Dem Rep. Raskin Warns That Trump ‘Remains A Clear And Present Danger To The American People’

Posted on February 23, 2021 by LifeZette

Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) went on “The View” on Monday to attack Donald Trump, claiming that the former president “remains a clear and present danger to the American people” despite the fact that he is out of office and has been banned from social media.

Raskin Attacks Trump

“I believe in Donald Trump’s mind he absolutely is the future, and he’s going to try to maintain that kind of authoritarian relationship with people in the Republican Party,” Raskin said.

“I think we need to confront his criminality, his corruption, and his dangerousness every single day. As long as he’s still out there, he remains a clear and present danger to the American people,” he added.

“He spent four years in office cozying up to every dictator and despot on earth, from Putin in Russia to Orbán in Hungary to Duterte in the Philippines, el-Sisi Egypt,” Raskin said. “You find a criminal in public office that was Donald Trump’s guy.”

“They’re going to be, you know, sending Jared Kushner out there on a globetrotting tour of every kleptocracy and autocracy on earth in order to collect the money they feel they deserve from having worked with all of these regimes,” he continued.

Raskin Doubles Down

“That money will be used to try to get Donald Trump to return to the White House,” Raskin said. “Of course, if he were to ever able to get back in, he would try to stay forever. He was already talking about a third term and how the Democrats owed him more terms and so on.”

“So I think he remains a very clear and viable threat to the American republic and obviously to the Republican Party. He is likely to destroy the republican party because of his authoritarianism and his determination to remain a cult leader,” he concluded.

.@RepRaskin to @TheView: “[Trump] remains a very clear and viable threat to the American republic, and obviously to the Republican party. He is likely to destroy the Republican party because of his authoritarianism and his determination to remain a cult leader.” pic.twitter.com/OiABDubMQd

— The View (@TheView) February 22, 2021

During the four years that Trump was in office, Raskin was one of the most fiercely anti-Trump people in Congress. That’s why it came as no surprise when he became the lead House impeachment manager during the Democratic Party’s latest attempt to impeach Trump.

This piece was written by James Samson on February 22, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

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Newt Gingrich Warns Trump Will Keep Dominating Republican Party – ‘Nobody Can Fight Him’

Posted on February 22, 2021 by LifeZette

In a new interview, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich discussed what he believes to be the future of the Republican Party following former President Donald Trump’s departure from the White House.

Gingrich Discusses Trump And GOP

Gingrich said that Trump’s “reach” in the party is still “enormous,” and that nobody in the GOP, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), “can fight him.”

“[W]hat’s very striking is that President Trump still has such enormous reach in the party that nobody can fight him,” Gingrich said on New York City AM 970 radio’s “The Cats Roundtable.” “I mean, you can complain about him.”

“You can criticize him,” he added. “But McConnell can’t possibly fight Trump. He doesn’t have a big enough base. And it’s also a reminder that there is sort of an establishment insider party that sits around at cocktail parties in Washington.”

“And then there’s this huge country outside of Washington,” Gingrich continued. “And that country in 2015, by about two to one, did not like the Republican leadership in the Congress, and that was the forerunner of us ending up with Trump as the presidential nominee.”

“I think … [Kevin] McCarthy has been much smarter as the House Republican leader to recognize his ability to get the extra seats rests almost entirely on working with Trump — not picking a fight with him,” he added.

Gingrich ‘Will Not Accept Joe Biden As President’

Ever since the election, Gingrich has not hidden the fact that he believes it was likely stolen from President Donald Trump.

He recently penned an op-ed called “Why I will not accept Joe Biden as president,” which was published in The Washington Times. In this op-ed, he explained that he can’t accept the results of this election because of an anger he has never felt before.

“As I thought about it, I realized my anger and fear were not narrowly focused on votes,” Gingrich wrote. “My unwillingness to relax and accept that the election was over grew out of a level of outrage and alienation unlike anything I had experienced in more than 60 years involvement in public affairs.”

He went on to complain about the fact that those on the left and the right now “live in alternative worlds.”

“You have more than 74 million voters who supported President Trump despite everything — and given the election mess, the number could easily be significantly higher. The truth is tens of millions of Americans are deeply alienated and angry,” Gingrich wrote.

“If Mr. Biden governs from the left — and he will almost certainly be forced to — that number will grow rapidly, and we will win a massive election in 2022,” he added.

