During the interrogation in the Senate, it immediately became clear how much the choice to make Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health Minister Health Hurtaed Bill Cassidy. Kennedy is not only a descendant of the most famous democratic family and in favor of unlimited abortion, but also prominent vaccination leader.
Cassidy is a doctor. He told about “the worst day of my medical career” as a liver specialist, when he could barely save the life of a teenager who had not been vaccinated against hepatitis. “Since then I have done everything to never have to tell a parent again that their child dies of a disease that they could have prevented with vaccination.”
Kennedy promised the Senate that he will not cut federal vaccination programs. But he refused to distance himself from his unfounded claim that vaccinations would cause autism. The vaccination rate in the US is falling, according to Cassidy, partly due to Kennedy’s status as a misleading influencer in that area. The room was full of RFK fans: especially mothers who find vaccinations dangerous.
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On Thursday, Cassidy voted before Kennedy’s appointment, just like all other Republican senators – in addition to their former leader Mitch McConnell. A day before, almost all Republicans approved the appointment of the controversial Tulsi Gabbard as director of the intelligence services. The sworn in Stokebrand Kash Patel as the boss of the FBI, next week, also seems to be in jugs and jugs. Despite reports he is already busy without any authority With a mass discharge from federal police officers.
Even Pete Hegseeth, the assault, racism and stubborn alcohol abuse accused defense minister, received sufficient support. Although Vice President JD Vance had to be used to cast the decisive vote. After resistance behind the scenes, Matt Gaetz withdrew as a candidate justice minister: his paid sex with minors went too far for Republican senators. But they have not publicly dared to shoot any Trump appointment.
Bending
The hearings of the Senate are not the expertise of Trumps intended ministers, but the loyalty of the 53 Republican senators. Almost all of them show themselves lacues that bend deeply in front of the king and his new court. Anyone who refuses to fear that Elon Musk will send them involuntarily with early retirement. According to American media, interest groups hardly dare to take any action against specific intended ministers, for fear that they then lose their access to the government.
Bill Cassidy hopes to be re -elected next year in Louisiana. His position is already vulnerable in the extremely conservative state, because he ventured four years ago to vote for Trump’s impeachment, with which Trump could have been deposited. Cassidy’s support for Kennedy is ‘damage limitation’, so writes the Louisiana Illuminatorin the hope of escaping and being re -elected at the wrath of Trumps. Republican opponents have already reported for the primaries.
Certainly the example of Thom Tillis from North Carolina is. His job is also at the trip this year. The Wall Street Journal reconstructed How this senator on the eve of the vote on Hegseeth said he could not support him. His twist, within 24 hours, shows how heavy the political pressure on Republicans is to support Trump in his appointments – and later legislation and budget negotiations – that they oppose. Senator Joni Ernst, a female veteran with combat experience and himself a victim of sexual violence, had already avoided the confrontation with Hegseeth for fear of her re -election in Iowa next year.
During the interrogation of Tulsi Gabbard, Zonnekaar was clear that Senator Todd Young from Indiana, once intelligence officer at the Navy, finds her completely unsuitable as director. But he voted well on Wednesday for her, after being threatened to make him “the next Liz Cheney”. As a representative, Cheney played a prominent role in the research into Trumps role in the Capitol storming and then lost her seat in Wyoming to a party colleague. Billionaire Musk tweeted that Young a ‘Deep State Marionet ”was, but deleted that message after a conversation with the senator.
‘Naughty List’
The fear of counter -candidates in Republican pre -elections that have Trump’s support has been playing before sitting politicians for almost ten years, but has risen to a new height due to the involvement of Musk. The richest man in the world can finance entire campaigns and use his X-megaphone to make or break candidates. In December he already suggested a “naughty list” (“naughty list“) Putting together republicans who are in danger of walking in the way.
The Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski were on that list in advance. Both voted against the appointment of Pete Hegseeth. But these politicians have achieved electoral success in Maine and Alaska with some counterbalance against Trump.
Mitch McConnell has arrived in one way since Trumps inauguration. He led the Republican group for almost twenty years and during Trump I provided the conservative super majority in the Supreme Court and tax reduction for the richest. But he has Trump Always constricted And has been unleashed since he transferred the group chair to John Thune. McConnell voted against Hegseeth, Gabbard, Kennedy and perhaps Patel.
The veteran from Kentucky can afford that because he will probably retire at the end of next year. The Washington Post baptized him on Thursday The new resistance Against Trump. He leads an army of one from the wheelchair in which he is in, because of health problems.