Tag: Republicans

Republicans now own any border problems

Republicans now own any border problems

Posted on by Jack

It is obvious that Republicans now own any border problems. They have now twice blocked a bipartisan border enforcement bill. Well actually it seemed bipartisan until Donald Trump decided he wanted to have immigration as an election issue.

They could have enacted measures to control the border situation but chose not to allow continuation of problems for possible political gain. They could have voted to expand detentions and deportations, by funding thousands of new Border Patrol agents and personnel and to invest in new technology to catch drug smugglers. But they chose to favor the Trump campaign.

The Republicans just keep giving us reasons not to vote for them.

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immigrants? illegal invaders? athletes?

immigrants? illegal invaders? athletes?

Posted on by Jack

Speaking of Republicans worried about immigrants or even people who may not look like them, we have this:

Fact check: Michigan GOP legislator posted about ‘illegal invaders’ at Detroit airport. It was Gonzaga’s March Madness team

Republican lies about immigration

Republican lies about immigration

Posted on by Jack

There are problems with our immigration system but Republicans do not want to fix them. Republicans seem to want this as a campaign issue. They will continue to tell lies and attack immigrants whether is seems reasonable or not,

The latest example is blaming the Baltimore bridge disaster on immigration and diversity

Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country by Adam Kinzinger

Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country by Adam Kinzinger

Posted on by Jack

After the shock of the January 6, 2021 insurrection (https://www.jackreidy.com/blog/2021/07/02/insurrection-based-on-a-lie/ and https://www.jackreidy.com/blog/2021/12/06/a-national-disgrace-or-6/), I followed the news about it closely. I was very impressed by the 2 Republicans who sacrificed their positions in the Republican party and ultimately their seats in Congress to serve on the committee investigating this.
Continue reading “Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country by Adam Kinzinger”

Republican Senators are blocking aid to Ukraine.

Republican Senators are blocking aid to Ukraine.

Posted on by Jack

This may be the intent of some who don’t think we should be supporting Ukraine. But others are just holding the aid hostage to try to get what they want in immigration policy. This latter group want to hold up aid which is needed to stop Putin’s expansion into Ukraine (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67649497).

I think this is a big mistake. The aid is needed now to resist the invasion. Perhaps more so, since European Union is aid is being blocked by Victor Orban (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67724357).
Continue reading “Republican Senators are blocking aid to Ukraine.”

House Republicans fail again

House Republicans fail again

Posted on by Jack

House Republicans continue to fail. They failed to pass a budget to allow the government to continue to operate this fiscal year. So they passed a continuing resolution to allow it to stay open to November 17. Now that we are rapidly approaching that date and they have again failed to govern or pass a budget or agree to another continuing resolution. They did the only thing they could agree on – adjourn for a long weekend.

Why the working class changed parties

Why the working class changed parties

Posted on by Jack

I have long been puzzled by many of the working class who support Republicans who seem to the working against their interests (lower taxes for the rich, for example). Democrats seem to be doing much more to help the working class and yet they seem to be losing support in this group.

Peter Coy has written a very interesting column today, based on a National Bureau of Economic Research paper , that seems to explain this at least in part.

It is an interesting article a well-worth your time.

Republican clown show continues

Republican clown show continues

Posted on by Jack

It has now been 3 weeks, Congress cannot work. Yes. the Senate can pass important bills. But without the other half of Congress that would be meaningless. The House of Representatives is needed for Congress to work.

Yet the Republican majority fails to appoint a Speaker who would be able to either introduce new bills or allow a vote on Senate bills. This has gone of for 2 weeks and may not get better any time soon. The latest failure is today

Perhaps one day we will actually have a fully functional government but does that require voting most Republicans out?

Full Salary

Full Salary

Posted on by Jack

In my discussion of The Appeasement Caucus a week ago I looked at an amendment to the bill House Republicans proposed to fund the government for the current fiscal year. One which passed would halve reduced the salary of Lloyd James Austin III (The Secretary of Defense) to $1, The amendment is below.

H.Amdt.371 — 118th Congress (2023-2024)
Description: An amendment numbered 164 printed in Part A of House Report 118-216 to reduce the salary of Lloyd James Austin III to $1.
Sponsor: Greene, Marjorie Taylor [Rep.-R-GA-14] (Offered 09/27/2023)
Latest Action: 09/27/23 On agreeing to the Greene (GA) amendment (A020) Agreed to by voice vote. (All Actions)

I’ve noticed he is doing quite a bit on the latest disaster in Israel-Gaza. I’m glad he is making his full salary.

Rapid Growth of The Appeasement Caucus

Rapid Growth of The Appeasement Caucus

Posted on by Jack

There seems to be rapid growth of opposition to Ukraine aid among House Republicans. In my earlier post I called these folks The Appeasement Caucus so I’ll just stick with that name. I am not aware if they officially formed a caucus with that name or some other name.

As I recall, last year there were a relatively small number of House Republicans opposed to aid.
Continue reading “Rapid Growth of The Appeasement Caucus”

The Appeasement Caucus

The Appeasement Caucus

Posted on by Jack

Last week as the House considered a bill to fund the government for the fiscal year beginning in a few days (HR 4365), the House considered several amendments. Among them this one to “prohibit security assistance for Ukraine“:
Continue reading “The Appeasement Caucus”

Tyranny of the Minority of the Majority

Tyranny of the Minority of the Majority

Posted on by Jack

The recent vote to vacate the Speaker of the House made me think of “Tyranny of the Minority” which I reviewed a few weeks ago.

In this case a small number of extreme Republicans to vacate the Speaker of the House despite the support of a much larger majority of Republicans.

Almost Funny

Almost Funny

Posted on by Jack

As the government moves quickly toward a shutdown, House Republicans are keeping wasting time on things that have no chance of becoming law.

It would be funny if it was not so tragic.

For example, reducing the salary of Defense Secretary Austin to $1 as proposed by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Almost funny, but actually just a few more reasons to vote against the Republicans.

A good day for tax cheats

A good day for tax cheats

Posted on by Jack

Do you cheat on your taxes? Let the other guy pay more to make up for your savings. It turned out someone finally got wise to your cheating ways. A few months ago the government add some funds for the IRS for increasing tax compliance and improving service.

Make the tax system less subject to cheating. Fairer most would think and also raise billions of dollars rather than run up the deficit.

Monday the Republicans in the House voted to cut that funding, It was a good day for tax cheats (at the cost of adding billions to the deficit). fortunately for the rest of us, this seems unlikely to become law.