Current Affairs General US politics (ie, not POTUS related)

[Martin Alvito]

"first they came for Thomas Massie....."

Pro-Israel groups target US lawmakers critical of Israel’s war ahead of primaries

Rashida Tlaib and other Democratic ‘Squad’ members – and one Republican – are targets of attack ads as critics support opponents

www.theguardian.com

Not a chance, his kids have AKs.

 

[tsubaki]

Not a chance, his kids have AKs.

 

[Martin Alvito]

More or less, except it was an infamous Christmas card.

 

[RAFUH]

 

[Martin Alvito]

Doesn't the Hatch Act preclude members of the civil service from joining any organization advocating the overthrow of the federal government? Trump's campaign or anything associated with it would seem to qualify, given the continued election denials and the events of January 6.

Doesn't the Pendleton Act preclude the termination of members of the civil service (ie: below the level of political appointment) for their political beliefs?

I could be wrong, but I have a hard time seeing Roberts, Gorsuch and perhaps Alito swallowing this. They all did time at Justice, with Alito having been a US attorney for years. They're likely to see this as lengthening their docket, which they do not want. Worse, hacks advised by hacks will end up in front of them, resulting in cases where they are compelled to rule in directions they do not want to retain anything resembling legitimacy in the legal community.

It seems to me that the Heritage Foundation would have been smarter to play this one much closer to the vest. They can be very blind to optics, their actual level of influence and their ability to get things done. It feels like the Contract With America 2.0, except that Gingrich cynically understood most of it was DOA, and assigned blame to the Senate and White House for almost none of it being enacted. These people seem to think they can pull it off.

 

[summerisle]

Hypnotic. lol

 

[MrPerfectNot]

Doesn't the Hatch Act preclude members of the civil service from joining any organization advocating the overthrow of the federal government? Trump's campaign or anything associated with it would seem to qualify, given the continued election denials and the events of January 6.

Doesn't the Pendleton Act preclude the termination of members of the civil service (ie: below the level of political appointment) for their political beliefs?

I could be wrong, but I have a hard time seeing Roberts, Gorsuch and perhaps Alito swallowing this. They all did time at Justice, with Alito having been a US attorney for years. They're likely to see this as lengthening their docket, which they do not want. Worse, hacks advised by hacks will end up in front of them, resulting in cases where they are compelled to rule in directions they do not want to retain anything resembling legitimacy in the legal community.

It seems to me that the Heritage Foundation would have been smarter to play this one much closer to the vest. They can be very blind to optics, their actual level of influence and their ability to get things done. It feels like the Contract With America 2.0, except that Gingrich cynically understood most of it was DOA, and assigned blame to the Senate and White House for almost none of it being enacted. These people seem to think they can pull it off.

Though TFG did attempt this.....not sure it would have stood close scrutiny, but can't say they're not trying.

 

[TN Toffee]

 

[MrPerfectNot]

Think about the dress code - this could be fun!

 

[Martin Alvito]

Though TFG did attempt this.....not sure it would have stood close scrutiny, but can't say they're not trying.
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I think their thought process is that this will lead to a class action lawsuit, which they can simply pay out of the Treasury. By the time it winds its way through the courts, the damage will be done. The question is whether such a case would be granted injunctive relief and expedited through the Federal court system. I think it would, but I could be wrong about that.

One problem with the Pendleton Act is that it does not provide for statutory penalties. It simply makes clear provisions and assumes that the executive branch will comply with the law, but the balance of power between Congress and the president changed over the ensuing 140 years. The power of the purse, which Congress relied upon to keep presidents in line, is far more potent when it isn't already committed to continuing programs voters want. Congress can't withhold funds for Medicare, Social Security or what have you and expect not to take the blame after overriding a presidential veto.

 

[Martin Alvito]

House passes a stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown

The bill now heads to the Senate, which is expected to pass it before Friday's deadline. It would keep the government funded through early next year while Congress debates spending.

www.nbcnews.com

The Freedom Caucus is so deeply unserious about governing that they have come out in opposition to their own proposal. How's that for a poison pill?

The good news is there should be enough Democratic votes to pass the thing.

 

[davek]

 

[Martin Alvito]

Yep, that's the state of the Republican party these days.

U.S. Senate: The Caning of Senator Charles Sumner

1851: Caning of Senator Charles Sumner -- May 22, 1856

www.senate.gov

That's the pathway we're on right now.

 

[trueblue84]

They would've randomly sprayed bullets at each other. That's how Americans fight, isn't it?

 

[TN Toffee]

House passes a stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown

The bill now heads to the Senate, which is expected to pass it before Friday's deadline. It would keep the government funded through early next year while Congress debates spending.

www.nbcnews.com

The Freedom Caucus is so deeply unserious about governing that they have come out in opposition to their own proposal. How's that for a poison pill?

The good news is there should be enough Democratic votes to pass the thing.

So utterly maddening seeing my own Representative amongst those fools. Probably most frustrating of all is having met him on a number of occasions and worked for the local government for a time while he was mayor, I know he’s actually a decent guy. Just started pandering to the craziest element of the electorate once he got to Washington, and does seem to enjoy the attention that goes with it. There’s no real reason a second term Congressman from East TN in a R+35 district should be doing so much national media.