Today my thoughts (and snarky side) turn to two of President Biden’s nominees … one who was likely doomed from the start, and another who will likely succeed, although not before being run through the grist mill.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Once again, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has put his own self-interests above the interests of the nation. This time, he has said that he will not vote to confirm President Biden’s nominee for the Federal Reserve vice chair of supervision, Sarah Bloom Raskin. Why? In a nutshell, because she “has written in the past in support of the Fed increasing its attention to financial risks from climate change.” Manchin, you see, has vested interests in the production of coal, one of the worst offenders to our environment. He has holdings valued at between $1 million and $5 million in Enersystems, Inc., the coal brokerage business he founded.
Thus ends Ms. Raskin’s nomination for the position, as Republicans have made it clear that as a block they intend to oppose the nomination. It’s not about what’s best for the country, y’know, but about “loyalty” to the ‘Party’. In fact, the Republican senators successfully blocked her nomination from advancing to the Senate floor for discussion and a vote. Yesterday, after Manchin’s self-important, bloated announcement that he would not vote in support of her, Ms. Raskin sent a letter to the White House asking to withdraw her name from consideration. President Biden then announced that he would withdraw her name.
When a member of Congress puts his own financial self-interest ahead of the best interests of not only the nation, but the entire world, that person has long since forgotten that Oath of Office he took and should be expelled from Congress. But, of course, if we expelled every member of Congress who has blatantly shredded his or her Oath of Office, we would have very few legislators left in the Capitol.
Ketanji Brown Jackson
And then there’s Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement. Jackson is well-qualified and well-respected, even by those in the Republican corner, but you’d never know it to hear them. Mitch McConnell complains because of her history as a public defender, saying “the soft-on-crime brigade is squarely in Judge Jackson’s corner.”
One line of attack by Republicans appears to be that Jackson tried too hard when representing terrorism suspects. The Republican National Committee said Jackson’s “advocacy for these terrorists was ‘zealous,’ going beyond just giving them a competent defense.” Um … ‘scuse me but … isn’t that what a public defender is supposed to do? According to D.C. Bar’s rule of professional conduct, “a lawyer shall represent a client zealously and diligently within the bounds of the law.” It seems to me that Judge Jackson did precisely what she was supposed to do.
Then of course there was that time that she wrote in a ruling against Donald Trump, “Stated simply, the primary takeaway from the past 250 years of recorded American history is that Presidents are not kings.” Although the Republicans cannot afford to admit it, this simple and truthful statement might actually be the second biggest reason the Republicans will give Jackson a hard time during the confirmation process, for they are irrevocably tied to the coattails of the former guy. The first reason, you ask? Her gender and the colour of her skin, of course. Did you really even need to ask?
I think that despite the hassle Judge Jackson will no doubt endure from Republicans during the confirmation hearings, she will be confirmed, for her credentials are excellent. That is, of course, unless she speaks about clean energy and disengaging from fossil fuels, in which case Senator Manchin might refuse to vote for her!
Filosofa's Word 
Oaths?
In the case of these folk I am reminded of Alice’s conversation with Humpty Dumpty:
“When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’
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A perfect analogy!!!
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Is it possible to dissolve Congress, meaning the House and the Senate? When the government in Canada, and many other democracies, is seen to NOT BE DOING THE JOB OF GOVERNING, Parluament is dissolved, and a new election held. This gives the people the opportunity to speak. With what is “not happening” in the government of the USI, it needs muchly to be dissolved. What you call your government, we call a farce!
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No, not possible to simply dissolve Congress, though I do realize that it can be done in many parliamentary countries. But, in my view, that would be rather a case of “throwing out the baby with the bathwater”, for there are some decent members of Congress who are trying to do their jobs, but are being blocked at every turn. What can happen, though, is any member of either chamber can be expelled, though it is a complex, time-consuming process that would likely divide the country even further. The people will have an opportunity to speak in November when every single member of the House, and 1/3 of the senators will be up for re-election (except those who are resigning). Sadly, when the people speak, the ones who speak the loudest and with the most enthusiasm are the witless ones. Sigh.
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Do not forget that with voter restrictions, NOT EVERY VOICE that wants to be heatd WILL BE HEARD. Thre really is no true democracy left, if you ever had one. It worked when everyone, or most elected people, took their oaths seriously. But as you have often noted, A LARGE NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS, and probably a few Democrats, NO LONGER CARE ABOUT THE CITIZENS OF THE USI, but only about themselves. Unfortunately, that is human nature. But it is NOT democracy.
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Ah yes … sigh. No, I didn’t forget, just shoved it to the back of my mind for a bit. Contrary to what most people grew up believing, the U.S. was never structured as a true democracy, but rather as a democratic-republic. In recent years, though, we’ve even strayed from those democratic principles that are the foundation of our Constitution. Sigh. I think I’ll go to bed now.
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Have a good sleep. There is always a tomorrow, for someone.
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Remember Those Oaths??? In the lengthy satirical poem, Hudibras, by Samuel Butler (1612-1680) there is a phrase that describes some Senators view about oaths : “Oaths are but words, and words are but air.” They would do well to remember what the British writer Norman Douglas had to say on the matter : “Never take a solemn oath. People think you mean it.” Too many of these Senators, and Representatives, fail to live up to their oaths of office and they need to be held accountable for this failure! WHAK!! Thank-you!
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Both great quotes and sadly very true. Yes, the members of Congress who were laughing inside while taking their oaths need to be held accountable, but they have so brainwashed the people of this nation that instead of being punished, they will be re-elected!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. WHAK!!!
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Pingback: YO SENATORS!!! Remember Those Oaths??? | Filosofa’s Word | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal
Of course, it had, never been about what’s actually, good for the country, these nominations, it’d always been about, who gets the majority number of votes, so the party in control can get all their, legislation, bills, passed, more, easily.
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Unfortunately, it is much more political than it should be, but … I do think Biden’s nominees are good people who would benefit the nation.
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Reblogged this on Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News.
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Thank you, Ned!
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It’s as though these nominees are there just to make life as awkward as it can be for President Biden, does he not have anyone who will appeal to the Republicans but not the Democrats? Why not Manchin himself for the Federal Reserve vice chair of supervision. He can’t possibly send the US into more of a tailspin than it already is from there.
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Heh heh … yeah, poor Congress is only doing its job blocking President Biden at nearly every turn, right? Hah … Manchin in the Fed? I’d love nothing better than to see him lose every last dime he has invested in the coal industry. And you’re right … we are already in a tailspin and unless I miss my guess, it’s going to get a lot worse before it ever gets better … IF it ever gets better. I’m starting to plot mine and the girls’ escape.
Cwtch
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