Today the Texas House voted to impeach Texas attorney general Ken Paxton on 20 counts of corruption and bribery, removing him from office temporarily while the Senate prepares to try him. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) sided with Paxton, saying “No attorney general has battled the abuses of the Biden admin more ferociously—and more effectively—than has Paxton.” Former president Trump also backed Paxton, calling the Republican speaker of the Texas House “barely a Republican at all,” and threatened to target any Republican who voted for impeachment.
The vibe is the crazies will win and the country will lose. Biden handled this Republican terrorist time bomb masterfully. Yes he had to give up things that aren't fair. But he gained the high ground. Whatever bad happens will be squarely on the GOP shoulders in the minds of the majority of voters. But will the economic fallout here and around the world overwhelm whatever narrative advantage Democrats have achieved?
One thing is beyond dispute: the insurrectionists failed on Jan. 6, but their champions in Congress may be poised to deliver economic chaos that Trump wants in hopes it will somehow save him.
Republicans caused this. Democrats are being the adults in the room. Again. And again and again.
Stop whining. Pull up our collective socks and re-elect Biden, take back the House, and increase the margin in the Senate.
If the good people of Santos’ districted had sussed him out and elected a democrat, McCarthy’s bill would not have passed. If just one of those new red districts in NY or Florida had gone blue, McCarthy’s bill would have failed. If just a 547 voters in Colorado had voted for Democrat Adam Frisch, McCarthy’s bill would have failed. If there had been just one more sane normal Republican vote, McCarthy’s bill would have failed.
Once that bill passed, it took away much of the leverage the democrats might have had.
So, what do you want Biden to do? He is not dealing with normal sane people. He is dealing with people who want him and the Dems to fail and they see defaulting as a way to make that happen. The Unfreedom caucus is on record as saying that. As is the twice impeached, sex assaulter, criminal defendant, insurrectionist, former guy.
The alternative stealth bill that would “only require 5 sane Republican votes” isn’t going to happen. There aren’t those votes to be had.
Invoking the 14th amendment to pay the bills will be tied up in court, undermining the credibility of the USA. Would you lend money to the government under those circumstances?
Stop complaining about Biden. There is no young, handsome, charismatic, articulate, electable White Knight waiting in the wings to ride to the rescue. Biden cares about this country and it’s citizens.
All I can think of when the far right speaks up in support of someone like Paxton, is that old maxim, "You know a man by the company he keeps." This 3rd year is almost half over. People who should be in jail are not in jail. Instead, they are in positions of power. The unease is enough to cause heart failure. And I mean that in every sense of the word, while people are scrambling just to stay afloat. Look what happened to the EPA. This does not bode well for the future of our democracy.
Let me get this straight--Cruz, Trump, et al don't deny Paxton's wrongdoing, they just threaten "consequences" for those with a conscience and standards? It reminds me of the scene in A Man For All Seasons, where the Duke of Norfolk is asking Sir Thomas More to just do what everyone else is doing and "Come along with us, for Fellowship." More replies, "And when we both have died, and you go to heaven for following your conscience and I am condemned to hell for not following mine, will you come along with me, for Fellowship?" And on the more consequential matter of the day, the hardliners and the debt ceiling--I wonder what McCarthy can say to get through to them. Certainly not Fellowship. That's almost as wry as MTG calling for decorum in the House chambers...
"The Supreme Court threw out the case, saying that Texas did not have standing to sue, but not before it attracted the support of 17 state attorneys general and at least 126 members of Congress, including Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)."
Rule of law? At least SCOTUS wouldn't play along, but the extent to the corruption is epic, at least in my lifetime. About an hour ago, my wife showed me a video of Cory Booker, speaking of the arrest of US Grant for speeding (of which even a horse-drawn conveyance is capable) Grant greeted critics of his arrest with admission of his guilt, and praised the policeman, who was black, for evenly enforcing the law as written.
Happy Memorial Day. Would be nice if the GOP paused their partisan games long enough to reflect on the fact that Americans have died to preserve our opportunity to maintain our status in the world, not diminish it. To all who have family who have people close to them who made the ultimate sacrifice; I honor your loved ones and will always fight to try to be the patriot(s) they were in their service to all of us. God bless and keep them, as we do, in our hearts.🙏🏼
The vote against Paxton was 121-23. So, I’m curious - are there really only 23 Texas state reps who are currently successfully blackmailed? Or 23 who needed his help? Or 23 who will lose their investments in Paxton? Or 23 who are really that dumb? Or 23 who enjoy a good public spanking? Or 23 who suck up to Cruz, who still sucks up to TFG? So many possibilities, it’s difficult to say!
