https://www.cnet.com/news/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-is-a-galactically-stupid-title/
Chiillss... :D
Nice GOT ref: :D
Would you believe it was a comparative historical reference of our last king... George III... to the current one created by virtue of the fact that quite a large majority of Republicans are shirking their constitutional duties of checks and balances and separation of powers and have thereby relinquished our government of the People, by the People, and for the People and have effectively taken a large step toward returning us back to government by a "Mad King"?
It's hard not to see the parallels since Mad King George III was also quite certain that his daughter would one day lead the country. Alas, she never did.
I will say also it was quite nice of the Mad King to answer your question from the other day regarding inviting illegal immigrants into our home... something along the lines of: What kind of sick moron would? It seems in his quest to punish Democrats for rejecting his budgetary requests for billions of dollars to build a border wall, the Mad King was quite eager to punish Nancy Pelosi by dumping illegal immigrants into San Francisco. I guess in his zeal for revenge, he was quite willing to put Americans' lives in danger.
So it's indeed a very good thing that:
* Only Democrats and no Republicans or non politically affiliated Americans live in San Francisco and all the other sanctuary cities... oh, wait
* San Francisco isn't one of our nation's top 10 vacation destinations... oh, wait
* Once an illegal immigrant is dropped into any sanctuary city in America, they are not then free to move about the country to anywhere else... oh wait
So to recap: What kind of... borrowing your definition again... "sick moron" who actually honestly did care about the safety of American lives would be so eager to punish his political rivals that he would actually be willing to put all Americans' lives at risk?
Answer: Donald Trump
Somebody remind me where Kate Steinle was killed. I do hope her family is listening and connecting the dots to ascertain the actual degree to which Donald Trump cares about Americans' lives. I hope those Republicans, Independents, and those not affiliated with any political party are paying attention to Donald Trump's admission via tweet.
So my reference to "The Mad King" was to Donald Trump, comparing him to King George III and not to The Mad King, Aerys Targaryen. However, I do readily concede that your equating the "GOP character" with the "GOT character" who tortured his people with fire is not an altogether unfair comparison. :)
As for Game of Thrones (GOT), I am of the firm belief that Tyrion is the son of The Mad King, Aerys… making him a Targaryen. Why?
The dragon has three heads:
* Aegon -- formerly known as Jon Snow, son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark
* Daenerys -- who I believe is Rhaegar's daughter and not his sister... maybe not, but wouldn't that be a wicked twist that Jon and Dany are brother and sister?
* Tyrion -- Son of The Mad King Aerys Targaryen and half brother of Rhaegar and the Lannister twins Jaime and Cersei
Each of them share the storyline that they began the series as the weakest member and occupying rock bottom of their respective Houses, and each will rise to tippy top before the bitter end because... the dragon has three heads. :)
@Kick
Impressive feats of logic...
Season 8 is gonna be pretty interesting..
I decided instead of rewatching all 7 seasons, I would just read the RR Martin series of books... My only hope is I can finish them in the next week.. :D
Michale
19
Impressive feats of logic...
We'll see.
Season 8 is gonna be pretty interesting..
However it ends, it's definitely "GOT" to be interesting.
I decided instead of rewatching all 7 seasons, I would just read the RR Martin series of books... My only hope is I can finish them in the next week.. :D
All in one week!? Take your vitamins and drink your fluids. I will say that's not exactly what I had in mind those multitude of times when I begged you to "crack a book," but it's not altogether entirely a bad start either. Good form. ;)
Paula[11]
Please don't do that.
And, I believe you are smart enough to know what I mean by that.
EM
21|22
I'm not Paula, but I regret to inform you that you posted the following:
So… the time for:
* tut-tutting
* getting on your moral high horse
* claiming the moral high ground
* feigning the vapors
officially ended long, long ago.
This "do and I say, not as I do" bullshit dumbfuckery is a bad look for anybody... so: Talk to the hand!
And, I believe you are smart enough to know what I mean by that. :)