Archive for the ‘Republican’ Category

Republican: I Am Dumb – Deadspin

Today, an attorney takes to the pages of a national publication to declare loudly and for all to hear that she is dumb, easily persuadable, and lacking in any genuine moral foundation whatsoever.

If you just saw Barbara Smith, a well-dressed attorney, walking down the street, you might assume that she is a rational person who makes important decisions about political philosophy by thoughtfully considering policy positions. This is not so. And Barbara Smith feels strongly that everyone in the world must know how shallow and self-serving her personal decisionmaking process is. So she quite naturally wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal to explain in detail.

After the inauguration of Donald Trump, Barbara Smith got all dressed up and set out to attend an inaugural ball. As she was walking down the street, someone threw an egg at her. An unpleasant but ultimately minor occurrence attributable to a lone bad actor? Not at all. For Barbara Smith, this egging incident was a reason to boldly valorize herself and reform her world view to embrace an entire chaotic political philosophy. And she wants you to know it.

At best, I had been a lukewarm and silent Trump supporter, a Goldwater-Reagan-George W. Bush girl who had decided to attend the ball mostly for the opportunity to wear a fancy dress. But when my heels hit the sidewalk that second time, I committed: I would now back President Trump.

I dont expect to agree with all of his administrations policies or even the rhetoric that Mr. Trump employs to make his case. But being assaulted based on an assumption that I supported him had a way of breaking through my reservations.

I choose to stand with the ridiculed, the insulted, the belittled. I stand with those who voted for something new and different and a little scary. I stand with people who are tarred as bigots and misogynistsor even eggedsimply because of their views on taxes, health-care reform or government entitlements.

Wow.

Continue reading here:
Republican: I Am Dumb - Deadspin

Donald Trump names Republican Ajit Pai to head FCC – Washington Times

President Trump is naming Republican Ajit Pai, a foe of the Obama administrations net neutrality rules, to become chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

Mr. Pai, a Republican commissioner for the agency since 2012, confirmed the move in a statement Monday.

I am deeply grateful to the president of the United States for designating me the 34th Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Mr. Pai said. I look forward to working with the new administration, my colleagues at the commission, members of Congress, and the American public to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans.

He will replace Democratic Chairman Tom Wheeler, and Republicans will have a majority on the commission under Mr. Trump.

Mr. Pai has opposed Mr. Wheelers net neutrality rules, saying the policy would lead to utility-style regulation, new taxes and less consumer choice. He is likely to review the policy.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Greg Walden, Oregon Republican, and Communications and Technology subcommittee Chairwoman Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Republican, said Mr. Pai has served with great distinction as a Commissioner over the past four and a half years, and has demonstrated that he is highly qualified to lead the commission.

Rep. Darrell Issa, California Republican, called the selection a welcome sign of change that shows a long-overdue turnaround at the FCC is now ensured in our new administration.

I look forward to working with him on solutions that will encourage investment, promote consumer choice, foster innovation and bring fresh thinking that will encourage creative disruption across the FCCs broad jurisdiction, Mr. Issa said.

Read this article:
Donald Trump names Republican Ajit Pai to head FCC - Washington Times

Kansas Republican featured on ‘This American Life’ – Wichita Eagle


Wichita Eagle
Kansas Republican featured on 'This American Life'
Wichita Eagle
The Republicans have been fighting for all of my lifetime for an opportunity such as this, Pahls said. And it obviously did not come in the package most of us thought it would but it's here and here is our audition. And we best not screw it up or it ...

Link:
Kansas Republican featured on 'This American Life' - Wichita Eagle

Trump’s Cabinet Picks Gather Steam in Republican-Led Senate – Bloomberg

Ben Carson, President Trumps nominee for secretary of U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), listens during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Washington on Jan. 12, 2017.

The Republican-led Senate is hastening a drive to install President Donald Trumps Cabinet, with committees approving four more of his nominees on Tuesday and Senate Democrats holding out the prospect that some could get a vote in the full Senate later in the day.

The Senate Banking Committee affirmed Ben Carson, a retired surgeon and 2016 Republican presidential contender, to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development on a voice vote. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee backed South Carolina Governor Nikki Haleys elevation to U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, also on a voice vote.

Two other nominees cleared the Senate Commerce panel. Billionaire Wilbur Ross, a private equity investor and Trumps pick to lead the Commerce Department, will now go before the full Senate. Former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, who served eight years in President George W. Bushs Cabinet and is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, was approved to lead the Transportation Department.

The votes come despite delays for some of Trumps picks requested by Democrats who want more time to examine their potential conflicts of interest, qualifications and policy positions.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday delayed for a week a vote on Republican Senator Jeff Sessions nomination to serve as attorney general after Democrats -- some of whom have criticized racially tinged comments he made years ago -- asked for more time. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee delayed votes on former Texas Governor Rick Perrys nomination for Energy secretary and Republican Representative Ryan Zinkes nomination for Interior secretary.

Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the energy panel, said Democrats never agreed to hold votes Tuesday on Perry and Zinke, citing unanswered questions about Trumps plans for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. She added that the votes will likely take place next week.

Republicans control 52 votes in the Senate, and Democrats can do little to block Trumps nominees if GOP lawmakers hold together. Each of Trumps executive-branch picks will require only 51 votes. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, on Monday dismissed as hot air Democratic complaints about some of the selections and predicted all will be installed in their top jobs soon.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said yesterday its possible that Democrats wont object to speedy votes this week on non-controversial nominees, although he declined to say how many. The Senate is in session Tuesday, but out the rest of the week so Republicans can leave town to attend an annual retreat in Philadelphia.

The full Senate has approved three new Cabinet secretaries: James Mattis to head the Pentagon, John Kelly to lead the Department of Homeland Security, and Mike Pompeo to run the Central Intelligence Agency. Former Exxon Mobil Corp. CEO Rex Tillerson won the Senate Foreign Relations Committees approval on a narrow 11-10 vote yesterday, setting his nomination up for full Senate action.

All four of the nominees approved by committees Tuesday are seen as likely to win easy confirmation, although Carson still faces persistent questions about his qualifications to lead a vast and complex housing agency.

Dr. Carson is not the nominee I would have chosen to lead HUD, due to both his lack of experience and his often troubling public statements over the last three years, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, the ranking Democrat on the Banking Committee, said in a statement Tuesday. But despite my reservations, and my disagreements with some of his positions, I will give Dr. Carson the benefit of the doubt based on commitments he has made to me in person and to this Committee in his testimony and written responses.

Keep up with the best of Bloomberg Politics.

Get our newsletter daily.

Business

Your guide to the most important business stories of the day, every day.

Markets

The most important market news of the day. So you can sleep an extra five minutes.

Technology

Insights into what you'll be paying for, downloading and plugging in tomorrow and 10 years from now.

Pursuits

What to eat, drink, wear and drive in real life and your dreams.

Game Plan

The school, work and life hacks you need to get ahead.

Price, in a hearing Tuesday before the Senate Finance Committee, was defending himself against tough questions about some of his stock investments in health-care companies. Democrats and some outside watchdog groups are calling for an ethics investigation into his trades in health-care stocks while handling legislation that could affect the shares.

Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the panels top Democrat, asked Price if he had used bad judgment by participating in a private placement at below-market rates.

Price denied that he had and said that everything I did was above-board" and that his actions were legal and transparent.

View post:
Trump's Cabinet Picks Gather Steam in Republican-Led Senate - Bloomberg

Peyton Manning reportedly will speak at Republican retreat featuring President Trump – Chicago Tribune

In the nearly one year since he retired from the NFL, Peyton Manning has spent most of his time doing advertisements and watching football games as a VIP spectator. Now, he's making a little room for politics.

The former quarterback is scheduled to join speakers that include President Trump, Vice President Pence and British Prime Minister Theresa May at a joint Senate-House GOP retreat that begins Wednesday in Philadelphia, Politico reports. The purpose of the retreat is to map out the Republican agenda.

Manning is no stranger to Republican causes, even though he initially backed a candidate not named Donald Trump. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush outed him as a donor to his presidential campaign a year ago, telling a crowd that he rooted for Manning's Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 "because Peyton Manning wrote me a check." Manning and Donald Trump Jr. ran into each other on the campaign trail last summer in Mississippi and there seemed to be no hard feelings about the past.

In the past, Manning has donated to several Republican politicians, most of whom were candidates in Tennessee - where Manning starred in college.

Throughout their careers, Manning and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady were inextricably linked and it seems they share a friendship with the new president, as well. Brady has acknowledged that Trump is a good friend, although he would not reveal his vote last November. Last year, Trump told CBS's "Face the Nation" that he knew and liked Manning.

"I very much have always liked Peyton Manning," Trump said before Super Bowl 50. "He is a very good guy. I know him. And he is a very, very good guy. So, I have to go with the person I know and I like. I like the other team. I think the other team looks fantastic. Probably, they would be favored by something. But I will stick with Peyton, because he is a very good guy."

In a radio interview Monday, Brady attempted to head off questions about his friendship with Trump ahead of his Super Bowl LI appearance, talked about their relationship, explaining that friends need not see eye-to-eye on everything.

"I have called him, yes, in the past. Sometimes he calls me. Sometimes I call," he said on WEEI's "Kirk and Callahan" show, detailing his dialing habits. "But, again, that's been someone I've known. I always try to keep it in context because for 16 years you know someone before maybe he was in the position that he was in. He's been very supportive of me for a long time. It's just a friendship. I have a lot of friends. I call a lot of people."

Originally posted here:
Peyton Manning reportedly will speak at Republican retreat featuring President Trump - Chicago Tribune