It behoves Democrats fully to back this compromise in the House, showing the world that a pack of crazed extremists on the right don’t have the power they so desperately and despicably crave. Jeffries, tho a progressive minority speaker, needs to bring this home for Biden and the country and the world. Democracy works. Let the MTG’s howl. It will only make them appear more grotesque as they insist on robbing the poor to please the rich. Bring a strong bipartisan bill to the Senate and it will pass. We have well over a year to build on this success and begin to send those crazies back to their states and private lives as the losers they truly are.
Welcome to the repub circus. Ever since McCarthy traded his soul for the gavel, government business has been stalled and derailed by the repubs. “Tonight, President Biden and McCarthy announced they have agreed to a budget deal in principle, opening the way for the House to pass a measure to raise the debt ceiling. Now the key question is: do they have the votes to pass such a measure?” Thank you, Professor for this key question. And if they don’t, then what? One way or another, derailing the Biden Administration is the repub goal. Can we hope for an end to this chaos or will this be a continuing struggle between government working for the people and repubs working against the people?
It’s quite obvious with the Paxton thing in Texas, as well as with the debt ceiling crisis in Washington, that the Republicans will, and are, screwing the pooch, again. They’re throwing gasoline on a fire that doesn’t need any.
Paxton calling and threatening Republican senators should be a violation of law. That, yo me, is the same as TFG calling Georgia and demanding they find 11,000+ votes to give him the state for the election.
McCarthy and his GOP rug-rats have wasted an enormous amount of time with these negotiations. There’s no excuse in this because President Biden came out with his budget proposal long ago. Plus, the president that raised the debt ceiling exponentially was TFG! THEIR fearless leader! And now, this batch of Trumpublicans have the nerve to come off with mess like Biden isn’t telling them anything, Biden isn’t doing this, Biden isn’t doing that.
The ones actually NOT doing anything are this group of House Republicans! They haven’t done one thing except show all of us just how dysfunctional they are, and will be, until we can vote them all out of office in 2024!!!
Thank you, Heather. And the insurrection goes on and on and on. Paxton has no shame calling and threatening his “colleagues” who vote for impeachment. Karma is comin’ for you, Treasonous Trash Paxton.
I’d have preferred letting McCarthy hang and using the discharge petition or 14th amendment to raise the debt limit, then watch the GOP implode entirely over its inability to form a budget. They deserve to eat their fractious selves for lunch. Negotiate and bipartisan are words deeply embedded in Biden’s psyche. We’ll be fine with some spending constraints but the he GOP doesn’t deserve a win here, dirty pig headed b****rds that they are. I want them to roast on the bonfire they lit.
We’re in a sad and a bit frightening place in our Nation’s historic timeline and what, from my perspective, democrats and similar or like-minded thinkers are not doing is playing hardball. This not nor was it intended to be a minority rule country! We have so many teachable moments and the goal should be to motivate a significant portion of the non-voting registered voters in our country that they need to educate themselves and start participating in helping to keep this country - their and our country - on the correct path of a free democracy!!! Start by learning the historical differences between the two major political parties in this country ...
Is McCarthy the leader of House Republicans or is he the one being manipulated by the radical MAGA Handful? Does a bagman/watercarrier have standing to negotiate even a lunchtime sandwich order?
There’s no deal on the debt limit until the votes are counted.
Paxton is being impeached for everyday, garden variety, state-level political corruption, the kind that’s been going on in Texas, and elsewhere, since…well…forever. Something else is going on. What line did Paxton cross? Whose toes got stepped on? Whose palm didn’t get greased?
A major, tectonic, political rift will start as a hairline crack. Maybe…
RE: the debt ceiling -- the polyanna in me still believes that 5 Republicans in swing districts will vote for the discharge petition at the 11.99th hour.
If they don't, I fully expect Biden to invoke the 14th or mint a coin at the 12th hour
What I DON'T expect is for Biden to cave to the Asshole Conference's demands. If there is a "deal" announced it will be one where Dark Brandon can put on his dark glasses and say "suckas!" and one that costs McCarthy his speakership. And Republicans in the House will be in chaos trying to elect a new Speaker well into the 2024 election cycle.
