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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

Poll: Mitch McConnell's Approval Underwater as Retirement Rumors Swirl

2023-04-14

[Breitbart] Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) approval rating is underwater as retirement rumors swirl. A recent survey from The Economist/YouGov found 49 percent disapproving of how McConnell is handling his job as Senate minority leader. Of those, 29 percent “strongly” disapprove. On the flip side, 28 percent across the board approve of his job performance, but only seven percent “strongly” approve. Roughly one in five remain unsure. McConnell lacks clear support among the Republican base, as 42 percent approve of his job performance and 40 percent do not. Further, 19 percent “strongly” disapprove of his job performance, while ten percent strongly approve. Half of independents view McConnell unfavorably, as do 57 percent of Democrats. However, 28 percent of Democrats approve of the 81-year-old’s job performance. However, Thursday afternoon, McConnell took to social media to announce his plans to return to the Senate on Monday. McConnell also fails to garner majority support from Trump 2020 voters; 49 percent disapprove of his job performance compared to 34 percent who approve. The survey was taken April 8-11, 2023, among 1,500 U.S. adult citizens. It coincides with recent rumors of a forthcoming McConnell retirement — rumors which come well over a month following the 81-year-old’s hospitalization after falling at a Washington, DC, hotel in March. “This evening, Leader McConnell tripped at a local hotel during a private dinner. He has been admitted to the hospital where he is receiving treatment,” McConnell spokesman David Popp said in a statement at the time. McConnell suffered a rub fracture and concussion and was released from an inpatient physical therapy facility weeks later. “I want to sincerely thank everyone for all the kind wishes. I’m happy to say I finished inpatient physical therapy earlier today and I’m glad to be home,” McConnell wrote in a March 25 statement. “I’m going to follow the advice of my physical therapists and spend the next few days working for Kentuckians and the Republican Conference from home,” he added. “I’m in frequent touch with my Senate colleagues and my staff. I look forward to returning in person to the Senate soon.” Meanwhile, the Spectator, citing multiple sources, is reporting that “Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming, John Cornyn of Texas and John Thune of South Dakota are actively reaching out to fellow Republican senators in efforts to prepare for an anticipated leadership vote — a vote that would occur upon announcement that McConnell would be retiring from his duties as leader, and presumably the Senate itself.” According to the report, “Queries are also being made internally about the rules regarding replacement, and how the contest would be structured given the lack of an obvious heir apparent.” However, Thursday afternoon, McConnell took to social media to announce his plans to return to the Senate on Monday. “I am looking forward to returning to the Senate on Monday. We’ve got important business to tackle and big fights to win for Kentuckians and the American people,” he wrote:

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Government Corruption

These 18 Senate Republicans Voted For Democrats' Sleazy $1.7 Trillion Spending Bill

2022-12-24

[Federalist] After selling out their base on marriage and gun control, Senate Republicans decided to finish out 2022 by helping Democrats pass a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package on Thursday that will keep the federal government funded through the end of 2023. Released on Tuesday, the mammoth 4,155-page bill cleared a procedural vote held by the upper chamber later that same day, with 70 senators supporting and only 25 opposing. Despite objections from House Republicans and several of their GOP Senate colleagues, 18 Republican senators joined Senate Democrats in passing the wasteful bill, at a final vote of 68-29. Among the Republicans who voted in favor are Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, John Boozman and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rob Portman of Ohio, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Mike Rounds and John Thune of South Dakota, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Richard Shelby of Alabama, and Todd Young of Indiana. Three GOP senators — Richard Burr of North Carolina, John Barrasso of Wyoming, and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota — didn’t even bother to vote on the bill. By helping Democrats pass an omnibus instead of a short-term funding package, Senate Minority Leader McConnell and Senate GOP leadership have erased any and all leverage the House’s incoming Republican majority would have over spending issues for most of 2023. This means conservative priorities, such as fixing President Joe Biden’s manufactured border crisis, will go unaddressed for another year. "This is an act of extortion being leveraged on the United States Senate right before Christmas," said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, during a speech on the Senate floor. "This bill, in all 4,155 pages of its glory — or infamy — was negotiated in secret by four or five members of Congress. ... They wrote it utterly in secret with the design of creating an artificial emergency, threatening a shutdown right before Christmas." Prior to the bill’s passage, Lee proposed an amendment to keep Title 42 — the Trump-era policy making it easier to deport illegal immigrants at the border — in place. The amendment ultimately failed on a 47-50 vote.

