The only “good” news about this question is that we won’t agonize over it for too long. We should know the answer by tonight. I think one main reason that the Democrats are depressed and not wanting to follow politics right now is that we’re simply worn out from the prolonged suspense of whether Trump could get in for a second term. We bit our nails for two long years — four, if you want to count the time before he declared he was running — and there’s only so much emotional stamina anybody has.
So before the cock crows we could see Pete Hegseth, reportedly a blackout drunk who physically abuses women, in charge of the largest agency in the federal government — and the largest employer in the United States. (I know why other Dems are tuning out. I wish I could bring myself to.) This is appalling that this man has gotten as far as he has. Will Mitch McConnell stop him?
The state of play so far is that Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski are no votes on Hegseth. Joni Ernst was pressured to go to the Dark Side when pro-Hegseth people began running ads in Iowa, letting her know who butters her bread. So she folded a while back, which is tragic. McConnell could vote no. Now his no vote alone won’t get the job done. But his no vote would make it acceptable for the old school Republicans to follow suit and save the country from this horrific embarrassment that it’s about to enter into. So will McConnell do it? Here’s what little is known.
“It’s quite possible he could flip on final passage, but for a guy who has long cared about reputation and wanting to go down as a great Senate leader, McConnell can never quite put aside his deep partisanship/value on what’s good for the party,” said Brian Rosenwald, a political historian at the University of Pennsylvania.
But even if McConnell flipped on the final vote, Democrats would need a fourth Republican to block Hegseth’s nomination. A final vote is expected around 9 p.m. Friday after a daylong debate on the Senate floor. Hegseth’s path to the nomination continues to be rocky, with a new report revealing he paid $50,000 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017, an incident he’s denied.
McConnell voted to advance the confirmation and usually a procedural vote and a substantive vote match. But not always. McConnell could have voted no and all that would have done is kick it to J.D. Vance to break the tie. So McConnell may have just let things go the way they were going to go anyway and that may not be his final word on the subject.
Or, he could want a woman abusing blackout drunk running the Department of Defense. I suppose that is possible. The fact that we’re even having this conversation and speculating about these things tells you everything you need to know about how far out of control American politics has gotten.
We are in a dark cul de sac in the American experiment. That much is certain and it’s about the only thing that is. It’s going to be a long and dark winter night in the Senate. How dark remains to be seen.
Reportedly, when Hegseth’s ex-wife was interviewed, she said that his drinking problems are not a thing of the past. If this were any way a legitimate screening, they would insist on third party verification of his claims. But of course, that will never happen.
A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything. Malcolm X
That should clear it up. This country stands FOR NOTHING…so what’s the difference? When Trump orders protesters shot in the streets, and this drunk complies, who will be shocked? Not me.
Too late. The rapist black out drunk is confirmed! Well…my advice for all protesters is: wear protective gear made for war. The next time Trump wants protesters shot…they will be. If I were to go, I’d consider carrying a firearm, if you have a permit. The scene in Unforgiven comes to mind, where, after seeing his dead friend on display in front of the saloon, William Money,(Clint Eastwood), goes into the saloon. He gets the drop on the group. He asks who’s the owner? When the barkeep steps forward, he blows him away. Gene Hackman, the brutal sheriff, who beat Morgan Freeman to death with a whip, yells you dirty dog…you just killed an unarmed man! Clint’s reply? If he was going to decorate his saloon with my friend, he should have armed himself. If you go protest, and you expect the LAW to protect you from these fascists pigs…put down the crack pipe. He’s no General Milley…he’s just what he appears to be, and exactly what our new dictator wants…a lackey with no morals and no conscience. Harsh? Ask all those shot down in our streets over the years how harsh it is to see a threat for what it is and plan accordingly. America you’ve been warned. March at your own risk. Have your affairs in order. You may not be coming home. Our new head of the military will be too drunk to care or remember. Good luck.