Mark Zuckerberg on Hate Speech

Ben Sasse Anticipates Democrats' Knee Jerk Opposition Against Trump's SCOTUS Choice

Isn't it amazing how the "spontaneous" made for TV  crowd had pre-printed signs with Trump's Supreme Court pick Neil Gorsuch pre-printed on it.  Much like the astroturf, anticipating Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) would demonize the newly named nominee.

Keeping in character, Senator Schumer's statement about Neil Gorsuch paints the Trump High Court nominee as a neanderthal who is beholden to the President:

“Judge Gorsuch has repeatedly sided with corporations over working people, demonstrated a hostility toward women’s rights, and most troubling, hewed to an ideological approach to jurisprudence that makes me skeptical that he can be a strong, independent Justice on the Court."  

Senator Ben Sasse on Leaders

Sasse-y Excuse For Missing GOP Convention

Even though nearly half of current Republican Senators have decided to skip the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, freshman Senator Ben Sasse (R-NB) offered the sharpest explanation for his absence.

Despite his vocal anti-Trump demeanor, Senator Sasse did attend the Republican gathering on Capitol Hill to meet with the presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump.  During that meeting, Trump berated his co-party critics like Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) who he called a loser, Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) who Trump promised to campaign against, even though Flake is not up this cycle, and Trump singled out Senator Sasse for criticism. 

No wonder why dumpster fires in Omaha might be more gratifying than the flaming orange at the Q in Cleveland.

Lindsey Graham on Senatorial Discourtesy

Failed 2016 Presidential hopeful Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) had some sharp barbs at his rival Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) while speaking at the Washington Press Club Foundation Dinner.

Graham joked that that homicide could be committed on Cruz and there would be no conviction in the Senate. It is disgusting that Graham is echoing the homicidal hypothetical that Donald Trump used about to justify his cult of personality.  Graham might want to consult with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX 18th) on homicide. 

Graham may have revealed an inconvenient truth that Cruz upsets the apple-cart of the go along to get along Cocktail Party Club setup of the Senate, hence he's unpopular.

But if you parse Lindsey's language, no one in the Senate would convict. Perhaps that is to say that no Senators have convictions. Aside from Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Rand Paul (R-KY), Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Ben Sasse (R-NB), this train of thought might be on track.

Lindsey fancies himself to be a funny guy.  That may be true. But he shouldn't quit his day job. On second thought, leaving his day job might not be so bad. There may be some audiences in the Distict of Calamity that are craving political puppet shows. 

Senatorial Sasse-iness (sic) on Choice for Speaker

Freshman Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) generated a social media storm as he chimed in on choices for the Speaker of House chair which will be open at the end of October.

It was unclear if Senator Sasse was tweeting tongue in cheek or it was serious Sasse-iness (sic) when he suggested electing American Enterprise Institute President Arthur Brooks for Speaker or if his choice epitomized the qualities of vision, hard work, resolve and wit which Sasse believes is key to be an effective Speaker.

Prior to his social media sharing, Sasse hoped that the Speaker's election would be a transformational debate on the direction of the country, as opposed a discussion as to whether conservatives could be placated.



Sasse did not express any favoritism towards the three announced Speaker candidates: Majority Leader Rep.  Kevin McCarthy (R-CA 23rd) who Speaker Boehner favors; Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL 8th) who first defeated Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL 8th now 9th and running for Senate) and House Government Reform Chair Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT 3rd).

[L] Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA 23) [C] Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL 8th) [R] Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT 3rd)

When pressed about what Nebraskan voters thought about the Speaker's race, Sasse candidly quipped:  "You can't really go anywhere in Nebraska where anyone cases about that question. They don't care.  They think Congress sucks."

The House Republican caucus will meet on Thursday October 8th to vote for Speaker.  Rep. McCarthy insists that he has 200 votes for Speaker.  But the anonymity for votes in the Caucus might not yield as much support as the Majority Leader expects.

And if no candidate reaches 218 votes (or a majority if members vote "present" or miss the vote)  when the full House considers the measure, then an interim speaker takes over, which may be the Majority Leader. There is a concern that the two dozen Freedom Caucus members may vote in bloc and block McCarthy from winning.

It is interesting that the GOP Caucus has put off other votes on leadership, like a Majority Leader vote in case Mr. McCarthy is poised to ascend to the Speakership, until the day before current Speaker Boehner resigns. This might allow a candidate who has a plurality but not a majority time to garner more votes.  The timing also may put pressure on members not to invite chaos in the House.

Perhaps then Arthur Brooks in the big chair might not seem like such an outlandish idea.

h/t: Politico

Senator Bob Bennett on the Tea Party

It should be noted that three term former Senator Bennett lost to Mike Lee in 2010 during the GOP State Convention to choose their nominee.  Bennett was the son of Senator Wallace Forest Bennett (R-UT) who served from 1951-1974. 

It seems that the Establishment prefers the Cocktail Party on Capitol Hill rather than the Tea Party who will challenge the status quo.  In the 114th Congress, political junkies will discern if newly elected Senators like Senator-elect Joni Ernst (R-IA), Senator-elect Ben Sasse (R-NB), Senator-elect Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Senator-elect Cory Gardner (R-CO) opt for the establishment or seek to shake up the Senate GOP caucus. 

Jon Huntsman, Sr. is another storied name in Utah politics, recently opined that Republican's don't have a prayer in Presidential politics unless they nominate a moderate like Jon Huntsman, Jr. or Jeb Bush.  It is certainly understandable that Huntsman would unwavingly support his son, but plugging for Jeb screams of dynasty and an orientation of establishment.   

Time will tell if Senator Bennett and Jon Huntman's prognostications are prophetic or echoes of an earlier age.