Posted on 12/05/2024 9:20:09 AM PST by Signalman
All eyes in Washington, D.C. have turned to Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), the most emboldened holdout among Republican senators still hesitant to embrace Pete Hegseth after a series of stories about his alleged past behavior. Now, conservative allies of President-elect Donald Trump are ratcheting up the pressure on Ernst to fall in line or face the end of her political career.
The Iowa senator, who is up for reelection in 2026, held her cards closely while telling Fox News about her recent meeting with Trump’s defense secretary nominee. “I did have a long, very lengthy discussion with Pete yesterday, and I do appreciate his service to the nation. I am also a combat veteran, and we talked about a number of those issues, and we will continue with the vetting process,” she told host Bill Hemmer. “We had a frank and very productive discussion, and I know that we will continue to have conversations in the upcoming months.”
Hegseth’s fate rests in the hands of next year’s Republican Senate majority, where he can only afford to lose three of its 53 votes and still see Vice President-elect J.D. Vance break a tie. Ernst, who voted to certify the 2020 election, is among a handful of centrists who have expressed reservations about Hegseth since news reports alleging he drank on the job while managing two charitable veterans organizations and later as an on-air personality at Fox News. On Wednesday Hegseth, 44, went on the offensive, appearing on Megyn Kelly’s SiriusXM show to deny the reports while his mother took to “Fox & Friends” to walk back a 2018 letter she sent her son criticizing his treatment of women, including his ex-wife.
The issue is personal for Ernst, who served in combat during the Iraq War. Hegseth has been on record stating he believes female soldiers should not hold combat roles, a topic that almost certainly came up during their meeting. Conservatives have geared up for a fight in support of Hegseth after seeing Matt Gaetz withdraw his name for U.S. attorney general and are now targeting the Iowa senator with a pressure campaign. “Let me be clear to EVERY REPUBLICAN SENATOR. If you vote NO on Pete Hegseth, YOUR CAREER IS DONE,” screamed a post on X from Graham Allen, host of the “Dear America” podcast.
TPN’s Collin Rugg replied to Ernst’s furtive update on her meeting with Hegseth. “Are you just sharing your diary or something? What a lame statement. Grow a backbone and support his confirmation,” he wrote in response. Another warned her about the fate of Liz Cheney, who was overwhelming defeated in her Republican primary after implicating Trump in the January 6th, 2021 riots at the Capitol. “We’re going to primary you and you’ll get this result. Stop the nonsense. Confirm or get a primary,” they wrote.
Exactly. Get in line Joni, or get gone. This all has to stop. Now.
SHE wants the job! She’s jealous!
Ernst is a slutbunny abusing young men in her purview. She should be a Democrat. Anyone ask Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds about her Chosen One?
Joni, I will show up in full battle rattle and pretend I am unconscisous and you have to drag all 275 pounds of me and my gear 100 feet to safety. You can wear your workout gear.
Which freaks that Biden put forth did she vote for? Those should be shoved in her face over and over.
What was Joni’s “combat”? firefights ?
Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way
-Ted Turner
what exactly was Joni’s “combat”? firefights?
what exactly was Joni’s “combat”? firefights?
Someone should look at her recent bank deposits.
I actually think the flak she is getting will only make her dig in. She strikes me as a self centered, entitled brat. I think it is likely she will cause Pete to have to withdraw. I just hope it is made very well known she caused it so she can get tossed in 26. That won’t matter much because I don’t see any sign they are going to fix the cheating so the rats will have the Senate back.
Exactly!
IA is a hard red state along with KT, UT and SC
All these fools can easily be replaced now that the GOP-e is no longer running the show.
I think we just found out her “combat” specialty—stabbing her fellow soldiers in the back.
This is the nature of the Swamp.
These long term senators think they are leaders. They are not. They are there to represent their voters.
No one needs their opinion, actually. Their voters will tell them what to think.
If they don’t like this configuration, vacate the seat.
Ernst is a slutbunny abusing young men in her purview. She should be a Democrat. Anyone ask Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds about her Chosen One?
Ha! Do you mean Kim Reyolds the big time Never Trumper??
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/19/kim-reynolds-trump-endorsements-00136372
Iowa governor Kim Reynolds - who endorsed Ron DeSantis - uses burner account to complain about Trump online ahead of her state’s caucuses
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4209802/posts
She was one of 20 Republicans who voted to approve Merrick Garland making her a proponent of lawfare.
“Someone should look at her recent bank deposits.”
THIS, Representatives, Mayors, DAs, Judges... ALL of them.
Why are we not? Because they ALL have questionable deposits. A band of thieves who stick together on this particular issue.
We are sick of these Republican Senators doing nothing but mucking up the works for Trump.
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