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John Thune Takes Charge in the Senate, Ushering in a New Leadership Era
The New York Times ^ | Jan. 3, 2025, 5:00 a.m. ET | Aaron Blake

Posted on 01/03/2025 12:31:34 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

The affable traditional conservative from South Dakota is the first new chief of the Senate G.O.P. in nearly two decades. He will confront a challenge managing President-elect Donald J. Trump’s expectations.

John Thune won election to the Senate in 2004 by conquering Senator Tom Daschle, the powerful Democratic majority leader, only to quickly face a mortal threat to his political future when a major Air Force base in his state was threatened with closure.

He beat back the effort and saved Ellsworth Air Force Base, a financial engine in his largely rural state, keeping his job and learning valuable lessons that have helped power his rise in the Senate.

Now the South Dakota Republican has ascended to the top and will become majority leader in the new Congress that convenes on Friday, but he is again facing an early challenge and a major threat to his political standing.

Mr. Thune’s task this time is to juggle President-elect Donald J. Trump’s demands, the competing desires of 53 G.O.P. senators and a formidable legislative agenda. It starts with shepherding multiple baggage-laden Trump nominees to confirmation in the closely divided Senate, where he can afford to lose no more than three Republican votes if Democrats hold together in opposition.

At the same time, he intends to use a tricky maneuver to steer around a filibuster and pass a combination border security, military spending and energy production bill that will require serious legislative finesse. And he wants to do it in the first month or so, while also reordering how and how often the Senate works.

It is a tall order for the 6-foot 4-inch former all-state basketball player, a crack shot who is passionate about pheasant hunting and who turns 64 in a few days.

“Lets just say he’s got a lot of...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Humor
KEYWORDS: senate; thune
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1 posted on 01/03/2025 12:31:34 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“Ushering in a New Leadership Era”

Is it?


2 posted on 01/03/2025 12:32:49 PM PST by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!ly)
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To: V_TWIN

Baggage laden Trump nominees? Come on, man! This after they approved all of Biden’s corrupt, DEI nominees.


3 posted on 01/03/2025 12:34:31 PM PST by princess leah ( )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

We’ll see if he’s a cuck RINO or has a spine and B@lls


4 posted on 01/03/2025 12:35:20 PM PST by BigFreakinToad (All she is, is cackles in the wind.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
He will confront a challenge managing President-elect Donald J. Trump’s expectations.

Thune's job is NOT to manage Trump's expectations. Thune's only job is to help Trump implement his agenda. If Thune and the other RINOs think anyone voted for them, they're out of their RINO minds. They were carried on Trump's coat-tails.
5 posted on 01/03/2025 12:36:56 PM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I expect Fetterman to vote with Republicans when it’s common sense. Unfortunately, there are Republicans who will vote against their party probably more than his vote will help.


6 posted on 01/03/2025 12:40:34 PM PST by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss


7 posted on 01/03/2025 12:42:13 PM PST by chickenlips (Neuter your politicians)
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To: BigFreakinToad
John Thune Takes Charge in the Senate, Ushering in a New Leadership Era

"We’ll see if he’s a cuck RINO or has a spine and B@lls"

Right off, fire shifty schiff from all committees scheming schumer
assigned to him.

8 posted on 01/03/2025 12:46:47 PM PST by chief lee runamok ( Le Flâneur @Large)
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To: V_TWIN
Ushering in a New Leadership Era

How about something less than that?

9 posted on 01/03/2025 12:58:38 PM PST by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Affable?

AFFABLE??

Is somebody putting us on, here?

That's what they said about Carter. "Affable", and "Amiable".

SMHWA

10 posted on 01/03/2025 1:01:58 PM PST by OKSooner (Always remember to say "After the fair trial".)
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To: BigFreakinToad

I am guessing that we still have Rino leaders in both the house and Senate.


11 posted on 01/03/2025 1:05:45 PM PST by Revel
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To: chickenlips

I suspect Thune is a harder worker than Mitch.


12 posted on 01/03/2025 1:09:03 PM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: AnotherUnixGeek

Senators of both parties should bear in mind that Trump is at least twenty times better than Thune could ever be at raising campaign wampum.


13 posted on 01/03/2025 1:13:01 PM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
It would only be an era of new leadership if Thune works with Johnson to build a unified Republican caucus in Congress to enact President Trump's agenda.

In the past, McConnell ran the Senate as if the House was his servant, there solely to pass his grand legislative bills.

-PJ

14 posted on 01/03/2025 1:14:28 PM PST by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: BigFreakinToad

“We’ll see if he’s a cuck RINO or has a spine and B@lls”

Thune is the Republican senator closest to Mitch in outlook, including hatred for Trump.


15 posted on 01/03/2025 1:18:38 PM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Chuckie’s not gonna like being No. 2...No pun intended.


16 posted on 01/03/2025 1:20:52 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: OKSooner

affable

pleasantly easy to talk to
showing friendliness

[from my dictionary]


17 posted on 01/03/2025 1:23:50 PM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: chief lee runamok; All

In his first day in office, he should have a Schumer and Schiff arrested for Un American activities, fraud, lying…


18 posted on 01/03/2025 1:28:18 PM PST by Cobra64 (Common sense isn’t common anymore.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Don’t count on it. When McConnell was Senate leader, they would have needed a proctologist to extract Thune’s head if McConnell ever stopped shot


19 posted on 01/03/2025 1:31:22 PM PST by ZULU (Remember: ABBEY GATE, Kate Steinle, Joscelyn Nungary, Rachel Morin and Laken Riley. )
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To: princess leah

Well in fairness all of Biden’s were sorely lacking any baggage…..of competency.


20 posted on 01/03/2025 1:37:24 PM PST by Mastador1
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