Friends, we've reflected on how some states are trending "purple". Georgia is an obvious case in point. So is Arizona. Witness the fact that the Grand Canyon State's senior U.S. Senator Krysten Sinema just announced that she's leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent. She will, however, still caucus with the Democrats, like Bernie Sanders and Angus King, meaning that the Dems' functional 51-seat majority remains intact. On the other hand, Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, will have to shepherd mavericks like Sinema and Manchin towards legislative consensus if he wants to get anything done. On the other other hand, there isn't much prospect of legsilative progress in the next two years anyway, given the fact that government is now divided, so it might not matter. On the other other other hand, with a 51- or a 50-seat majority, the Dems seem to be able to approve as many federal judges as they like, which means, in turn, that the federal judiciary, which rules America (in case you hadn't noticed), will trend bluer and bluer -- and, if we don't retake the Senate and/or the presidency in 2024, ultimately even the Supreme Court may slip beyond our grasp. Bottom line: the Dems' current Senate majority is shaky, but strong enough to facilitate their gradual conquest of pretty much the only citadel of power they don't already control: the judiciary. And that ain't exactly good news, is it?
Here's a truly great analysis of the political/constitutional significance of the "Twitter Papers". Most of what Twitter did in 2020 and beyond was odious but allowable, in our democratic system. What some federal officials did to encourage censorship may not have been allowable in the least. That's a crucial distinction.
https://spectatorworld.com/topic/the-twitter-files-are-damning-to-government-and-the-media/
In other news, we're getting more insights via Elon Musk on how "shadow banning" has worked at Twitter in the past, and how often conservatives were its victims. DJT is outraged -- no surprise there -- but most of us will be utterly unsurprised that Big Tech has been gaming public discourse all along. The important question going forward is whether they will stop (NOT!), whether they will go easier on conservatives (possible), or whether they will ultimately go "all in" and crush the right and all free-thinkers like bugs (probable). Stay tuned.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/donald-trump-elon-musk-twitter/2022/12/09/id/1099808/
Dr.Waddy from Jack: Well, chalk up another figure for whom the dems have "left" them. I' m glad she bailed but I weary of people couching our political war as one for which equal blame is shared. That is like blaming each side for WWII fighting. We were attacked and necessarily resorted to aggression to defeat aggression. The American left has striven to destroy the since the 60s and, being confident in its overall justice, the real America has been as insolent as to defend itself.The end of existential partisanship would come with the disempowerment of the American left. Joe Manchin looms heroic now.
ReplyDeleteJack, Manchin's heroism doesn't impress me, at least so far. He's enabled the Dems to flood the federal bench with neo-Marxists. That tells me all I need to know.
ReplyDeleteAgreed: Simema's "a pox on both their houses" brand of centrism (or what passes for it) is odious, and it's not likely to work either. Nonetheless, she's putting the best possible face on the fact that she has no prayer of winning the Senate primary in her own party, so, perforce, she has to look elsewhere. My guess is she's gambling that Republicans will rally to her colors, but if that's her game I would recommend that she sign on with the GOP caucus. Otherwise I fail to see how her defection has real substance.
Dr.Waddy from Jack: Yeah, I guess that saying you are caucusing with a party ain't perzactly independent. I wonder if one is allowed to vote in caucus? Her bailing may(?) have some effect on the composition of committees. You are right to cite Manchin's voting for by definition leftist judicial nominees; I wonder if some of them had garnered GOP votes and he saw no need to bolt. Maybe "I'm going independent but I'll caucus with . . . should not count in that party's total for majority status.So if Manchin were to do the same as Sinema it would be 49 to 49 and Schumer would keep his dictatorship I suppose. If only we could have coalition gov'ts like the Brits.
ReplyDeleteRight, Jack -- once you've caucused with the Dems, you've added to their iron grip on the institution and its agenda. From that point on, the chances of defeating any of Biden's judicial nominees are slim to none. Now, once in a blue moon a potential federal judge will flame out spectacularly, but, as we know, all they really have to do is mumble a few platitudes and they're in...for life.
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy from Jack: I still maintain: subject these judicial nominees to intense scrutiny as close as possible to that for Scotus. Make as much news as can be generated despite the suffocating bias of the MSM. Prolong each "confirmation" as long as possible using relentless legislative muckery even unto legerdemain. SHOW that we harbor no illusions about cynically fronted good will from the left.Our political destruction is their firm intent nd our defense can only be to work equally decisive political disarmament on them.
ReplyDeleteHear hear! Anything we can do to slow down their judicial rampage would be worthwhile. I mean, let's be honest: it isn't even certain that they can maintain control of the Senate for the next two years. Sometimes, mischief deferred is mischief denied.
ReplyDeleteDr Waddy from Jack: Well and truly said, that.
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