….Capitol Hill continues to produce numerous headlines. Now that the Ethics Committee has released a scathing report, it seems more likely that freshman New York Republican George Santos will be expelled for the House, even with not yet having been convicted of any crime. After months of being defiant, Santos is now saying he will not seek reelection, but who can take him at his word? He will probably file for the seat wearing a fake mustache.
In other Congressional news, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is accused of having delivered a shot to the kidneys of Republican Congressman Tim Burchett, one of the people who helped depose McCarthy as Speaker. The former Speaker denies that any physical contact was intentional, but who is he kidding? That sounds exactly like something McCarthy would try to do. For his part, Burchett did not call the cops and is not taking part in any attempt to bring about an Ethics investigation (though Matt Gaetz has filed one) and simply says he feels sorry for McCarthy to be so broken at this phase in his life.
Continuing the theme, Republican House Members are insulting other Republican House Members. That is to be expected. It is too bad Jerry Springer has passed away or he might have Marjorie Taylor-Green and Lauren Boebert on his show for a discussion on which of the recently divorced MAGA darlings is a bigger “slut.” Matt Gaetz could play the role of Steve Wilkos and break up the physical fights. More traditionally, House Democrats and House Republicans bickered and engaged in some name calling at committee hearings and while we do not hear as much about it, I am sure Democrats are having some heated moments internally as well over Israel vs. Hamas.
Finally, Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, a martial arts expert, engaged in full out political theater and challenged the head of the Teamsters Union to a fistfight while the union boss was testifying at a Senate hearing. The union boss at least pretended to be interested in fighting Mullin and I guess considering his role, I cannot blame him for that, but it was a bad look for all involved. Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders had to intervene and make sure everyone kept their “butt” in their seat. In my views, this was a completely planned stunt by Mullin and made him look ridiculous, no matter what nasty things the Teamsters head had said about him on Twitter/X. Mullin needs to toughen up to be in politics if he is that sensitive of a tulip regarding online criticism.
The big news in the Presidential race was that South Carolina Senator Tim Scott dropped out without even most of his staff knowing in advance. The writing was on the wall for some time, but I am a bit surprised he did not try to see if he could make a showing in Iowa. In that state, the popular Republican Governor Kim Reynolds recently endorsed Ron DeSantis but many feel like it will not matter. Trump is far ahead in Iowa and Nikki Haley may be gaining quickly on DeSantis there as well. It seems like those who might be conflicted between Trump and DeSantis are just going with the “guy they know.” New Hampshire is a different story. Haley is certainly ahead of DeSantis there and might be very much within striking distance of Trump if the shrinking field were to shrink further. Chris Christie, the one Republican candidate to have visited Israel since the terrorist attacks, is certainly draining votes from Haley in New Hampshire, but if he were to finish ahead of DeSantis there, it might mean that the race then narrows to a two person contest between Trump and Haley. This is the sort of old-school Presidential primary political forecasting that junkies used to love in cycles past. For now though, the dynamics of the race state to state, even a two person contest, favor Trump. Presidential politics has been anything but predictable though over the past decade. Incidentally, the same polls that show Trump ahead of Biden, show Haley would be a good deal further ahead of Biden. Only one of these Republicans will not be spending a lot of time in a courtroom during the fall campaign next year.
Not all was great for Haley this past week though as she made a statement in which she seemed to say that anonymous social media posting should not be allowed and that every sort of post must be linked to a particular person. I am indeed troubled by that sort of suggestion and what it means for free speech. Critics pointed out that some of our Founding Fathers wrote the Federalist Papers under aliases. Haley was off base here (and I think she is prone to gaffes) and Trump and DeSantis supporters alike attacked her for it and predicted it would hurt her campaign. A couple of days later, Haley seemed to back away from what she suggested and I sort of think this will be forgotten before too long. I will also point out that in 2015, Donald Trump said basically the same thing about people posting on Twitter and how they should have to reveal their names.
There will of course be a general election at hand before we know it. Right now, the polls are showing that Donald Trump would defeat Joe Biden in such a match-up. That is not a result that many “smart people” either Democrat or Republican expected would be evident at Thanksgiving 2023, but that is where we are. Joe Biden is simply not a strong candidate. Ultimately, he may still win and many people will point out that incumbents Presidents have “come from behind” before, and that is true. Sometimes though, they have lost, most recently in 2020 when Trump lost his bid for reelection because the general election was a referendum on him and his Presidency. In 2024,, Biden will be the incumbent, and probably does not want the framing of the race to be a similar referendum….
CG @ Politicaldog101
1. My content is published here without permission
2. Contrary to what was notated at the bottom of the post, it was not posted by me as part of a discussion on this website but on a separate owned entity
3. The content is presented as “By jamesb” followed not by a small excerpt but by several paragraphs presented without quotation marks or any sort of distinguishing font to make clear the content was not written “By jamesb”
4. The content is published without any commentary (parody or otherwise) and is not in any way “transformative.” Thus, it seems to violate the “fair use” concept of The Copyright Act. Please see below:
https://www.eff.org/issues/bloggers/legal/liability/IP
5. While I am accepting of my commentary being part of the internet, it is being presented here in a fair and possibly unlawful way.
6. Despite my being Jewish and whatever stereotypes the owner of this website may hold about that, I am not intending to be litigious. I simply feel like my rights as a content creator are being violated for the reasons stated above and because I do not wish to be associated in anyway with this stupid and bigoted website.
I don’t know why James would want to put CG’s stuff up on here.
For one thing, CG’s content makes James and most others on here look like amateur hour by comparison.
And unlike some on here, my penis never discriminates. Jewish girls, Palestinian girls, Asian, Hispanic, Black, White, Trans, young to middle age, with kids or no kids. If a woman wants to bang my ass up, I’m game. And if that isn’t the purest form of love, I don’t know what is.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dkaSxmvZnGs&pp=ygUaY292ZXIgbWUgYnJ1Y2Ugc3ByaW5nc3RlZW4%3D
I commented awhile back that CG had requested that his weekly post at his site not be posted here and I thought his wish should be adhered to.
DSD continued to post a link to it which maybe technically is different from actually posting the commentary itself.
James,however, is blithely ignoring CGs request.
Then again, since those who post here already know that they can simply go over to CGs site and peruse his commentary ,one must conclude that James is posting it here for the benefit of those several hundreds of person whom he assures us are daily visitors here but NEVER offer any comments on the various posts made here benefit.
I visit CG’s site and peruse his postings from time to time. They can be decent analysis at time but sometimes are more wordy and self serving.
Certainly a life long Republican who is now persona non grata in his own party over failing to be MAGA is going to be sour about current events. Add to that that he got what he always wanted with Roe v. Wade being overturned and he is now finding out just how out of touch he was with the American people on that issue.
As I said earlier this week he may be the only person even vaguely excited about another 70 something year old white guy entering the Presidential race if Joe Manchin misjudges the national climate and jumps in
Actually Scott…(Sorry)
When supplied with the links I DO read his pieces which are log and touch on his views and interests ….
I have said this since I gave birth to this place in 2009….
I WELCOME different points of view and I am actually disappointed that Republican’s that have come to post here left uncomfortable with push back…
One point of view on issue’s, policies and politic’s in general do NOT allow one to ‘ see the other side’ or question their own views….
If CG wants out….
I will honor it….
But content here WILL continue to come from ALL over the spectrum …..