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Home Front: Politix

Senators reach bipartisan deal on gun reforms framework

2022-06-13

[NYPOST] A bipartisan group of senators announced Sunday that they had reached agreement for a framework of gun safety measures that would include red flag laws, background checks and funds to secure schools — but wouldn’t raise the age to buy certain rifles to 21. Will it be bold enough to satisfy the radical wing of the House Democrats, while being mild enough to calm Senator Manchin? "Today, we are announcing a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country. Families are scared, and it is our duty to come together and get something done that will help restore their sense of safety and security in their communities," the group of 20 senators said in a statement. The negotiations were led by Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy (D., Qom) ...Junior senator for life from Connecticutt, foreign policy mastermind, a fast friend and a sympathetic ear to mullahs, ayatollahs, and similar riff-raff. The indigestable boilerplate on his website sez he has has dedicated his career to public service as an advocate for Connecticut families, which means approximately nothing. He's been a strong voice in the Senate fighting for job creation, affordable health care, education, sensible gun laws, and a forward-looking foreign policy. You can guess what that mess actually means, though the voters of Connecticutt seemingly can't... of Connecticut and Kyrsten Sinema ...Dem senatrix from Arizona. She began her political career in the Arizona Green Party and rose to prominence for her progressive advocacy, supporting causes such as LGBTQ rights and opposing the war on terror. She left the Green Party to join the Arizona Democratic Party in 2004 and was elected to a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 2012. After her election, she joined the New Democrat Coalition, the Blue Dog Coalition and the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, amassing one of the most conservative voting records in the Democratic caucus. She won the 2018 Senate election to replace the retiring Jeff Flake, defeating Republican nominee Martha McSally. Sinema is the first openly bisexual (meaning she's not particular) and the second openly LGBT woman to be elected to the House of Representatives and to the Senate in 2012 and 2018, respectively. She also was the first woman elected to the Senate from Arizona.... of Arizona, and Republicans John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, in response to the outrage over the horrific mass shootings last month in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas, that claimed the lives of 31 people. The White House praised the agreement and thanked the senators for "their tireless work to produce this proposal." "Obviously, it does not do everything that I think is needed, but it reflects important steps in the right direction, and would be the most significant gun safety legislation to pass Congress in decades," President Joe Biden ...... 46th president of the U.S., father of Hunter, close friend of an imaginary negro named Corn Pop. He blames Trump for losing Afghanistan....... said in a statement.

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-PC Follies

Yellin's Mission: Restore Economy

2020-12-03

The headline above is from Wednesday's Dallas Morning News, "from wire reports". [Ay-Pee] With unemployment still high and the pandemic threatening yet another economic slump, President-elect Joe Biden is assembling a team of liberal advisers who have long focused on the nation’s workers and government efforts to address economic inequality. Restore the crushed Trumpian economy by addressing inequality. How progressive! Janet Yellen, announced Monday as Biden’s nominee for treasury secretary, served as chair of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018, when she placed a greater emphasis than previous Fed chairs on maximizing employment and less focus on price inflation. Biden also named Cecilia Rouse as chair of his Council of Economic Advisers, and Heather Boushey and Jared Bernstein as members of the council. Sounds like Yellin is more about jobs and the rest of the progressive team is going to resolve inequality. All are outspoken supporters of more government stimulus spending to boost growth, a major issue with the coronavirus pandemic cramping the U.S. economy. There are some signs the dreaded second wave is peaking, and the vaccine is just around the corner. Too bad Nancy delayed the pre-election stimulus. Those choices "signal the desire of the Biden administration to take the CEA in a direction that really centers on working people and raising wages," said Heidi Shierholz, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute and former Labor Department chief economist during the Obama administration. Raising wages until they are all equality-balanced. But more importantly -- Biden’s nominees are also a more personally diverse group than those of previous presidents. Yellen, if confirmed by the Senate, would be the first woman to serve as treasury secretary, after breaking ground as the first woman to chair the Fed. Rouse would be the first Black woman to lead the CEA in its 74 years of existence. And Neera Tanden, Biden’s pick for director of the Office of Management and Budget, would be the first South Asian American in that job. Biden also selected Wally Adeyemo to be Yellen’s deputy, which would make him the first Black deputy treasury secretary. Rouse, Tanden and Adeyemo will all require Senate confirmation, and Tanden in particular is already drawing heavy Republican criticism. A spokesman for GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas tweeted that Tanden "stands zero chance of being confirmed" as budget director, citing "an an endless stream of disparaging comments about" Republican senators. Thin-skinned elephants! They can dish it out but not take it! Related: NY Post thoughts on Tanden's views

