More on Biden and Kerry’s Cowardice on China

Senate Dems Blocking Measure To Prohibit Imports Made With Chinese Slave Labor (freebeacon.com)

Now they’ve got Schumer and co. involved also.

This is a disgrace.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, a bill sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) that has long been circulating in Congress and is backed by the human rights community and opponents of China's forced labor camps, was included in a package of 25 amendments to the annual defense authorization bill, according to a list distributed by Senate leadership on Wednesday.

But Democrats excluded the amendment from a vote late Wednesday night, after members of the party privately objected to it, sources told the Free Beacon. Earlier in the evening, Democrats tried to use a procedural mechanism that would have allowed a vote on the act but stripped it from the final authorization bill, according to a hotline memo from Senate leadership.

The pushback from Senate Democrats comes amid efforts by senior Biden administration officials to quietly kill the bill over concerns it will hinder the White House's climate agenda and limit solar panel imports from China.

Solar panels?

The Uyghurs are suffering genocide and slavery and we’re worried about getting our solar panels?

Here’s an idea. Let’s make our solar panels in the United States and tell the Chinese to go to blazes.

How weak can we possibly be? Why should any world leader respect this administration?

I go to a website often where I’m asked the question of whether or not I’m embarrassed that Joe Biden is my President. Heck, I’m embarrassed that Joe Biden and I are the same species.

And they’re playing political games on the whole thing. See if you can follow the twisted logic here.

The anti-slavery act has "been on the list of amendments Senate Democrats proposed the Senate to vote on that the Republicans have been objecting to … so you should ask the Senate Republicans why they're blocking the vote," Schumer spokesman Justin Goodman told the Free Beacon.

But in a floor speech later Wednesday night, Schumer claimed that the anti-slavery amendment was a "poison pill" that couldn't be included in the authorization bill because of arcane procedural requirements.

"If [Rubio's] amendment were on the bill, it would automatically kill the bill, because it would be what's called ‘blue-slipped' in the House, which means any bill that produces revenue must start in the House," Schumer said. "The Rubio amendment is a poison pill in the sense that it blows up the bill."

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act passed the Senate unanimously in July but has stalled in the House. Rubio reintroduced the bill as an amendment to the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act, in an attempt to force the House to finally vote on it.

Democrats blocking a Senate vote on the anti-slavery act "avoids the House having to touch this issue," a senior aide to Rubio told the Free Beacon.

"[House Democratic leadership has] sat on this bill since July anyway, so clearly they don't want to touch it. And this would avoid them having to strip it out … or voting to approve it, which they clearly don't want to do," said the aide.

“We support it in the Senate, but it’s the Republicans fault.”

“We support it in the Senate, but it would be ‘blue slipped’ in the House.”

“We’ve already passed a bill with this in it, and it’s waiting in the House.”

Sounds like Senator Marco Rubio (R=FL) just wants someone to tell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11) to get off her bony a** and bring this to a vote, so he’s trying to put it in a bill that she’ll be required to bring to the floor.

Probably Not, but It’s Not Like We Have Any Other Options

 

Does Kevin McCarthy Have What It Takes to Be Speaker? – PJ Media

He’s good at talking the talk, particularly as Minority Leader. That mostly involves a lot of shouting and holding a hard line. It’s quite a different job to be Speaker. Not sure if he’s up to it. But we won’t know until he is.

“Right now, the speakership is McCarthy’s to lose,” Axios correspondents Alayna Treene and Andrew Solender wrote this week. “The big question mark is whether McCarthy will be able to secure 218 votes on the floor, a quest he’s failed in the past. This is where McCarthy’s balancing act comes in. The danger for him will be if a block of members — whether they’re conservative firebrands in the House Freedom Caucus, or House moderates who feel alienated by his criticism thus far — choose to withhold their votes on the floor.”

You’ll see more stories like this in the next few months, particularly come November. But, it would be a major shocker if he’s not Speaker in January 2023.

