The gall of Republican Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell is only exceeded by his arrogance.  Shortly after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer finished his senate floor speech in which he called for new elections in Israel, Senator McConnell took the floor and issued, in essence, what was a rebuttal to Senator Schumer’s speech.  Though he did not mention Senator Schumer’s name, it was obvious that he was referring to the speech that he made.

According to ABC News, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said “It is grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader of Israel.  This is unprecedented.  We should not treat fellow democracies this way at all.”

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell continued, ‘Israel’s unity government deserves’ “the deference befitting a sovereign democratic country.  Things that upset left-wing activists are not the prime ministers [sic] policies they are Israel’s policies.  Make no mistake, the Democratic party doesn’t have an anti-Bibi problem, it has an anti Israel [sic] problem…”  “Only Israel’s citizens should have a say in who runs their government.  This is the very definition of democracy and sovereignty.  Either we respect their decisions or we disrespect their democracy.”

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is lecturing Senator Chuck Schumer and the rest of America on democracy and hypocrisy?!  This is the same Mitch McConnell who, shortly after the January 6, 2021 insurrection, said “There is no question that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of [January 6, 2021].  Then this same Mitch McConnell said the following when he recently endorsed Donald Trump – a man with 4 cases and 91 counts against him – as the Republicans’ 2024 candidate for president.  “It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States.  It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support.”

These two positions regarding Donald Trump are diametrically opposed!  How can Senator McConnell say that Donald Trump was practically and morally responsible for provoking the January 6, 2021 insurrection and then in good conscience say, as the Republican Senate Minority Leader, that “it should come as no surprise that, as nominee, [Trump] will have my support?!”  And if he does say this, how can he then turn around and lecture Senator Chuck Schumer and the rest of America on democracy and hypocrisy?!

Republican senator Mitch McConnell’s arrogance is blatant but his hypocrisy is subtle, at least to those who do not closely follow politics.  In this case involving Donald Trump, Republican Senator McConnell’s apparent disdain for democracy and penchant for hypocrisy to favor retention of power and Party above democracy is repulsive.  After having made these absolutely opposed statements about Trump, in his arrogance, Republican Senate Minority Leader McConnell rebuked Senator Schumer for being a hypocrite and eschewing democracy while he himself cunningly steeped his rebuttal in Republican orthodoxy and thinly veiled anti-Democratic Party rhetoric.

The stench of his choice to hold the retention of power and Party above democracy is forever and it will leave an indelible stain on his legacy as a shrewd politician.  Further, it will have a negative impact on his long tenure as an elected official and cast doubt on whether his oath of office held true meaning to him.  Although Senator McConnel’s words in his rebuke of Senator Schumer arguably may have merit, Senator McConnell is among the last of Republicans who should be making this argument.

I realize that I risked being called out for blatant redundancy by repeatedly referring to Senator McConnell as “Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.”  However, emphasis was purposely placed on the words “Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell” and repeated for a reason.  That reason was to point out that 1) He is a Republican; and the Republican Party is at the center of the threat to the American democracy right now.

There was a time when the Senate conducted itself differently from the House.  Sometimes that difference was subtle and at times not so subtle; however, it was always discernable.  But now, the way that the Senate is conducting itself on the Republican side of the aisle is just like that of House Republicans.  Its bad conduct is blatant!

2), Mitch McConnell is the Senate Minority Leader.  He is the Republicans’ leader in the senate.  Senator McConnell has always been first and foremost about Party and retaining power.  He has been unfaltering in his adherence to Republican dogma but could still be counted upon to hold civil discourse across the aisle and be open to reasonable compromise to efficiently govern.  That is no longer the case.

Because Senator McConnell’s paramount purpose as Leader is to retain power, apparently even if the price of doing so is the American democracy, he has ceased to be the reasonable leader he once was.  Instead, he has acquiesced to Donald Trump in his blind quest to retain power.  As a result of this shameless choice, he has become a Trump toady and is conducting himself accordingly.  He is using his role as Leader to move his conference to support Trump’s nefarious goal of becoming president.

There is slightly less than eight months left before Americans go to the polls to select a new president.  During that period Donald Trump will continue to stoke fear, hate and as much divisiveness in America as possible.  His supporters who are mesmerized by him and believe his lies will continue to hang on his every word and will likely vote for him without ever knowing who he really is even though he has shown them time-and-time again.

