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Bill Cassidy on Principles & Values |
Cassidy joined six other Republicans and all 50 Democrats in voting to convict Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Cassidy said "Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty."
Shortly after the Senate's vote, the Republican Party of Louisiana said in a statement that its executive committee unanimously voted for Cassidy to be censured, a largely symbolic expression of disapproval. "We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen. Cassidy to convict former President Trump," the group said in a tweet. "Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him."
A: Yes.
Q: What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
A: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech." -- First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment prevents the state sponsorship or discrimination of a religion, but it does not prevent us from expressing our faith, assembling to worship, or letting our religious beliefs guide our convictions.
Q: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values?
A: I am a practicing Christian who believes Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and I try to live my life each day with values that reflect that.
Landrieu initially wanted six debates, which apparently will only happen if Obama makes five trips to the state. It's unlikely the unpopular president will make any trips to Louisiana.
"The issue here is who represents Louisiana and who represents President Obama. I know I am with Louisiana. Sen. Landrieu would know that if she actually met with people instead of staged media events. We will have a debate and we will discuss exactly that," Cassidy said.
Landrieu wanted six debates so the voters could "hear the candidates discuss the issues." Cassidy's minimal debate appearances has been a persistent talking point for Landrieu, who has criticized Cassidy saying he's running his race through attack ads on TV.
According to published reports, Cassidy had agreed to only two debates--a Shreveport debate held a few weeks ago, and a debate in Baton Rouge Wednesday. Cassidy said he wanted to spend more time meeting voters, but political insiders speculate that he is playing safe by avoiding possible gaffes in debates.
Cassidy's absence also meant that it fell entirely to Landrieu's Tea Party challenger, Rob Maness, to engage in what has been the anti-Landrieu line of attack throughout the race: that she is a Washington insider who is too close to President Barack Obama.
"Out of state billionaires, spending millions to rig the system and elect bill Cassidy. Their goal? Another politician bought and paid for," a narrator says in the ad, as shots of the Kochs flash on the screen.
The ad charges that the Kochs want tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, want to cut Social Security and "end Medicare as we know it," and "even tried to kill relief for hurricane victims."
"Cassidy's billion-dollar backers. They've got a plan for him--it's not good for Louisiana," the ad closes.
The billionaire Koch brothers have sunk at least $30 million into competitive House and Senate races since August of last year.
The new generation of pro-market, small government leaders filled such a need that in October 2007, Fred Barnes of The Weekly Standard profiled Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan, and Kevin McCarthy and christened them the "young guns."
Kevin approached Eric & Paul about the idea of traveling together, as "Young Guns", to visit Republican candidates interested in a new approach for the party.
What began as an informal way to support like-minded candidates became a more formal structure. Once the three Representatives had studied the candidate and given their support to become a Young Gun, they committed to providing financial support through their campaign committees.
Existing House Republicans were approached with a simple pitch: Are we willing to help ourselves by being proactive and going on the offense to change this House? Dozens of our House Republican colleagues joined the Young Gun effort as one of the many signs that the Republican Party had shifted.
The Tea Party movement is a populist conservative social movement in the United States that emerged in 2009 through a series of locally and nationally coordinated protests. The protests were partially in response to several Federal laws: the stimulus package; te healthcare bill; and the TARP bailouts. The name "Tea Party" refers to the Boston Tea Party of 1773, the source of the phrase, "No Taxation Without Representation."
Endorsements by Donald Trump, implying support of Trump's agenda and electoral style. The phrase "Make America Great Again" was popularized in Trump's 2015 book Time to Get Tough:Making America Great Again. It is the campaign slogan embroidered on the ubiquitous red caps seen at Trump rallies (which after Trump's presidency, became known as "MAGA rallies").
The AFA inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law'? Self-description: (American Family Association helps produce iVoterGuides): "Grounded in God; rooted in research"; they "thoroughly investigate candidates"; when they cannot "evaluate with confidence, they receive an 'Insufficient' rating" (& we exclude)
The AFA inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government'? Self-description: (American Family Association helps produce iVoterGuides): "Grounded in God; rooted in research"; they "thoroughly investigate candidates"; when they cannot "evaluate with confidence, they receive an 'Insufficient' rating" (& we exclude)
Explanation of 1/6/21 Electoral Certification, by Emily Brooks, Washington Examiner:Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar led an objection to counting Electoral College votes from the state of Arizona, the first formal objection to state results in a series of moves that will delay the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election over President Trump. Cruz is advocating for an `emergency 10-day audit` of election returns in disputed states. The usually ceremonial joint session of Congress that convenes to count and accept Electoral College votes will be put on hold as the House and Senate separately debate the objection.
Bill summary:The select committee must (1) conduct an investigation of the relevant facts and circumstances relating to the attack on the Capitol; (2) identify, review, and evaluate the causes of and the lessons learned from this attack; and (3) submit a report containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations to prevent future acts of violence, domestic terrorism, and domestic violent extremism, and to improve the security of the U.S. Capitol Complex and other American democratic institutions.
CBS News summary, by Grace Segers on June 30, 2021:H.R. 3233 would have created a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate the root causes of the breach of the U.S. Capitol, modeled after the 9/11 Commission.
On May 28, the House passed the bill by a vote of 222 to 190, including 35 Republican votes. It then failed in the Senate, where it received an insufficient number of Republican votes to advance.
In response, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on June 24 that the House would establish a select committee [appointed by House Democrats, instead of a bipartisan independent commission] to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection and general security issues related to the incident. Pelosi said its leadership and members would be announced later. The House passed the resolution to form the committee on June 29, 2021, by a vote of 222-190.
OnTheIssues note: The Senate voting record refers to the earlier rejected bill H.R. 3233, and the House voting record refers to the later bill H.Res.503. The later bill had no Senate vote (but the two House votes were almost identical).