As that article notes, the margin will shift back to Republicans following three upcoming special elections in red districts, including that of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. This particular New York district was currently vacant but previously held by a Democrat who resigned to take a position leading a non-profit organization. And once again, Democrats over-performed in a special election: according to this analysis, the very blue district normally goes for Democrats by 24 points but last night was won by 37 points. We have seen this trend time and again over the past few years, in districts and states both red and blue, and yet all the national and swing-state polls have President Biden at best tied with Donald Trump, who is a worse candidate that most of the Republicans who have been losing or at least underperforming in these special elections.Voronwë the Faithful wrote: ↑Wed May 01, 2024 3:03 am [Tweet by Manu Raju: "New margin in House: 217-213, meaning Johnson can only lose one GOP vote on any party-line vote for the time being."]
Chaos in Congress
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Re: Chaos in Congress
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Re: Chaos in Congress
This could go in any number of threads, but since he's a sitting Senator, I give you J.D. Vance stepping on a rake:
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Re: Chaos in Congress
Rep. Henry Cuellar, Democrat of Texas, is expected to be indicted. Apparently something to do with business deals in Azerbaijan?
It's bad news for Democrats' chances of retaking the House. If he resigns, any would-be Democratic successor would need to run as a write-in candidate, I think.
Edited with an update: both Henry Cueller and his wife Imedla were charged in a $600,000 bribery scheme.
It's bad news for Democrats' chances of retaking the House. If he resigns, any would-be Democratic successor would need to run as a write-in candidate, I think.
Edited with an update: both Henry Cueller and his wife Imedla were charged in a $600,000 bribery scheme.
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Re: Chaos in Congress
I'm not sure how I feel about statutes of limitation. It seems to me that a criminal who cleverly hides his wrongdoing can exploit them to evade the law. And yet, if you're charged with a crime you didn't commit, and it's been a very long time, the government is surely in a better position than the charged party to win the argument.
On the one hand, I don't want to give federal prosecutors too much power. On the other hand, I don't think criminals should benefit from being clever. And also on the other hand, an alternative to having longer (or no) statutes of limitations is a more pervasive police state, constantly monitoring and investigating more of our lives so that crimes are identified sooner. And who wants that?
I note all this in light of the fact that most of the alleged Azerbaijani and Mexican bribes to the Cuellars happened more than five years ago and the few that didn't happened just shy of that cut-off (in June 2019). It appears they "would have gotten away with it," as they say on Scooby-Doo, if only the Dept. of Justice had been tied up for six more weeks.
To put it another way: dumb criminals deserve the same protections as smart criminals.
On the one hand, I don't want to give federal prosecutors too much power. On the other hand, I don't think criminals should benefit from being clever. And also on the other hand, an alternative to having longer (or no) statutes of limitations is a more pervasive police state, constantly monitoring and investigating more of our lives so that crimes are identified sooner. And who wants that?
I note all this in light of the fact that most of the alleged Azerbaijani and Mexican bribes to the Cuellars happened more than five years ago and the few that didn't happened just shy of that cut-off (in June 2019). It appears they "would have gotten away with it," as they say on Scooby-Doo, if only the Dept. of Justice had been tied up for six more weeks.
To put it another way: dumb criminals deserve the same protections as smart criminals.
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Re: Chaos in Congress
The rationale for statutes of limitations is pretty clear. It is a corollary to the truism "absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Meanwhile, this is an apt observation about the Cueller charges.
Meanwhile, this is an apt observation about the Cueller charges.
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
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Re: Chaos in Congress
Good question here: is Rep. Chip Roy (Republican of Texas) calling for Barron Trump,* Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr., all of them the anchor-baby children of foreign-born American residents, to be deported? Tiffany's plot to seize power lives on!
*And in Barron's case, the child of an American resident who very possibly broke immigration laws.
*And in Barron's case, the child of an American resident who very possibly broke immigration laws.
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Re: Chaos in Congress
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's effort to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson has failed, 359-43. Voting to block this move were 196 Republicans and 163 Democrats. You may remember that Democrats did not vote to help Speaker Kevin McCarthy when a similar move was made against him several months ago. Only 10 Republicans joined Greene today.