SPOILER: They Didn’t

One of the few benefits about me still being behind in my blogging. The Friday in question was last Friday. It’s now Tuesday.

Congress Seeking To Fund Government, Raise Debt Ceiling By Friday To Avoid Shutdown | The Daily Wire

Democratic leaders are attempting to juggle several objectives in the coming days — namely, passing the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act, approving the National Defense Authorization Act, and raising or suspending the debt ceiling.

Politico explained:

The House could vote as early as Wednesday to avert a shutdown, sending the stopgap measure to the Senate. While leaders have yet to settle on an end date, they are mulling mid to late January. That span would buy top lawmakers and the White House less than two months to hash out a bipartisan deal, which would include revamped spending totals for the military and all the other federal agencies that have been running on autopilot since the new fiscal year began on Oct. 1.

Democrats had originally eyed a short-term funding fix that would expire before the holidays, hoping to keep the pressure on Republicans to negotiate a broader funding deal before Christmas. But GOP leaders have shown no inclination to participate in those talks, leveraging the threat of sticking Democrats with non-defense funding levels established when Donald Trump was president.

This is not something any of the Democrats will accept. I doubt even Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Krysten Sinema (D-AZ) are okay with that. So, something will get passed. Something that just about everyone hates, probably. The gamesmanship is a little interesting. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has made it clear that he’s going to force the Democrats to go it alone on the debt ceiling. I don’t think he’s going to back down on that, but he may have to give them something else in return.

Inevitable

House Republicans vow to boot radical Democrats from committees when they take over Congress majority | One America News Network (oann.com)

Probably the only thing they can do at this point. I think the GOP made a strategic error here early on.

When the Democrats booted GOP members from committees, the members should have just shown up anyway, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-22) in tow, saying that they didn’t recognize the authority of the Democrats to make such decisions.

That would have caused a floor fight and a determination of the Rules. And it might have gone the GOP’s way with such a slim Democrat majority.

But, for whatever reason, the GOP didn’t fight it this way. So, now they have to escalate. They will kick out members of the Democratic Party in retribution, likely far more than the Democrats have done. The media will be on the side of the Democrats, but will be interesting to see how they attempt to spin it.

Republicans in the House have said they’re ready to fight back against Democrats, suggesting the same treatment the “America First” GOP representatives have received.

According to recent reports, many radical House Democrats are at risk of losing their committee assignments if Republicans take back the majority in the House. This, after Democrats voted to strip GOP Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) and Paul Gosar (Ariz.) from their committee assignments.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) vowed to give back Greene and Gosar’s committee assignments when Republicans retake the majority in 2022.

Certainly many of the Democrats have said and done things that the GOP will be able to attack and criticize in their efforts to remove them. Get ready for an even more partisan House.

The Democratic Party Is Made up of Little Whiny B*tches

House Dems Target Boebert for Joke About Ilhan Omar – PJ Media

YHGTBFKM.

There are calls for Boebert to be censured and stripped of her committee assignments, all because she made a joke at Omar’s expense. Thought experiment: If Omar had made a joke at Boebert’s expense, would she be facing calls to be censured today? Come on, man!

Seriously? Is this how thin skinned the Democrats have become? They can’t handle a mocking statement in an elevator?

And the Dems really have to stop this stripping committee assignments of the opposite party bull crap.

Boebert, as Stephen Kruiser details here, skewered Democrat hypocrisy in a fiery speech in which she foresaw what is happening to her now. “Democrat policies are so pathetic,” Boebert said, “and have done so poorly that the left has nothing better to do but troll the internet looking for ways to get offended and then try to target members and strip them of their committees. This is a dumb waste of the House’s time.

I’ve heard far worse than this from the left. Remember them posting videos of Paul Ryan (R-MN) pushing granny off a cliff?

Whiny b*tches. No sympathy.