And those like Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who know exactly who he is will likely vote for him either out of Party loyalty, the unquenchable lust for power or both.  Regardless of their reason for voting for him, each of them will help him to move a bit closer to his goal of becoming America’s first dictator; even if “only for a day.”

Those of us Americans who want America to remain a democracy and would prefer not to see our president hobnob with dictators and strongmen, shun our allies, and tell Russia to do whatever the hell it wants to them must do our part, no matter how small, to help assure that Trump is not elected.  We must do all that we can to help educate those who are mesmerized by Trump so, therefore, have bought in to his tactics of lies, fear, hate, and divisiveness.  In addition, we must make sure, despite all obstacles that we may face, to get out and vote in the 2024 presidential election.

So always remember, whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!

Eulus Dennis – author, M2: Street Cop To Top Cop, Operation Rubik’s Cube, And Living Between The Line

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson went on Fox News after President Biden’s State of the Union (SOTU) speech, in which President Biden confronted Republicans for rejecting the bipartisan border bill.  When the Fox News host asked him if House Republicans rejected the bill offered by Democrats that would have fixed the border problem Speaker Johnson said that the bill did not pass the senate.

What Speaker Johnson said was true.  But what he did not say was that congressional conservative Republicans were fine with this bill until Donald Trump informed them that he was against it.  Conservative senator James Langford of Oklahoma was negotiating the bill along with Democratic senator Chris Murphy and independent senator Kyrsten Sinema.  Further, Speaker Johnson did not say that when Trump implied that he wanted them to reject it; led by Trump’s sycophants, all the Republicans fell in line and did as they were instructed to do.

They did this without even reading the text of the bill, to which many of them had provided input.  Another thing that Speaker Johnson did not say was that although negotiations on this bill had been going on for four months and were almost complete, he (Speaker Mike Johnson) informed the senate that the bill would be dead on arrival in the House before the senate had even voted on it.

Among those senators who voted against the bill was Senator Katie Britt who gave the response to President Biden’s State of the Union speech.  She skewered President Biden for not doing anything about the border situation even after many of the things that she suggested should be done about the border were in that bill.  In her response, she talked about how Republicans are in support of in vitro fertilization (IVF).  Yet, Republicans in Alabama had just passed a law that said frozen embryos were children.  This caused IVF clinics to immediately halt services for fear of being prosecuted for murder if any embryos were accidently damaged to the extent that they were unusable: Senator Britt is from Alabama.

Senator Britt even told a story about an immigrant that was raped and implied, without revealing that it occurred, according to MSNBC host Joy Ried, “under another president’s administration and in Mexico not America, that this was President Biden’s fault because of his border policy.  When on Fox News she was given the opportunity by the host to provide clarification on her raped immigrant story and walk it back, she did not.”  Senator Britt’s response was meandering, short on facts and worthwhile substance.  It seemed designed only as pabulum to get viewers’ votes.

In the meantime, Speaker Johnson made sure to mention how partisan that President Biden’s SOTU speech was, and to emphasize just how partisan it was, he said that it was a campaign speech.  To remember all the partisan stuff that President Biden said and be sure to label it a campaign speech must be the reason why Speaker Johnson forgot to include key details, like those mentioned above, as to why the bill failed to pass the senate.  You know, like in that TV commercial that says in order to remember something, you have to forget something else.  While Speaker Johnson was busy forgetting the “something else” in order to remember all the partisan stuff that President Biden said, other Republicans complained about how they thought and hoped that President Biden would give a unity speech, something that would bring people together.

As regards the comments from those Trump sycophants and other senators who said President Biden took cheap shots at Republican members of congress through his comments; when they had the opportunity, and duty, to take shots at Trump for his conduct during the January 6, 2021 insurrection and their fellow Republicans who aided and abetted him before and after the fact, they did not.  They were all cowards and they took the cowards way out; they remained silent!  To make matters worse, they have continued their silence and have now assisted, whether overtly or tacitly through their continued cowardice, in making him their 2024 nominee for president.

Republicans have circled the wagons around Donald Trump: Donald Trump, this twice impeached ex-The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America who is still facing four cases and 91 counts against him and who just hosted Viktor Orban, Hungary’s authoritarian leader and key Putin ally, at Mar-a-Lago.  This support for Trump is being led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson.  Mike Johnson is relatively new at politics at the level that he holds as House Speaker but he is very smooth, has a personable air about him and is a quick learner.  Since his policies are in line with the small extremist group that has taken the Republican conference hostage and he strongly supports Trump, this makes him a formidable advisory for those who want America to remain a democracy.

