The mood was razor-sharp, every vote counted. The Democrats literally rolled their Rep. Al Green straight from his hospital bed into the hallway. The Texan cast the deciding vote and helped his party to an important victory.
What was it about? Republicans wanted to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security. In terms of content, it is an exercise in absolute ridiculousness, because Mayorkas is neither corrupt nor has he committed treason. So it was purely a political slander theater, but one that was of great symbolic importance. The point was to show the American public that Republicans can push through their concerns with a razor-thin majority.
Now they stand there like water poodles, especially their speaker Mike Johnson. “This would never have happened to Nancy Pelosi,” he now has to hear from all sides. In fact, the former Democratic speaker understood one thing: She knew how to count votes. And she also knew that you never take part in an important vote without knowing exactly what the voting ratio is.
Johnson, on the other hand, was until recently a backbencher from the southern state of Louisiana. Little was known about him, except that he was very pious and very kind. He became chairman because the divided Grand Old Party (GOP) chose him as an embarrassing candidate. Now it becomes clear that he cannot cope with this not so easy task. He is clearly a puppet of Donald Trump and his aides in Congress. And he can’t even count. After the defeat in the impeachment proceedings, he suffered a second defeat. A law that only provided for an aid package to Israel also failed.
In American politics, the comparison is often made to the proverbial dog that runs after the car and, once it catches up, doesn’t know what to do with it. This comparison aptly describes the current state of Republican senators. They fought furiously for stricter border laws. Now Democrats have given in to that request and are ready to agree to a bipartisan package against illegal immigration.
The compromises that Democrats are willing to make go far beyond what Republicans have ever dared to dream of. The legislative package is also urgently needed because the situation at the border with Mexico has effectively gotten out of hand.
The senators are now rejecting this unexpected gift just because Trump forces them to do so. The ex-president condemns the package unknowingly and for an obvious reason: he wants chaos at the border so he can pose as a savior in November.
This transparent maneuver is meeting resistance even within his own party. James Lankford, a conservative senator from Oklahoma who negotiated for the Republican Party, now explains in frustration: “A year ago we said we had to change the laws. Now we say, ‘It was all just fun. We don’t need to change the laws at all. We just have to apply the existing laws.”
The conservative opinion makers at the Wall Street Journal also shook their heads. “If Republicans reject this bill, they will open the door for Democrats to claim they deliberately want chaos at the border.”
It is now clear that the law has no chance in the Senate – and that the Democrats gratefully accept the law. In a combative speech, President Joe Biden declared: “If the bill fails, I know one thing for sure: the American people will know who is responsible. Between now and November, we will remind you that Donald Trump and the MAGA mob have caused chaos at the border.”
Conflicts have also arisen among Republican senators over this law. Because their leader Mitch McConnell welcomed this law, hardliners like Ted Cruz are once again calling for his resignation. Cruz is unlikely to be successful with his request. On the other hand, Republican Chairman Ronna McDaniel’s days appear to be numbered. She is said to have agreed to resign after the South Caroline primary. These will take place on February 24.
McDaniel has been blamed for the dire financial situation facing the Republican Party. A case of poetic justice, because she is a loyal supporter of Trump, and it is Trump who causes the financial misery: the ex-president siphons off most of the donations for himself and uses a large part of them, his to pay exorbitant legal fees cost.
It’s not just at the national level that Republicans have problems with management. In the state of Michigan, it is currently not even clear who is in charge of the party due to internal disputes. In Arizona, the chairman was ousted after a dispute with Kari Lake, the absent governor; and in Florida the chairman had to resign after an unpleasant sex scandal.
The ruling from the appeals court in Washington DC is appropriate for the days of chaos for the Republican Party. The three judges summarily rejected Trump’s request for absolute immunity, ruling that a president can also be held accountable if he commits a crime while in office.
This judgment was widely expected; Trump’s demand was too absurd. It may have taken longer than hoped, but in return it will be difficult for the ex-president to achieve his goal of delaying the trial as long as possible and thus avoiding a pre-election trial. The appeal judges not only ruled unanimously, but also anticipated every conceivable objection to this decision.
Therefore, it is uncertain whether the Supreme Court will even hear this case, and if it does, Trump will have to hurry. He has until next Monday to play his last card in this game and appeal to the Supreme Court. Otherwise, the trial, currently on hold, will resume over his role in the storming of the Capitol.
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