This piece was written by James Samson on February 22, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Newt Gingrich Warns Trump Will Keep Dominating Republican Party – ‘Nobody Can Fight Him’ appeared first on The Political Insider.

What’s Actually In the Biden-Democrat $1.9 Trillion ‘COVID Relief’ Bill

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Becky Noble

As the Biden administration and Democratic Congress release plans for the massive $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, otherwise known as the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” the Republican Study Committee (RSC) last week warned about some of items in the bill.

Some of the generalities that President Biden has made no secret of wanting in the bill, such as raising the minimum wage and financial aid to illegal immigrants are of course included, but what are some of the other tidbits conservatives are warning about?

Here’s what the RSC is opposing in the bill – the one that was pushed aside so Democrats could pursue a second impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Republicans are struggling to derail Biden's increasingly popular relief package.

More than 7 in 10 Americans now back Biden's aid package. That includes support from three-quarters of independent voters, 2 in 5 Republicans and nearly all Democrats.https://t.co/FjPljyKeXL

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 20, 2021

Highlights In The $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Bill

As previously stated, some of the items in the bill are no surprise. They have been part of a liberal Democrat wish list for quite a while, and have nothing to do with relief for those hardest hit by the pandemic or economic shutdowns.

One of the top items – a new federal mandatory minimum wage – instead has everything to do with essentially paying people to be a new voting bloc.

According to the RSC and the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the result could be 1.4 million jobs lost, or even more. Most of those effected would be younger people with less formal education.

The irony is clearly lost on Democrats for this one. There is an entire section, “TITLE VI COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS” in this 591 page behemoth, that covers such things as modifications to the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program), support for restaurants, and something entitled “direct appropriations.”

Yet the best way to help these struggling businesses is to allow them to first open for business if they haven’t already, and allow them to pay their employees what they can afford to pay and still operate.

Anyone who knows anything about economics knows that if you cannot afford to pay all of your employees that brand new federal minimum wage, somebody’s got to go.

Unemployment would come with an extra $400 per week in addition to regular payments. This would last up to a year and a half.

In the words of the RSC, “Under this plan, 53% of Americans would effectively receive a raise for being unemployed.”

And it would not just be Americans who would be paid to sit and watch Netflix all day. If you enter the U.S. illegally, it is payday for you as well, my friend.

The $1,400 stimulus checks that are still being debated would also go to those families in which at least one parent is an illegal immigrant.

Nancy Pelosi’s “stimulus” plan still contains:

Stimulus Checks for ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Protections from deportations

Catch and release

Her plan is for illegal immigrants NOT the American People

— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) October 23, 2020

Making Sure Teachers Unions Are Happy

America’s school children are not faring much better than America’s small businesses. Many parents do not feel as though their kids are getting a quality education sitting in front of a computer screen all day.

But the Biden administration’s priority seems to be not with American kids getting a proper education, but making sure that America’s teachers unions keep donating to the Democrat Party.

Apparently hidden in the section entitled, “PART 1 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION”, is the additional provision of $130 billion, on top of the $110 billion they already receive, even if they remain closed.

If large numbers of American parents whose children are not included in a special classification feel their child’s education is suffering permanent consequences, imagine the feeling if your child is deemed “at risk,” “low income,” or “special needs.”

Teacher’s unions are holding public education hostage and @POTUS is helping them do it. Notice how they’re all saying they need to pass stimulus so schools can open …

Mere weeks after CDC said they could open without waiting for vaccinations.

This isn’t about a virus anymore.

— TheFOO (@PolitiBunny) February 14, 2021

Covering Other Parts Of The Biden Agenda

The bill would crowd out those who need PPP funding the most and expand the qualifications to large nonprofits, labor unions, country clubs, fraternities and sororities, and publicly-traded internet news organizations.

In other words, to already wealthy, well-positioned firms.

With the majority of large donations going to the Democrat Party, is that why Joe Biden and the Democrats want to keep their country club buddies happy?

Social justice is absolutely included in the Democrats’ handouts. There is a $50 million funding provision for EPA “environmental justice grants.”

Has anyone ever figured out just what exactly environmental justice is?

The RSC report calls this “a thinly-veiled kickback to leftist environmental groups.” Also included, $800 million in foreign food aid.

Americans are going hungry right now. How about keeping that $800 million for American food aid?

And what Democrat stimulus package would be complete without a little identity politics thrown in? The bill allows for loan forgiveness worth 120% of debt to farmers and ranchers on the basis of race and ethnicity.