These Freedom Caucus dumb fucks are the dumbest fucks to ever fuck themselves in the history of our republic.
The vibe is the crazies will win and the country will lose. Biden handled this Republican terrorist time bomb masterfully. Yes he had to give up things that aren't fair. But he gained the high ground. Whatever bad happens will be squarely on the GOP shoulders in the minds of the majority of voters. But will the economic fallout here and around the world overwhelm whatever narrative advantage Democrats have achieved?
One thing is beyond dispute: the insurrectionists failed on Jan. 6, but their champions in Congress may be poised to deliver economic chaos that Trump wants in hopes it will somehow save him.
It's all so insane.
Republicans caused this. Democrats are being the adults in the room. Again. And again and again.
Stop whining. Pull up our collective socks and re-elect Biden, take back the House, and increase the margin in the Senate.
If the good people of Santos’ districted had sussed him out and elected a democrat, McCarthy’s bill would not have passed. If just one of those new red districts in NY or Florida had gone blue, McCarthy’s bill would have failed. If just a 547 voters in Colorado had voted for Democrat Adam Frisch, McCarthy’s bill would have failed. If there had been just one more sane normal Republican vote, McCarthy’s bill would have failed.
Once that bill passed, it took away much of the leverage the democrats might have had.
So, what do you want Biden to do? He is not dealing with normal sane people. He is dealing with people who want him and the Dems to fail and they see defaulting as a way to make that happen. The Unfreedom caucus is on record as saying that. As is the twice impeached, sex assaulter, criminal defendant, insurrectionist, former guy.
The alternative stealth bill that would “only require 5 sane Republican votes” isn’t going to happen. There aren’t those votes to be had.
Invoking the 14th amendment to pay the bills will be tied up in court, undermining the credibility of the USA. Would you lend money to the government under those circumstances?
Stop complaining about Biden. There is no young, handsome, charismatic, articulate, electable White Knight waiting in the wings to ride to the rescue. Biden cares about this country and it’s citizens.
All I can think of when the far right speaks up in support of someone like Paxton, is that old maxim, "You know a man by the company he keeps." This 3rd year is almost half over. People who should be in jail are not in jail. Instead, they are in positions of power. The unease is enough to cause heart failure. And I mean that in every sense of the word, while people are scrambling just to stay afloat. Look what happened to the EPA. This does not bode well for the future of our democracy.
Let me get this straight--Cruz, Trump, et al don't deny Paxton's wrongdoing, they just threaten "consequences" for those with a conscience and standards? It reminds me of the scene in A Man For All Seasons, where the Duke of Norfolk is asking Sir Thomas More to just do what everyone else is doing and "Come along with us, for Fellowship." More replies, "And when we both have died, and you go to heaven for following your conscience and I am condemned to hell for not following mine, will you come along with me, for Fellowship?" And on the more consequential matter of the day, the hardliners and the debt ceiling--I wonder what McCarthy can say to get through to them. Certainly not Fellowship. That's almost as wry as MTG calling for decorum in the House chambers...
"The Supreme Court threw out the case, saying that Texas did not have standing to sue, but not before it attracted the support of 17 state attorneys general and at least 126 members of Congress, including Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)."
Rule of law? At least SCOTUS wouldn't play along, but the extent to the corruption is epic, at least in my lifetime. About an hour ago, my wife showed me a video of Cory Booker, speaking of the arrest of US Grant for speeding (of which even a horse-drawn conveyance is capable) Grant greeted critics of his arrest with admission of his guilt, and praised the policeman, who was black, for evenly enforcing the law as written.
What a concept.
Happy Memorial Day. Would be nice if the GOP paused their partisan games long enough to reflect on the fact that Americans have died to preserve our opportunity to maintain our status in the world, not diminish it. To all who have family who have people close to them who made the ultimate sacrifice; I honor your loved ones and will always fight to try to be the patriot(s) they were in their service to all of us. God bless and keep them, as we do, in our hearts.🙏🏼
The vote against Paxton was 121-23. So, I’m curious - are there really only 23 Texas state reps who are currently successfully blackmailed? Or 23 who needed his help? Or 23 who will lose their investments in Paxton? Or 23 who are really that dumb? Or 23 who enjoy a good public spanking? Or 23 who suck up to Cruz, who still sucks up to TFG? So many possibilities, it’s difficult to say!
Oh Please!!! Let Cruz's support of Paxton come back and bite him in the ass!!!
