Senate Republicans erupt in anger over Tuberville's military freeze
Source: Washington Post
The war in Gaza and a serious medical emergency suffered by the Marine Corps top officer have forced into the open months of simmering Republican frustration with Sen. Tommy Tubervilles expansive hold on President Bidens military nominees, driving several of his colleagues to publicly denounce the gambit and urge Senate leaders to take immediate action to end the impasse.
Concerns about Gen. Eric Smiths apparent cardiac arrest on Sunday, coupled with fast-moving developments in the Middle East, have surfaced repeatedly this week as officials in Washington seek an off-ramp to the bitter political dispute between Tuberville (R-Ala.) and the Biden administration that centers on the Pentagons travel policy for troops seeking an abortion. Hundreds of senior military advancements have been stalled as a result, dating to February.
On Wednesday night, a remarkable scene unfolded on the Senate floor as several Republicans, including Sens. Dan Sullivan (Alaska), Joni Ernst (Iowa) Todd C. Young (Ind.) and Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.) confronted Tuberville, imploring him to lift his hold for the sake of national security and proposing votes on individual officers whose promotions have been delayed. Tuberville rebuffed them one by one, blocking each proposed nominee as his colleagues frustration continued to rise.
The confrontation stretched nearly five hours, with Ernst, a retired Army officer, and Sullivan, a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, rotating to bring forward the bulk of 61 officers presented by name. They called out Tuberville for saying previously that he would relent on nominations that were brought forward for votes individually.
Read more: https://wapo.st/3s9w3ou
Tuberville hates America
2naSalit
(90,937 posts)One of Pooty's pets.
I hope *%#$&*$ and #^%$@& happen to him. And soon. That guy needs to go through some stuff.
peppertree
(22,594 posts)And you can imagine the kind of coup-happy, anti-Ukraine right-wing extremists el Cheeto had in mind for said posts.
2naSalit
(90,937 posts)He will be overruled at some point soon.
peppertree
(22,594 posts)It's outrageous - but typical of these dysfunctional times - that one greasy senator can throw such a monkey wrench into something so important.
And an illegally-seated one at that - seeing as he doesn't even live in 'Bama (not that most Republicans there care).
mahina
(18,666 posts)ExWhoDoesntCare
(4,741 posts)Youngkin is the governor of Virginia.
PortTack
(34,021 posts),
CousinIT
(9,734 posts)Tuberville is one of those men.
PortTack
(34,021 posts)Lonestarblue
(11,345 posts)Senators are formally elected to standing committees by the entire membership of the Senate, but in practice each party conference is largely responsible for determining which of its members will sit on each committee. Party conferences appoint a "committee on committees" or a steering committee to make committee assignments, considering such qualifications as seniority, areas of expertise, and relevance of committee jurisdiction to a senators state.
Tuberville has few qualifications to sit on this committee: no seniority, no expertise on anything. Since Alabama has military installations, he may have some relevance, but many states with military bases are not represented on this committee.
What the assigning committee has done, it can undo. The Republicans on this committee can reassign Tuberville to a different committee based on obstruction of its purpose. Why havent they? Where is McConnell as his Partys leader in allowing this obstruction. The House removed Margie Greene from committees during her first term for her antics. The Senate should do the same to Tuberville.
liberalla
(9,736 posts)off this committee? Seems smart and efficient to me. How would it kick back and bite McConnell and/or steering committee?
People would cheer!
cstanleytech
(26,809 posts)switch parties to spite them so removing him poses no threat.
Rebl2
(14,330 posts)him off the committee and not reassign him to any other committees.
Geechie
(909 posts)to represent Alabama, since his address is in Florida.
https://www.al.com/news/2023/08/can-tommy-tuberville-represent-alabama-in-us-senate-if-he-lives-in-florida.html]
AZ8theist
(6,150 posts)He's not qualified to be a local dog-catcher, much less a US Senator.
But the voters in Alabama were stupid enough to pick him over an EXTREMELY qualified Senator, Doug Jones.
They just select "R" without thinking because thinking causes their heads to hurt. I bet 90% of his voters don't even know he doesn't live in the state.
LuvLoogie
(7,422 posts)with what Tuberville, Paul, and Vance are doing.