In a report in “Successful Farming”, Georgia Republican Austin Scott said that the debt relief proposal “has no requirement of any proof of discrimination.” He also said that “payments of 120% could easily be challenged as reverse discrimination and unconstitutional.”

Biden's $1.9T coronavirus stimulus package gives $1B to 'root out systemic racism' for farmers https://t.co/5kjZ6cEukr

— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 22, 2021

As was expected, Joe Biden, his administration, and a Democrat Congress is attempting to pander to every group they think they can turn into permanent Democrat voters by funding their pet causes.

Too bad the American people are not a pet cause.

The post What’s Actually In the Biden-Democrat $1.9 Trillion ‘COVID Relief’ Bill appeared first on The Political Insider.

Is Trump Running For President Again? He Declares ‘Tremendous Support’ For 2024 Run

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Becky Noble

Amid much speculation about his future in politics and more specifically with the Republican Party, former President Donald Trump gave an interview to Newsmax indicating he could run for President again.

During an interview with Newsmax’s Greg Kelly on Wednesday, the 45th President would not commit to a second White House bid, but he did leave listeners with some juicy teasers.

After Kelly asked him if he would run again, Trump said, “Well, we have tremendous support. I won’t say yet, but we have tremendous support.”

“I’m looking at poll numbers that are through the roof. … I’m the only guy that gets impeached and my numbers go up. Figure that one out. … Typically, your numbers would go down. They would go down like a lead balloon.”

Democrats and the GOP Establishment are terrified. https://t.co/3qJK0AvOt6

— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) February 18, 2021

Lots Of Possibilities

Speculation about Trump running for President in 2024 – in the event that he lost the 2020 election – began even before Election Day.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), on an appearance on the Brian Kilmeade Show, laid out a sound road to a second bid, “I would encourage him to think about doing it. Create an organization, platforms over the next four years to keep his movement alive.”

While Democrats and the media might be fervently hoping that Donald Trump might just quietly retire to Mar-a-Lago, there is no indication that will happen.

If Trump decides not to run in 2024, other possibilities that have been mentioned are the idea of starting a third party as a challenge to never-Trump establishment Republicans.

Still another prospect for Trump is that he remains very active in the Republican Party. Trump has called out Republicans such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) after McConnell blamed him for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Trump has stated on several occasions that he would focus on supporting any primary challengers to never-Trump establishment members in both the House and the Senate.

The numbers seem to bear out Republican voters wanting Trump to play a vital role in the future of the party.

In a Politico/Morning Consult poll, 53% would like to see Trump run again, and a Quinipiac University national poll show that “three out of four Republicans would like to see Trump have a bigger role in the GOP.”

A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll conducted in the days following the Senate trial shows that despite the impeachment managers’ gripping presentation and video laying out Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 rampage, the GOP remains the undisputed party of Trump https://t.co/I2FYC2gkdC

— POLITICO (@politico) February 16, 2021

There Have Been Hints At The Future

As far back as October of last year, there have been hints that Donald Trump would not be done with the presidency, even if he lost in 2020.

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon made what might now appear to be an on-point prediction.

Bannon told “The Australian” that “2020 won’t be the end of Donald Trump,” and that “If for any reason the election is stolen from, or in some sort of way Joe Biden is declared the winner, Trump will announce he’s going to run for re-election in 2024.”

At the White House Christmas Party in December, Trump himself teased during a live stream to the Oklahoma Republican Party that “We’re trying to get another four years,” in a reference to election litigation that was ongoing at the time.

Trump then added, “But otherwise I’ll see you in four years.”

Trump at the White House Christmas party: "It's been an amazing four years. We're trying to do another four years, otherwise I'll see you in four years."

h/t @ZekeJMiller, @colvinj pic.twitter.com/72Q3bVY3jP

— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) December 2, 2020

Exclusive: Trump’s 2024 presidential plans. Steve Bannon predicts if Trump loses the election, he will run again in 2024. “You’re not going to see the end of Donald Trump,” he says. https://t.co/TzPeKvoAIb

— Sharri Markson (@SharriMarkson) October 18, 2020

What Might Stand In Between Trump And 2024?

Recently, in an interview with the Associated Press, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel stated that the RNC would remain neutral, and “not actively back” Trump should he decide to run again.

McDaniel said that her preference would to see Trump help the GOP “win back majorities in 2022.”