BTW, I really don't understand why TEXAN republicans are impeaching someone that lives up to the same principals as they do.
It behoves Democrats fully to back this compromise in the House, showing the world that a pack of crazed extremists on the right don’t have the power they so desperately and despicably crave. Jeffries, tho a progressive minority speaker, needs to bring this home for Biden and the country and the world. Democracy works. Let the MTG’s howl. It will only make them appear more grotesque as they insist on robbing the poor to please the rich. Bring a strong bipartisan bill to the Senate and it will pass. We have well over a year to build on this success and begin to send those crazies back to their states and private lives as the losers they truly are.
Welcome to the repub circus. Ever since McCarthy traded his soul for the gavel, government business has been stalled and derailed by the repubs. “Tonight, President Biden and McCarthy announced they have agreed to a budget deal in principle, opening the way for the House to pass a measure to raise the debt ceiling. Now the key question is: do they have the votes to pass such a measure?” Thank you, Professor for this key question. And if they don’t, then what? One way or another, derailing the Biden Administration is the repub goal. Can we hope for an end to this chaos or will this be a continuing struggle between government working for the people and repubs working against the people?
It’s quite obvious with the Paxton thing in Texas, as well as with the debt ceiling crisis in Washington, that the Republicans will, and are, screwing the pooch, again. They’re throwing gasoline on a fire that doesn’t need any.
Paxton calling and threatening Republican senators should be a violation of law. That, yo me, is the same as TFG calling Georgia and demanding they find 11,000+ votes to give him the state for the election.
McCarthy and his GOP rug-rats have wasted an enormous amount of time with these negotiations. There’s no excuse in this because President Biden came out with his budget proposal long ago. Plus, the president that raised the debt ceiling exponentially was TFG! THEIR fearless leader! And now, this batch of Trumpublicans have the nerve to come off with mess like Biden isn’t telling them anything, Biden isn’t doing this, Biden isn’t doing that.
The ones actually NOT doing anything are this group of House Republicans! They haven’t done one thing except show all of us just how dysfunctional they are, and will be, until we can vote them all out of office in 2024!!!
Thank you, Heather. And the insurrection goes on and on and on. Paxton has no shame calling and threatening his “colleagues” who vote for impeachment. Karma is comin’ for you, Treasonous Trash Paxton.
I’d have preferred letting McCarthy hang and using the discharge petition or 14th amendment to raise the debt limit, then watch the GOP implode entirely over its inability to form a budget. They deserve to eat their fractious selves for lunch. Negotiate and bipartisan are words deeply embedded in Biden’s psyche. We’ll be fine with some spending constraints but the he GOP doesn’t deserve a win here, dirty pig headed b****rds that they are. I want them to roast on the bonfire they lit.
We’re in a sad and a bit frightening place in our Nation’s historic timeline and what, from my perspective, democrats and similar or like-minded thinkers are not doing is playing hardball. This not nor was it intended to be a minority rule country! We have so many teachable moments and the goal should be to motivate a significant portion of the non-voting registered voters in our country that they need to educate themselves and start participating in helping to keep this country - their and our country - on the correct path of a free democracy!!! Start by learning the historical differences between the two major political parties in this country ...
Is McCarthy the leader of House Republicans or is he the one being manipulated by the radical MAGA Handful? Does a bagman/watercarrier have standing to negotiate even a lunchtime sandwich order?
There’s no deal on the debt limit until the votes are counted.
Paxton is being impeached for everyday, garden variety, state-level political corruption, the kind that’s been going on in Texas, and elsewhere, since…well…forever. Something else is going on. What line did Paxton cross? Whose toes got stepped on? Whose palm didn’t get greased?
A major, tectonic, political rift will start as a hairline crack. Maybe…
RE: the debt ceiling -- the polyanna in me still believes that 5 Republicans in swing districts will vote for the discharge petition at the 11.99th hour.
If they don't, I fully expect Biden to invoke the 14th or mint a coin at the 12th hour
What I DON'T expect is for Biden to cave to the Asshole Conference's demands. If there is a "deal" announced it will be one where Dark Brandon can put on his dark glasses and say "suckas!" and one that costs McCarthy his speakership. And Republicans in the House will be in chaos trying to elect a new Speaker well into the 2024 election cycle.
These Freedom Caucus dumb fucks are the dumbest fucks to ever fuck themselves in the history of our republic.