Senate Republicans Overstepping Their Authority

Ken AshfordCongress, Constitution, Iran, Republicans1 Comment

Can you imagine if this was 2006 and the Democrats did this to Bush? A group of 47 Republican senators has written an open letter to Iran’s leaders warning them that any nuclear deal they sign with President Barack Obama’s administration won’t last after Obama leaves office. Organized by freshman Senator Tom Cotton and signed by the chamber’s entire party … Read More

Be Careful What You Wish For….

Ken AshfordCongress, RepublicansLeave a Comment

Republicans seemed bitter that the State of the Union Address wasn’t some kowtow by Obama, crying in his cups about the Republican Party’s success in the midterm elections.  But now that they control Congress, they don’t seem to know what to do.  This is a party that gets its energy from the rage machine, not from leadership. .At the Plum Line, … Read More

The Cantor Earthquake

Ken AshfordCongress, Election 2014, RepublicansLeave a Comment

The House Republican leadership, so solid in its opposition to President Obama, was torn apart yesterday by the defeat of its most influential conservative voice, Representative Eric Cantor, the House majority leader.  Cantor, with a 96% conservative rating, was defeated by a tea party candidate, David Brat. Brat spent a total of $200,000 on his campaign; Cantor spent that much just … Read More

Then And Now

Ken AshfordCongress, Constitution, Obama & Administration, White House Secrecy, Wiretapping & SurveillanceLeave a Comment

53 years ago today, an outgoing President Eisenhower said: “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” He went on: “We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or … Read More

Day 7 And We’re Still Shutdown

Ken AshfordCongress, Obama Opposition, RepublicansLeave a Comment

And here's good commentary on why: Also…. Disapproval of congressional Republicans’ budget wrangling after a weeklong shutdown has shot up to 70 percent, with 51 percent disapproving “strongly,” according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. At the same time, President Obama’s approval rating has ticked up due to improved marks among moderate Democrats and independents. No group, however, earns positive … Read More

Um, Okay

Ken AshfordCongressLeave a Comment

These procedural rules make no sense, but whatever: House Democratic leaders believe they have hit on a new way to potentially force House Republican leaders into allowing a vote on a “clean CR” funding the government without any defunding of Obamacare attached. At last count, as many as two dozen House Republicans appear prepared to vote for a clean CR. With Democrats included, that means a majority of … Read More

Republicans Applaud Capital Police But Prevent Them From Being Paid

Ken AshfordCongress, Obama Opposition, RepublicansLeave a Comment

Speaker John Boehner tweeted how everyone owes a debt of gratitude for the way DC police handled the crazy woman who tried to run into the White House yesterday. They police do indeed deserve the praise they are getting. One thing Capitol police are not getting, though—at least not while Boehner lacks the professionalism and bravery to stand up to … Read More

Hot Mic Conversation Shows This Is About Optics And “Winning”, Not About Americans

Ken AshfordCongress, Obama Opposition, Republicans, Tea PartyLeave a Comment

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) were caught on a hot mic Wednesday night while discussing their party's messaging on the government shutdown.    Paul ran into McConnell, who was wired for an interview, in front of a camera after wrapping his own interview with CNN, according to Western Kentucky news station WPSD.  "I just did … Read More

Cruz Taken To Woodshed

Ken AshfordCongress, Obama Opposition, Tea PartyLeave a Comment

TPM: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) took heat from his Republican colleagues Wednesday in a closed-door meeting to discuss the government shutdown, Politico reported. At the meeting that was hosted by the Senate’s conservative Steering Committee, one GOP senator after another pressed Cruz to offer a proposal to end the shutdown, according to Politico. The junior senator from Texas reportedly had no solution … Read More

Government Shuts Down; Obamacare Begins

Ken AshfordCongress, Republicans, Tea PartyLeave a Comment

(1)  I have to start with one crazy lady Bachmann said to crazy website outlet, World Net Daily: Pulling no punches, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., told WND exactly why she thinks President Obama and Democrats are unwilling to negotiate with the GOP over Obamacare’s well-documented problems. “I think the reason is because President Obama can’t wait to get Americans addicted to … Read More

Remember Ashleigh Banfield?

Ken AshfordCongressLeave a Comment

She fits became well-known as a reporter for MSNBC, who happened to be in downtown Manhattan on 9/11. But a few years later, she gave a speech that basically lambasted Bush and the way the news covered (or failed to cover) Bush and the impending wars.  She was demoted and eventually, quietly, let go. She's clawing her way back — … Read More

An Honest GOP Town Hall Discussion

Ken AshfordCongress, Obama Opposition, RepublicansLeave a Comment

I've had my fun poking at Republican Congresscritters returning to their home states, holding town hall meetings, and bringing up birth certificates and other dumb stuff that would normally get them laughed at if they were on TV. But I have to give credit where credit is due. In the clip below, Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) gets questioned by a … Read More