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 ...
“Ushering in a New Leadership Era”
Is it?
Baggage laden Trump nominees? Come on, man! This after they approved all of Biden’s corrupt, DEI nominees.
We’ll see if he’s a cuck RINO or has a spine and B@lls
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.
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss
"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.
How about something less than that?
AFFABLE??
Is somebody putting us on, here?
That's what they said about Carter. "Affable", and "Amiable".
SMHWA
I am guessing that we still have Rino leaders in both the house and Senate.
I suspect Thune is a harder worker than Mitch.
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.
In the past, McConnell ran the Senate as if the House was his servant, there solely to pass his grand legislative bills.
-PJ
“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.
Chuckie’s not gonna like being No. 2...No pun intended.
affable
pleasantly easy to talk to
showing friendliness
[from my dictionary]
In his first day in office, he should have a Schumer and Schiff arrested for Un American activities, fraud, lying…
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
Well in fairness all of Biden’s were sorely lacking any baggage…..of competency.
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