For everyone who reads this post it is important that you realize what is happening in America before it is too late and do something about it; use your vote!  Our democracy is being taken away from us.  Trump has said that he wants to be a dictator and there are those among his supporters who say that is what America needs right now.  Some of those same supporters have said that violence should be used, if necessary, to put him back in office.  It is also worth reiterating that Trump met with authoritarian leader Viktor Orban at Mar-a-Lago after President Biden’s State of the Union Speech and heaped him with praise while calling him “great” and an “uncontroversial” leader.  Trump’s behavior and the current situation that America is in should be a worry to all Americans.  In the words of President Biden, if you are not worried about it, you should be.

Accordingly, I implore those who read this article to educate yourselves on the issues.  Do not be fooled by soundbites!  Do not watch what Republicans say, watch what they do!  Two good examples of Republicans saying one thing and doing another are given in this article: 1) Republican senator Katie Britt’s response to President Biden’s State of the Union speech then shortly thereafter, her failure to correct her immigrant rape story when given the opportunity by the Fox News host to do so.  And 2) Speaker Mike Johnson’s response to the Fox News host about whether House Republicans rejected the bipartisan border bill that could have fixed America’s southern border problem.

Again, do not watch what these Trump-led Republicans say, watch what they do.  And always remember, whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it.

Eulus Dennis – author, M2: Street Cop To Top Cop, Operation Rubik’s Cube, and Living Between The Line

It is time to say the obvious out loud; the Republican Party is now the antidemocracy party.  In my humble opinion, it became official when Nikki Haley dropped out of the Republican presidential primary race and Republican Mitch McConnell, the senate minority leader, officially endorsed Donald J. Trump.  Of course, anyone who closely follows politics knew that Republicans had given up on democracy long before this official announcement based on their behavior.

House Republicans made their intentions clear before they won the House.  They told anyone who would listen that, if they should win, they would go on a campaign of revenge and retribution against the Biden administration and Democrats in general.  And ever since they won the House, they have done exactly that and have refused to govern.  To make sure that Democrats in congress and the rest of America understood that they were not bluffing, a small group of rightwing extremists in their conference made Kevin McCarthy, their first Speaker after winning the House, go through 15 humiliating rounds of votes before he was elected.  During those votes these extremists extracted almost all the power vested in the office of Speaker to vote for McCarthy and, in essence, vested it in their small group.

To further assure that congress and the rest of America understood that they meant business, after about nine months as Speaker – after Speaker McCarthy did something (an attempt to govern) that they warned him not to do, one of these rightwing extremists called for a vote to “vacate” and removed him from office.  It then took three weeks and the failure of three replacement speaker nominees before the current Speaker, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, was elected.  Now House Republicans are back to business as usual, avoiding governing and creating as many problems as they can for Democrats to prevent them from governing.  At times they have hinted at ousting Speaker Johnson if he fails to toe-the-mark but so far, he and they appear to agree with how he is handling things.

Republicans in the senate have not appeared as chaotic in working their partisan agenda as the house has been.  However, now that the Republican primary is over and Trump is their nominee, things for senate Republicans are likely to become more challenging.  Their situation is exacerbated because Minority Leader McConnell not only has announced that he will be stepping down from his leadership role in November but he has just formerly endorsed Trump.  This makes matters worse because none of these senators, who are first and foremost politicians, knows who will become Leader or how pro-Trump that senator will be.  I say matters will be made worse because any reasonable observer can see, based on how they are handling the existential threat to the American democracy, that these politicians are more concerned about retaining power than they are about the threat to democracy or their oath of office.  This has to be a recipe for chaos.

This developing situation in the senate provides a perfect segue back to Senator McConnell and his leadership in the senate.  There is no doubt that Senator McConnell is a shrewd politician who has successfully led Republican senators through many tough situations and almost always held his conference together.  His political prowess is all but unquestionable.  Therefore, there is only one thing that can reasonably be deduced after reading the following excerpt from Senator McConnell’s speech and comparing it with his stance as of the posting of this article.  The excerpt is from an article of his speech after the senate acquitted Trump published in US News on February 14, 2021:

January 6 was a disgrace.

American citizens attacked their own government.  They used terrorism to try to stop a specific piece of democratic business they did not like.  Fellow Americans beat and bloodied our own police.  They stormed the Senate floor.  They tried to hunt down the Speaker of the House.  They built a gallows and chanted about murdering the vice president.

They did this because they had been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on Earth – because he was angry he’d lost an election.