Should Congress be more civil than it’s been the last couple of decades? Yes. Is it one party’s fault? No.

BBB Passes the House and No One Is Surprised

BREAKING: House Passes Massive $1.75 Build Back Better Bill – PJ Media

The vote was close — 220-213  with a lone Democrat, Jared Golden of Maine, voting against the bill, along with all Republicans present.

On to the Senate, where the bill faces major obstacles in the name of Sinema and Manchin. We shall see.

I’m Sure He’s Glad to Have It

Trump endorsements lately have been like blessings from the Pope.

President Trump endorses Rep. Pfluger for reelection in Texas | One America News Network (oann.com)

President Trump has thrown his support behind Texas Rep. August Pfluger (R) for reelection in 2022.

“I’m honored to have his endorsement again, to keep fighting for what we need in District 11, exactly what he did; for our energy security, for agriculture, for a strong border security. Thank you Mr. President for fighting, not just for Texans, but for all Americans,” said Pfluger.

Pfluger is a conservative Republican representing Texas’ 11th Congressional District. A decorated veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Col. Pfluger logged more than 300 hours of combat against ISIS and served in the Pentagon and NATO command.

This Is the Democrat Idea of ”Returning to Normal”

Democrats assured us that getting rid of Trump would allow things to return to normal in Washington (never mind that no one ever asked us if returning to normal was desirable).

Breaking: Steve Bannon Indicted for Contempt of Congress from January 6 Subpoena (lifezette.com)

It is extremely rare for a person to be indicted for resisting a Congressional subpoena.

But not when your name is Steve Bannon and your resisting coming to talk about former President Donald Trump (R-USA).

On November 12th, a federal grand jury indicted former Trump advisor Steve Bannon on charges of contempt of Congress due to Bannon refusing to comply with a subpoena issued by the House committee tasked with investigating in the January 6th incident at the Capitol.

In a press release from the Department of Justice, Bannon was formally charged with two counts of contempt of Congress for his refusal to physically appear and the second count for not handing over requested documentation.

This is a warning shot to others who might resist testifying about the January 6 protests.

Possibly, but a Lot Can Happen in a Year. Or Three.

Red alert: Crushing defeat in Virginia could signal trouble for Democrats ahead (msn.com)

But in Virginia Tuesday night, the victory in the governor's election was scored not by Democrat Terry McAuliffe – rated the favorite when the race began – but by Republican Glenn Youngkin.

In New Jersey, an even stronger Democratic stronghold, Gov. Phil Murphy narrowly  defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a race not called until Wednesday evening.

The results fortified Republican hopes of winning back control of the House and the Senate in next year's midterms. They complicated President Joe Biden's embattled efforts to push his ambitious agenda through a Congress under Democratic control, albeit narrowly.

I haven’t mentioned New Jersey, a race that was won by the Democrats by the narrowest of margins. It shouldn’t have been close. Neither should have Virginia. Democrats have to be nervous.

But a year ago, they were giddy. A lot can happen in a year. Always in motion is the future.

I make no predictions for 2022 or 2024. Ask me the day after the election and I’ll tell you who won. Maybe. Not before.

This Is 100% True and Ought to Scare Everyone

The Purpose Of The Jan. 6 Select Committee Is To Suppress Free Speech (thefederalist.com)

The final three paragraphs are quite blunt and worth quoting in their entirety.

If our news media had any interest in holding power to account, the headlines and coverage would have focused instead on how Democratic lawmakers on the committee, together with NeverTrump GOP Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., are using their subpoena powers to target law-abiding Americans who wished to exercise their right to peacefully assemble and protest.

Let’s be clear on this point. Since its inception, the Select Committee has amounted to a show-trial for House Democrats and leading NeverTrumpers who are attempting to make examples out of ordinary citizens who dared to protest the election, just as President Biden’s Justice Department is throwing the book at anyone connected to the events of Jan. 6 to make examples of them.