There is a visible split amongst the McConnell wing of the party and the Trump wing.

Trump recently attacked McConnell as being “weak,” and called him a “dour, sullen and unsmiling political hack.” Trump and McConnell have exchanged words in the past.

Average Republicans seem to be siding with Donald Trump, and are getting tired of establishment Republicans like Mitch McConnell.

An Axios/Ipsos poll shows large numbers of Republicans who are ready to vote for Trump again in 2024.

Whatever Donald Trump decides to do in the future, he will have millions of MAGA Republicans behind him. It would be in the best interest of the establishment to pay attention.

NEW: 2024 primary poll shows Trump dominating:
Donald Trump 53%
Mike Pence 12%
Donald Trump Jr. 6%
Nikki Haley 6%
Mitt Romney 4%
Ted Cruz 4%
Marco Rubio 2%
Mike Pompeo 2%
Josh Hawley 1%
Tom Cotton 1%
Tim Scott 1%
Kristi Noem 1%
Larry Hogan 1%
Rick Scott 0%https://t.co/zZhuv0pIac

— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) February 16, 2021

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Kamala Harris Refuses To Give Direct Answer After Being Asked If Trump Should Face Criminal Charges

Posted on February 18, 2021 by LifeZette

Vice President Kamala Harris declined to give a direct answer on Wednesday morning when she was asked if former President Donald Trump should face criminal charges for his alleged role in the Capitol riots last month.

Kamala Harris Interviewed On ‘Today’

“The president was acquitted in the Senate trial,” said “Today” host Savannah Guthrie. “Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, though, had some harsh words, saying he didn’t get away with anything yet, and that civil and criminal liability was still a possibility. I ask you — do you think that President Trump should be criminally charged?”

“You know, right now, Savannah, I’m focused on what we need to do to get relief to American families, and that is my highest priority,” Harris replied. “It is our administration’s highest priority. It is our job. It is the job we were elected to do, and that’s my focus.”

“But you’re a former prosecutor, so I have got to ask you, is that a strong case against the president, a criminal case that Mitch McConnell had raised as a possibility?” Guthrie pressed on.

“I haven’t reviewed the case through the lens of being a prosecutor,” Harris responded, dodging the question again. “I’m reviewing the case of COVID in America through the lens of being the vice president of America.”

Harris’ Past Comments Come Back To Haunt Her

Harris found herself in some hot water during Trump’s impeachment trial when past comments that she had made came back to haunt her, as Republicans claimed that she had incited violence in the past as well by encouraging racial riots and bailing out protests.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) went so far as to say that if Republicans take back the House, Harris could find herself being impeached, based on the precedent Democrats set with their latest effort against Trump.

“If you use this model, I don’t know how Kamala Harris doesn’t get impeached if the Republicans take over the House, because she actually bailed out rioters and one of the rioters went back to the streets and broke somebody’s head open,” Graham said, according to Newsweek. “So we’ve opened Pandora’s Box here, and I’m sad for the country.”

This piece was written by James Samson on February 17, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Kamala Harris Refuses To Give Direct Answer After Being Asked If Trump Should Face Criminal Charges appeared first on The Political Insider.

Rep. Matt Gaetz: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Could Make Presidential Run In 2024

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Becky Noble

In a weekend interview, Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, a major Trump ally, suggested that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis might be a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 should former president Donald Trump decide not to run.

On the Fox News Channel, Gaetz stated that “he was proud of” DeSantis, and went on to say that, “the truth is that the Biden folks know that if Donald Trump is not the candidate in 2024, the leader of our movement will be Ron DeSantis.”

There's a lot of Florida envy across the U.S. right now.

Businesses are opening in Florida. Unemployment is dropping. Home buying is increasing.

That type of prosperity under Governor DeSantis is very attractive to those who are having to endure lockdowns in other states.

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) February 16, 2021

Tackling COVID-19 In Florida

In recent days, the Biden administration has floated the idea of domestic travel restrictions, possibly targeting Florida, in the wake of a report from the CDC indicating that Florida currently has the highest amount of cases of a U.K. variant of COVID known as B.1.1.7.

DeSantis blasted the Biden White House, saying the idea of travel restrictions was “absurd” and “a political attack on the people of Florida.”

He also called out the Biden administration for suggesting the restrictions, saying it was “ridiculous to impose while relaxing restrictions on the U.S.-Mexico border.”

While the nation is still feeling the effects of COVID, Ron DeSantis managed a state with minimal lockdowns and an elderly population that was taken care of first.

