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House Republicans elected Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), the chief of their campaign team,to be House majority whip in a closed-door conference vote on Tuesday, ending a closely-fought race with Reps. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.). The conference separately voted to elect Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) as majority leader by voice vote. Scalise had been serving as minority whip. Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was elected Speaker-designate. A vote on the House floor will eventually determine the Speakership.

It was a busy evening at the Sioux Empire Fair. Caught up with lots of South Dakotans, and got in a little grandkid time. Oh, and some great fair food. #sdsummer pic.twitter.com/uPzAI688fr— Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) August 9, 2022

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich urged Republicans this week to take advantage of the excesses of the Democrats to rebrand them as “Big Government Socialists.” Republicans currently enjoy a unique opportunity to show Americans just how far left the Democratic Party has swung, Gingrich observed in a September 13 essay.

Establishment media reporters confessed in a story for the Atlantic published this week that they will not cover Joe Biden’s administration in the same manner as President Trump’s, with CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta floating “hazard pay” for covering the Trump White House during the past four years. In an Atlantic piece examining the direction the press will go in following the end of Trump’s first term, Acosta — who made a name for himself over the past four years by engaging in highly public spats with the commander-in-chief and asking what Trump once described as “nasty, snarky” questions...

If Donald Trump has to be acquitted, much better for it to come at the hands of a group of people as corrupted and partisan as the Senate Republicans. Robert Mueller remained tight-lipped and cautious during his much-hyped testimony Wednesday morning. But the hearing highlighted two things: First, there is a real opportunity for a televised trial of President Donald Trump's behavior; and second, such a trial, if it harnessed all the theatrics and color that Democrats can muster, could seize control of the news cycle from the man who has dominated it for years. It has been a tough...

A huntswoman who repeatedly whipped a man with her riding crop after he grabbed the reins of her horse will not be charged by police. Jane Miller, 56, was filmed having a furious clash with anti-hunt activists while out riding in Herstmonceux, East Sussex in November. Footage captured her striking a man around the head and face 17 times with her whip, while screaming 'get off my horse'. However, Ms Miller has avoided punishment after Sussex Police said they would not be proceeding with the investigation. The hunstwoman is the wife of Richard Goring, whose family founded the five-star Goring...

NASSAU, Bahamas, Oct 10 (Reuters Life!) - A man convicted of trying to rape an 83-year-old woman was sentenced to eight lashes with a cat-o'-nine-tails, a punishment used by the British Navy in the 18th century and reinstated in the Bahamas 15 years ago. Altulus Newbold, 34, was sentenced on Friday to 16 years in prison after being found guilty of burglary, attempted rape and causing harm. Justice Jon Isaacs ordered that he receive four lashes of the whip at the start of his sentence and four upon his release, but suspended the punishment for three weeks pending a possible...

The calendar for new House leadership elections has been pushed back, meaning that the scrambling for position, internal sniping and various bits of dirty laundry being aired is going to stretch on for nearly two more months. Originally we expected to see nominations for the new Speaker and the election of the new Majority Leader and GOP Whip taking place this Thursday, but this afternoon John Boehner threw a wrench in those plans and pushed things back to after he’s left the building. (Washington Post) Outgoing House Speaker John A. Boehner said Monday that lawmakers will elect his replacement on...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug3Zl9N_tPU And you thought Dukakis in the tank was bad...It's nothing like campaign handlers trying to make their candidate personable and approachable.

Now they have it. Now tea party-backers finally have a strong conservative in the Republican leadership of the GOP-controlled House: Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, who was elected by party members on Thursday to the No. 3 job in the leadership. The Louisianan will take the position of whip, making him responsible for corralling votes in order to pass legislation. He fills the slot left vacant by Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, who was elected – and elevated – to the No. 2 job of majority leader, who decides what legislation comes to a vote. The changes were triggered by...

<p>"The Third Eagle of the Apocalypse" is a...crazy man who considers himself a prophet ordained by Jeebus. The guy is obviously off his rocker, but sometimes his videos are amusing in the same way monkeys throwing shit makes kids giggle at the zoo.</p>

A breakdown of how the Syria vote is shaping up in the senate. Against - Democrats: Chris Murphy, Tom Udall Republicans: Marco Rubio, Jim Risch, Jerry Moran, Pat Roberts, Rand Paul, David Vitter, Jim Inhofe, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson, John Barrasso Leaning No - Democrats: Tom Harkin, Joe Manchin, Bernie Sanders Republicans: John Boozman, Mike Crapo, Chuck Grassley, Dean Heller, Lamar Alexander, John Cornyn, Mike Enzi For - Democrats: Barbara Boxer, Dianne Frankenfeinstein, Tom Carper, Bill Nelson, Dick Turban, Ben Cardin, Carl Levin, Al Franken, Kay Hagan, Jeanne Shaheen, Bob Menendez, Dingy Harry, Bob Casey, Tim Kaine, Angus...

