Category Archives: U.S. Senate
What’s Happened to the Veto?
Up until the end of the Civil War, presidents rarely used the veto. Andrew Jackson used 12; John Tyler used 10. Not until the tempestuous presidency of Andrew Johnson were those totals bested. Johnson vetoed 29 bills. At that point, … Continue reading
West Virginia Senator Manchin Says Fellow Senators Have Less Courage Than Afghan Governors
No one can accuse West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin of being soft on guns. He is a lifetime NRA member with an “A” rating, although that may tumble a bit as he was a leading voice at instituting mandatory background checks for … Continue reading
Posted in Joe Manchin, U.S. Senate
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Mitch McConnell Filibusters His Own Bill
As Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said, this may be the first time that a senator has filibustered his own bill. TPM explained the political gymnastics performed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) wanted to … Continue reading
Posted in Dick Durbin, Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate
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Senators Graham and Paul Argue Over “Crazy Bastards”
Guantanamo Bay is one of those issues that stir passions in Washington, even among those who normally agree with each other. In this video, Republican Senators Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham argue over the rights of the “crazy bastard” terrorists … Continue reading
Posted in Lindsey Graham, Rand Paul, U.S. Senate
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Norquist “No Tax Pledge” Looks to Further Divide Republican Party at Critical Time
The fiscal cliff can’t come at a worse time for the Republican Party. Only once in the last six presidential elections has the party broke the 50% mark. It now appears that the GOP maybe topping off its support in … Continue reading
Maybe We Won’t Fall Off the Fiscal Cliff After All
For the first time since 2010, the White House and Congress appear to be dancing towards a solution on the budget and tax cuts facing Washington. Of course, Barack Obama’s surprising victory played a role in that. Plus, some Republicans … Continue reading
Filibuster Reform to be a Priority for Next Senate
The filibuster has been around since before the Civil War. It was designed as a means for a minority to slow down legislation. The intent in that is good. Unfortunately, it was used widely by people like South Carolina Sen. … Continue reading
Posted in Harry Reid, U.S. Senate
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What’s All the Talk about Repealing the 17th Amendment?
In case you don’t remember what the 17th Amendment is, it allows for the direct election of the U.S. Senate. Ratified in 1913, the 17th Amendment removed the state legislatures from selecting the senators. The theory behind having the states … Continue reading
Posted in Jeff Flake, Pete Hoekstra, Todd Akin, U.S. Senate
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If a Soldier is Raped, She Must Pay For the Abortion; Attempts to Change That Are Stonewalled by House Republicans
Almost any federal employee who is raped has medical coverage that will pay for an abortion. There is an exception — soldiers. Military personnel who are raped and become pregnant have the further indignity of having to pay for their … Continue reading
