George H.W. Bush on Heaven

Karl Marx in a Dress?

As the Democrats assume the majority in the House of Representatives during the 116th Congress, Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA 43rd) is poised to become the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. 






Sotto voce, business barons may morsely mutter that it will be like Karl Marx in a dress running the Financial Services Committee but that is the new order in the peoples' chamber.

Scott Adams on Nationalism

General George S. Patton on the Object of War

When Winning Isn't Enough for Ocasio-Cortez

Congresswoman-Elect Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY 14th), a 29 year old Democrat Socialist who hails from The Bronx, New York, won her general election with 78% of the vote.  Yet her initial comments either indicated an unpreparedness for victory or a pose to propagandize her brand.

Due to the demographics of the district, it was virtually fait accompli that Ocasio Cortez would win in November after surprising House Democrat stalwart Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY 14th) by 15% in the June 2018 New York primaries.  Yet after she won, Ocasio Cortez publicly complained that she would not have income for three months, so it would be initially dicey for her to find digs in DC prior to her "inauguration" (sic). 

So an economics major from Boston University from Boston University could not budget enough buffer for a sure thing victory in order to have a place to stay in the District of Calamity prior to pulling her first paycheck  Sure.

Detractors of the rising Democrat Socialist star have derided her as Occasional Cortez, who they believe is not bright nor schooled in the political process.  However, the wording of her "too broke to move" sob story hint that it is contrived political posturing.

Ocasio Cortez comes from the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democrat Party (despite the fact that Sanders actually is no longer a member of the party).  Aside from her chops of being a community organizer, Ocasio Cortez tries to conjure the mien of being considered a working class hero.  What better way to identify with voters who live paycheck to paycheck to play up this wage gap before taking office?

This would not be the first time that Ocasio Cortez has played fast and loose with her bio to identify with the downtrodden.  Ocasio Cortez played up her roots in the Bronx, even after it became evident that she grew up living with her  architect father in well to do Westchester County while commuting to school in the Bronx. 

If Ocasio Cortez truly cannot afford an apartment before she is "viviendo del mamey" (Boricuan slang for living off the state budget, or living the easy life), she could follow the example of outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan, who slept in his office.  Surely the DNC has a room that they can set aside for the newly elected working class leader.  Just make sure that you pay the average daily rate for lodging lest you get hounded and forced to resign like former Trump Energy Secretary Scott Pruitt.  Check that, ethics rules usually only apply for Republicans.

Ocasio Cortez's post election kerfluffle may hint at trouble for Democrats organizing in Washington.  It would seem that Ocasio Cortez is not content to be a back bencher while learning the ropes on Capitol Hill.  

 It seems that there are three contending factions in the Democrat Caucus:  The old school, like presumed Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA 12th) and current Democrat Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD 5th), who are established Democrats who are eager to regain their powerful positions. 

While it is a relatively small faction, there are moderates like Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH 13th), who seem like vestigial Democrats of old who champion patriotic union working class voters.  Their clout may be somewhat bolstered by the fact that many of the newly elected Democrats won because of their moderate credentials.  

Then there are the Young Turks, like Ocasio Cortez, who want the revolution now. Losing Democrat Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), labeled them the crazies.  These rabble rousers will not wait their turn for power.  They may chaff at having their leadership being comprised of septuagenarian establishment types who want to protect their positions rather than upturning the system.  

The question is how the (Democrat) Congressional Black Caucus will side in the leadership battle.  On the one hand, the CBC has paid their dues and followed a strategy of rising to ranking member status by hanging onto office forever (save ex Rep. John Conyers, who was chased out of office in late 2017 after fifty years because of sexual harassment allegations).   Congresswoman "Auntie Maxie" Waters (D-CA 43rd) is in line to be the Chair of the Financial Services Committee, so she has strong motivations to line up with the establishment.  But Waters also was a driving force during the Midterms to chant "Impeach 45".   Ms. Pelosi was trying to tamp down those voices during the campaign.  If House Democrats intend to govern, leadership may strive to quash those sentiments, which could cause resentment and a change of alliance.

In the last 115th Congress, the CBC felt slighted in leadership.  House Democrats made up a faux leadership position for Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC 6th) as "Assistant Democrat Leader", but who had  a title but little clout.  It is unclear if that will be enough for the CBC now that they are back at the helm in the House. Fourth term incumbent Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY 8th) is vying  to succeed Joe Crowley for the number four position in the Democrat Caucus as Caucus Chair.  This might split the CBC as Jeffries competitor includes entrenched left coast progressive CBC member  Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA 13th). 

Next week, Democrats will return to the Capitol City and organize their caucus.  Either Ocasio Cortez will have to couch surf or get a cash advance to participate.   

Larry King on the News

On Re-Evaluating House Leadership

Hillary Clinton on Civility

President Trump on the Kavanaugh Circus

Liberals Lament Excessive Celebration of the Kavanaugh SCOTUS Confirmation

Mitch McConnell on the Kavanuagh Confirmation

Democrats with a Loco -Motive (sic)

This loco label looms large in the mind of President Trump, as was echoed in his recent campaign rally in Johnson City, Tennessee. 

What a Blooming-thal Liar (sic)

During the extraordinary hearings for Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CN) harkened back to his days as a prosecutor as he mangled a Latin admonition given in jury instructions that: "False in one thing, false in all things".  But instead of impeaching Brett Kavanaugh, Da Nang Bloomenthal ironically impeached his own credibility.

When Richard Blumental was first running for the Senate, it was revealed that Bloomenthal had often boasted that he was a Vietnam War hero, when he had never been to Indochina during his military service.

That mendacity inspired President Donald Trump to sardonically cite the Connecticut Senator as Da Nang Richard.

If it was not invoked in such a sad situation, it would be funny. Somehow, it is unlikely that this just jibe will be satirized on Saturday Night Live. 

Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus indeed. 

Devin Nunes and the Collapse of the US Senate

A nadir of the Kavanaugh Circus was some Democrat Judiciary Committee members shifting their questioning of Trump Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh from uncorroborated allegations by Christine Blasey Ford to the 1983 Georgetown Prep's Yearbook. 

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) obsessed about entries in Brett Kavanaugh's senior bio, including inquiries about "Renete Alumnius",  "boofing" and "the devil's triangle".

Senator Tom Cotton on FBI Background Checks

Senator Hatch: DiFi to Blame for Three Ring Fecal Festival Called the Kavanaugh Controversy

Brett Kavanaugh on the Confirmation Circus

Alexander Hamilton on Political Seasons

Thomas Sowell on Emotions and Facts

Fulton Sheen on the Zeitgeist

G.K. Chesterton on Open Minds

Chuck Todd on Nutty Conspiracy Theories

Mitch McConnell on Good Democrat Smears

Brett Kavanaugh on Character Assassination

Michael Avenatti on Being a Democrat Fighter

Considering Michael Avenatti's 13th hour unsubstantiated claims against Trump Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, it's no wonder that Fox New's Tucker Carlson calls this self proclaimed Democrat fighter a Creepy Porn Lawyer. Yet Avenatti thinks that he can be a viable Democrat Presidential candidate in 2020.

Jonathan Turley on Due Process

Donald Trump on the Kavanaugh Controversy

Mitch McConnell on Being Senate Majority Leader

On Flouting Senate Rules

Sheldon Whitehouse on Rules

On Trump and the Courts

Joe Biden on the Ginsburg Rule

Senator John McCain on His Passing