The message is clear: if you protest, if you exercise your First Amendment rights for a cause that those in power have not approved, you will be targeted by the government, smeared and harassed by the media, and made into a spectacle — pour encourager les autres.

This is a direct assault on the First Amendment by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11) and her cohorts in the House.

And They Say They Aren’t Controlled by the Abortion Lobby

This is just sick.

House Democrats Vote 218-1 for Unfettered Abortion – PJ Media

How can they look themselves in the mirror?

By a 218-211 vote, the House passed a bill Friday permitting and “codifying” the right to abort unborn children on demand for all nine months of a pregnancy.

Every Democrat except for Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) — who was quickly vilified by the hard left — voted for the bill, and every Republican opposed it, cementing the battle over abortion.

So much of what the Democrats do these days makes me physically ill. My stomach tightens when I read stuff like this, and I feel like I’m going to vomit. What has happened to people that we feel like something like this is not only tolerable, but desirable??

This Seems Likely to Backfire

Pelosi's Jan 6 committee makes blacklist of conservative media figures | The Post Millennial

Hold up. The “Jan 6 Committee” (lol) is asking for correspondence between the Trump White House and REPORTERS (many on this list).

This is a chilling power grab. Resist. https://t.co/jfOt5faSTn

— Raheem J. Kassam (@RaheemKassam) August 25, 2021

This is a pretty blatant and chilling attack on free speech. And really can’t be disguised as anything else. Your hard core supporters might be happy with it, but no one else is going to be.

[T]he officially titled Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol "expedite" this request for "all documents and communications concerning the 2020 election and relating to the following individuals" from April 1, 2020, through January 20, 2021

They’re terrified that Trump might run again. They’re using the FBI to do oppo research for them.

They aren’t ALL Horrible People

Democrats Push Back On Their Leadership’s Attempt To Overturn GOP Congresswoman’s Election Victory: Reports | The Daily Wire

Or perhaps they are, but they realize this is political suicide.

Multiple Democrats are coming out to oppose their party’s alleged attempt to overturn the election result of Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, which saw Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks (R) beat out Rita Hart by a total of six votes.

Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) said, “This election result was certified by the State of Iowa and Rep. Miller-Meeks was sworn in nearly three months ago…it’s time to move on.”

“Losing a House election by six votes is painful for Democrats,” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) wrote on Twitter. “But overturning it in the House would be even more painful for America. Just because a majority can, does not mean a majority should.”

Color me skeptical.

Wow, Truth in Media—I’ve Forgotten What That’s Like

Slaoui says Trump admin. responsible for 90 percent vaccine rollout | One America News Network (oann.com)

As more Americans continue to get vaccinated daily, Operation Warp Speed officials are reminding the nation of the Trump administration’s efforts.

In an interview on Sunday, former head of Operation Warp Speed Dr. Moncef Slaoui said President Trump should be hailed for the majority of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout success. Slaoui added the Trump administration should take credit for at least 90 percent of distributions so far.

Read the whole thing. It’s not very long.

Of course the lies about this were predictable. Trump isn’t allowed to receive credit for anything.

Operation Warp Speed was an incredible success. Remember that when you get your shot. Remember who pushed it. Remember that Congress refused to fund it. Remember that funding bills start in the Democrat controlled House of Representatives.

Remember all that.

And if you still think the Democrats deserve credit for anything, you’ve lost your mind.

And this is How you Know the Whole “Russia! Russia! Russia!” Narrative was a Farce

Nancy Pelosi Leaves Eric Swalwell On Intelligence Committee Despite Past Relationship With Chinese Spy | The Daily Caller

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leaving Rep. Eric Swalwell on the House Intelligence Committee, she announced on Friday, despite the California Democrat’s close contacts with an alleged Chinese spy.

Swalwell for years maintained contact with Christine Fang, a Chinese national who the FBI determined was working covertly as an intelligence agent for the Chinese Ministry of State Security.

