General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSigns of trouble on Team Trump? Jeff Sessions could be in trouble; Michael Flynn could be toast
TUESDAY, JAN 31, 2017 08:05 AM EST
Sessions looks worse in the wake of Sally Yates' firing; Flynn may be too erratic even for the Trump White House
HEATHER DIGBY PARTON
Late on Monday night, President Trump fired Sally Yates, the acting attorney general left behind by the Obama administration. Citing both the law and the Constitution, Yates had ordered the Department of Justice not to defend his ban on Muslims from certain countries entering the United States. Republicans all applauded the firing, calling her insubordinate because it was her job to carry out his orders, no questions asked. Democrats hailed her as a hero for asserting the independence thats supposed to be conferred upon the office. To back this up they produced footage of Sen. Jeff Sessions himself yes, now Trumps attorney general-designate telling Yates during her confirmation hearing that she was obligated to say no if she believed the presidents order were unlawful.
-snip- (video of Sessions questioning Yates)
At this point it would behoove the Senate to think very, very hard about confirming Sessions as the new attorney general. Its hard to imagine that he would ever say no if Donald Trump wanted him to execute an unlawful order. On the other hand, its also hard to imagine that Trump would ever ask him to execute an unlawful order that Sessions didnt enthusiastically agree in advance should be executed, so perhaps its a moot point. Nonetheless this crisis should induce Democrats to stiffen their spines and vote against Sessions. According to this Washington Post article, this is just a preview of whats to come:
Sessionss ideology is driven by a visceral aversion to what he calls soulless globalism, a term used on the extreme right to convey a perceived threat to the United States from free trade, international alliances and the immigration of nonwhites.
more
http://www.salon.com/2017/01/31/signs-of-trouble-on-team-trump-jeff-sessions-could-be-in-trouble-michael-flynn-could-be-toast/
Raster
(20,998 posts)Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)flamingdem
(39,313 posts)Part of the cabal including Kelly Ann Conway, Pence I believe.
Wonder what he did to rub Bannon the wrong way
uponit7771
(90,347 posts)Pachamama
(16,887 posts)...and asked the very same question he asked her about challenging a president on his orders if unlawful.
But I think at this point he should NOT be confirmed and the democrats should do all they can to block his confirmation.
By the way - is he still a Senator?
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Trump likes to portray himself as a winner, no matter what the facts are. The President of Mexico cancels their meeting? Trump claims it was a mutual decision: "She didn't dump me! I broke up with her!"
Backing him down on nominees is a sure way to make him look like a loser. Don't underestimate how that damages his image for himself and his fanatic followers.
raging moderate
(4,305 posts)Or righteousness.
cilla4progress
(24,736 posts)moving thorough?
Calculating
(2,955 posts)That is all.
kwassa
(23,340 posts)Sessions will win the nomination, he is quite popular among his fellow Senators, without Repub support none of these nominations can be stopped.
I read the entire WaPo article this morning, too. Fascinating and scary.