Former President Trump’s actions preceding the riot were a disgraceful dereliction of duty.

Let me put that to the side for one moment and reiterate something I said weeks ago: There is no question that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of [January 6, 2021].

Sadly, many politicians sometimes make overheated comments or use metaphors that unhinged listeners might take literally.

This was different.

This was an intensifying crescendo of conspiracy theories, orchestrated by an outgoing president determined to either overturn the voters’ decision or else torch our institutions on the way out.

The unconscionable behavior did not end when the violence began…

Even after it was clear to any reasonable observer that Vice President Pence was in danger, even as the mob carrying Trump banners was beating cops and breaching perimeters, the president sent a further tweet attacking his vice president…

In recent weeks, our ex-president’s associates have tried to use the 74 million Americans who voted to re-elect him as human shields against criticism.

Anyone who decries his awful behavior is accused of insulting millions of voters…

This body is not invited to act as the nation’s overarching moral tribunal…

We have no power to convict and disqualify a former officeholder who is now a private citizen.

Here is Article II, Section 4:

“The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”  …

Article II, Section 4 must have force.  It tells us the president, vice president and civil officers may be impeached and convicted.  Donald Trump is no longer president…

In one light, it certainly does seem counterintuitive that an officeholder can elude Senate conviction by resignation or expiration of term.

But this just underscores that impeachment was never meant to be the final forum for American justice.

Impeachment, conviction, and removal are a specific intra-governmental safety valve.  It is not the criminal justice system, where individual accountability is the paramount goal.

Indeed, Justice Story specifically reminded that while former officials were not eligible for impeachment or conviction, they were – and this is extremely important – “still liable to be tried and punished in the ordinary tribunals of justice.”

Put anther (sic) way, in the language of today: President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office, as an ordinary citizen, unless the statute of limitations has run, still liable for everything he did while in office, didn’t get away with anything yet – yet.

We have a criminal justice system in this country.  We have civil litigation.  And former presidents are not immune from being held accountable by either…

Senator McConnell’s stance now?  Per an article in Newsweek by Matthew Impelli titled Republicans Rush to Support Donald Trump After Nikki Haley Drops Out, Senator McConnell said “It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States.  It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support.  I look forward to the opportunity of switching from playing defense against terrible policies the Biden administration has pursued to a sustained offense geared towards making a real difference in improving the lives of the American people.”

I mentioned above that only one thing can be reasonably deduced from Senator McConnell’s stance then compared to now.  That one thing is that when the choice presented to him is between honoring his oath of office and protecting the American democracy and honoring his commitment to Party, politics, and retaining power, Senator McConnel’s choice is clearly the latter: Party, politics, and retaining power is king.

Eulus Dennis – author, M2: Street Cop To Top Cop, Operation Rubik’s Cube, and Living Between The Line

Here we go again.  Once again, Republicans in the House and Senate are siding with Donald J. Trump.  But this time, not only is it Republican Representatives and Senators, it is the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and too many others in the American judicial system.  Although what Trump has done and continues to do is an existential threat to the American democracy, these Republicans are continuing to enable him.  It does not matter whether they are doing it out of loyalty to him, fear of him, or any other nefarious reason.  If they are not doing it based on anything other than the rule of law and to uphold the law, they are derelict of duty.

I can remember a key statement that Senator Mitch McConnell made after the senate elected for a second time to not convict Trump after he was impeached by the House.  He said that Trump was “practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of [January 6, 2021].”  U.S. news provided the text of Senator McConnell’s remarks in its article titled “READ: McConnell Speech After Trump’s Impeachment Trial Acquittal.”  Excerpts from those remarks follow:

January 6 was a disgrace.

American citizens attacked their own government.  They used terrorism to try to stop a specific piece of democratic business they did not like.  Fellow Americans beat and bloodied our own police.  They stormed the Senate floor.  They tried to hunt down the Speaker of the House.  They built a gallows and chanted about murdering the vice president.

They did this because they had been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on Earth – because he was angry he’d lost an election.

Former President Trump’s actions preceding the riot were a disgraceful dereliction of duty.

Let me put that to the side for one moment and reiterate something I said weeks ago: There is no question that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day…

Sadly, many politicians sometimes make overheated comments or use metaphors that unhinged listeners might take literally.

This was different.

This was an intensifying crescendo of conspiracy theories, orchestrated by an outgoing president determined to either overturn the voters’ decision or else torch our institutions on the way out.

