In what seems to be a surprise move, Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul is now vowing to give the Senate the one extra vote needed to pass the Democratic House resolution. Keep in mind while reading forward that Paul has been known to fold and or wish-wash on his promised votes.
The resolution was created to stop Trump from going forward with his National Emergency Declaration. Bowling Green Daily News reports:
In a speech to the crowd of nearly 200 Republican officeholders and supporters at Western Kentucky University’s Augenstein Alumni Center, Paul interjected, in a speech devoted largely to praising the work of President Donald Trump, his opinion that Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border is a dangerous precedent.
In Rand Paul’s words:
"I can’t vote to give the president the power to spend money that hasn’t been appropriated by Congress. We may want more money for border security, but Congress didn’t authorize it. If we take away those checks and balances, it’s a dangerous thing."
If he holds true to his word, which, again, has proven to be questionable, Paul will join fellow Republicans Thom Tillis (N.C.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) in giving the Senate a definitive majority in efforts to stop Trump. There are still several on the fence:
Sen. Martha McSally, a Republican from the border state of Arizona, and Sen. Pat Toomey, a conservative from Pennsylvania, told CNN they were still looking at their options.
Tennessee’s Senator Lamar Alexander warned Trump of a GOP backlash, should the president try and veto the resolution, which almost makes it sound like a done deal—almost.
While Sen. Alexander would not commit to being the fourth vote, his request for Trump to reconsider foreshadows a possible groundswell of Republican resistance as the Senate approaches a vote in the next few weeks.
“Republican Resistance”—there’s a new phrase.
Trump has already vowed he would veto, if the resolution reaches his desk. If he takes that action, It will be the fist veto of his illegitimate presidency. Before his pledge to dismantle the resolution, Trump did try to condescendingly suck up to the Republicans with a tweet on Monday:
“I hope our great Republican Senators don’t get led down the path of weak and ineffective Border Security. Without strong Borders, we don’t have a Country – and the voters are on board with us. Be strong and smart, don’t fall into the Democrats ‘trap’ of Open Borders and Crime!”
This will also be the first time the majority of Republicans have joined Democrats to side against Trump on such an enormous issue.
This is very big news on several accounts. A year ago—even six months ago, Republicans would have gone along with Trump’s bogus national emergency declaration, because they went along with anything and everything he declared, regardless of the damage it would cost the American people country as well as those around the world. The GOP sided with a massively corrupt president again and again. They were his greedy little accomplices and puppets. Now, it seems Republicans are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but it is a train—a big, fast, enormous train. They sold their souls to the Devil (Trump) and are now turning into a scouring bunch of scared little rats desperately trying to get their humanity back. Too late, guys. Much too late.
As an aside, there is some sweet revenge in Rand Paul’s move after Trump belittled and humiliated him so ruthlessly during the 2016 GOP presidential primary debates. Taking a walk down memory lane...
Oh yes, do grab the popcorn. Golly gee, what’s this going to do to Mitch McConnell. Make a huge batch.