If the Democrats truly believed that collusion with foreign entities was a problem, Swalwell would not only be off the committee, but he’d be out of Congress as well.

But they don’t, and they never did. It was all just a convenient excuse to attack President Donald Trump (R-USA).

That Might Just Inspire an Actual Insurrection

Pelosi: ‘There Could Be A Scenario’ In Which Democrats Unseat GOP Congresswoman, Give Seat To Democrat | The Daily Wire

There could be a scenario in which I join a march on Capitol Hill carrying torches and pitchforks.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled on Thursday that there could be a situation in which Democrats unseat Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and replace her with the Democratic challenger that she beat in last year’s election, Rita Hart.

“On Wednesday, a congressional committee punted a motion to dismiss Democrat Rita Hart’s election contest of the result of Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District election in November before first considering the merits of her appeal,” the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported. “The U.S. House Committee on House Administration postponed its consideration of a motion to dismiss, which was filed by U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, the Republican who was certified by state officials as the winner of Iowa’s 2nd District by just six votes.”

Pelosi:

Well, I respect the work of the Committee. I did see, as you saw in the press, what they decided to, and they were following my, as I read it, the requirements of the law as to how you go forward, and how you go forward is the path you’re on. And, and we’ll see where that takes us. Yeah, but there could be a scenario to that extent, yes.

They actually did this once before. In 1985, I believe, the Democrats refused to seat a Republican from here in Indiana. This was before the internet and 200 channels and social media, though, so the outrage was muted.

I suspect in this case, the outrage would be out of control. But perhaps I under-estimate the power of the liberal media and over-estimate the simmering rage on the right.

Kevin McCarthy on House Democrats Abuse of Power

McCarthy On Democrats Stripping Greene Of Committees: ‘You May Regret This A Lot Sooner Than You Think’ | The Daily Wire

There’s just so much in this speech worth quoting. As they say, read the whole thing.

But here are some key bits.

“Now, we’ve reviewed this with the parliamentarian,” McCarthy said. “Never before in the history of this House, has the majority abused its power in this way. Never in the entire history of this House have you ever abused the power in this way.”

It truly is an abuse of power. Frankly, it’s so abusive, I’m surprised that it’s even allowed under House rules. One party stripped committee assignments from a member of the other party.

If we start doing this, it will become difficult to actually fill committees with minority members.

Or, let’s forget the attacks on specific members for a moment and think about something else.

Let’s say you’re the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. You know that the Ranking Member on the opposing side is a real attack dog. You don’t want your President to have to go through years of merciless attacks, so you just have the attack dog removed.

Is that fair?

What about the Finance Committee? Remove people that are less likely to compromise on tax and funding bills.

This is a monstrous abuse of power by the majority. It should not stand. It cannot stand.

More from Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23):

“When another Democrat was compromised by a Chinese spy, that it was so serious that the FBI had to brief the congressional leaders, did Speaker Pelosi remove him from the House Intelligence or Homeland Security Committees after the briefing?” McCarthy went on. “I’m the only other person that had that same briefing. Just recently, I was in the room with the speaker. I heard what was said. I’ll be very clear, I would never have that member on either of those committees. Or did she reward him by making him the head of the subcommittee overseeing the CIA? I guess there’s different standards.”

The double standard here is disgusting.

And McCarthy mentions several other examples, just as egregious.

Finally, he concludes with this:

“When Democrats democrats attack Congresswoman Greene, they not only in ignore the infractions within their own party, they reward these members with prestige and influence,” McCarthy added.

McCarthy also fired a warning shot at Democrats by quoting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), saying, “‘You’ll regret this and you may regret this a lot sooner than you think.”

This has been a fault of the Democrats for most of this century. They keep changing the rules and never look to the future. They never think about how these precedents might come back to bite them.

