First it was “Stop the steal!” and now, it’s “Stop the nominations!”
Republicans seem to only care about stopping things, not actually getting stuff done.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) has made headlines this week for all the wrong reasons. The former Auburn football coach has held up over 270 military promotions now, with some believing that the number may reach over 600 by the end of the year.
For context, the Senate usually approves the promotions of military officers in large groups, that way, avoiding having to make a full, 100-member roll call on each individual promotion. However, Senate rules permit one member to stop the en-masse approval. Sen. Tuberville, for over nine months straight, has blocked every single US military promotion… singlehandedly.
Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jack Reed (D- Rhode Island) said that it would take 84 straight 8-hour work days just to approve the promotions, with no other business being able to occur during that period.
So, since the Senate can’t just magically set aside 672 hours, there have been no promotions in our military.
President Biden has called it, “totally irresponsible.” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) warns that service members may leave the military. And even Lindsay Graham (R-South Carolina) told Sen. Tuberville, “You just denied this lady a promotion– you did that. All of us are ready to promote her because she deserves to be promoted.”
Why?
The Middle East is at war, there’s still an ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and yet, with our national security on the line, a washed-up football coach from Alabama stopping our military from functioning.
I mean, why, just why– what possible reasons could Sen. Tuberville be doing this you might ask?
The answer— drumroll please– abortion!
Yep, that’s right, the GOP’s own Tommy Tuberville has decided that since women in the military have the right to choose, he should tank the credibility of our military– cause that makes sense.
I mean it just makes no sense. It’s not hyperbole to say that Tuberville’s Republican Party is leaving America’s national security vulnerable and putting the lives of our servicemen and women in grave danger.
Below, I have listed some of the currently vacant positions in our US Military– including two members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- Chief of Staff to the United States Air Force
- Assistant Commandant to the United States Marines
- United States Naval Academy Superintendent
- And over 270 others…
But remember everyone– the Republicans are the party of protecting our troops– right? Yeah, just kidding. These fake-patriot, all-bark-no-bite Republicans who don’t even stand by our troops deserve to be voted out so fast– so please, help us make that happen.
Proving a Point
Senator Tuberville’s sabotage of our military doesn’t actually accomplish anything. Our country isn’t better off without military leaders, Tuberville’s constituents aren’t, not even Sen. Tuberville himself is better off because of this.
All of this is to prove a point. It’s a tactical blockade, albeit a pretty crappy tactic. Tuberville wants to stick it to Biden and the libs. And he’s willing to incur any cost to do so. He doesn’t care if we’re in the midst of global conflict, or have to defend democracy abroad, or have to protect our homeland from cyber threats from Russia and China. He just cares about scoring points in meaningless political battles.
I think Tuberville’s “stick it to ‘em” attitude is pretty indicative of how Republicans are nowadays, sadly. Even when I grew up in the 2000’s, there was a certain respect that we afforded our troops, and that respect was honored by both parties. Nowadays, sitting Senators are willing to actively sabotage our military capabilities to score some cheap political points.
It’s unsafe, unpatriotic, and frankly, un-American.
Around the Horn
I wanted to take this section this week to highlight a speech given by Husker Football Coach Matt Rhule– I have included the link here for you to watch.
Coach Rhule told his guys to remember who they play for, and the importance of remembering who went to battle for them. The same message carries into our politics.
So, while I’m not the Head Coach of America’s greatest football program, I’m going to challenge you in the same way that Coach Rhule did his players.
There is someone, somewhere, who has sacrificed their opportunities to provide for you. It can be a parent, friend, teacher, sibling, etc. So in your work and in your advocacy, remember that person, and honor their sacrifices through your work.
Go to battle for others with the same intensity and fearlessness that someone fought with for you.
It might not be the same as playing against a Michigan team on a cold October day, but we all have to sacrifice our time, energy, and sometimes it even feels like our sanity if we want change to occur in this state and in this country. So in your sacrifices, honor those who have sacrificed for you by fighting tooth and nail for change.
Thank you for reading,
Please consider donating to the NDP here. The fight for the soul of our nation is on the ballot in 2024– and we need help in order to keep up with the corporate mega-donors of the GOP.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out at jack@nebraskademocrats.org.
All the best,
Jack Schiewe