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Re: Chaos in Congress
I wonder if the Democrats would have been so quick to save Johnson's Speakership if they knew he was going to be doing this.
Democrats Call out Speaker Johnson’s ‘Pathetic’ Appearance at Trump Trial
Democrats Call out Speaker Johnson’s ‘Pathetic’ Appearance at Trump Trial
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
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Re: Chaos in Congress
I think so. The deal seems to have been that in exchange for Johnson allowing a vote on the foreign aid package, Democrats would block Greene's attempt to oust him. Democrats kept their word. But disagreements and criticism are otherwise to be expected.
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Re: Chaos in Congress
Yeah, I think so too. But it still had to sting.
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
Re: Chaos in Congress
Trump's got his daughter in-law installed at the top of the RNC. If they want campaign funds and whatever else they get from the RNC, they have to lick his boots and tell him they enjoy the taste.
When you can do nothing what can you do?
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Re: Chaos in Congress
A bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration was held up for a long time because Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, insisted that the bill allow for more flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, despite concerns from the FAA, Dept. of Transportation, and other agencies about safety, because the main runway at that airport is already the busiest in the country.
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Re: Chaos in Congress
And in the opening statements of Sen. Bob Menendez's trial today, his attorney blamed Menendez's wife for the gold bars.N.E. Brigand wrote: ↑Tue Apr 16, 2024 10:38 pm"Senator Menendez, Charged in Bribery Scheme, May Blame His Wife" (New York Times).N.E. Brigand wrote: ↑Tue Jan 09, 2024 6:57 pm Sen. Bob Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey facing a twice-superseded indictment on corruption charges, gave a speech in the Senate today complaining about that.
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Re: Chaos in Congress
Rep. Rich McCormick, Republican of Georgia, is divorcing after reports that he was seen "caressing a colleague on the House floor." McCormick's wife responded to questions about the divorce as follows: "Ask Rich and his colleague. ... I'm sure he will not be forthcoming." The McCormicks have seven children from their twelve years of marriage.
The colleague in question is reportedly Rep. Beth Van Duyne, Republican of Texas.
The colleague in question is reportedly Rep. Beth Van Duyne, Republican of Texas.
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Re: Chaos in Congress
The Congressional Record will show that these words spoken today were never uttered:
Republican cancel culture strikes again.
Republican cancel culture strikes again.
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Re: Chaos in Congress
Today Republican Congressman Andy Ogles of Tennessee filed amended FEC reports which show that he was lying when he said he loaned $320,000 to his 2022 campaign. In fact, it was just $20,000.N.E. Brigand wrote: ↑Tue Jan 09, 2024 6:57 pm Rep. Andy Ogles, Republican of Tennessee, has made some questionable financial disclosure filings. A watchdog group has called for an investigation.
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Re: Chaos in Congress
Oh look, Rep. Lauren Boebert is taking credit for a $51 million bridge project that she voted against.
(And I see that Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has noted this.)
(And I see that Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has noted this.)
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Re: Chaos in Congress
The judge in the trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat with the gold bars stashed in his house, has blocked prosecutors from using some evidence that Menendez was using his office to further the interest of the Egyptian agents who bribed him, because the Constitution's "speech and debate" clause protects members of Congress from being prosecuted for official acts. I don't think the men who wrote the Constitution meant for it to be used in a case like this, but there it is.
Menendez is gathering signatures to run as an independent this fall.
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Meanwhile the corruption of Rep. Henry Cuellar, the Texas Democrat who has been charged with money laundering and bribery, seemingly extends to his sister, who gets paid to do nothing as a local judge, and his brother, a sheriff who seems to be under investigation for self-dealing.
Menendez is gathering signatures to run as an independent this fall.
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Meanwhile the corruption of Rep. Henry Cuellar, the Texas Democrat who has been charged with money laundering and bribery, seemingly extends to his sister, who gets paid to do nothing as a local judge, and his brother, a sheriff who seems to be under investigation for self-dealing.
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Re: Chaos in Congress
Last week, Rep. Jim McGovern, Democrat of Massachusetts, described Donald Trump's legal liability during a House committee debate. The Republicans who control that committee voted to strike his words from the record:
Will they keep doing that now that Trump is officially a felon?
Will they keep doing that now that Trump is officially a felon?