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How Republican skeptics in the Senate got to ‘yes’ on RFK Jr. and Gabbard
Associated Press ^ | Feb 9 | By STEPHEN GROVES

Posted on 02/11/2025 12:26:14 AM PST by RandFan

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican skepticism in the Senate of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees has been worn down, putting his unconventional choices for some of the most powerful positions in the federal government on the verge of confirmation.

Floor votes are expected this week on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in line to be the nation’s health secretary, and Tulsi Gabbard, the choice for director of national intelligence. Both are from outside traditional Republican circles and espoused views in the confirmation process that alarmed GOP senators at times. Still, their nominations have advanced to the full Senate after crucial committee votes.

One by one, Republicans have acquiesced to Trump’s picks, even those whose personal history, lack of experience and unorthodox views would have once made them hardly imaginable for a Cabinet.

It’s a striking demonstration of how GOP lawmakers are standing by as Trump, in a show of force, disrupts the federal government and installs loyalists to lead key departments.

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


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gabbard; rfkjr; senate
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1 posted on 02/11/2025 12:26:14 AM PST by RandFan
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To: RandFan

I believe that Democrat obstruction of every nominee is wearing thin on even the RINOs

Republicans are more unified now in fighting back at the obstructionists


2 posted on 02/11/2025 12:42:41 AM PST by digger48
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To: digger48; RandFan

I wayyyyy too jaded to think that at all.

I’m thinking Trump is a streetfighter and got his hands on the same documents the CIA uses to get folks to vote how they want :)

I’m good what that if it is the case.

ANY strong arm tactics he uses are ok in my book.

Because there’s an entire country at stake.

And it happens to be ours..


3 posted on 02/11/2025 12:51:16 AM PST by dp0622 (Tried a coup, a fake tax story, tramp slander, Russia nonsense, impeachment and a virus. They lost.)
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To: RandFan

KASH PATEL !

too


4 posted on 02/11/2025 12:51:49 AM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: dp0622

Spot on. 👌


5 posted on 02/11/2025 12:56:27 AM PST by Equine1952
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To: RandFan
For any Republican in the Senate who does not want to get in line with our President, I suggest that he have a "movie night" and re-watch "The Godfather". Carefully.

6 posted on 02/11/2025 1:27:21 AM PST by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and His mercy endureth forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: RandFan
I think the American People got through to them.

Tulsi and RFK Jr are very popular to us. They've stood up to the traitorous from within and without, very well (yes, we've been watching) and...

Not one thin Dime, to you ever, if they are hurt by you. Not one.

I hope I have not been unclear.

7 posted on 02/11/2025 1:40:02 AM PST by CptnObvious
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To: Governor Dinwiddie
It’s a change from Vance’s Senate tenure, when he often defied the GOP leadership under Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell. Now Vance is working closely with the new team.

This insinuation by the Associated Press suggests that there is the actual inconsistency in Vance's opposition to Senator Mitch McConnell, then and now.

The 19th century political pundit, Mr. Dooley, once quipped that an honest politician is one who when he's bought, by God, stays bought. The Associated Press is clearly an honest press agency.


8 posted on 02/11/2025 2:23:30 AM PST by nathanbedford (Attack, repeat, attack! - Bull Halsey)
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To: RandFan

.


9 posted on 02/11/2025 2:51:52 AM PST by sauropod (Make sure Satan has to climb over a lot of Scripture to get to you. John MacArthur Ne supra crepidam)
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To: RandFan
...Trump’s picks, even those whose personal history, lack of experience and unorthodox views would have once made them hardly imaginable for a Cabinet.

Keep on going this way AP. When your USAID grift money runs out, you'll join many other propaganda outlets on the ash heap of media history.

10 posted on 02/11/2025 3:02:06 AM PST by Blennos ( Byaasearepeat itnbelow. SAMARIA )
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To: dp0622

The equivalent of Hillary’s FBI files. I hope there are files on those judges that keep blocking DOGE.


11 posted on 02/11/2025 3:04:56 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (FBI out of Florida!)
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To: nathanbedford
The Associated Press is clearly an honest press agency.

Bought by USAID money.

12 posted on 02/11/2025 3:06:10 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (FBI out of Florida!)
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To: RandFan

The story has the typical pro-Democrat twist of an AP article.


13 posted on 02/11/2025 3:08:23 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: tired&retired

“even those whose personal history, lack of experience and unorthodox views would have once made them hardly imaginable for a Cabinet.”


14 posted on 02/11/2025 3:09:36 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: dp0622

I wayyyyy too jaded to think that at all.

I’m thinking Trump is a streetfighter and got his hands on the same documents the CIA uses to get folks to vote how they want :)

*******************

Me too.

Plus, showing a Manila envelope full of compromising material to these corrupt politicians makes a better story.


15 posted on 02/11/2025 3:10:21 AM PST by unclebankster (Globalism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. )
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To: digger48

Yeah, they realized, that if they can do something, they must do it together.
I would also say, that the pressure of the constituency and the threat of primaries is pushing them into unity.
No time for “mavericks”!


16 posted on 02/11/2025 3:12:40 AM PST by AZJeep
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To: RandFan

“... would have once made them hardly imaginable for a Cabinet.”

**************

Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore ....


17 posted on 02/11/2025 3:23:24 AM PST by Qiviut (Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!)
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

I have noticed a strategy of some politicians in marginal districts (both Rep and Dems).
They sometimes vote against their own party, when it does not matter. Who cares if somebody’s confirmed by 51, 52 or 53 votes?
Then they can go home and say - see, I am independent, I have voted against this and that. But then when their vote is really needed, they will support the cause.
KKK senator Byrd was the real master of this.
Collins seems to be good at it right now.


18 posted on 02/11/2025 3:23:58 AM PST by AZJeep
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To: RandFan

Honestly I think it has way more to do with trump’s 70% approval of his doing what he said and 53% overall approval that is keeping the rinos in line.


19 posted on 02/11/2025 3:38:46 AM PST by Skwor
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To: nathanbedford

The 19th century political pundit, Mr. Dooley, once quipped that an honest politician is one who when he’s bought, by God, stays bought. The Associated Press is clearly an honest press agency.

**************
A Republican politician in 1890’s Oregon named Jonathan Bourne had a similar sentiment. To him an honorable man was one who could be bought, stay bought, & would keep silent.

During the 1896 election he bought 60 politicians using money from the Southern Pacific. They signed pledges before accepting the money, these pledges were locked in the corporate safe.

Back then in Oregon, you could buy a Republican politician for $4000 and a Democrat for $3000.


20 posted on 02/11/2025 3:38:56 AM PST by unclebankster (Globalism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. )
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