Wake me up When the Whining over Marjorie Taylor Greene is Over, Please

First there’s this:

WATCH: Tucker Carlson on the media obsession with Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene | The Post Millennial

And now this:

House committee advances resolution to remove Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from committee assignments (fox5atlanta.com)

This wrong on multiple levels.

First, the Democrats should not have any say at all as to which Republicans can serve on committees. The entire concept is alarming. And the precedent it sets is very dangerous to our republican (small ‘r’) government.

Second, she shouldn’t lose her committee assignments, regardless. I’d be opposed to this even if it were coming from the Republicans. Yes, she seems to be a crackpot. Yes, she’s said many things that from my perspective would disqualify her from office.

But none of this is new. She didn’t say these things in the last week. These are almost all older statements that were well known prior to her being elected. Her constituency decided that she was the best person to represent them, and by an overwhelming majority. It is not the place of the Democrats to tell her voters to f**k off. It’s not the place of the Republican Party to say her voters made a mistake.

And this from Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT):  Romney Blasts Marjorie Taylor Greene - Says Republicans 'Should Have Nothing To Do With' Her (lifezette.com)

Sorry, Mitt. Not your call. Twice over. First, your a Senator. How the House of Representatives conducts their business is their business. Keep your nose out of it. Second, She’s the duly elected Republican representative of her district. You may not like her personally, but that’s something you have to deal with. The voters have spoken. It’s your duty to recognize the voice of the voters, not to tell them that they don’t know what they’re doing.

Our elected “leaders” are a disgrace.

Liz Cheney Survives Bid to Oust Her From Leadership

Well, I was going to blog on this yesterday:

How Republicans Prepare To Oust Liz Cheney From Leadership (thefederalist.com)

Never got around to it. And today it is out of date:

House Republicans Vote To Keep Liz Cheney In Leadership: Reports | The Daily Wire

Republicans overwhelmingly voted in favor of keeping GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-WY) in her leadership position during a conference-wide vote Wednesday evening, according to multiple reports.

The leadership vote, which was reportedly 145-61, affirmed Cheney’s position as the number three Republican in the House, even though she was one of only ten Republican lawmakers to vote to impeach former President Donald Trump last month. The vote was conducted by secret ballot.

So, the vote amounts to a “slap on the wrist” type punishment. Or the GOP rank and file got strong-armed. They needed a majority of the caucus in favor, just to bring it to a vote. And yet, couldn’t get even one third to vote for it. This may have been deliberate. A warning shot, so to speak. I doubt it will be effective. But we shall see.

Not Cool, Gaetz. Not Cool.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL-01) has a beef with Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY-AL), over her support of President Donald Trump’s (R-USA) impeachment.

Well, so do I.

And if he wants to try to convince the Republican caucus that she should be ousted from her leadership position, I have no problem with that. If he wants to make a speech on the House floor demanding she resign or step down, I don’t have a problem with that either.

But there are lines that should not be crossed.

This is one: Rep. Gaetz to hold rally in Wyo. to call for ousting of Rep. Cheney | One America News Network (oann.com)

What the heck is a Florida Congressman doing in Wyoming holding a rally against a person in his own party?

This is the sort of thing that helped get Cheney in trouble last year.

A few months ago Cheney faced a mini-rebellion over her decision to fund Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s primary opponent — a huge no-no for leadership and one that proved even more embarrassing when the primary opponent turned out to be racist.

At the first in-person conference meeting following the outbreak of COVID, members erupted over Cheney breaking the rule about leadership not trying to oust members of her conference. She handled the criticism poorly, saying that Massie — from the more libertarian and anti-war side of the Republican Party — was a “special case.” That alarmed members who share his views, but it also alarmed the liberal members who wondered if they, too, could be viewed as “special cases” for failing to share Cheney’s views.

I understand Gaetz’s frustration with Cheney. But don’t make the same mistakes she did. Criticize her all you want, even publicly, in the House chambers. But stay out of her back yard.