The unconscionable behavior did not end when the violence began…

Even after it was clear to any reasonable observer that Vice President Pence was in danger, even as the mob carrying Trump banners was beating cops and breaching perimeters, the president sent a further tweet attacking his vice president…

In recent weeks, our ex-president’s associates have tried to use the 74 million Americans who voted to re-elect him as human shields against criticism.

Anyone who decries his awful behavior is accused of insulting millions of voters…

This body is not invited to act as the nation’s overarching moral tribunal…

We have no power to convict and disqualify a former officeholder who is now a private citizen.

Here is Article II, Section 4:

“The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” …

Article II, Section 4 must have force.  It tells us the president, vice president and civil officers may be impeached and convicted.  Donald Trump is no longer president…

In one light, it certainly does seem counterintuitive that an officeholder can elude Senate conviction by resignation or expiration of term.

But this just underscores that impeachment was never meant to be the final forum for American justice.

Impeachment, conviction, and removal are a specific intra-governmental safety valve.  It is not the criminal justice system, where individual accountability is the paramount goal.

Indeed, Justice Story specifically reminded that while former officials were not eligible for impeachment or conviction, they were – and this is extremely important – “still liable to be tried and punished in the ordinary tribunals of justice.”

Put anther (sic) way, in the language of today: President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office, as an ordinary citizen, unless the statute of limitations has run, still liable for everything he did while in office, didn’t get away with anything yet – yet.

We have a criminal justice system in this country.  We have civil litigation.  And former presidents are not immune from being held accountable by either one…

To read the full content of Senator McConnell’s remarks, you can read the article in U.S. News titled “READ: McConnell Speech After Trump’s Impeachment Trial Acquittal” published on February 14, 2021.

Those excerpts are the things that Senator Mitch McConnell said then in his speech as the rationale for not convicting then president Donald J. Trump.  He said these things as the leader of his party and as their representative.  Now, silence by Republicans about Trump’s actions then and now is deafening!  Republicans have become complete cowards, are trembling in Trump’s shadow, and have completely acquiesced to him.  Their insatiable desire for power and desire to retain it once acquired, has trumped their oath of office even if it means that, to retain that power, America must become an autocracy.

The precarious situation that America is in right now does not seem to register with many Americans, or at least not with the 74 million who voted for Trump that Senator McConnell mentioned in his remarks.  It could be even more than this 74 million.  It is pure speculation on my part but it could be that it is because these Americans do not follow political news like the news media journalist, news pundits, and political geeks like me do.  So, in their hunger for change, being unaware of Trump’s true nature and what he is truly about, they base their reasons for potentially electing him again on incessant lies and soundbites by him, his campaign, and his Republican sycophants.

Finally, lower courts and the SCOTUS are playing a part in what Trump is doing to dismantle America.  Both the SCOTUS and some lower court judges, e.g. Judge Aileen Cannon, are slow-walking the trials – seemingly in an effort to assist Trump, that Trump is faced with.  This has led some in the news media, Attorneys who are following the Trump situation, and some political pundits to express concern about how the courts are handling these Trump trials and the Trump situation overall.

James Carville, Andrew Weissmann, and Charlie Sykes were among those expressing concern.  James Carville said “[the Supreme Court] got away with 2000 Bush v Gore; then Citizens United, Shelby County v Holder, and Dobbs.  Justice Alito took a trip to Alaska paid for by billionaires.  Justice Clarence Thomas [took gifts associated with] Leonard Leo and Harlan Crow.  This took place while Democrats were winning the popular vote in seven out of eight elections.  [The Supreme Court Justices] have no ethical standards and they do this because they can get away with it.  [The Supreme Court] will continue to do this because the public holds candlelight vigils and does polls showing disapproval ratings of [the Supreme Court].  The cavalry is not coming in; the courts and Jack Smith are not going to save you; you are going to have to do it on your own.  [The Republicans] play hard politics and [the Democrats and the public] are doing protest and holding candlelight vigils.”

Both Andrew Weissmann and Charlie Sykes simply said, “Nobody is coming to rescue us, it’s on us now.”

It is on us now and we must do it on our own.  Those of the American people who want to see America remain a democracy must do our part, no matter how small, to help educate those who have been mesmerized by the lies and soundbites of Trump and his Republican sycophants.  Hopefully, this will jolt them out of the stupor of their life in Trump’s America and enable us to assist them back to life in the true America.

Eulus Dennis – author, M2: Street Cop To Top Cop, Operation Rubik’s Cube, and Living Between The Line