Some consider the Nation’s Capital as “Fantasyland on the Potomac”. Other outsiders are “Fed Up” with the Federal City. It's better to consider D.C. as “the District of Calamity” (sic).
Fox News political commentator Sean Hannity traveled halfway around the globe to cover President Trump's second meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the VietNam Summit. But had Hannity not improvised, he would not have made it to his live spot on time. Hannity found himself stuck in Hanoi traffic on the way to the studio for his US prime time show. To avoid being an on camera no show, Hannity hopped aboard a scooter to make it to the set on time.
The Job Creators Network reacted to community activist turned freshman Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez's (D-NY 14th) celebration of chasing away Amazon from expanding its HQ2 to Long Island City (Queens), New York by erecting a pointed message at Times Square. The message offers some economic analysis for the loss of the business opportunity and sarcastically suggests: "Thanks for Nothing" AOC.
The Chicago Police Department attributed actor Jussie Smollett's motive for staging a hoax hate crime in Streeterville, Chicago during on polar blast on January 29th as an attempt to garner a higher salary on the Fox TV series "Empire".
Perhaps, but how does that square with Jussie Smollett's emotional softball interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America.
To that end, Smollett opined that the reason why he was attacked was because he comes at the Trump Administration "really, really hard". Smollett has been quite visible in his political activism. And enquiring minds want to know if there were connections (or just political opportunism) between the Smollett drama and Democrat Presidential hopeful Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) offering anti-lynching legislation.
Newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tried to tamp down the controversy created by freshman Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib's vulgar call to impeach President Trump. Pelosi dismissed criticism of Tlaib's vow to impeach the "motherf*cker as being "No big deal" as it was free speech from an individual and is just the way people talk
However, Pelosi proclaimed that President Trump's rhetoric mattered as his words have a direct impact on people. Huh? Hypocrisy much? Perhaps Pelosi ought to consider the context of Rashida Tlaib's crude call for impeachment. Even though Tlaib doubled down on her remarks as speaking truth to power, the reality was that her crude comment was directed to her young son. So such free speech has no impact "on the children"? Sure. h/t: MRC
Most politicos expected the 116th Congress to be totally focused on the upcoming 2020 Presidential election, full of investigations and efforts to oust President Trump. Democrats seem to be obsessed by Trump Derangement Syndrome. The hope is to persuade enough establishment Republicans who are offended by Trump's abrasive style and perceived lack of comity to limit Trump's term as chief executive. Establishment Democrats may try to tamp down impeachment efforts, as the chances to force Mr. Trump from the Oval Office with a 2/3rds Senate majority seem slim. It is reasonable to presume that their game will be to continue to drive down President Trump's favorability numbers and to pressure those close to him that he will throw in the towel. Alas that strategy will not satisfy radicals like Rashida Tlaib. The problem that young turks like Tlaib pose is their persistent in your face vulgar approach is great for generating headlines (much the same for their nemesis Donald Trump). But that turns off independents and establishment Republicans who embrace civility. Ironically, Democrats condemned Republicans about their supposed lack of civility in the wake of the shooting of former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ 8th). Moreover, the more prominence that Democrat Socialist radicals like Tlaib and Rep. Ocasio Cortez (D-NY 14th) are given, it is likely that the Democrats will be driven to the left, which will produce a presidential nominee who who the base loves but alienates any remaining Blue Dog Democrats and fails to win back "The Great Revolt" Trump voters and loses in a landslide, much like McGovern lost to the great silent majority in 1972.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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".
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.
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. 
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?