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Home Front: Politix

GOP pushes Trump for new attorney general amid Mueller uproar

2018-11-16

[Politico] Senate Republicans are urging President Donald Trump to quickly nominate a permanent attorney general, hoping a new top law enforcement officer will blunt bipartisan concern over the future of special counsel Robert Mueller and boost the GOP ahead of tough government funding talks. Even after Trump’s latest attack on Mueller in a flurry of tweets Thursday, most Republicans argue the president will not fire Mueller or derail his investigation because the political consequences would be too great. But they said that naming an attorney general nominee as soon as possible ‐ specifically one who would vow to preserve the Russia probe ‐ would go a long way in halting legislative momentum to protect Mueller and Democratic messaging that acting attorney general Matt Whitaker will undermine the investigation. "If we had some confidence that there is somebody nominated that would be confirmed in a reasonable period of time, to me it seems like it would relieve a lot of the controversy," said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, who predicted that Whitaker, who was openly critical of the Mueller probe before Trump tapped him for the job, is "not going to be there long."

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Government

Prices at the gas pump are low, but raising fuel taxes still feels perilous to Congress

2015-01-19

[FOXBUSINESS] The new Republican-controlled Congress is facing an old problem: where to find the money for highway and transit programs. With gasoline prices at their lowest in years, there had been talk that when the new Congress convened it might be time to raise federal gas and diesel taxes. They haven't budged in more than 20 years. But already, GOP leaders are tamping down expectations for an increase. The No. 2 Republican in the Senate, John Cornyn of Texas, says he doesn't know of any support in Congress for a gas tax increase. Another Republican leader, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, had previously said that all possible funding options should be considered, including a gas tax increase. But he now says that such a possibility is unlikely.

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Home Front: Politix

Project Gunwalker: Sen. Cornyn blasts promotions for ATF's 'Fast and Furious' supervisors

2011-08-17

A senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday described as "inconceivable" a Justice Department decision to promote key Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) personnel who oversaw the controversial "Fast and Furious" weapons investigation that allowed hundreds of guns to be walked into Mexico to new positions in Washington. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who last week demanded that Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. immediately brief his office regarding the "scope and details of any past or present ATF gun-walking programs" in his state, said until Mr. Holder and the department "come clean" on the gun-walking investigation, "it is inconceivable to reward those who spearheaded this disastrous operation with cushy desks in Washington." The ATF has promoted three key supervisors of a controversial sting operation that allowed firearms to be illegally trafficked across the U.S. border into Mexico.

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Home Front: Politix

Cornyn vows hundreds of amendments to Obamacare

2010-03-22

[Iran Press TV Latest] Republicans in the US Senate say they will challenge President Barack Obama's health overhaul plan by introducing hundreds of amendments to the bill when it arrives in the Senate. Appearing on Fox News on Sunday, Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas illustrated the GOP tactics against the legislation, saying that the goal was "to highlight what is in the bill that is bad and why the American people are right when they say we don't want it." Senator Cornyn went on to warn that there were "probably more on the order of hundreds of amendments" to challenge the sprawling USD 940 billion bill, AFP reported. He said by disputing the specific provisions of the bill, the Republicans would try to demonstrate that the legislation does not reduce the deficit. The Senate's presiding officer, Vice President Joe Biden, could at some point declare the amendments to be delaying tactics and call a vote on the bill. "That could happen," said Cornyn. "But I guarantee it will happen on television, on C-Span and on Fox News and for 300 million people to see and I think there will be a terrible price to be paid for this sort of defying public opinion." Democrats earlier predicted that the bill will pass the House to make history as they have garnered 216 necessary votes.