Because Florida is a state with a large portion of the population over 65, right now, it leads the nation with the highest vaccination rate among senior citizens.

Rep. Gaetz also stated, “people see that in Florida, businesses are opening, unemployment is dropping, home buying is increasing, and that type of prosperity is very attractive to people who are having to endure lockdowns in other parts of America.”

Compared to Florida, 38 other states rank higher for COVID mortality among seniors 65 and older, per capita. pic.twitter.com/WhHa0notoh

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 16, 2021

Is DeSantis A Name To Watch?

Ron DeSantis may become a name to watch simply for the fact that he takes on the media in Trump-like fashion.

Recently, DeSantis was criticized for Super Bowl celebrations that could possibly spread more contagious strains of COVID-19.

DeSantis fired back, “The media is worried about that obviously.” He went on, “You don’t care as much when it’s a peaceful protest, you don’t care as much if you are celebrating a Biden election. You only care about it if it’s people you don’t like.”

DeSantis has long been a critic of what he says is a bias in the media against conservatives.

He supports a bill in the Florida legislature that would impose penalties on social media companies whose algorithms are perceived to favor one candidate over another.

Today we take another important step to hold Big Tech accountable and shift the balance of power back to consumers with the introduction of legislation to increase data privacy and security in FL. I thank Speaker @ChrisSprowls and look forward to working with him on this effort. pic.twitter.com/917i5ckWuR

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 15, 2021

Trump Would Be A Supporter

There is much speculation that Donald Trump will run for a second term as president in 2024. Ron DeSantis is up for re-election for Governor in 2022.

Trump will almost certainly be an avid supporter of DeSantis’ gubernatorial re-election.

There has also been some speculation as to whether Trump may start a third party. On Saturday, seven Republican Senators voted to convict Trump on charges that he incited the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

While many of those Senators were just re-elected, one, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is up for re-election in 2022. Trump could very well support a primary challenger should one emerge.

Rep. Liz Cheney, who voted to impeach Trump already has a challenger for 2022, who may also enjoy support from Trump and his supporters.

Trump also lashed out at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who recently made the comment that “Trump didn’t get away with anything yet.”

McConnell’s comments came after he voted against convicting Trump in his second impeachment trial.

The former president fired back, calling McConnell, “a dour, sullen and unsmiling political hack.”

If Trump remains popular in Florida – and doesn’t run for President in 2024 – it will definitely be an advantage for Ron DeSantis.

“You know who the spiritual leader is of the Republican Party right now in America?

Ron freaking DeSantis.

It's DeSantis, because DeSantis is actually showing how the America First, pro-citizen agenda works in a dynamic, diverse state like Florida."https://t.co/VQs7eldPYb

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 16, 2021

The post Rep. Matt Gaetz: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Could Make Presidential Run In 2024 appeared first on The Political Insider.

Nearly Every Senator Who Voted To Convict Trump Faces Censure Or Has Been Censured

Posted on February 16, 2021 by Becky Noble

As of today, nearly every Republican Senator who voted to convict former President Donald Trump in his impeachment conviction trial has either been censured by their Republican voters or faces censure in the near future.

On Saturday, the U.S. Senate voted to acquit Trump on the charge that he incited the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot. The 57-43 vote to convict failed to reach the two-thirds majority required in the upper chamber.

Joining all fifty Democrat Senators who voted to convict were seven GOP Senators:

Susan Collins of Maine
Mitt Romney of Utah
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
Richard Burr of North Carolina
Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania
Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

All have either been censured or are facing censure at home by at least one county Republican committee, save for Murkowski, who is up for re-election in 2022, so far.

The seven senators who went against the party line and voted to impeach Donald Trump are now facing very strong backlash and censure for their actions.https://t.co/ERS8SYq7Wq

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 14, 2021

Republicans Making Their Feelings Known

The seven Senators who voted to convict join several of their colleagues in the House who also are facing not just unhappy voters at home, but in some cases, already have primary challengers in 2022 for their votes to impeach.

One of the most high profile House members to face backlash which includes a primary challenger is Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY). Cheney was also called out by fellow Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) , who went to Wyoming to support constituents who want to replace her in Congress.

In the House, in addition to Cheney, South Carolina Rep. Tom Rice was also censured at home.

Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) has not only taken heat at home from constituents for his vote to impeach, but several members of his own family have called him an ’embarrassment.’