Not a new video, but I thought it was funny and worth sharing. Seems like young folks have a hard time coming up with anything new that an older generation does try or take over. Like Facebook. http://www.youtube.com/user/bsmiles86

RECENT UPDATES: Reps. Betsy Markey, Travis Childers, Luis Gutierrez, Bart Gordon, Joe Baca, Raul Grijalva, Harry Mitchell, Mark Schauer, Heath Shuler, Stephen Lynch, Betty Sutton, Bob Etheridge, Michael Arcuri, Baron Hill, and Bart Stupak House Democrats not on this list are expected to vote yes. However, some members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who are not mentioned below have threatened to vote no unless the Senate's immigration-related provisions are changed. All House Republicans are expected to vote no. If every member votes and all GOP lawmakers vote no, the maximum number of Democratic defections to pass a bill is 37,...

The news that Pope John Paul II practised bodily mortification, which has caused a ripple of interest in the secular press, ought not to come as a surprise to anyone familiar with Catholic tradition. The idea of a leather belt hanging in the wardrobe and the nights spent on the bare, cold floor may be piquant to the worldly mind, but the details as such are not important. Far more to the point is the spiritual lesson to be learned from the late pope. John Paul II was for much of his reign a strong man, a powerful exponent of...

REPUBLICANS, licking their wounds after this year's election losses, are casting about for a new face for the party. Will their gazes fall on Virginia's 7th District House member, Rep. Eric Cantor? Mr. Cantor won re-election to his seat handily on Nov. 4, with nearly 63 percent of the vote versus his opponent's 37 percent, a margin to which he has become accustomed. A congressman since 2001, he has served as chief deputy minority whip for Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., since his second term. On Thursday, Mr. Blunt announced he was stepping down from the position, and has endorsed Mr....

Gale-force winds downed power lines and toppled trees in Southern California, briefly trapping motorists and leaving thousands without power, officials said Thursday. Cold winds from the north prompted warnings about gusts through the afternoon. The winds could remain strong at times through Saturday, said Stuart Seto of the National Weather Service. An 83 mph gust - the equivalent of a Category One hurricane - was recorded in La Crescenta on the southern side of the San Gabriel Mountains in the San Fernando Valley. Similar wind speeds were recorded in Angeles National Forest, northeast of Los Angeles. Gusts of 74 mph...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Trent Lott’s decision to resign from office may open the doors for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander to win an influential leadership position in the Senate. Aides to Alexander said today that the Maryville Republican is considering running for the minority whip position currently held by Lott. The minority whip is the Senate’s No. 2 Republican. “Sen. Alexander is looking at all options and will be having conversations throughout the day,” said his spokesman, Lee Pitts. “We’ll be making a decision soon about what, if anything, that he plans to do.” Alexander ran for whip last year...

Appalachian State defeats UMass to repeat as I-AA champs Photo Wire Masshchusett's Mike Thomas (32) celebrates a touchdown with teammate Steve Baylark (5) during their 1-AA... (AP Photo/Wade Payne) · View Photo · Photo Gallery Team Stat Comparison 1st Downs 24 19 Total Yards 431 372 Passing 146 221 Rushing 285 151 Penalties 3-15 2-25 3rd Down Conversions 7-14 5-12 4th Down Conversions 2-2 1-1 Turnovers 1 2 Possession 33:10 26:50 Individual Leaders Appalachian State Passing C/ATT YDS TD INT Edwards 12/19 146 0 1 Massachusetts Passing C/ATT YDS TD INT Coen 20/33 221 1 2 Appalachian State Rushing CAR...

Unhappy with the current candidates, a small but aggressive group of House Republicans are agitating for current Chief Deputy Majority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) to get into the race for Minority Whip, according to interviews with multiple GOP lawmakers who requested anonymity. These Members are emboldened by what they say is a lack of support for incumbent Majority Whip Roy Blunt’s (Mo.) campaign, and frustration that the popular Cantor opted out of a leadership bid in deference to Blunt, who elevated the Virginian to Chief Deputy Whip when he was a freshman. Cantor has pledged to not challenge Blunt head-on...