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Home Front: Politix

Holder's AG nomination heads to full Senate

2009-01-29

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 17-2 on Wednesday to send the nomination of Attorney General-designate Eric Holder to the full Senate. Attorney General-designate Eric Holder served as President Clinton's deputy attorney general. The committee's Democratic members unanimously supported Holder; GOP Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma voted no. Holder's Senate floor vote and swearing in could be completed as soon as Thursday. This is a mistake; he's more political than Ashcroft and Gonzalez together could ever have been. And the MSM will never point it out.

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Home Front: Politix

Senate condemns "General Betray Us" ad

2007-09-21

The Senate voted Thursday to condemn an advertisement by the liberal anti-war group MoveOn.org that accused the top military commander in Iraq of betrayal. The 72-25 vote condemned the full-page ad that appeared in The New York Times last week as Gen. David Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq, testified on Capitol Hill. The ad was headlined: "General Petraeus or General Betray Us? Cooking the books for the White House." The ad became a life raft for the Republican party as the war debate kicked into high gear. With several Republicans opposed to President Bush's war strategy, GOP members were able to put aside their differences and rally around their disapproval of the ad. Sen. Gordon Smith, one of the few Republican senators who supports legislation ordering troop withdrawals, told reporters Thursday he thought Petraeus' testimony and the MoveOn.org ad were the two biggest factors in keeping Republicans from breaking ranks with the president: Petraeus' testimony because it was persuasive and the MoveOn add because it went too far by attacking a popular uniformed officer. "It was stupid on their part and disgraceful," said Smith, R-Ore. The resolution condemning the ad was sponsored by conservative Republican John Cornyn of Texas. Voting against it were Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, another contender for the Democratic nomination, wimped out did not vote, although he voted minutes earlier for an alternative resolution by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. That resolution condemned the MoveOn ad as an "unwarranted personal attack," but also condemned political attack ads that questioned the patriotism of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and former Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., both Vietnam veterans. In a news conference, President Bush denounced the ad as "disgusting" and criticized Democrats for not immediately condemning it. "And that leads me to come to this conclusion: that most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military," Bush said Thursday. Eli Pariser, executive director of the liberal group, responded: "What's disgusting is that the president has more interest in political attacks than developing an exit strategy to get our troops out of Iraq and end this awful war."

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Home Front: Politix

Senate to vote on Iraq pullout: Cut and Run v. Cut and Jog

2006-06-22

Other Republicans characterized the difference between the two plans as "cut and run" or "cut and jog," saying both will only alert the insurgents to the United States game plan. "Armchair generals in Washington are advocating retreat," said Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. Some senators decried the partisan bickering. "My soul cries out for something more dignified," said Sen. Ben Nelson, Nebraska Democrat. His fellow Nebraskan, Republican Chuck Hagel, agreed. The war is the "defining issue on which Congress will be judged," he said. "It should be taken more seriously. It should not be held hostage by political agendas. Our men and women fighting and dying deserve better." Senate Rejects Calls on Iraq Troop Pullout The GOP-controlled Senate on Thursday rejected Democratic calls to start withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq by years' end, as the two parties sought to define their election-year positions on a war that has grown increasingly unpopular. "Withdrawal is not an option. Surrender is not a solution," declared Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, who characterized Democrats as defeatists wanting to abandon Iraq before the mission is complete. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, in turn, portrayed Republican leaders as blindly following President Bush's "failed" stay-the-course strategy. "It is long past time to change course in Iraq and start to end the president's open-ended commitment," he said. In an 86-13 vote, the Senate turned back a proposal from some Democrats that would require the administration to withdraw all combat troops from Iraq by July 1, 2007, with redeployments beginning this year. No Republicans voted in favor of the plan. Minutes later, the Senate rejected by 60-39 the proposal more popular with Democrats, a nonbinding resolution that would call for the administration to begin withdrawing troops, but with no timetable for the war's end. That vote was mostly along party lines.