Rep. Adam Kinzinger Received Scathing Letter From Family Members After Calling For Trump’s Removal https://t.co/bPSZEhszuO

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 16, 2021

Pro-Impeachment Senators All Facing Backlash

According to a report from Vox, the Republican Parties of Louisiana and North Carolina wasted no time in blasting Bill Cassidy and Richard Burr, respectively.

“The Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana has unanimously voted to censure Senator Bill Cassidy for his vote cast earlier today to convict former President Donald J. Trump on the impeachment charge.”

Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty. pic.twitter.com/ute0xPc4BH

— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) February 13, 2021

The feeling in North Carolina was essentially the same. In a statement issued by NCGOP Chair Michael Whatley, he stated that Burr’s vote was “shocking and disappointing.”

“North Carolina Republicans sent Senator Burr to the United States Senate to uphold the Constitution and his vote today to convict in a trial that he declared unconstitutional is shocking and disappointing.”

Chairman @WhatleyNCGOP statement on Senator Burr’s impeachment vote. #ncpol #ncsen https://t.co/NUxhDkmm5N

— NCGOP (@NCGOP) February 13, 2021

Burr and Senator Pat Toomey have already announced that neither would be seeking re-election, which perhaps might have given both the feeling of having a bit of wiggle room when it came to pleasing or displeasing constituents.

Washington County Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Dave Ball stated of Toomey that “As far as we’re concerned, his political career is over in this state, even if he were to try to run again. His legacy is tarnished beyond repair.”

Sasse was censured by his fellow Nebraska Republicans for what they cited as “dismissing the legitimate concerns of Nebraska’s Secretary of State, and a huge majority of Republican voters regarding allegations of fraud in November’s presidential election.”

In response, Sasse released a rather condescending video to Nebraska Republicans explaining to them what was “conservative” and what was not.

In Maine, censure resolutions are being considered.

In Utah, Republican voters are circulating a petition online calling to censure Mitt Romney, though that state GOP has defended ‘diversity of thought.’

IMPEACHMENT BACKLASH: The fallout continues for Republican senators who voted to convict Trump, with Sen. Bill Cassidy censured by Louisiana’s GOP as he stands by the move. @rachelvscott reports as Trump makes his first public appearance since acquittal. https://t.co/pMdBVRYfLh pic.twitter.com/ppYGcGvoie

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) February 16, 2021

Will Voters Hold Them Accountable At The Ballot?

There are several things that might make Senators taking heat for their conviction vote interesting.

Of these seven, only Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is up for re-election. Burr and Toomey are retiring, and Romney is in the middle of his first term.

The rest were all just re-elected.

Another interesting factor is two Senators who have not been censured by their own voters – the two Republicans who challenged the electoral college votes.

Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) were blamed by Democrat Senators for the riot and there were calls by many for both to resign or be expelled.

And in what might the most intriguing aspect of the “Gang of 7,” is that in the wake of Burr’s retirement announcement, there will be a vacancy in one of North Carolina’s Senate seats.

Former Representative Mark Walker has thrown his hat into the ring for 2022, but another name is floating around, that of Lara Trump.

The North Carolina native and wife of Eric Trump recently got a huge boost from Lindsey Graham, who described her as the “biggest winner of the impeachment trial.”

“The biggest winner I think of this whole impeachment trial is Lara Trump,” said Graham.@LaraLeaTrump can now be seen as a contender for the 2022 Senate race after @SenatorBurr voted to convict Trump in the #ImpeachmentTrial, said Sen. @LindseyGrahamSC. https://t.co/4gS2OqzNho

— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) February 16, 2021

As Americans get more and more tired of sending people to Washington who do not reflect their wishes, the Gang of 7 and those like them may just be the last of a dying breed.

The post Nearly Every Senator Who Voted To Convict Trump Faces Censure Or Has Been Censured appeared first on The Political Insider.

Pelosi Wants ‘9/11-Type Commission’ To Investigate Capitol Riot

Posted on February 16, 2021 by John Hanson

On Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she plans to create an “outside, independent 9/11-type Commission” to investigate January’s Capitol Hill attack.

In her weekly letter to colleagues, Pelosi told her House colleagues that the commission will “investigate and report on the facts and causes relating to the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist attack upon the United States Capitol Complex.”

.@SpeakerPelosi says she will “establish an outside, independent 9/11-type Commission to ‘investigate and report on the facts and causes relating to the January 6, 2021 domestic terrorist attack upon the United States Capitol Complex.’”

