This is yet another weird scene in the dystopian novel that we’re living in. Russian TV has gone on record about Trump’s cabinet and they mince no words. “They are not friends of Russia except for Tulsi Gabbard.” Isn’t that inspiring? We’re going to have a National Security Director that has the stamp of approval of Russian television. Just another normal day in the USA.
Russian state TV host on Trump's cabinet:
“They’re not friends of Russia except for Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence…She was considered a lobbyist for Putin’s interests.”
pic.twitter.com/4XB0uJFhlb— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) February 4, 2025
And I confess to not knowing what Susan Collins is thinking. Every instinct I have tells me she’s not going to do herself any favors with her election in 2026 endorsing Gabbard. What in the name of God is she thinking? Or is the Dark Money sufficient to where she isn’t worried about reelection? I don’t want to think like a conspiracy theorist but so far in Trump II things are so downright weird that the wildest conspiracy theory you can cobble together probably isn’t going to be as strange as the truth itself, when all is said and done.
It’s terrific news that Susan Collins is now backing Tulsi Gabbard. Remember, last week, Collins was uncommitted to Gabbard. Keep up the great work, MAGA. Your phone calls are working!
pic.twitter.com/4xRrZ7kbKb— Charles R Downs (@TheCharlesDowns) February 4, 2025
So much for being a “moderate.” Unless there are moderate Russian dictator lovers, which would be news to me. What is Collins thinking here? She might end up getting primaried. Talk is that Susan Rice is interested in becoming a senator and I’m thinking that the good people of Maine may have had about enough. Of course I’ve been thinking that the past several election cycles.
Over on Senate Intelligence, Sens. Todd Young and Jerry Moran have yet to disclose how they intend to vote on Gabbard’s nomination for national intelligence director during a closed session at 2 p.m. Young told reporters Monday that he had “a lot of great conversations” over the weekend regarding Gabbard. Moran left Gabbard’s hearing last Thursday saying her responses to his questions on Russia and keeping intelligence nonpartisan were “satisfactory” — but declined to say how he would vote.
Gabbard on Monday won the backing of Sen. Susan Collins, another Intel swing vote, who said the former Hawaii lawmaker “shares my vision” of scaling back the size of the DNI office and “addressed my concerns” over her past support for pardoning NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Sen. James Lankford, another Intel member, also reaffirmed his support for Gabbard despite raising concerns last week that she refused to call Snowden a traitor in her confirmation hearing.
Step back: If Gabbard and Kennedy advance Tuesday, it means President Donald Trump has a strong chance of getting all his Cabinet picks through the Senate (not counting Matt Gaetz). That’s a stunning turn of events from just weeks ago, when it seemed like Kennedy, Gabbard and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were all in trouble. And it illustrates, yet again, Trump’s iron grip on the congressional GOP.
That’s the latest from Politico. I never thought I would see a clear and obvious Russian asset running national security. Maybe we’re about to become a Russian colony. I find all this depressing in the extreme.
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Well, Ursula, I watched live this morning the vote on Kennedy. He passed out of committee 14-13; party line! I don’t understand that vote or Collins changing on Gabbard…at least I don’t understand it from my safe at home perspective. I get angry at all the performative pretense that Senate Republicans do to seem like they are still in a deliberative body! Just to keep their job while others are losing jobs and health and lives because of your vote?! 🤬 But then, I get reminded that behind closed doors, and also publicly, Susan Collins is being threatened with more than a primary! She is being threatened by Trump, his family members, the pardoned J6ers, and entire mobs of violent MAGAs, with bodily harm including death. Collins’ loved ones are also threatened! I would like to believe I could stand up to these bullies, but I have never faced such credible threats. I can only imagine what is happening to little Susan Collins, who had bravery on the Hegseth vote, but even what little bravery she had has been ripped away by the reality of of our fast-evolving tyranny!! Would I be stronger? IDK! Even arguing that her votes over many years brought her and us to this moment seems unfair when she is in literal crosshairs! 😬🤷♀️
Collins has to endorse Gabbard.
It’s someone else’s turn to be one of the three GOP congress critters on Team No.
Gotta have the pageantry, don’t ya’ know?
To the tune of Herman’s Hermits Hen-er-y the Eight:
I’m a Trump rubber stamp I am
Trump rubber stamp I am I am
I laid down with my back on the floor
So I can tea-bag Trump for, ever more!
And every vote will be whatever Trump says vote
Wouldn’t think of thinking for myself – NO WAY
Cause I am now a Trump Rubber Stamp
A rubber stamp for ever more!
Second verse, same as the first…