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Home Front: Culture Wars

Congress Nears Deal on Illegal Immigrants

2006-04-06

Heads Up, Border Patrol! WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans and Democrats closed in on a last-minute compromise Thursday on legislation opening the way to legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally. President Bush praised the lawmakers' efforts, noting the details were unfinished, and encouraged them "to work hard and get the bill done." Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), said he had been assured the president supports the emerging measure. I'm telling you, Bush is losing me more and more every day. As outlined, it would provide for enhanced border security, regulate the future flow of immigrants into the United States and offer legalized status to the millions of men, women and children in the country unlawfully. "Unlawfully"? That's a new one. "Illegally" too...yucky? "We've had a huge breakthrough" overnight, said Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, agreed, but cautioned that the agreement had not yet been sealed. More "Profiles in Courage"... Even so, the presence of both leaders at a celebratory news conference underlined the expectation that the Senate could pass the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades, and act before leaving on a long vacation at the end of the week. So you know it'll be a done deal by then. The developments marked a turnaround from Wednesday, when it appeared negotiations had faltered. The key sticking point involved the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, and the struggle to provide them an opportunity to gain legal status without exposing lawmakers to the political charge that they were advocating amnesty for lawbreakers. Which...they are. While final details were not available, in general, the compromise would require illegal immigrants who have been in the United States between two years and five years to return to their home country briefly, then re-enter as temporary workers. They could then begin a process of seeking citizenship. Illegal immigrants here longer than five years would not be required to return home; those in the country less than two years would be required to leave without assurances of returning, and take their place in line with others seeking entry papers. Let's see, 11 million illegals in the country, and since they're "undocumented", I will guess that...11 million of them have been here longer then five years. And they'll all of a sudden have the "documents" to prove it. There'll be forgers who can retire by the time this is all over. Standing before television cameras after an appearance Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., Bush said he was pleased that Republicans and Democrats were working together. "I appreciate their understanding that this needs to be a comprehensive immigration bill," the president said. "I recognize that there are still details that need to be worked out. I would encourage the members to work hard to get the bill done prior to the upcoming break." ...more and more, every day. Not everyone was satisfied. "I'm not impressed," said Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who has criticized earlier versions of the measure as too lenient on lawbreakers. Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Jon Kyl of Arizona joined him in criticizing the measure, as did Georgia Republicans Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. Beyond the illegal immigrants, there were other thorny issues to be clarified. Senate leaders had yet to publicly unveil draft legislation to make sure that only legal workers were hired in the future, for example. Yep, when we're back from vacation. We'll get right on that. We'll include it in the new immigration bill in about 4 or 5 years when we'll need another one. Nor was it clear what type of assurances, if any, Democrats had received from the White House and Republicans about compromise talks with the Republican-controlled House later this year. The House has approved legislation limited to border security, and while GOP leaders have signaled support for a broader measure, Democrats have expressed concern in recent days that they will be pressured to make unacceptable additional concessions to achieve a final compromise. Maybe they'd be happy if we put carpool lanes through the "wall"? The breakthrough occurred overnight, after Frist had unveiled a revised Republican proposal that he credited to Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Mel Martinez of Florida. Officials said McCain and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who have long been trying to show the way toward bipartisan agreement on the issue, spoke by phone several times to review potential changes. "Our plan is tough and fair, and I'm encouraged that the President now supports it," said Kennedy in a statement. "The American people have made their voices heard in their churches, in their schools and in the streets and the Senate has listened," he added, referring to the large rallies in recent weeks by protesters calling for rights for immigrants. Well, Ted, if this has your seal of approval, it must be total bullshit. That's one of my "control factors". The closed-door negotiations proceeded as the Senate moved toward a test vote on an earlier, Democratic version of immigration legislation. Democrats needed 60 votes to prevail, and as expected, they fell far short. The attempt gained only 39 votes, while 60 senators were opposed. In an ironic juxtaposition, the vote unfolded at the same time Frist, Reid and more than a dozen other senators were celebrating the breakthrough at the news conference. "While it admittedly is not perfect, the choice we have to make is whether it is better than no bill, and the choice is decisive," said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The issue has exposed divisions within both political parties and already left an imprint on the midterm election campaigns for control of Congress. Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles provided evidence of the emotion it has generated from 3,000 miles away when he urged Catholics to pray for passage of legislation allowing illegal immigrants to gain citizenship. The debate marks "one of the most critical weeks in the history of our country," he said. ...and another "Great Moment in Catholicism".

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