Re: it is safe to say that this is the worst performance by a Congress that I have ever seen. House Republicans could barely govern, and that doesn't bode well for next year.
In a word? Good. Especially when the MAGA mantra appears to be BURN IT ALL DOWN. It’s nice to know at least the House will again be run by ineffectual inefficient infighting stooges. And with their razor-thin majority they’ll be forced to reach consensus or go down in flames. It will be a lot tougher to dismantle our democracy while Reps. Boebert and Greene are engaged in a Jello wrestling match on the House floor.
Can’t wait to watch the sh*t show in January called the election of a Speaker. I predict it will drag out again, and set tone for the major flop enacting the MAGA “mandate”.
we can only wish. I wouldn't be shocked to see that immigrant elon musk(y) nominated and draw a few dozen votes. He'd turn them down (as he wouldn't commit the hours), but it may open door to a compromise non-member candidate to be given serious consideration. Some right-centralist, like David Duke, Steve Bannon, or General Pinochet (in absentia) .... :)
it would be an interesting Constitutional question, primed to taint or block his elevation, with the Supreme Court primed to be the stage for a few million dollars of legal fees, fundraising, and news drama.... all playing out as the CR expires, debt limit expires, Turkey invades the Kurdish held areas of Syria, Netanyahu appoints a new governor of Gaza, China starts building a new navy base on the Solomon Islands, and Iran produces its first nuclear bomb... all on trump's (mercurial) watch.
One of my pet peeves is when something is described as costing $200 billion over 10 years. I know that the cost can increase or decrease over that 10 years but many politicians then go on to make it sound like that $200B is an annual cost.
Jamie- you mentioned the RFK thing was passed by the House in April and now the Senate acted. What's the story with that delay? Was that one of the bills that wasn't walked over? Or was it something Schumer held onto for a parliamentary reason? That is, could it have been reworked to write a CR by Senate amendment?
It passed on Feb 28 in the House. It was held up by Sen. Daines R-MT for months. Then it finally made it through a Senate committee, but there were holds against it from the GOP.
If you say, 'well why didn't Schumer bring it to the floor,' it's because the procedural hurdles involved in bringing even a minor bill to the floor are immense. You could easily waste more than two weeks on one bill. That's why if one Senator has a 'hold' on a bill, nothing usually gets done
So they passed the RFK transfer -- presumably without giving Maryland DC's Air Guard Squadron like the original CR agreement did? Or was that always part of the underlying bill?
Also, Texas Teachers are a big beneficiary of lifting the Social Security restriction for those with private pensions. I have been seeing a lot of stories locally about that over this entire year.
Thanks for tracking the chaos in DC, Jamie. I know we all appreciate it!
The federal government desperately needs to stop spending so much money. Or at least spend it better. But this is an incredibly hard thing to do. I know I don’t have good ideas on how this can be done. I wish I did.
The debt has been building since 1835. The last time period it was less year over year was 1998-2001.
Many thanks, Jamie. I hope this means you can finally take a few days off and enjoy the holiday. You have definitely earned it.
Re: it is safe to say that this is the worst performance by a Congress that I have ever seen. House Republicans could barely govern, and that doesn't bode well for next year.
In a word? Good. Especially when the MAGA mantra appears to be BURN IT ALL DOWN. It’s nice to know at least the House will again be run by ineffectual inefficient infighting stooges. And with their razor-thin majority they’ll be forced to reach consensus or go down in flames. It will be a lot tougher to dismantle our democracy while Reps. Boebert and Greene are engaged in a Jello wrestling match on the House floor.
Merry Christmas, Jamie. Thanks for all you do. Your Congressional rundowns are the best!
Can’t wait to watch the sh*t show in January called the election of a Speaker. I predict it will drag out again, and set tone for the major flop enacting the MAGA “mandate”.
Stupid is as stupid does…
Is it time yet for Speaker Hakeem Jeffries?
we can only wish. I wouldn't be shocked to see that immigrant elon musk(y) nominated and draw a few dozen votes. He'd turn them down (as he wouldn't commit the hours), but it may open door to a compromise non-member candidate to be given serious consideration. Some right-centralist, like David Duke, Steve Bannon, or General Pinochet (in absentia) .... :)
Hmm, that made a question jump out at me. Could Elon even be Speaker? As a
naturalized citizen, he is not eligible to be president, so could he hold an office in the presidential line of succession?
it would be an interesting Constitutional question, primed to taint or block his elevation, with the Supreme Court primed to be the stage for a few million dollars of legal fees, fundraising, and news drama.... all playing out as the CR expires, debt limit expires, Turkey invades the Kurdish held areas of Syria, Netanyahu appoints a new governor of Gaza, China starts building a new navy base on the Solomon Islands, and Iran produces its first nuclear bomb... all on trump's (mercurial) watch.
I have some gourmet Trails End popcorn I have been saving for the occasion.
and 'you can't fix stupid'
One of my pet peeves is when something is described as costing $200 billion over 10 years. I know that the cost can increase or decrease over that 10 years but many politicians then go on to make it sound like that $200B is an annual cost.
Living in interesting times may be a curse, but at least it’ll be profitable.
Jamie- you mentioned the RFK thing was passed by the House in April and now the Senate acted. What's the story with that delay? Was that one of the bills that wasn't walked over? Or was it something Schumer held onto for a parliamentary reason? That is, could it have been reworked to write a CR by Senate amendment?
It passed on Feb 28 in the House. It was held up by Sen. Daines R-MT for months. Then it finally made it through a Senate committee, but there were holds against it from the GOP.
If you say, 'well why didn't Schumer bring it to the floor,' it's because the procedural hurdles involved in bringing even a minor bill to the floor are immense. You could easily waste more than two weeks on one bill. That's why if one Senator has a 'hold' on a bill, nothing usually gets done
Jamie, any hints about when the Gaetz report will actually be posted? Merry Christmas to you!
No hints. The Ethics Committee usually likes to release stuff on Fridays. But we'll see.
So they passed the RFK transfer -- presumably without giving Maryland DC's Air Guard Squadron like the original CR agreement did? Or was that always part of the underlying bill?
No fighter jets
Also, Texas Teachers are a big beneficiary of lifting the Social Security restriction for those with private pensions. I have been seeing a lot of stories locally about that over this entire year.
Thanks for tracking the chaos in DC, Jamie. I know we all appreciate it!
The federal government desperately needs to stop spending so much money. Or at least spend it better. But this is an incredibly hard thing to do. I know I don’t have good ideas on how this can be done. I wish I did.
The debt has been building since 1835. The last time period it was less year over year was 1998-2001.