From her letter to colleagues pic.twitter.com/KFL6mVeaXP

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 15, 2021

Pelosi’s Call For 9-11-Style Commission Comes Two Days After Trump Acquittal

Pelosi added that the query will also delve into anything “relating to the interference with the peaceful transfer of power.”

This call from the Democrat leader comes only two days after former President Donald Trump being acquitted on impeachment by the U.S. senate.

That vote was 57-43, with seven Republicans voting against Trump and for a conviction.

Democrats can’t seem to give up Trump. Pelosi isn’t the only Democrat calling for an independent commission.

Democratic Senator Chris Coons has signaled support for such an investigation, saying, “There’s still more evidence that the American people need and deserve to hear and a 9/11 commission is a way to make sure that we secure the Capitol going forward.”

Coons added, “And that we lay bare the record of just how responsible and how abjectly violating of his constitutional oath President Trump really was.”

JUST IN: Pelosi calls for a 9/11 commission-style probe of the Jan. 6 insurrection. pic.twitter.com/aEYSRVhZOg

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) February 15, 2021

Democrats And Media Still Obsessing Over Trump

Before Trump was acquitted on Saturday, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told Republican senators that he too would vote to acquit Trump.

But McConnell also blasted Trump, claiming the former president was “practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day,” meaning the January 6 Capitol Hill riot.

And while McConnell also argued that the impeachment trial was unconstitutional now that Trump is no longer president, such a high ranking Republican making those comments was easy fodder for the Democrats.

Democratic Congresswoman Madeleine Dean said of McConnell and the Republicans, “It was powerful to hear the 57 guilties and then it was puzzling to hear and see Mitch McConnell stand and say ‘not guilty’ and then, minutes later, stand again and say he was guilty of everything.”

“History will remember that statement of speaking out of two sides of his mouth,” Dean added.

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer reminded followers in a tweet on Monday that in addition to Pelosi’s commission, other happenings regarding Trump will make sure we “learn a lot more” about the final days of his administration.

In other words, the media will not give up their addiction to all things Trump.

The Trump trial is over but local, state & federal investigations continue. There might be a 9/11-type commission. News organizations continue to investigate. And @realBobWoodward is working on a book on Trump’s final days in office. Bottom line: we are going to learn a lot more.

— Wolf Blitzer (@wolfblitzer) February 15, 2021

CNN’s Blitzer: ‘Bottom line: we are going to learn a lot more’

“The Trump trial is over but local, state & federal investigations continue,” Blitzer tweeted. “There might be a 9/11-type commission.”

“News organizations continue to investigate,” Blitzer continued. “And @realBobWoodward is working on a book on Trump’s final days in office.”

“Bottom line: we are going to learn a lot more,” the CNN host finished.

Donald Trump might be gone from the White House but don’t expect the Democrats or their media spokespeople to stopped being obsessed with him anytime soon.

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Pelosi Fires Back After Top Republicans Demand Answers About Capitol Security Before Riot – Deflects Blame

Posted on February 15, 2021 by LifeZette

Earlier today, we reported that top Republicans from various committees in the House had sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) demanding answers on some of the decisions she made about security before the Capitol riot last month.

Now, Pelosi is firing back by saying that Republicans are “clearly” trying to “deflect responsibility for the Capitol attack from Donald Trump.”

Pelosi Fires Back At Republicans

On Monday, House Administration Committee Ranking Member Rodney Davis, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jim Jordan, House Oversight Committee Ranking Member James Comer and House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Devin Nunes sent Pelosi a letter in which they said that they have “many important questions” about her “responsibility for the security” of the Capitol on Jan. 6 “remain unanswered.”

Drew Hammill, Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, told Fox News in response that the speaker “has and will continue to take action to ensure accountability and enhance the security of the Capitol.”

“Two of the four House Republican Ranking Members voted to overturn the results of a fair election, just hours after the Capitol was sacked by an insurrectionist, right-wing mob – a mob incited by Trump,” Hammill said.

“A full 65 percent of House Republicans joined them in voting to undermine our democracy. All four Ranking Members also voted against holding Donald Trump accountable for inciting the mob,” he continued. “Clearly, the security of our Capitol and democracy are not the priorities of these Ranking Members.”

