Emperor Trump
Catchy title, somewhat misleading.
In spite of the complaining about President Trump having too much power, and acting unilaterally, a vote took place yesterday that shows who stands for the Constitution, and who stands for ceding the power to the Supreme Chancellor, or President. At least until this emergency is over. It really isn't fair to the President, as he seems to be doing every thing he can to dismantle this leviathan. But Congress doesn't want the power. With power comes responsibility. It is hard to get re-elected when you are forced to take unpopular votes. Especially when you campaign saying one thing, and then have to vote on something that puts you on the opposite side.
A STAR WARS and SPIDERMAN reference in the same paragraph. Cool.
Yesterday, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), forced a vote on his amendment sun-setting the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force, (AUMF) as part of the 2018 Defense Budget. He argues that this AUMF has been stretched, manipulated, and used to justify ANY action in the Middle East, or elsewhere, for that matter. It went down, 61-35, with the aye votes (majority) to table, or drop the amendment. It would be easier to list those that voted with Senator Paul, but I think it is important to list those that support unlimited war, and unlimited authority to the President. So, without further delay. Here are those that are:
Not tired of war.
Don't care about the deaths, and in some ways worse, the injuries, both physical and mental.
Don't care about the cost. (many of whom argue the need for tax reform to be revenue neutral.)
Don't care about the liberties that have been lost, in the name of security
Don't care to regain their constitutional authority.
Some of these names will surprise you. They surprised me. This is a bipartisan vote, meaning that all those Democrats complaining about President Trump's autocratic style are LYING! This means that all the Republicans who caterwaul about the Constitution are LYING! See? Lying is the one bipartisan trait that is alive and well in Congress. So here they are. The surprises to me are highlighted.
Alexander R-TN Barrasso R-WY Blunt R-MO Boozman R-AR Burr R-NC Capito R-WV Carper D-DE Casey D-PA Cassidy R-LA Cochran R-MS Collins R-ME Corker R-TN Coryn R-TX Cortez Masto D-NV Cotton R-AR Crapo R-ID Cruz R-TX Daines R-MT Donnelly D-IN Enzi R-WY Ernst R-IA Fischer R-NE Flake R-AZ Gardner R-CO Graham R-SC Grassley R-IA Hassan D-NH Hatch R-UT Hoeven R-ND Inhofe R-OK Isakson R-GA Johnson R-WI Kennedy R-LA Lankford R-OK Manchin D-WV McCain R-AZ McCaskill D-MO McConnell R-KY Moran R-KS Murkowski R-AK Perdue R-GA Portman R-OH Reed D-RI Risch R-ID Roberts R-KS Rounds R-SD Sasse R-NE Schatz D-HI Scott R-SC Shaheen D-NH Shelby R-AL Stabenow D-MI Strange R-AL Sullivan R-AK Thune R-SD Tillis R-NC Toomey R-PA Warner D-VA Whitehouse D-RI Wicker R-MS Young R-IN
Full disclosure. Rubio R-FL and Nelson D-FL did not vote, presumably are back in Florida doing their part. Also not voting was Menendez D-NJ, who is currently in Federal Court as a defendant in a huge corruption trial.
I highlighted McCain and Graham, because even though they are known warmongers, they also claim to hate Trump. Apparently not enough to not give him his scepter.
Notice that most are Republicans. I would point out that if President Obama were still President, many of the names would be reversed. The consistent names probably come down to Paul R-KY and Lee R-UT. Both of whom voted to not table the amendment.
Does it bother me to be standing with Democrats? Even though they would probably flip if the President had a D next to his name? No it doesn't. I feel like doing what is right, for me, is more important than party. (not GOP or Dem. LP) If I stand with Democrats on this, so be it. The above just don't want to vote on war. or really anything else that is tricky, for that matter.
In spite of the complaining about President Trump having too much power, and acting unilaterally, a vote took place yesterday that shows who stands for the Constitution, and who stands for ceding the power to the Supreme Chancellor, or President. At least until this emergency is over. It really isn't fair to the President, as he seems to be doing every thing he can to dismantle this leviathan. But Congress doesn't want the power. With power comes responsibility. It is hard to get re-elected when you are forced to take unpopular votes. Especially when you campaign saying one thing, and then have to vote on something that puts you on the opposite side.
A STAR WARS and SPIDERMAN reference in the same paragraph. Cool.
Yesterday, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), forced a vote on his amendment sun-setting the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force, (AUMF) as part of the 2018 Defense Budget. He argues that this AUMF has been stretched, manipulated, and used to justify ANY action in the Middle East, or elsewhere, for that matter. It went down, 61-35, with the aye votes (majority) to table, or drop the amendment. It would be easier to list those that voted with Senator Paul, but I think it is important to list those that support unlimited war, and unlimited authority to the President. So, without further delay. Here are those that are:
Not tired of war.
Don't care about the deaths, and in some ways worse, the injuries, both physical and mental.
Don't care about the cost. (many of whom argue the need for tax reform to be revenue neutral.)
Don't care about the liberties that have been lost, in the name of security
Don't care to regain their constitutional authority.
Some of these names will surprise you. They surprised me. This is a bipartisan vote, meaning that all those Democrats complaining about President Trump's autocratic style are LYING! This means that all the Republicans who caterwaul about the Constitution are LYING! See? Lying is the one bipartisan trait that is alive and well in Congress. So here they are. The surprises to me are highlighted.
Alexander R-TN Barrasso R-WY Blunt R-MO Boozman R-AR Burr R-NC Capito R-WV Carper D-DE Casey D-PA Cassidy R-LA Cochran R-MS Collins R-ME Corker R-TN Coryn R-TX Cortez Masto D-NV Cotton R-AR Crapo R-ID Cruz R-TX Daines R-MT Donnelly D-IN Enzi R-WY Ernst R-IA Fischer R-NE Flake R-AZ Gardner R-CO Graham R-SC Grassley R-IA Hassan D-NH Hatch R-UT Hoeven R-ND Inhofe R-OK Isakson R-GA Johnson R-WI Kennedy R-LA Lankford R-OK Manchin D-WV McCain R-AZ McCaskill D-MO McConnell R-KY Moran R-KS Murkowski R-AK Perdue R-GA Portman R-OH Reed D-RI Risch R-ID Roberts R-KS Rounds R-SD Sasse R-NE Schatz D-HI Scott R-SC Shaheen D-NH Shelby R-AL Stabenow D-MI Strange R-AL Sullivan R-AK Thune R-SD Tillis R-NC Toomey R-PA Warner D-VA Whitehouse D-RI Wicker R-MS Young R-IN
Full disclosure. Rubio R-FL and Nelson D-FL did not vote, presumably are back in Florida doing their part. Also not voting was Menendez D-NJ, who is currently in Federal Court as a defendant in a huge corruption trial.
I highlighted McCain and Graham, because even though they are known warmongers, they also claim to hate Trump. Apparently not enough to not give him his scepter.
Notice that most are Republicans. I would point out that if President Obama were still President, many of the names would be reversed. The consistent names probably come down to Paul R-KY and Lee R-UT. Both of whom voted to not table the amendment.
Does it bother me to be standing with Democrats? Even though they would probably flip if the President had a D next to his name? No it doesn't. I feel like doing what is right, for me, is more important than party. (not GOP or Dem. LP) If I stand with Democrats on this, so be it. The above just don't want to vote on war. or really anything else that is tricky, for that matter.
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