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John M. Kelly's avatar

Tuberrville is a freshman with zero political capital at risk over his granstanding.. But it's likely he wi[[ pay a price - no commitee appointments, ever, and no co-sponsors on any legislation he has the unselfconscious hubris to propose. Tuberville is a nobody, persona non grata, a honunculus. It's a joke to call him a "senator"

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Elisabeth Iler's avatar

John,

homunculus

/hɒˈmʌŋkjʊləs,həˈmʌŋkjʊləs/

noun

a very small human or humanoid creature.

HISTORICAL

a microscopic but fully formed human being from which a fetus was formerly believed to develop

What a great word. I knew it vaguely, but it is the perfect description of Tumorville. OMG! Thank you.

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Barbara Keating's avatar

I know, right? Learned a new word too!

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Elisabeth Iler's avatar

We are laughing together! Have a great week, Barbara.

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k.paschal's avatar

Smeagle/Gollum

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Pat Ebervein's avatar

I kept wanting to equate homunculus with horcrux...‼️ (The most terrible of dark magic...)

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Mary Ellen Harris's avatar

Wasn't Voldemort a homunculus before he was dumped in the cauldron with Wormtail's hand and Harry Potter's blood?

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Richard Sutherland's avatar

Thank you, Elizabeth. I had never seen nor heard that word before. Very apt description of Tuberville.

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Eileen W.'s avatar

Homunculus and Tumorville! 😂😂😂

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James Vander Poel's avatar

That's giving him too much credit. As the drill instructor at MCRD San Diego said to us as we stood on the yellow footprints, waiting to board the bus, we were not Marines, we were not civilians, we were "lower than whale sh*t". The phrase, applied to Tuberville, would elevate him. I can only hope the people of Alabama do not make the humiliating mistake of returning him to office.

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The Go-To Guy's avatar

Tuberville was elected because he was a popular coach in a football-centric state. He had minimal political experience, and has proven to be intellectually inferior to his fellow Senators. To allow his grandstanding to hold up vital military operations is incomprehensible.

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Margaret MacKenzie's avatar

Yeah, but he knew enough about politics to be able to name the three branches of government (wink, wink).

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David Mau's avatar

The military will just work around this homunculus’s obstacles (Acting Commander) rendering his position useless conferring all the power back to the Executive Branch for now.

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Suzanne's avatar

How will they do that? I'm really trying to understand this nasty situation.

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David Mau's avatar

The military just appointed an “acting commander” to fill the role of the retiring commander. Basically moving ahead without the Senate’s confirmation hearing. If the Senate refuses to take up confirmation hearings, they will proceed without their consent until the Senate starts to act like Adults.

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Penny Bernath's avatar

Vote Vets!

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Susan Troy's avatar

Do the rest of us really have to suffer this fool(homunculus) until Alabama voters wake up? This is sad and dangerous.

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John T Phillips's avatar

Yes, he is a nobody. A dumb hick that once coached a football team. I also agree that it is a joke to call this bum a ''Senator'' He and Marjorie Traitor Goon would make a good pair. They are exactly alike. Dumber and Dumbest.

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JennSH from NC's avatar

The folks in Alabama chose "Coach" Tuberville instead of their former Senator. It's no wonder the rest of the country considers the people of the South ignorant and stupid.

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MLMinET's avatar

In the South, anyone associated with college football, especially a head coach, is a god. That kind of name recognition is priceless. Is he capable? Who cares?

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Sharon B in ATL's avatar

Indeed- just look at the last GA senate race that almost elected Hershel !

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Mary Ellen Harris's avatar

Careful, the head football coach at the University is often paid more than the Govenor in most States.

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Richard Sutherland's avatar

I am beginning to agree with this assessment, John. At first I thought they MTG and Tuberville were simply ideologues, but, even if they are, they're stupid ones, clueless, or else carelessly indifferent.

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Ginger Riffe's avatar

Correct me if I am wrong- but wasn’t Tuberville the senator when asked the 3 Branches of the Government- didn’t know what they were?

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JDinTX's avatar

Still has the power of a senator in this regard, damage escalating as we post…

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Fred WI's avatar

Stupid, perhaps. Cunning, certainly. Like tFg.

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Suzanne's avatar

Mr. Kelly help me understand how he (Tuberville) got to the position of holding up military confirmations. Is it Senate policy? Was there a vote? And is it possible for other senators to relieve him of this ability? If so, I'll contact my senators.....

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John M. Kelly's avatar

I don't pretend to understand the arcane rules of the Senate. My limited understanding is that what Tuberville is doing isn't normal. He's preventing these nominations from reaching the floor by "unanimous consent" because he's a newbie, he doesn't understand the meaning of "comity", and he's an ass -- a bad combination. AFAIK the rest of the Senate could get around Tuberville by actually voting to bring these nominations to the floor. Maybe McConnell and Schumer aren't scheduling such a vote in order to give Tuberville enough rope to hang himself? I don't know.

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