He probably handed out the assignments to each of them.
localroger
(3,688 posts)Autumn
(45,803 posts)But they won't so their anger is all a show.
hot2na
(385 posts)We need to stop personalizing this as a Tommy Tuberville issue and pin it to Republicans.
Any online rant/op ed or post about Tubervilles pathetic blockage of military promotions has to call it a Republican blockage. The more its personalized to Tuberville, the less Republicans are motivated to stop him. Make them own it. More impotantly let the voters know that this is a Republican issue.
calimary
(83,477 posts)If we do, we can get the House back next year.
turbinetree
(25,071 posts)Huntsville, for example, kinda tired of spending my tax dollars in state that does excatly what.......hire right wing zealot that wants to control someone right to privacy.......end of story......and just for sake of this rant......maybe the little dirtbag should re- read the preamble of the Constitution......for starters.....and for the feckless republicans they should have said something like 300 service people ago........
Marthe48
(18,390 posts)Forcing soldiers to give birth? Or national security? They can't have both, and if that stupid s.o.b. from Floribama keeps it up, there won't be any soldiers to command, because nobody in their right mind would join an outfit that is run by repressive anti-American dipshits.
Wish tommy would go back to playing with his balls.
dlk
(12,128 posts)Hes completely willing jeopardize our national security, as well as upend the lives of countless military personnel, and their families in service to his aim.
Marcuse
(7,874 posts)the military.
dlk
(12,128 posts)It has been clear for some time they dont believe in democracy. This cant be overemphasized. The party has been overrun with reactionary zealots.
mpcamb
(2,931 posts)calimary
(83,477 posts)Too many of us just dont recognize what our proper place is.
Maraya1969
(22,917 posts)Lady" I hope they refer back with, "Yes, little boy" Or if they can't go that far, "Yes young man"
calimary
(83,477 posts)dlk
(12,128 posts)n/t
LuvLoogie
(7,422 posts)Remember when he would not condemn white supremacists/nationalists in the ranks?
He will not let the Black Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs have the people they want.
Blue Owl
(53,810 posts)Searchin' for a lost shred of dignity....
sakabatou
(42,756 posts)Zambero
(9,429 posts)Brain dead voters are showing us their handiwork... again.
calimary
(83,477 posts)Figure out a way to FIX it. The sooner the better.
Maraya1969
(22,917 posts)investigate him and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.
Maraya1969
(22,917 posts)that is funneling for putting our military in harms way. There is not one doubt in my mind that this is his motive. And we have a lot of good sleuths out that and I know they can find the trail. Please start investigating that asshole.
They also mention a text number but if you want it have a pen and paper ready because they say it very quickly
Mobile
BB&T Centre 41 West I-65,
Service Road N., Suite 2300-A
Mobile, AL 36608
(251) 308-7233
Janbdwl72
(111 posts)We can complain all day and night about Tuberville's idiocy and nothing will get accomplished. So how about changing some of these ridiculous Senate rules? Why can't this rule be repealed--it seems like that should draw bi-partisan support, but who knows in the Senate? Hopefully, the same could be applied to what Vance is doing as well. Republicans may not want Democrats to receive any credit for anything, so while some of them publicly criticized Tuberville this week, they might not support changing some of those Senate rules.
However, if that won't work, the best thing Democrats can do is to remind as many Alabama voters as possible about this when he runs for re-election. Campaign ads about this should flood the airwaves. I understand Alabama is a very difficult state for Democrats to win, but Doug Jones did win the special election there? Maybe when he runs again, Tuberville should be compared to Roy Moore, the imbecile that Jones beat in that election.
usonian
(12,378 posts)The business of catering to culture wars and the "burn it all down" maga movement may be starting to interfere with the politics of "I need a framework to exert my power" as in Moscow Mitch, who has squeaked a little bit of opposition to maga, and now, to front-line congresspeople who have absolutely nothing to show their constituents other than what Joe Biden has given them.
When the answer to "What have you done for me lately?" is "I fought the culture war for you", the answer may have declining power.
The cult vote alone is not enough. Pitting one set of GOP values against another could and should erode support.
Hope so.
The Unmitigated Gall
(4,317 posts)This is personal with me.
My feelings on Tuberville I cant put down here.
republianmushroom
(16,516 posts)quakerboy
(14,058 posts)It's all performance unless they do something about it.
NoMoreRepugs
(10,247 posts)He happens to reside in Russia.