Republicans Lash Out At Pelosi

In their letter, the Republicans had asked, “When then-Chief Sund made a request for national guard support on January 4th, why was that request denied? Did Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving get permission or instruction from your staff on January 4th prior to denying Chief Sund’s request for the national guard?”

They went on to cite claims made by former Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund, who alleged that two days before the riot, he approached the sergeants at arms to request the assistance of the National Guard.

In a letter of his own that he sent to Pelosi last month, Sund alleged that the former Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving said he was concerned about “the optics” and didn’t feel the “intelligence supported it.”

“As you are aware, the Speaker of the House is not only the leader of the majority party, but also has enormous institutional responsibilities,” the Republicans wrote. “The Speaker is responsible for all operational decisions made within the House.”

After the riot, both the House Sergeant at Arms and the Senate Sergeant at Arms were removed from their positions, and the chief of the Capitol Police resigned.

Hammill Doubles Down

“It is the job of the Capitol Police Board, on which these three individuals sat, to properly plan and prepare for security threats facing the U.S. Capitol,” Hammill said. “It has been reported that the House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving has said that he did not present to House Leadership any request for the National Guard before January 6th.”

Hammill added that the Committees of Jurisdiction were briefed “in advance of January 6 about security preparedness.”

“During a briefing of the Appropriations Committee Majority on January 5th by the House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and U.S. Capitol Police Chief Sund both Chief Sund and Mr. Irving provided assurances that the Capitol Complex had comprehensive security and there was no intelligence that groups would become violent at the Capitol during the certification of electoral votes,” he explained.

“It is our understanding that Ranking Member Davis was also briefed, but took no action to address any security concerns that he might have had,” he said.

“Following the insurrection, the Speaker immediately tasked General Honore with leading an immediate security review of the U.S. Capitol Complex and has called for a 9/11-style Commission to investigate, with legislation creating such a panel to be introduced in the coming days,” Hammill continued. “The USCP is also conducting an internal security review.”

Hamill concluded by saying that Pelosi “knows all too well the importance of security at the Capitol and is focused on getting to the bottom of all issues facing the Capitol Complex and the events that led up to the insurrection. Clearly, these Republican Ranking Members do not share this priority.”

This piece was written by James Samson on February 15, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Pelosi Fires Back After Top Republicans Demand Answers About Capitol Security Before Riot – Deflects Blame appeared first on The Political Insider.

MSNBC Guest Says GOP Senators Who Voted To Impeach Trump ‘Helped Their Obituaries’

Posted on February 15, 2021 by LifeZette

Historian Jon Meacham went on MSNBC on Monday to disturbingly claim that the Republican senators who voted in favor of impeaching former President Donald Trump “helped their obituaries.”

Meacham Talks Impeachment

Meacham was talking about the impeachment trial on “Morning Joe” when host Willie Geist pointed out that the Republicans who voted to convict Trump were already facing “blowback.”

“Yeah. If I were Sen. Burr, I would embrace that. Sometimes we talk about obituary management. Those seven folks just helped their obituaries,” Meacham replied, according to The Daily Caller.

“I think about this a lot when you see we’re at the point in the actuarial cycle where a lot of folks involved in Watergate are moving on,” he added. “And, it’s just interesting to see what is it that you’re remembered for.”

“I’m sure Sen. Burr is a lovely man. I’m sure he has done a lot for North Carolina and America,” he added. “But, I promise you that the thing right now that looms largest is that he decided we’re a constitutional republic not a cult of personality. And in many ways, that’s what that vote was about.”

Burr Joins Democrats In Impeaching Trump

Trump was acquitted by the Senate on Saturday in a 57-43 vote, with seven Republicans joining Democrats in voting in favor of impeachment.

Of these seven, one of the biggest surprises was Republican North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, who had just voted that the trial was unconstitutional a few days prior. In the wake of this, Burr is facing censure by his state’s Republican Party, which is meeting on Monday to decide what action to take.

“On this Presidents Day, one of the things to think about is we do have a different president. And 81 million Americans made what I would argue is the right choice in November,” Meacham said.

“And 57 United States senators, not enough, but 57 United States senators said that this man was — the former president, was guilty of inciting insurrection against his own government,” Meacham continued. “And that 57-43 number, while not determinative in a constitutional sense, is probably not that far off from where the country at large is about the Republican party.”

“If I were a Republican right now and I was thinking not in 10-minute terms, which is what they are doing, but 10-year terms, I would feel an existential crisis,” he concluded.

This piece was written by James Samson on February 15, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

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